CBSE previous Year Solved  Papers  Class 12 English Delhi 2013

Time allowed : 3 hours                                                                                           Maximum Marks: 100
General Instructions :

1. This paper is divided into three sections : A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them faithfully.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

SET-I

SECTION- B
(ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS)

Question.3. You are Smitha/Sunil, Secretary AVM Housing Society. You 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.
OR
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. [10]
Answer:
Avm Housing Society
Notice
Blood Donation Camp 26th October, 2014
A blood donation camp is being organized by our society • on 1st November, 2014 in the front park of the society. All the residents are therefore, requested to donate their blood for a noble cause and save a life. For any details please contact the undersigned.
Smitha
Secretary
AVM Housing Society
OR
REQUIRED
A lady Front Office Assistant, having sound knowledge of computers, a graduate with good communication skills and pleasing manners. Salary negotiable. Interested may apply immediately
Contact: General Manger Hotel Dosa, Gurgaon

Question.4. Your school Sun Public School, Poona celebrated ‘Environment Day’ on 5th November. Write a report on the programme in 100-125 words for your school newsletter. You are Neeta/Naveen, Cultural Secretary of the school. Invent the necessary details.
OR
You are Deepak/Deepika, Secretary of Ahimsa Club, Parsva Public School, Delhi. On 2nd October your school observed ‘International Day for peace and Non-violence’, organizing various activities Such as visit to Rajghat, Charkha spinning, lectures by eminent Gandhians, etc. Write a report for the same in 100-125 words.
Answer:
Environment Day Celebration
Report By : Neeta (Cultural Secretary)
Sun Public School, Poona, celebrated ‘Environment Day’ on 5th November very enthusiastically. Everybody was excited and showed eagerness towards the celebration. The students wore eco friendly dresses. The corridors were decorated with the posters made by the children with the help of their art teacher. Many activties were organized on this occasion. A small play was presented by the students in connection with the environment friendly measures which should be adopted by the people. There was also an exhibition of the things made by the junior section of the school, which included paper bags, jute bags, and products made up of biodegradable matter. Our Principal gave an inspiring speech on how to preserve our environment. Student speakers also presented their views on the conservation of environment. After the function was over, tree plantation drive started. The first tree was planted by the Principal Madam followed by the faculty members and then the children. In the end students took the oath of planting a tree every year to make the environment neat and clean.
It was a great step towards the awareness about the environment.
OR
International Day For Peace And Non-Violence Observed,
REPORT BY : DEEPIKA (Secretary, Ahimsa Club)
2nd October was a memorable day for our school as it observed ‘International day for Peace and Non-violence.’ We all know that this day is celebrated to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi, who was the greatest messenger of peace and non¬violence. Various activities were organized by the school. Students were told the importance of ‘Charkha’ Spinning’ and they enjoyed doing it by themselves. At the back stage a group of students sang Bapu’s favourite bhajan ‘Vaishnav jan to tinhe kahiye…’ in a choir. There were speeches made on the way of living, that Gandhiji advocated all his life and the means to achieve them which according to Bapu should be noble and high. After that the children were taken to the Samadhi of Gandhiji known as ‘Rajghat’. The teachers as well as children paid homage to Bapu. The eminent Gandhians delivered speeches and told that he was a great example of selfless service, self-discipline, renunciation and deep love for suffering humanity.
In the evening, we returned back to the school to disperse to our homes but there was content and’ peace in our mind and soul.

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. You are Priti/ Prakash, 15, UdyogVihar, Noida.
OR
Write a letter to Light ways Sport, 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/Rayeena, Sports Secretary. 
Answer:
15, UdyogVihar
Noida
24th September, 2014 The Editor,
The Times of India Subject: Rash Bus Driving
Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the attention of the General Manager, Delhi Transport Corporation towards the increasing cases of rash bus driving. This has created havoc in the city as it has become a routine habit of the drivers. Daily one or two cases of mishaps, due to the negligence of the drivers are coming into light. Its not an overheard thing, btit I have experienced it myself as I am a regular commuter by bus from Noida to Delhi. The number of accidents have been increasing daily which results in the loss of many lives. This should be checked as, drivers are indifferent towards the sufferings of the public and do not pay heed towards the traffic rules. The most common sufferers are the elders and the children. Immediate action is the need of the hour. Either the registration of their vehicle should be cancelled or their driving license, to bring such mishaps under control.
I expect a favorable response.
Thank you Yours Sincerely ,
Priti.
OR
ABC Matriculation School, Civil Lines, Poona 26th October, 2014 The Manager Light ways Sport,
Amrapali, Thane
Subject: Order for Sports Articles
Dear Sir/Madam,
We need to purchase some sports articles for our school. The list of the articles is as follows :
: Item
1. Basketball
2. Cricket bats
3. Volleyball
4. Football
Kindly send the articles after proper checking at the school sports complex between 10. a.m. to 2. p.m. Please make the delivery as soon as possible. As we have been a regular buyer of sports goods from your shop for past many years, a good amount of discount is expected on the above mentioned items. Payment will be done at the time of delivery through demand draft.
Thank You.
Yours Sincerely,
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 ofbeingin the lap of nature. Write an article in 150-200 words on the diversity of nature that you have experienced. You are Latha/Lalitha of class XII. 
OR
Write an article in 150-200 words on the topic, ‘Poverty is the cause of all evils’, to be published in the Young World of‘The Hindu’, Chennai.
Answer :
In The Lap of Nature
By : Latha Class XII
One can find huge diversity in nature while living in India. This, I experienced personally when we shifted to Ernakulam in Kerala from Kota in Rajasthan. It seemed as if we have shifted not places but nature. From the brown mountains to the green canopies, the change was completely welcomed by all the family members. For the first time in my whole life, I saw such greenery. The words used for Kerala as ‘God’s Own Country’, appeared to be true which I had heard or read till now. Living in the lap of nature, is a completely new experience. The greenery is extremely enchanting and to add to its beauty, is the location of my house amidst the beautiful flowering plants and fruit yielding trees. The fragrance of the blooming flowers fill the house and the aroma enters the soul. The view of fruit laden trees is equally fascinating: There is no sign of pollution here. Evergreen beaches, fishing nets spread all over the sea, richness of coconut and jackfruit, all make it a desired place to live in. The place has not lacked even in the preservation of its culture. The boat race in the backwaters is done during the festival of Onam. It is famous for its spices and ‘Ayurvedic Kerala Massage.’ In all, I must say that I enjoy the bracing environment, relaxed life, temples, backwaters and shaded woods of Kerala.
OR
Poverty is the Cause of All Evils
By: Xyz
India is a country where most of the population lives in villages and mostly below poverty line. Poverty prevails not only in villages but in big cities also. The metros are full of slums, where majority of people are living in inhuman conditions. Their basic needs for food, shelter and clothing are not fulfilled. Millions and millions of people are the victims of malnutrition, hunger, poor health and illiteracy Their condition is not better than stray dogs. The prices are rising at a very high rate and in the same way their condition is also deteriorating. The rich are becoming richer, and the poor # are becoming poorer. Circumstances and negligence force them to adopt evil means and criminal activities like robbery, murder, kidnapping, looting and so bn. Children are made to beg and women are compelled to become prostitutes. If it is not acceptable to anyone, then they commit mass suicide. The society, reformatory organizations, government, and non-profit organizations should take a step forward to improvise the condition of these people. There should be a check on the fund allocated, for poverty removal and whether it is properly utilized or not.

SECTION- C 

Question.7. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Perhaps the Earth can teach us As when everything seems dead And later proves to be alive Now I’ll count up to twelve And you keep quiet and I will go.
OR
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 o’er-darkened ways made for our searching: ”
(i) What does the Earth teach us ?
Answer.The Earth teaches us to remain quiet even in the adverse situations but inside the change goes on non-stop.
(ii) What does the poet mean to achieve by counting up to. twelve ?
Answer.The poet, asks us to keep quiet while he counts up to twelve as he wants us to self-analyze for the welfare of the society.
(iii) What is the significance of ‘keeping quiet’?
Answer.lt is quite necessary to keep quiet for some time as it would help us retrospect and understand ourselves, then only we can solve our problems.
OR
(i) What are we doing every day ?
Answer : Every day we are weaving a beautiful string of flowers that would bind us to earth, and motivate us to live our life happily instead of pains and sufferings.
(ii) Which evil thing do we possess and suffer from ?
Answer : We possess evils of hatred and jealousy that do not let us live freely and happily. They steal away the joys of life.
(iii) What are the cirumstances that contribute towards making humans unhappy and disillusioned with life ?
Answer : There is competition everywhere and the world is full of selfish people. There is dearth of goodness and nobility in human nature. This makes us gloomy, unhappy and disillusioned with life.

Question.8. Answer any three of the following questions in 30-40 words each :
(a) Why has the poet’s mother been compared to the ‘Late winter’s moon’ ?
Answer : The poet’s mother has been compared to the ‘Late winters moon because she is too old and tired in the same way as the winters moon is dull and without shine.
(b) What message does Stephen Spender convey through the poem ‘An Elementary school Classroom ina Slum’?
Answer : The poet conveys the message that the life of the children living in slum is limited to their filthy dark room only. They have no future or hope and they don’t know the outer world. This problem can be solved only when a school inspector, educationist or a governor comes here.
(c) What was the plea of the folk who had put up„the roadside stand ?
Answer : The men who had put up the roadside stand, pleaded in a pitiable manner to customers as they wanted to earn some money. They wished the city folks would stop there to by something from them.
(d) What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead ?
Answer : After Aunt Jennifer’s death, she will enter another world and her plight would remain same but her tigers would lead a fearless life and walk with grace, elegance and confidence.

Question.9. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each :
(a) How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson ?
Answer : Franz was shocked to hear that there would be no French teaching from now onwards and felt extremely sorry for neglecting his lessons, and regretted for not having the chance to learn grammar rules and participles. His French teacher M. Hamel would also be seen no more.
(b) How did the instructor turn douglas in to a swimmer ?
Answer : The instructor taught Douglas swimming step by step. He told him to exercise daily and practice making his limbs and hands stronger. He also taught him to exhale and inhale outside and inside water. He trained him perfectly by teaching all the strokes of swimming and thus turned Douglas into a swimmer.
(c) Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person ?
Answer : Sophie’s brother Geoff was the only person in her life to whom she could confide. He was an introvert who used to speak very little and so she thought that he would never let any of her secret out. She felt, that she would be safe with him anywhere in this strange world.

Question.10. Answer the following in 125-150 words :
How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter ? What course did he adopt and how did he react to the new situation ? What does his reaction reveal ?
Answer : The peddler robbed thrity kronor from crofter’s house, who gave him shelter for the whole night in his cottage showing him kindness and hospitality. The peddler felt very happy after that and believed, that it was not safe to walk along the public highway. S6 he went into the woods but lost his way and when he could not get out of it, he thought the whole world, with its lands and seas, its cities sand villages is nothing but a big ‘rattrap’ and he was the victim of if. He felt that the bait in his case was the money that he had stolen from crofter’s house. It was now his turn to be caught in the world’s rattrap. Whenever we become the victim to temptations’, we get trapped in this vicious circle.
Peddler could not help but think, and was trying to prove his act of robbery that crofter had put the money to trap him and given to temptation, he was also caught. He was not the only one who was tempted, but almost everyone; some or the other day gets trapped.

Question.11. Answer the following in about 100 words:
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 labor .
What values do we learn from Gandhiji’s campaign to counter the present day problems of exploitation ?
Answer : The conditions that prevailed during the time of Gandhiji are still existing. The weak and the poor are living in the stpne condition as they used to, prior the to independence, only the ways of exploitation have altered. The poor sharecroppers were exploited by the British landlords and their lands were snatched from them. Gandhiji, fought for them systematically by gathering information and presenting the facts courageously and managed to get justice for the fear stricken peasants. The striking feature of this was that he did not use any form of violence or unfair means.
These methods can be adopted by us also, as we must be aware of our strength and weaknesses and then proceed accordingly ‘ as one should not fall into the trap by any means. We should never compromise at the cost of our dignity or self-respect and thus sought out the solutions wisely.

Question. 12. Answer the following in 125-150 words :
What is the bond that unites the two-the old Mr. Lamb and Derry, the small boy ? How does the old man inspire the small boy ?
OR
Do you think Dr. Sadao’s final decision was the best possible one in the circumstances ? Why/why not ? Explain with reference to the story ‘The Enemy’.
Answer : Derry and Mr. Lamb had the same sense of loneliness and they both lived, a secluded life due to their physical inability. Derry experienced Mr. Lamb to be a peculiar person saying strange things which he was not able to understand, still he felt some kind of attraction towards him. He was differently-abled but was calm and maintained peace with people around him. He was not irritated by the children who called him ‘Lamey-Lamb!. Before coming in, contact with Mr. Lamb, Derry felt lonely due to the behavior of people but lamb inspired him and filled him with self¬confidence and determination.- He taught him to live life to the fullest without brooding over his burnt face. He told him to move ahead in life as his brain and senses were working completely. He imbibed positive thinking in him and showed him the way to live life in spite of his inability because he could do much better than others. This was the bond that united both and Derry wept over Mr. Lamb’s death.
OR
Answer : Yes, Dr. Sadao’s final decision was the best possible , one in the given circumstances because, he was hiding an enemy in his house and everybody was aware of it. Although he had no love for Americans and he was a true patriot still ‘ he saved him realizing his ‘sacred’ duty to save a dying man. This , brought an open defiance from his domestic staff and his wife had to do all the household work. Moreover, there was a high risk as he was sheltering an enemy. So when he felt, that the man was out of danger, he helped him to escape.
He got a boat ready with food, water and extra clothing and asked the soldier to row the boat to a little island that was not too far from the coast and from there he could take a Korean fishing boat. One evening, there was no signaling and Dr. “* Sadao understood that the man was off safely on a Korean fishing boat, and it was then that he had a sound sleep.

Question.13. Answer the following in 30-40 words :
(a) What sort of hunts did the Maharaja offer to organize for the high-ranking British officer ? What trait of the officer does it reveal ?
Answer : The Maharaja offered to organize every sort of hunt for the high ranking British Officer which also included boar hunt, mouse hunt and so on, but refused to entertain the tiger hunt.
The British officer himself was not interested in killing the tiger, he only wanted his photograph Beside the body of the dead tiger with a gun in his hand. It reveals that the British officer was a boastor and self-publicist.
(b) What did Jo want the wizard to do when Mommy Skunk approached him ?
Answer: Jo, wanted the wizard to hit Mommy Skunk because she wanted Roger Skunk to smell foul like before and that’s why she took him to the wizard. There she hit him with the umbrella and Jo disliked it as according to her, the wizard was right.

SET-II

SECTION- B
(ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS)

Question.4. You are General Kanpur Senior Secondary School, Kanpur celebrate ‘No Tobaco Day’ on 4th September Write a report in 100-125 words on the activities performed for your school newsletter. You Shobita/Sameer, cultural Secretary of your school. . Invent the necessary details.
OR
As a staff reporter of The Times of India, Delhi, you are asked to cover an incident of daylight robbery on the outskirts of Delhi, While the inmates were present in the house. Write a report in 100-125 words.
Answer:
NO TOBACCO DAY
REPORT BY: SAMEER (Cultural Secretary)
4th June 20xx was celebrated as ‘No Tobacco Day by our school. An interesting and educative programme was organised to highlight the evil effects of tobacco on human body. The programme was inaugurated by the Director of Education. Students had exhibited pictures, posters and cartoons depicting the harms of smoking. A demonstration was presented to highlight the miserable state of tobacco addicts. The messages ‘No Smoking’ and ‘Smoking is injurious to health’ were preached quiet overtly. Then, the school doctor gave an illuminating discourse, on the harms caused by tobacco. He used slides, graphs and pictures to illuminate his talk. A short film, was also screened to drive home the menace caused by tobacco smoking or chewing. The plight of the patients of cancer, caused by tobacco, made us shudder. We, resolved not to smoke or chew tobacco.
OR
A DAYLIGHT ROBBERY
REPORT : XYZ (TOI, CORRESPONDENT)
New Delhi : 2nd March, 20xx
A daring daylight robbery occured today in the house of Mr. William at 2.00 p.m. After lunch, the inmates were enjoying their afternoon siesta, when a group of marked young men entered the house, from the roof top. At first, they shut all the doors from inside and bolted the main gate from within.
They cut off the telephone connection and then pointed their gun at the chest of Mr. William and demanded the keys of the safe, in which ornaments, cash, valuables and other important documents were kept. The head of the family, was helpless and had to submit. According, to Mr. William the robbers decamped with all the cash and jewellery, they could, when a sudden knock, at the main gate by the Postman, made the robbers beat a hasty retreat, thank God, there was no loss of life. Personal rivalry is assumed to be one of the motives behind the crime.

Question.5. Your are Kamini/Kamal of 10 Civil Lines Extension, Chanakyapuri, Agra The main road leading to your locality has three open manholes causing frequent accidents at night, especially during the rainy season. Write a letter to the Editor, The Times of India drawing attention of the Municipal Commissioner to this problem of the residents . OR
You are Anoop/Akriti, of Baden Powel Senior Secondary School, Delhi write a letter to the Sales Manager, Aparna Publishing House, placing an order for the books (minimum four tides) for your school library. Invent the necessary details.
Answer:
Civil lines Extension Chanakyapuri Agra.
20th June, 20xx The Editor The Times of India,
Subject: Open Manholes in the locality Dear Sir,
Through the columns qf your esteemed daily, I wish to draw the attention of the concerned authority to the problem caused by three open man-holes, on the main road of our locality. The number of accidents have increased due to these, specially, during the rainy season. School students are vulnerable to such situations. All the complaint letters written to the concerned authorities till date has been in vain. The man-holes need to be cemented at the earliest to avoid future mishaps Thank You
Yours Sincerely,
Kamini/Kamal
OR
Badan Power Sr. Secondary School
20th July, 20xx Sales Manager,
Aparna Publishing House Delhi
Subject: Order for Books
Dear Sir,
We have been purchasing books from you for the past ten years and hence we are placing an order for the following books for our school library.
Name Quantity
1. CBSE Complete Course English
Core Class XHth.
2. CBSE Political Science Textbook
Class XHth.
3, CBSE Biology Part I and II Textbook
Class XHth.
4. CBSE Home science Textbook Class 12
XHth.
Kindly send these books and provide us the necessary discount. Payment will be done by cheque upon receipt of the books.
Thank You
Yours Sincerely,
Anoop/Akriti

Question.9. Answer any three of the following question in 30-40 words Delhi each:
(a) How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson ?
Answer: Franz is overcome with a feeling of remorse and regret when he heard that henceforth only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Torraine. He wishes that he had spent so much time in trivial pursuit like seeking birds eggs, or going sliding in the saar. The books that seemed such a nuisance earlier appeared like old friend now.
(b) What made the lawyer lose his job ? What was about it ? (Poets and Pancakes)
Answer: The lawyer was a part of the story department, so when the boss shut it down he lost his job. Perhaps the only instance in all human history where a lawyer lost his job because the part were asked to go home.
(c) What according to the author, Tishani Doshi are the issues engaging public attention and interest during our time ?
Answer: Acc. to Tishani Doshi climate change is one of the most heartily contested environmental debates of our time. Will the west Antartic ice sheet melt etirely ? Will it be the end of the world as we know it.

SET III

SECTION- B
(ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS)

Note : Except for the following questions, all the remaining questions have been asked in previous sets.
Question.3. You are Smitha/Sunil, Secretary AVM Housing Society. You are going to organize a yoga camp. Write a notice in not more than 50 words, urging the members of your society to come in large numbers to attend the camp. Invent all the necessary details.
Answer:
AVM HOUSING SOCIETY, DELHI
NOTICE
REJUVENATION YOGA CAMP
1st MARCH, 2013
All residents are hereby informed that a yoga camp is being
organized from March 5, 2013 to April 5, 2013, at 6:00
am, at the Central Park of the Society. Residents from all age groups can participate in the camp. Please get yourselves registered at the earliest by contacting the undersigned.
Smitha
Secretary,
AVM Housing Society

Question.5. You have noticed many stray animals on the road during the busy hours of the day. These animals cause traffic jams as well as accients. You have already written to the concerned authorieis but no action has been taken so far. Write a letter to the Editor, The Hindu, drawing attention of the Muncipal Commissioner, Chennai. You are Shantha/ Suresh, 12 M.G. Road, Chennai.
OR
You are Nalini/Vishal, Hostel Warden, Zenith Public School, Kosikalan. Write a letter to the Sales Manager, Bharat Electronics and Domestic appliances Limited, New Delhi, placing an order for a few fens, microwave ovens and geysers that you wish to purchase for the hostel. Also ask for the discount permissible on the purchase.
Answer :
12 M.G. Road,
Chennai
13th December, 2014 The Editor The Hindu
Subjects : Havoc created by Stray Animals Dear Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the attention, of the concerned authorities towards the havoc created by the stray animals in the city. These animals are left to roam during the busy hours of the day, resulting in huge traffic jams, due to which the public has to face a lot of problem. Sometimes, accidents also take place, as they appear suddenly in front of moving vehicles. The concerned authorities have already been notified but no action has been taken yet. The issue needs to be addressed at the earliest, in order to avoid any such inconvenience and mishaps.
Thank you
Yours Sincerely,
Shantha
OR
Zenith Public School Kosi Kalan
25th May, 2014 The Sales Manager
Bharat Electronics and Domestic Appliances Ltd.
New Delhi
Subject: Placing an order for Electronic Appliances Dear Sir,
We need to purchase some electronic items for the school hostel. The list of items is as follows :
Item
1. Ceiling fans
2. Microwave ovens 5
3. Geysers 6
All the items should be properly checked and delivered at the school hostel between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please make sure to give the necessary discount permissible on every item. The payment will be done through cheque only after the delivery of the items.
Thank You Yours Sincerely,
Nalini
(Hostel Warden)

SECTION-C

Question.8. Answer the following in 30-40 words each:
(b) The poet says, ‘And yet, for these children, these windows, not this map, their world’. Which world do these children belong to? Which world is inaccessible to them ?
Answer:
Through these words, the poet is conveying the message that the children dwelling in the slums have no idea of the outer world. They are living a dark, gloomy life, with no future or hope. The world map hanging in their classroom is meaningless to them. They have the view of the outer world only though these windows of the classroom. So, these windows should be much bigger, so that the children may be able to come out of them.

Question.9. Answer the following in 30-40 words each:
(a) WTtat did M. Hamel tell them about the French language?
What did he ask them to do and why ?
Answer:
It was, the last day of M. Hamel in the school and he told them, the importance of French language. He praised the language as the most beautiful and sweetest language of the world. If one keeps his language with him, he cah liberate himself from any type of slavery.

CBSE Previous Year Solved  Papers  Class 12 English Delhi 2016

Time allowed : 3 hours                                                                                           Maximum Marks: 100
General Instructions :

1. This paper is divided into three sections : A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them faithfully.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

SET I

SECTION —A
(READING)

Question. 1. Read the passage given below:

1. Maharana Pratap ruled over Mewar only for 23 years. However, he accomplished so much grandeur during his reign that his glory surpassed the boundaries of countries and time turning him into an immortal personality. He along with his kingdom became a synonym for valour, sacrifice and patriotism. Mewar had been a leading Rajput kingdom even before Maharana Pratap occupied the throne. Kings of Mewar, with the cooperation of their nobles and subjects, had established such traditions in the kingdom, as augmented their magnificence despite the hurdles of having a smaller area under their command and less population. There did come a few thorny occasions when.the flag of the kingdom seemed sliding down. Their flag once again heaved high in the sky thanks to the gallantry and brilliance of the people of Mewar.
2. The destiny of Mewar was good in the sense that barring a few kings, most of the rulers were competent and patriotic. This glorious tradition of the kingdom almost continued for 1500 years since its establishment, right from the reign of Bappa Rawal. In fact only 60 years before Maharana Pratap, Rana Sanga drove the kingdom to the pinnacle of fame/ His reputation went beyond Rajasthan and reached Delhi. Two generations before him, Rana Kumbha had given a new stature to the kingdom through victories and developmental work. During his reign, literature and art also progressed extraordinarily. Rana himself was inclined towards writing and his works are read with reverence even today. The ambience of his kingdom was conducive to the creation of high quality work of art and literature. These accomplishments were the outcome of a longstanding tradition sustained by several generations.
3. The life of the people of Mewar must have been peaceful and prosperous during the long span of time; otherwise such extraordinary accomplishment in these fields would not have been possible. This is reflected in their art and literature as well as their loving nature. They compensate for lack of admirable physique by their firm but pleasant nature. The ambience of Mewar remains lovely thanks to the cheerful and liberal character of its people.
4. One may observe astonishing pieces of workmanship not only in the forts and palaces of Mewar but also in public utility buildings. Ruins of many structures which are still standing tall in their grandeur are testimony to the fact that Mewar was not only the land of the brave but also a seat of art and culture. Amidst aggression and bloodshed, literature and art flourished and creative pursuits of literature and artists did not suffer. Imagine, how glorious the period must have been when the Vijaya Stambha which is the sample of our great ancient architecture even today, was constructed. In the same fort, Kirti Stambha is standing high, reflecting how liberal the then administration was which allowed people from other communities and kingdoms to’ come and carry out construction work. It is useless to indulge in the debate whether the Vijay Stambha was constructed first or the Kirti Stambha. The fact is that both the capitals are standing side by side and reveal the proximity between the king and the subjects of Mewar.
5. The cycle of time does not remain the same. Where as the reign of Rana Sanga was crucial in raising the kingdom to the acme of glory, it also proved to be his nemesis. History took a turn. The fortune of Mewar the land of the brave, started waning. Rana tried to save the day with his acumen which was running against the stream and the glorious traditions for sometime.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage answer each of the questions given below with the help of the options that follow:
(a) Maharana Pratap became immortal because:
(i) he ruled Mewar for 25 years
(ii) he added a lot of grandeur to Mewar
(iii) of his valour, sacrifice and patriotism
(iv) both (ii) and (iii)
(b) Difficulties in the way of Mewar were :
(i) lack of cooperation the nobility
(ii) ancient traditions of the kingdom
(iii) its small area and small population
(iv) the poverty of the subjects ‘
(c) During.thomy occasions:
(i) the flag of Mewar seemed to be lowered
(ii) the flag of Mewar was hoisted high
(iii) the people of Mewar showed gallantry
(iv) most of the rulers heaved a sigh of relief
(d) Mewar was lucky because : *
(i) all of its rulers were competent
(ii) most of its people were competent
(iii) most of its rulers were competent
(iv) only a few of its people were incompetent
Answer the following questions briefly:
(e) Who is the earliest King of’Mewar mentioned in the passage ?
(f) What was Rana Kumbha’s contribution to the glory of Mewar ?
(g) What does the writer find worth admiration in the people of Mewar ?
(h) How could art and literature flourish in Mewar ?
(i) How did the rulers show that they cared for their subjects ?
(j) What does the erection of Vijaya Stambha and Kirti Stambha in the same fort signify ?
(k) Find words from the passage which mean the same as each of the following :
(i) surprising (para 4)
(ii) evidence (para 4)
Answer. (a) (ii) be added a lot of grandeur to Mewar
(b) (iii) its small area and small population
(c) (i) the flag of Mewar seemed to be lowered
(d) (iii) most of its rulers were competent
(e) Bappa Rawal was the earliest king of Mewah
(f) Rana Kumbha had given a new stature to the kingdom through victories and development work. During his reign, literature and art also progressed extraordinarily. Rana himself was inclined towards writing and his works are read with reverence today.
(g) The people of Mewar are loving, cheerful, liberal, peaceful, prosperous and have pleasant nature. According to the writet, these are the qualities that make them worth admiration.
(h) During Rana Kumbha’s reign, literature and art progressed extraordinarily. The peaceful and prosperous atmosphere of his kingdom was suitable for the creation of high quality work of literatrure and art. The king himself countributed to literature. Even amidst wars and bloodshed literature and art flourished. .
(i) By building Vijaya Stambha and Kirti Stambha side by side, rulers revealed the proximity between the king and subjects of Mewar.
(j) Vijaya Stambha is the sample of our great ancient
architecture even today. Kirti Stambha reflects how liberal the then administration was which allowed people from other communities and kingdoms to come and carry out construction work.
(k) (i) astonishing (ii) testimony

Question.2. Read the passage given below:

1. To ensure its perpetuity, the ground is well held by the panther both in space and in time. It enjoys a much wider distribution over the globe than its bigger cousins, and procreates sufficiently profusely to ensure its continuity for all time to come.
2. There seems to be no particular breeding season of the panther, although its sawing and caterwauling is more frequently heard during winter and summer. The gestation period is about ninety to hundred days (Whipsnade, ninety-two days). The litter normally consists of four cubs, rarely five. Of these, generally two survive and not more than one reaches maturity. I have never come across more than two cubs at the heels of the mother. Likewise, graziers in the forest have generally found only two cubs hidden away among rocks, hollows of trees, and other impossible places.
3. Panther cubs are generally in evidence in March. They are born blind. This is a provision of Nature against their drifting away from the place of safety in which they are lodged by their mother, and exposing themselves to the danger of their being devoured by hyenas, jackals, and other predators. They generally open their eyes in about three to four weeks.
4. The mother alone rears its cubs in seclusion. It keeps them out of the reach of the impulsive and impatient male. As a matter of fact the mother separates from the male soon after mating and forgets all about their tumultuous union. The story that the male often looks in to find out how the mother is progressing with her cubs has ho foundation except in what we wish it should do at least.
5. The mother carries its cubs about by holding them by the scruff of their neck in its mouth. It trains them to stalk, and teaches them how to deliver the bite of death to the prey. The cubs learn to treat all and sundry with suspicion at their mother’s heels. Instinctively the cubs seek seclusion, keep to cover and protect their flanks by walking along the edge of the forest.
6. I have never had an opportunity to watch mother panther train its cubs. But in Pilibhit forests, I once saw a tigress giving some lessons to its little ones. I was sitting over its kill at Mala. As the sun set, the tigress materialised in the twilight behind my machan. For about an hour, it scanned and surveyed the entire area looking and listening with the gravest concern. It even went to the road where my elephant was awaiting my signal. The mahout spotted it from a distance and drove the elephant away.
7. When darkness descended upon the scene and all was well and safe the tigress called its cubs by emitting a low haa-oon. The cubs, two in number and bigger than a full- grown cat, soon responded. They came trotting up to their mother and hurried straight to the kill in indecent haste. The mother spitted at them so furiously that they doubled back its heels immediately. Thereafter, the mother and its cubs sat under cover about 50 feet (15 m) away from the kill to watch, wait, look, and listen. After about half an hour’s patient and fidgetless vigil the mother seemed to say ‘paid for’. At this signal, the cobs cautiously advanced, covering their flanks, towards the kill. No longer did they make a beeline for it, as they had done before.
8. The mother sat watching its cubs eat, and mounted guard on them. She did not partake of the meal.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow:
(a) To protect its cubs the mother panther hides them :
(i) among rocks (ii) in the branches of the trees
(iii) behind the tree trunks (iv) at its heels
(b) The male panther :
(i) is protective of its cubs (ii) trains its cubs
(iii) watches the progress of the mother
(iv) is impulsive and impatient
Answer the following questions briefly:
(c) How many cubs does the mother panther rarely deliver ?
(d) What may happen if the panther cubs are not born blind ?
(e) Why did the mahaut drive his elephant away ?
(f) Why did the tigress spit at its cubs ?
(g) From the narrators observation what do we learn about the nature of the tigress ?
(h) Why does the panther not face the risk of extinction ?
(i) Find words from the passage which mean the same as
each of the following :
(i) moving aimlessly (para 3)
(ii) came down/fell (para 7)
Answer.
(a) (i) among rocks
(b) (iv) is impulsive and impatient
(c) The mother panther delivers litter of four cubs, rarely five.
(d) If the panther cubs are not blind they drift away from the place of safety in which they are lodged by their mother.
(e) The mahaut drove away his elephant to protect it from the tigress.
(f) The mother tigress spitted at it cubs to call them back to its heels and watch the prey carefully, instead of running towards it in haste.
(g) The tigress is very protective about her cubs. She rears them alone without the help of the male. She trains them to hunt and guards them, while they eat.
(h) The panther does not face the risk of extinction because it procreates sufficiendy and profusely to ensure its continuity for all time to come.
(i) Moving aimlessly-drifting
(ii) came down/fell-descend

Question.3. Read the passage given below :
People tend to amass possessions, sometimes without being aware of doing so. They can have a delightful surprise when they find something useful which they did not know they owned. Those who never have to change house become indiscriminate collectors of what can only be described as clutter. They leave unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years in the belief that they may one day need them. Old people also accumulate belongings for two other reasons, lack of physical and mental energy, and sentiment. Things owned for a long time are-full of associations with the past, perhaps with the relatives who are dead, and so they gradually acquire a sentimental value.
Some things are collected deliberately in an attempt to avoid wastage. Among these are string and brown paper, kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened. Collecting small items can be a mania. A lady cuts out from newspapers sketches of model clothes that she would like to buy if she had money. As she is not rich, the chances are that she will never be able to afford such purchases. It is a harmless habit, but it litters up her desk.
Collecting as a serious hobby is quite different and has many advantages. It provides relaxation for leisure hours, as just looking at one’s treasure is always a joy. One doesn’t have to go out for amusement as the collection is housed at home. Whatever it consists of- stamps, records, first editions of books, china-there is always something to do in connection with it, from finding the right place for the latest addition to verifying facts in reference books. This hobby educates one not only in the chosen subject, but also in general matters which have some bearing on it.
There are other benefits also. One gets to meet like-minded collectors to get advice, compare notes, exchange articles, to show off one’s latest find etc. So one’s circle of friends grows. Soon the hobby leads to travelling, perhaps a meeting in another town, possibly a trip abroad in search of a rare specimen, for collectors are not confined to one country. Over the years one may well become an authority on one’s hobby and will probably be asked to give informal talks to little gatherings and then, if successful, to larger audiences.
(a) On the basis of your understanding of the above passage make notes on it, using headings and subheadings. Use recognisable abbreviations (wherever necessary – minimum four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it.
(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words.
Answer. (a) Title: Collection-Advantage or dis-advantage 1. Notes .
(i) Consequences
(a) PpL can hv delightful surprises
(b) Become indiscriminate collectors
(c) Senti values
(ii) Reaons
(a) To avoid wastage (b) Mania
(c) Lack of physical and mental energy in the case of old people.
(iii) Advantages
(a) Relaxation
(b) doesn’t hv to go out for amusement
(c) educates
(iv) Other benefits
(a) One may meet like-minded collectors
(b) frid circle grows
(c) hobby leads to travelling
Abbreviations Used
Hv have
Ppl people
Senti sentimental
Frnd friend
(b) Summary
People sometimes collect things due to various reasons which may be related to their need, lack of energy or sentimental value. Sometimes collection may be done to avoid wastage which later becomes mania. But it has many advantages too. It relaxes, amuses and educates. It has additional benefits where one may meet like-minded collectors to get advice, compare notes, exchange articles, to show off one’s latest find. As a result their friend circle grows bigger. In fact, hobby further leads to travelling.

SECTION B
(WRITING SKILLS)

Question.4. Principal, Sunrise Global School, Agra requires a receptionist for her school. Draft a suitable advertisement in about 50 words to be published in the classified columns of a national newspaper giving all the necessary details of qualifications and experience required in the receptionist.
OR
Water supply will be suspended for eight hours (10 am to 6 pm) on 6th of March for cleaning of the water tank. Write a notice in about 50 words advising the residents to store water for a day. You are Karan Kumar/Karuna Bajaj, Secretary, Janata Group Housing Society, Pal am Vihar, Kumool.
Answer.

OR

Question.5. Yesterday you went to Sunrise Hospital, Market Road, New Delhi taking with you the victin of a hit and run accident. There were chaotic conditions in the casualty department. The injured was attended to after a lot of precious time had been lost.
Write a letter of complaint in 120-150 words to the Medical Superintendent. You are Karan/Kauma, M114, Mall Road, Delhi. 
OR
Lack of job opportunities in the rural areas is forcing people to migrate to cities. Every big city thus has a number of slums in it. Life in these slums is miserable.
Write a letter in 120-150 words to the editor of a national newspaper on how we can improve the living conditions in these slums. You are Karan/Karuna, M 114, Mall Road, Delhi.
Answer.
M-l 14, Mall Road
Delhi
20th March, 20XX
The Medical Superintendent
Sunrise Hospital, Market Road
New Delhi
Subject: Chaotic conditions in the casualty department Dear Sir,
I, Karuna, a resident of New Delhi want to bring to your notice the conditions of the Sunrise hospital. Yesterday while I was going to my office I witnessed a person lying on the road in a pool of blood. There was crowd all around him. On enquiry I came to know that he was hit by an unidentified vehicle and no body took pain to take him to the hospital. So I brought him to your hospital where I was further shocked to see the pathetic condition of the casualty ward. The corridors were full of people where there was smell of medicines and cotton dabs were thrown away on the floor. I requested the doctor on duty to attend the patient immediately to avoid any mishap but was asked to file the police complaint first. The patient was Jeft unattended for about an hour during which he lost ample amount of blood which could have been proved to be fatal. Later when all the formalities were completed, the doctor came to see him and by God’s grace his life was saved. Then again drugs were administered in an inappropriate way by the staff who came only after being reminded. I think this negligence would cost anyone’s life someday. So I request you to be more vigilant towards the working of the hospital.
Yours truly
Karuna
OR
M-114, Mall Road
Delhi
20th March, 20xx
The Editor
Times of India
New Delhi
Subject: improvisation of the living conditions in slums Dear Sir,
Through the esteemed columns of your prestigious newspaper, I would like to highlight the quality of life of the people living in slums. Each family consists of six to seven members who share a single room. Their children can be seen playing on the heaps of garbage and breeding grounds of flies, mosquitoes and cockroaches. Sincere efforts are required to improve the physical, social and economic conditions of these slum dwellers.
Practical action should be taken by providing access to clean drinking water, proper health and sanitation facilities, waste management services and better housing facilities. Slum upgrading should be a major part of the government agenda to alleviate the poor living standards of the people.
But unless government takes action, there can be no sustainable solution to the housing challenges. Most of the governments are not doing much for this for a number of reasons which may include low incentives, less financial resources, lack of provision of any such reform due to their short term electoral period. But NGCs,training institutes, local residents, community groups can join hands together with government to eradicate the miseries of slum dwellers.
Hope my letter would find a place in your newspaper.
Yours Truly
Karuna

Question.6. ‘The policy of reservation of seats for admission to the professional course? is good for the deprived Sections of society.’
Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against the motion.
OR
Write a speech in 150-200 words on ‘Benefits of early rising’ to be delivered by you in the morning assembly of your school. You are Karuna/ Karan, Head Girl/Head Boy.
Answer . ‘Policy of reservation of seats to the professional courses’
Good morning, respected judges and the esteemed audience. The topic of today’s debate is ’Policy of reservation of seats to the professional courses’. I, Karuna stand before you to speak against the motion.
According to the Indian constitution, reservation in all the fields whether education, jobs or any other place, has been made to bring under previleged classes at par with privileged or general ones. There are numerous reservations like reservation for women, reservation for physically challenged; reservation for economically backward class, reservation for scheduled castes, etc. But I believe that this leads to further discrimination in the society. It had started with a very good objective of uplifting the socially backward society to give them equal opportunities. But with time its meaning has been changed and the aim of starting it lost. People are taking undue advantage of it. This has resulted in widespread protests and counter protests as. it has affected thousands of job and admission opportunities. The students securing 80 or 90 percent sometimes lag behind the underprivileged who secure only 40 or 50 percent for taking admission in the vocational or professional courses. It denies the equality of opportunity to those who not belong to backward communities. They are denied admissions even though they have secured good percentage. This would also perpetuate caste feeling among people and hamper national unity. Also the reservation system in India is creating a manpower which is not able to compete at the global level. India needs people who can work for the growth and development but reservation is raising undeserving candidates at higher positions. So I think reservation system should be demolished.
OR
‘Benefits of early rising’
Honorable Principal,respected teachers and dear friends, Good Morning! I am Karuna, Head Girl of the school; it is a great opportunity for me to share my views on the topic ‘Benefits of early rising’ in today’s assembly.
We derive pleasure from many things, people, and places in our life. One such pleasure is when we get up early in the morning. It gives a good start to our day’s work. The air we breathe is so fresh that it refreshes our whole day. One should not miss the wonderful art of nature- the rising of sun from the dark color of midnight and gradually turning brighter, spreading its vibrant colors in the sky. This glory can’t be explained in words. We come into close contact with nature when we hear the chirping of birds, raw green trees, flowers and leaves dancing. There is no chaos in the early morning and we can easily concentrate on our studies. It is well said that whatever we learn in the early hours is learnt quickly and our mind retains that forever. Early morning meditation helps in keeping our body and soul fit. Breakfast, the most important meal of the day can be taken up timely. Besides many other things, one may get enough time to exercise which keeps the body energetic and fit throughout #the day. Then our productivity and capacity to do work also increases. There is no distraction in the morning hours in case we want to indulge in some creative writing. To sum up, I can say that I have full faith in the saying, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy and wise.

Question.7. India is a land of diversity. One way in which it makes us feel proud of it is the number of festivals we enjoy. Write an article in 150-200 words on ‘Festivals of India’. You are Karuna/Karan.
OR
Rising pollution, fast and competitive lifestyle, lack of nutritious food etc. have caused health woes for a large section of our population. Providing health care used to be a charitable and ethical activity. Tpday it has become commercialized, a money spinning business. Write an article in 150-200 words on How to provide proper health care to the common man’. You are Karan/Karuna.
Answer. ‘Festivals of India’
By Karuna
India is a land of colors. It is a country populated by the people of many castes, religions, faiths, communities, languages and creeds. Therefore, many festivals, celebrations, social and cultural gatherings, fairs take place every year. India is said to be a country which is full of pleasures, joys and festivities. Throughout the year we celebrate many festivals. They represent the grandeur of the country. These are the occasions when families gather at one place and celebrate happy moments. Festivals are-celebrated throughout the year and people await these festivals with great enthusiasm. These have an important . place in the hearts of Indians as they believe that the fasts on these occasions purify their soul and help them lead a problem free life. Some festivals are celebrated all over India and people celebrate them irrespective of their status and social position. These include Diwali, Holi and Dusshera. Each festival has its religious value and contains some mythology behind it. For example, Dusshera is celebrated on account of victory of good over evil and when God Ram killed Ravana. Similarly, Janmashtami has also a social and religious significance as Lord Krishna was born to kill all the demons fron the earth. Thus, each and every festival has its own value which teaches people to come closer and forget all their differences.
OR
‘How to provide proper healthcare to the common man’
By Karuna
A large section of our population is suffering from the physical as well as mental problems like illness, fever, injury, epilepsy, learning disability, etc. Women have problems related to pregnancy and childbirth, children do require immunization against common diseases. Most of these health woes have been the result of our changing life style, rising pollution, Tack of nutrition value in food. Hence, they require access to health care facilities and treatment. Unfortunately, health services are often planned without consulting the community members. To meet the necessities of the people for accessible, affordable services, community members should be consulted and involved in their planning. Health centers should be more vigilant. Most people prefer home remedial measures and go to the hospital or refer to a doctor only when the situation is beyond their control. But it’s not necessary that they go to a well-qualified doctor, they may approach local pharmacist or traditional healers. Therefore, it is necessary that the health sector must intervene and create awarness among the people. Health care facilities should be within the reach of common man. Government’s investment in public health care is very low. As a result, many hospitals run by the government do not provide sufficient medical facilities. Therefore improvements are required in . this sector and it is a positive thing that the government is now planning to allocate more funds for the renovation of hospitals.

SECTION — C
(Literature : Text Book and Long Reading Text)

Question.8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness; but will keep
A bower quiet,for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
(a) Whose loveliness will keep on increasing ?
(b) Identify the phrase which says that ‘it’ is immortal:
(c) What is a ‘bower’ ?
(d) Why do we need sweet dreams, health and quiet breathing in our lives ?
OR
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 does the phrase, ‘familiar ache’ mean ?
(b) What was the poet’s childhood fear ?
(c) What do the hirst two lines tell us about the poet’s feelings for her mother ?
(d) What does the repeated use of the word, ‘smile’ mean ?
Answer . (a) Loveliness of anything that is beautiful keeps on increasing. It gives us immense joy,unending and everlasting pleasure.
(b) “It will never pass into nothingness” is the phrase which says that it is immortal.
(c) “Bower” literary means leafy shelter which here refers to the sweet dreams which consists of all beautiful objects that revive during our sleep when we are tired or troubled. We love to relive these joyous memories.
(d) We need sweet dreams, health and quiet breathing in our lives as they refresh us and give eternal joy and remove our sorrows and sufferings. Thus, we want to remain bound to the earth.
OR 
(a) By the phrase familiar ache’ the poet means the pain which she had already felt in her childhood. The pain was due to the fear of getting separated from her mother and the realization that she had not cared for her. She suppressed it by smiling again and again at her and promising to meet her soon.
(b) The poet’s childhood fear was that as her mother was old and had pale and colorless face, she might not live very long and that she might lose her someday.
(c) The poet had the childhood fear that she would lose her mother soon. She possessed the same fear while going away from her. But she did not say anything to her except the optimistic note ‘see jou soon Amma’. She gave her a cheerful farewell.
(d) The word ‘smile’ has been repeated to show that in order to drive her fearful thought of separating from her mother, she puts on a false smile. Secondly, she gives moral support to her mother by promising to meet her soon. She tries to hide her feeling by smiling again and again.

Question.9. Answer any four of the following in 30-40 words each:
(a) Describe the irony in Saheb’s name.
(b) Why was Gandhiji opposed to C.E Andrews helping him in Champaran ?
(e) When he was only ten days old, a prediction was made about the future of the Tiger King. What was ironic about it?
(f) What was his father’s chief concern about Dr. Sadao ?
Answer . (a) Saheb’s full name was Saheb-E-Alam means the ‘Lord of the Universe’. The irony in his name was that he was a poor rag picker who did not even have the chappals to wear. He walked on the streets barefooted to earn his living and looked into the garbage for gold coins or something to survive his days.
(b) Gandhiji was opposed to C.F. Andrews helping him in Champaran because he wanted the Indians to be self-dependent and self-reliant in their struggle against injustice. He told him that Indians were strong enough to fight their own battle and had the capability to win it. Therefore, Gandhiji refused his help.
(e) When The Tiger King’ was only ten days old, the chief astrologer predicted that the death of the prince would result from a tiger. So when he grew up, he killed hundred tigers without knowing that the hundredth tiger didn’t die of his bullet. Ironically, the King died because of a wooden toy tiger.
(f) Sadao’s education had been his father’s chief concern. At the age of twenty two, he sent his son to America to learn about surgery and medicine. He came up to his father’s expectations. By the time his father died. Sadao had established himself as a famous surgeon as well as a scientist.

Question.10. Answer the following question in 120-150 words:
Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it. Describe how regretful M. Hamel and the village elders are for having neglected their native language, French.
OR
Teachers always advise their students to dream big. Yet, the same teachers in your classrooms find built with Sophie when she dreams. What is wrong with Sophie’s dreams ?
Answer. There is no doubt that our language is a part of our culture and we feel proud of it. But the true value of it can be realized only when the freedom of speaking it, is taken away from us.
The story ‘The Last Lesson’ depicts the pathos of the whole situation, how people feel in not learning their language and losing an asset in M. Hamel. One day Franz, oneofthe students came unwillingly to the school and noticed that everything was still and as quiet as Sunday morning. There was an order from Berlin that French would not be taught furthermore in the schools a/id instead German was to be taught. This news shocked everyone. All the villagers gathered in the classroom to attend their last French lesson and to mark their respect for the French teacher, M. Hamel, who was going to deliver his last speech in French. They sat on the back benches with the students. They felt sorry that they had not attended the school. And thanked Hamel for his faithful service.
To honor his French lesson, M. Hamel also put on his fine Sunday clothes. His behavior changed to kindness. He told his students that it was the most beautiful and logical language and they should not forget it.
OR
It is a natural thing for teenagers to dream. They don’t have much liabilities and burden at this stage of life so they are free to dream. It is a part of their life but sometimes these dreams are impractical and non-realistic and when they are shattered, they cause a lot of pain.
In the story ‘Going Places’, the author has described the feelings and dreams of a girl, Sophie, who was a school-going teenager. She was a day dreamer and fantasizes that she had met with “Danny Casey, a football player from Ireland. She dreamt of having met him twice in the arcade. For her, he was hero to be worshipped. She went to the place where she thought he would meet her and when he didn’t turn up she felt disappointed. Then she thought of owning a boutique, becoming a manager, a fashion designer or an actress irrespective of thinking about her socio economic status.She had no thought about where the money would come for opening a boutique. She was blind to the bitter truth of life. She dreamt of an imaginary life, full of beautiful things. It can be said that she wanted to lead a lavish and grand life which was not possible. She was over ambitious. Her dreams were unrealistic in the sense that ultimately she would have to work in a biscuit factory.

Question.11. Answer the following question in 120-150 words :
Deny sneaked into Mr. Lamb’s garden and it became a turning point in his life. Comment.
OR
How did Jo want the Roger Shunk story to end ? Why?
Answer. Derry sneaked into Mr. Lamb’s garden and it became a turning point in his life. Before that Derry used to live an isolated life. He did not like meeting with people or socializing. The reason was his burnt face, seeing which the people often got terrified. He began leading a secluded life.
Meeting Mr. Lamb brought a change in his life.His attitude I towards life was completely changed. Mr. Lamb gave him
confidence and supported him morally as he was physically i impaired like him. He had a tin leg because the original one was blown off in the war. He told Derry that he was not affected
I by the people’s sarcastic remarks. He motivated Derry to face
I the challenges of life and not to lament over his burnt face,
According to him, he was lucky to have two arms, two legs, ears, eyes and tongue. He could do far better than others.
All these preaching left an impression on Derry and now he started looking at things and world differently. He began to help Mr. Lamb with crab apples and developed a positive attitude towards life.
OR
Jack used to tell his little daughter Jo bedtime stories. As soon as she grew older, she began to ask questions from her father. Once her father told her a story of a little animal called Skunk who smelled awfully bad. He therefore met with a wizard who solved his problem with magic wand and made him smell like
roses. But Skunks mother did not like it and took him back to the wizard to smell awfully bad once again.
This ending was not acceptable to Jo as she wanted the story to have another end in which the wizard should hit the mommy with his magic wand and chopping off her arms ‘forcibily’ Jo thought that Roger was the hero of the story so he must not look ugly or stinky. Jo’s perspective on life was different from her father’s. She wanted to change the end of the story to assert her views on het father. She had her own ideals and views which she wanted to be pursued.

Question.12. Answer the following question in 120-150 words 
What do we learn about Mrs. Hall and Griffin from their first interaction at Coach and Horses inn ?
OR .
What kind of life did Silas lead before coming to Raveloe ?
Answer . Mrs. Hall was the owner of the inn ‘Coach and Horses’. She was a friendly woman who socialized with her guests easily. She was very excited when Griffin came to stay at her inn as she was not expecting anyone in such a harsh winter. She tried to be the best host. Although she was rebuked by Griffin many times when she tried to help him with his coat and hat, she did not give up. She attributed his behavior to an accident which he had met. She was a curious woman who wanted to know -what had happened to him and why was he wearing the bandages all over his face. She showed her full sympathy to him and tolerated him as he was paying a handsome sum as rent. It can be concluded that she was a credulous, somewhat irresponsible (in believing the stranger even without confirming his identity) about her family’s well-being
Griffin was a man without any humanity. He was a gifted young student,but he misused his talent and knowledge. He found Mrs. Hall’s inn the suitable place to carry on with his experiments. But he was not interested in advancing any conversation with Mrs. Hall. We can say that he was very rude towards her. He kept all his intentions and designs to himself. He had a mysterious nature. He didn’t want anyone to know his secret mission. He did not have any regard for relations and society.
OR
Silas had come to Raveloe fifteen years earlier from a city to the North. Before that he was a faithful member of a religious sect in the Lantern Yard. He had been an exceptionally bright and fervent young disciple. The religious community had a great regard for him. His fits were regarded there as a mark of special closeness to the Holy spirit. He hadfull faith in humanity and God. He was a simple man who wanted to live within himself or in other words he was an introvert. He had a close friend named William Dane, and he was engaged to a serving girl, Sarah. Later on he is betayed by William who accusses him of theft unjustly and marries Silas, fiancee. As a result he loses faith in God and settles in Raveloe.

Question. 13. Answer the following question in 120-150 words :
Everyone who conies into contact with Griffin suffers. Attempt a character sketch of Griffin in the light of this remark,
OR
Attempt a character sketch of Nancy Lammeter.
Answer. Griffin is the protagonist of the novel. The Invisible Man actually, was a scientist who was doing experiments to change a human being into invisible man by changing the refractive index of human body. He proved to be the trouble to whomsoever he came in contact with. First, it was his father who became his victim. He robbed him which drove him to commit suicide. Then he carried on his experiments of converting a human body into invisible on the neighbour’s cat. On being caught by his landlord and in order to hide from . him, he set his building on fire. He stole clothes from a theatre shop and then dodged Mrs. Hall, the owner of the inn ‘Coach and Horses’. There also when his progress slowed down and he needed more money to pay the ’bill to the pub owner, he burgled the house of Reverend Bunting.
He asked for help from a tramp, Mr. Thomas Marvel who assisted him many times but he proved to be cleverer than Griffin and ran away with Griffin’s stolen money. Griffin followed him to the town of Burdock where he met his old schoolmate, Dr. Kemp. He tried to take him in confidence and asked him to be his partner in ‘Reign of Terror’ to which Kemp refused. So Griffin thought of killing him,in order to take the revenge but didn’t succeed. Although he became the victim of circumstances but he remained troublesome for everyone who came in contact with him.
OR
Nancy was a pretty woman who did not change at all in the past sixteen years. She was a good country girl who came from a wealthy family of Raveloe. As a young girl she was very charming and graceful.Her maturity was reflected through the truthful glance of her eyes. She was a pure hearted person. She had high and strict principles. She did not care to be associated with any person of poor reputation. She lived her life according to her own. She proved to be a loving and caring wife who was fully satisfied with her married life. She was not willing to adopt a child but she even didn’t want to disappoint Godfrey, her husband. When she came to know that Eppie was her husband’s real daughter she showed love and sympathy to her rather than disapproving or rebuking Godfrey. She respected the village customs and was responsible for taking up duties as the mistress of Red House when Godfrey was following the departing congregation. She was not too much sophisticated or educated. After marrying Godfrey, her life became organized and purposeful. She found peace and satisfaction in her life and wanted to continue the same for the rest of her life only.

SET II

Note : Except for the following questions, all the remaining questions have been asked in previous sets.

SECTION — B
(WRITING SKILLS)

Question.4. You need to buy a flat. Draft a suitable advertisement in about 50 words to be published in the classified columns of a local newspaper giving all the necessary details of your requirement. You are Karan/Karuna, M 114, Mall Road, Delhi. 
OR
Sunrise Global School, Agra is going to organize a one- act play competition in the school auditorium. You have decided to invite noted stage artiste, Nalini to grace the occasion. Draft a formal invitation for her in about 50 words. You are Karuna/Karan, Cultural Secretary.
Answer.

OR
Sunrise Global School Agra
15th May, 2016.
Nalini
Abhilasha Vihar
Delhi
Subject: Invitation to preside over one-act play competition. Dear Ma’am,
Our school is going to organize a one-act play competition in the school auditorium. A number of students are likely to participate in this competition. We shall be highly honored if you will grace the occasion with your presence on the 30th of June, 2016 at 2 pm. ”
R.S. V.P .
Karan
(Cultural Secretary)
Sunrise Global School
Agra

Question.5. Park Lane, Chanakyapuram, Mysore is proud of having four reputed public schools in close proximity to each other. In the morning and afternoon there is a heavy traffic along the road and hundreds of student are put to a lot of inconvenience.
Write a letter in 120-150words to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) describing the problem. Suggest a few measures to regulate the traffic. You are Karuna Shetty/ Karan Kumar, Principal, Sunrise Global School.
OR
Write an application (including a resume) in 120-150 ‘ words for the post of receptionist advertised in a national newspaper by JKL Publishers, Peshwa Road, Pune. You are Karuna, M 114 Mall Road, Pune, a graduate from SNDT University and have done a Secretarial Practice Course from YWCA, Mumbai.
Answer.
Sunrise Global School,
Park Lane, Chanakyapuram,
Mysore .
1st March, 2016
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Chanakyapuram,
Mysore
Dear Sir/Madam,
Subject: Traffic congestion on the road surrounding schools.
I wish to bring to your attention the poor traffic management on the road surrounding schools, which causes great inconvenience. There are four reputed public schools in the ambit of the area. In the morning, the movement of the school transport, staff vehicles and the vehicles of the parents, who come to drop their children, along with the general traffic, creates a huge chaos on the road. The same chaos could be witnessed in the afternoon. The situation gets worse when .the traffic lights don’t work. The children, who come from the nearby areas, find it difficult to cross the roads and face huge risk. The, safety of the children is of utmost importance for the schools. I would request you to please avoid traffic police on different points of the roads around the schools, so as to avoid traffic jams. Also, a regular check of the traffic lights would help in reducing inconvenience. The schools are also planning to.arrange traffic rules awareness workshop for their respective staff, parents and children. I request you to look into the matter and solve the issue at the earliest.
Yours Sincerely Karan Kumar (Principal)
Sunrise Global School
OR
Ml 14, Mall Road
Pune
1st March, 2016
JKL Publishers Peshwa Road
Pune
Subject: Application for the post of Receptionist.
I have done my graduation from SNDT University and a Secretarial Practive Course from YWCA, Mumbai. I have been working as a receptionist with Gupta & Sons Textilies Ltd. since March, 2014. I have proven record of meeting my goals by accepting all challenges throughout my professional career.
My resume has been attached herewith. If I can provide you with any further information regarding my background and qualifications, please let me know.
I will be looking forward to hear from you soon.
Yours faithfully,
Karuna .
Enclosure : Resume and two passport-size photographs
RESUME
Name: Karuna
Father’s Name : Om Prakash Chauhan
Date of Birth: 11-07-1989
Residential Address : Ml 14, Mall Road, Pune
Contact Number : +91 -xxxxxxxxxx
Educational Qualifications : (i) Graduation (SNDT University)
(ii) Secretarial Practice Course (YWCA, Mumbai)
Computer Proficiency : MS Office and Adobe Photoshop.
Experience : Working as Receptionaist with Gupta & Sons Textites Ltd. since March 2014
Salary Expected : Rs. 15,000
Material Status : Unmarried
Hobbies : Traveling, reading and socializing
Languages Known : Hindi and English

Question.6. ‘Rising prices can be controlled only by the government.’
Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against the motion.
OR
Write a speech in 150-200 words on the topic, ‘Library plays an important role at school’. It is to be delivered in the morning assembly. You are Karuna/Karan, Head Girl/
Head Boy.
Answer. ‘Rising prices can be controlled only by the government’
A very good morning to jury members, friends and my fellow opponents. I am Karuna of Std. XII and today, I am going to speak against the motion on the topic ‘Rising prices can be controlled only by the government.” The role of government in an economy, is to announce measures of regulation and control. A government can impose restrictions on hoarding, the export of some items and track prices of limited commodities. However, the execution vests in the custody of the people residing the nation.
It would not be correct to put the blame wholly on the government. The consumer is no less to be blamed for inflation.
Some consumers allow themselves to be robbed for fear of a good supply position and consistently adverse price trends.
Such practices not only deprive the country of much-needed resources but also serve as bad examples for those who cannot afford to pay such high prices. By reducing the demand of a good, its price can be controlled by the consumers, Rising prices or inflation can be controlled by the combined effort of the government and consumers.
Thank you.
OR
Library plays an important role at school Good morning everyone!
Respected Principal teachers and my dear friends, I Karuna, the Head girl of your school, is going to give a short speech on ‘Library plays an important role at school.’ A school library is a place that plays an important role in encouraging innovation and thirst for knowledge. It provides support for learning and teaching throughout the school. The school library exhibits positive impact on the academic, achievement of the student, as it helps in developing the mind of the student. It is integral to the teaching and learning process. ‘
A library at school not only provides academic references but a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, digital, print resources.
It develops the habit of reading for pleasure and to enhance students intellectual, cultural and emotional growth. The school library also provides opportunities to teachers to plan, implement, and evaluate new learning programs. It also plays a critical role in assising the students in compiling, critically analysing and organising information, and then communicing their findings. A school library provides a safe environment that encourages curiosity and imagination. The students become users of information and start to develop a better understanding of the world.
Thank you

SET III

Note : Except for the following questions, all the remaining questions have been asked in previous Sets.

SECTION —B
(WRITING SKILLS)

Question.6.‘The policy of no detention till class VIII is > not in the interest of students.’ Write a debate in 150-200 words either in favour of or against the motion.’
OR
Write a speech in 150-200 words on the topic, ‘A student must know how to manage his time.’ It is to be delivered in the morning assembly. You are Karan/Karuna, Head Boy/ Head Girl of the school.
Answer. A very good morning to jury members, friends, and my fellow opponents. Today, I am going to speak for the motion ‘The policy of no detention till class 8 is not in the interest of the students.’ Firstly, let me tell you what the no-detention policy states. The article states that no child shall be held back in any class or expelled from school till the completion of elementary education. The step was taken to reduce stress and pressure among students, but the policy has led to poor outcomes, as there has hardly been any improvement in the academic standard. It has encouraged negligence and reluctance of children to study. A student develops a carefree and an easy going attitude, with an automatic promotion system up to class 8, and in class 9 he is unable to change his attitude suddenly.
They fail to cope up with the academic pressure and end up doing badly in board exams.
I, therefore, firmly agree that the policy of no detention till class 8 is not in the interest of students, as it gives security of passage to the next class, regardless of a child’s competence to learn higher concepts.
OR
A student must know how to manage his time Here are a few points that will help you in framing your answer,

1.  When life takes a highway and everything seems to be going out of control, the only thing that can bring back the required place in life is time management.
2. Because a students time is so valuable, it is important to use it wisely. This can be done by taking advantage of an idle time that could be spent studying: This could happen during lucnh, on the bus ride to and from school or before A class starts.
3. A student must prioritize what comes first in his life. If a job starts to interfere with school, a student might need to change his work schedule or find a different job.
4. Spending time with friends, family and having fun is
   important to provide a healthy balance. To successfully satisfy their personal life and meet education obligations, students must learn to juggle the two effectively by managing time well.
5. When you get into the habit of procrastinating as a student, you tend to do the same as an adult. Habits that are learned when young are hard to change the older you become. Therefore, develop a sense of responsibility towards your task.

Question.7. India is an emerging economy, We are rich in natural resources. Yet a significant proportion of our people is living below poverty line. One cause of this poverty is our rising population.
Write an article is 150-200 words On ‘How to keep a check on population.’ You are Karuna/Karan.
OR
Women feel unsafe on the road, at their place of work and even at home. There is an urgent need to change the male mindset in its attitude towards women.
Write an article in 150-200 words on ‘How to make women feel safe’. You are Karan/Karuna.
Answer .
How to keep check on population
By Karuna
‘ An economy requires the support of its population to function smoothly. The fact remains intact that India is extremely rich in its natural resources, yet incapable of sustaining its population.
We often ponder over the question. Who is responsible for the imbalance ? Is it the current government ? Is it the lack of facility ? Or is just ignorance ?
The disproportionate distribution of wealth in the country is mostly an outcome of the humongous population, hyperbolically termed as the ‘Population Explosion’. The government, at regular intervals, has introduced birth control schemes and programmes, such as ‘Hum Do Hamare Do’. Such programs have failed tremendously because of the illiterate and religiously guided notions of the people. The only way possible to curb the population is to educate thq Indian population. The beliefs and desirability of having a male child also increases the population, which can be checked by understanding that it is better to facilitate the children in a manner to empower them.
The government can work effectively only when the population understands the fragility and need of the moment.
OR
Here are some points that will help you in framing your answer.

1. We must start to bring up our boys like we bring up our girls, we must teach them respect and empathy for another human being
2. Have severe laws to deal with eve teasers, rapists and molesters
3. Domestic violence against women must not be tolerated implementation of laws has to be quick
4. Give equal opportunities of education and employment to women ‘
5. Teach our girls and women self-defence techniques ‘ increase security at public places
6. Employ special forces at tourist spots to ensure the security of foreign and domestic women tourists

Question.9. Answer any four of the following in 30-40 Words each:
(a) How did his experience at the YMCA swimming pool affect Douglas ?
(b) What hospitality did the peddler receive from the crofter ?
(c) What kind of life was enjoyed by crown prince Jung Bahadur till he reached the age of twenty ?
(d) Where, when and how did Dr. Sadao meet Hana ?
Answer. (a) The experience created a terrible fear in the heart
of Douglas for a long time. This made Douglas all the more afraid of water. The very sight of water made him ill. Douglas decided against playing any water sports.
(b) Unlike the indiferent attitude of the others towards him, the peddler was whole heartedly welcomed by the crofter in his cottage. The crofter at once put the porridge pot on the fire and gave him supper. He gave him a roll of tobacco for his pipe. He also played the game of cards with him.
(c) The British dominance and its effect on the Indian , royalty i? evident in the upbringing of the crown prince Jung Bahadur. He was brought up by an English nanny, drank the milk of an English cow, taught English by an Englishman and saw nothing but English films.
(d) Dr. Sadao met Hana in America af the house of a professor where some foreign students were living. He liked her but waited to fall in love with her untill he was sure she was a pure Japanese.

CBSE Previous Year Solved  Papers  Class 12 English Delhi 2014

Time allowed : 3 hours                                                                                           Maximum Marks: 100
General Instructions :

1. This paper is divided into three sections : A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them faithfully.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

SET I

SECTION-A
(Reading, Writing and Comprehending)

Question.1.Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

1. Too many parents these days can’t say no. As a result, they find themselves raising children who respond greedily to the advertisements aimed right at them. Even getting what they want doesn’t satisfy some kids ; they only want more. Now, a growing number of psychologists, educators and parents think it’s time to stop the madness and start teaching kids about what’s really important: values like hard work, contentment, honesty and compassion. The struggle to set limits has never been tougher – and the stakes have never been higher. One recent study of adults who were overindulged as children, paints a discouraging picture of their future : when given too much too soon, they grow up to be adults who have difficulty coping with life’s disappointments. They also have a distorted sense of entitlement that gets in the way of success in the workplace and in relationships.
2. Psychologists say that parents who overindulge their kids set them up to be more vulnerable to future anxiety and depression. Today’s parents themselves raised on values of thrift and self-sacrifice, grew up in a culture where ‘no’ was a household word. Today’s kids want much more, partly because there is so much more to want. The oldest members of this Generation Excess were born in the late 1980s, just as PCs and video games were making their assault on the family room. They think of MP3 players and flat-screen TVs as essential utilities, and they have developed strategies to get them. One survey of teenagers found that when they crave something new, most expect to ask nine times before their parents give in. By every measure, parents are shelling out record amounts. In the heat of this buying blitz, even parents who desperately need to say no find themselves reaching for their credit cards.
3. Today’s parents aren’t equipped to deal with the problem. Many of them, raised in the 1960s and ‘70s, swore they’d act differently from their parents and have closer relationships with their own children. Many even wear the same designer clothes as their kids and listen to the same music. And they work more hours; at the end of a long week, it’s tempting to buy peace with yes’ and not mar precious family time with conflict. Anxiety about the future is another factor. How do well intentioned parents say no to all the sports gear and arts and language lessons they believe will help their kids thrive in an increasingly competitive world? Experts agree: too much love won’t spoil a child. Too few limits will.
4. What parents need to find, is a balance between the advantages of an affluent society and the critical life lessons that come from waiting, saving and working hard to achieve goals. That search for balance has to start early. Children need limits behaviour because they feel better and more secure when they live within a secured structure. Older children learn self-control by watching how others, especially their parents act. Learning how to overcome challenges, is essential to becoming a successful adult. Few parents ask kids to do chores. They think their kids are already overburdened by social and academic pressures. Every individual can be of service to others, and life has meaning beyond one’s own immediate happiness. That means parents eager to teach values have to take a long, hard look at their own.

(a) Answer the following :
(i) What values do parents and teachers want children to learn ?
(ii) What are the results of giving the children too much too soon ?
(iii) Why do today’s children want more ?
(iv) What is the balance which the parents need to have in today’s world ?
(v) What is the necessity to set limits for children ?
(b) Pick out words from the passage that mean the same as the following:
(i) A feeling of satisfaction (para 1)
(ii) Valuable (para 3)
(iii) Important (para 4)
Answer. (a)
(i) Teachers and parents want children to learn values like hard work, contentment, honesty and compassion.
(ii) Giving children too much too soon brings its own ill- effects; they grow up to be adults and experience difficulty coping with life’s disappointments. As they are likely to develop a distorted sense of entitlement that hinders their success at work place and in relationships.
(iii) Children of present time want more because of increasing desire. Their priorities lies in attaining luxury which they try to acquire through unmitigated strategy.
(iv) In today’s world, there is an exigent need for parents to strike a balance between the advantages of an affluent society and the critical life lessons that come from waiting, saving and working hard to achieve goals.
(v) There is a necessity to set limits for children because they feel better and more assured when they live within a secured structure and aura.
(b) (i) Contentment .
(ii) Precious
(iii) Essential.

Question.2. Read the passage carefully:

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. May be it was the. strange way in which things looked and sounded familiar in my 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 fin 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 neighbourhood. I would scafl 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.
   (a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary.
   (b) Make a summary of the passage in not more than 80 words using the notes made and also suggest a suitable title.

Answer. (a)
1. Recollection of childhood memories
1.1. happy and carefree
1.2. terrified of darkness and getting lost
2. Childhood fears or hallucinating vibes
2.1. Feeling helpless in dark
2.2. Strange shadows-an unknown beast
2.3. Moving curtains
2.4. Creaking sounds
2.5. Imagining burglars and monsters
2.6. Lying still, with pounding heart
2.7. Fear of getting lost (on way home)
2.8. Scanning school bus searching familiar faces, same driver
2.9. Re-confirming the bus
2.10. ‘ Not letting leaders out of sight
2.11. Avoiding adventurous act
2.12. Going only when sure of not being lost
2.13. Fear of not being liked
2.14. Quite shy
2.15. Worried about looks-fat, wore braces, clothes
2.16. Wearing the right clothes
2.17. Flats vs. saddled shoes for school
2.18. Importance of popularity
3. Coping with childhood fears as an adult
3.1. Undg. evolution process-child to adult
3.2. Recog. and overcoming fears
3.3. Accepting help from others
3.4. Role of friendliness and sincerity
3.5. Undg. things that scared List of abbreviations used
1. &-and
2. Act.-activities
3. Vs.-versus
4. Imp.-importance
5. Undg. – understanding
6. Recog.-recognizing
(b) Title: Childhood Nostalgia ,
The Narrator had happy and carefree moments in his childhood. However, darkness scared him with its shadows, unexpected movement of curtains and crefaking sounds, more blatantly which made him to imagine about monsters and burglars. He felt helpless and was scared of getting lost. Before boarding his school bus, he looked in for familiar faces. He was shy and afraid of not being liked by others which had been his biggest phobia. As he transformed from a child to an adult, he realized that understanding things that scare us as a child helps in coping with the challenges of life.

SECTION – B
(ADVANCE WRITING SKILLS)

Question.3. An Inter-school Kabadi Competition is organized, by your school. Write a notice, in not more than 50 words, requesting the students to be present at the . venue to encourage the players. Invent all the necessary details. You are Arjun, the sports captain of your school.
OR
You possess an acre of land in the heart of the city. You want to dispose of the property since you have decided to buy a flat. Write an advertisement to be published in a national daily, giving all the necessary details. You are Krishan of Moti Nagar, Delhi.
Answer.

OR

Question.4. Incessant rain has caused irrecoverable damage in your area. As an active participant in the flood relief programme, write a report in 125-150 words on the different flood relief measures carried out. You are Krishan/Krishna.
OR
You have visited a book exhibition in your neighbourhood. Write a report in about 125-150 words on the exhibition. You are Rohan/Rohini.
Answer.
Flood Relief Programme
13th June, 2014
The torrential rain in the past few days flooded our area causing irrecoverable damage to the properties. A relief camp was set up to aid the victims of the flood-affected areas. Everyone made generous contributions in the form of money, clothes, food and other basic requirements. Relief- treaties also emerged as helpful groups. The Chief Minister too announced a definite amount of relief for the victims affected. The devastating effect of the over-powering rain, played havoc with the city. The volunteers also helped the victims to be shifted to the relief camps, set up on the suburbs of the city; We are expecting donations from the people of the city. Various N.G.O.s have donated in the tune of Rs. 5 lacs.
Krishna
Class XII, ABC School
OR
Book Exhibition
13th June, 2014
The Surya Nagar residents organized a book Exhibition in the commmunity centre of the locality. The exhibition started on June 10th and lasted for five days. The event attracted book lovers from all over Delhi. Renowned publishing houses participated in the fair. Books by well-known writers were
displayed. The exhibition also offered heavy discounts on the books written by Indian authors. Apart from Hindi novels there were multifarious writers and bards dictions available like Shakespeare, Milton and John Keats. People were excited to get access to some of the rare books that were on display. The event was marked by the presence of the renowned writer and novelist Chetan Bhagat.
Rohini
14, Nehru Nagar, Delhi

Question.5. You are the librarian of Amla Public School. You had placed an order for text books with Dhanpati & Sons. Since the books did not arrive on time, you have decided to cancel the order. Write a letter to the Manager, Dhanpati & Sons, Chennai, cancelling the order. (125-150. words)
You are interested in doing a short-term course in computer graphics during your holidays. Write a letter to the Director, Easy Computers, enquiring about their, short-term courses and asking for all the necessary details. You are Naresh/Nandini.
Answer.
Amla Public School
New Delhi-110018
13 June, 2014
The Manager
Dhanpati & Sons
Chennai
Subject: Regarding cancellation of order number 43/2014
Sir,
With reference to order number 43/2014 placed to your publishing house on May 31st, 2014,1 would like to inform you that we have not received the delivery of 12 sets of Encyclopedia from you till this date as promised by your company on or before February 15, 2014. A cheque of five thousand was duly sent to you enclosed with the order. Since your company has failed to keeps its commitment, therefore we are cancelling the order. Kindly reimburse the money to the school account at the earliest.
Thanking you in anticipation Yours sincerely,
PQR
Librarian
OR
23, Defence Colony
New Delhi-110022
3 March, 2014
The Director .
Easy Computers
New Delhi-110032
Subject : Request for details of the short-term courses
provided
Dear Sir,
I came across an advertisement about your Institute in today’s newspaper. I would like to know the details of the short-term courses offered by your institute.
I am a student and I wish to pursue a course in computer programming/computer graphics during my holidays next month. Kindly mail me the details of all short-term courses, along with their duration, fee structure and the relevance of the course material. I would be thankful if you can dispatch the prospectus of the course too. My email address is nandini@kmail.com Looking forward to your early response.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Your faithfully
Nandini

Question.6. You are Rajendra Kumar, a social worker, You read an article in The Hindu on ‘Health care for Indian Workers. Write a speech in 125-150 words on the importance of health care to be delivered at a public function to create awareness among the workers.
OR
Media has a strong hold on society.’Write a speech in 125¬150 words on how media influences public opinion to be delivered in the school assembly.
Answer.
Health Care for Indian Workers
Good morning to all. Recently, I had read an article in the local newspaper “The Hindu” and wondered why we don’t care for the health of the workers around us. We remain mute spectators to their misery trials and tribulations of life.
Often, the workers are found working in inhuman conditions, neglecting their health. They are exploited, are illiterate and lack awareness of a hygienic way of life. The authorities must ensure clean and healthy working conditions for these people. It is the responsbility of the government to provide affordable healthcare services to wdrkers and their families. Indian workers should be taught the importance of cleanliness and hygiene. Many non-governmental organizations can play a role in spreading awareness about health and hygiene. Workers play a major role in our life. We must understand and appreciate their contribution towards society. Access to basic health facilities is their innate right. As responsible citizens, we should get together to make their lives healthy. However, we should not forget that it is the sweat and blood of these workers which has provided us with enormous comfort while we sit in our well-furnished homes.
Rajendra Kumar
(Social worker)
Thank you
OR
Impact of Media
Good morning everybody. Today, I am here to voice my concerns on how Media influences public opinion.
Media acts as a powerful weapon-in democracy. It keeps people abreast with the recent changes and development in the society and the world. They also help people understand the various developments and build their opinion about the same. With the development of better modes of communications, the influence of media has increased.Consequently, its responsibility of delivering correct information has also increased. If people blindly believe the biased news which the print and electronic media tell us, our democracy may suffer badly. Media has the power to showcase both the facets of a piece of information. It should work towards helping the common man understand the pros and cons of any issue of event.
Thus, one can clearly say that it is the responsibility of Media and the Media personnel to ensure that they direct their efforts towards building a constructive and balanced society as well as a nation.
Thank you

SECTION-C
(TEXT BOOKS AND LONG READING TEXT)

Question.7. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink.
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What is the thing of beauty mentioned in these lines ?
(c) What image does the poet use in these lines?
OR
With ships and sun and love tempting them to steal.
For lives that slyly turn in their cramped holes
From fog to endless night?
(i) Who are ‘them’ referred to in the first line?
(ii) What tempts them?
(iii) What does the poet say about ‘their’ lives?
Answer.
(a) The given lines are from the poem‘A thing of Beauty’by John Keats.
(b) The tales of mighty men is the thing of beauty mentioned in the given lines.
(c) The poet used the image of an endless fountain of immortal drink’ to describe the beautiful bounty of the Earth. The Earth, like a fountain, give us numerous beautiful sights like The Sun, The moon flowers, rivers and greenery.
OR
(a) The children studying in the school are referred to as “them”.
(b) Shakespeare and the world map present a ‘bad example’ to these children. The beauty, vastness and radiance of such things tempt them.
(c) According to the poet, those children spent their whole lives like rodents confined in ‘their cramped holes’. The undernourished bodies of those children looked almost like skeletons. Their steel-framed spectacles with repaired glasses made them look like, the broken pieces of a bottle scattered on stones. Since their entire lives revolved, around slums, their future also seemed blotted.

Question.8. Answer any two of the following questions in about 30¬40 words :
(a) How does Kamala Das try to put away the thoughts of her ageing mother?
(b) Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet*?
(c) What are the difficulties that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life?
Answer.
(a) Kamala Das is troubled by the thoughts of her ageing mother and tries to console herself by looking outside the car. The sight is full of youthful whim and vigour. She watches the trees ‘sprinting’ past her speeding car and the children, full of life and activity, running out of their houses to play. Her ashen like mother irks her so much that for a moment she ponders over the past memories to feel solace.
(b) The exotic moment the author talks about is when everyone keeps quiet and still. The moment would be extraordinarily tranquil, with no hustle bustle of the frenzied world. Although it may seem little strange in the beginning, it would eventually bring us all together. Ultimately, this is the introspection which makes one united with one’s soul.
(c) Aunt Jennifer spent her life in accordance to the rules laid down by her husband. Her life was overburdened by the demands and duties and lacked self-expression. She was feeble and had to face oppression by her husband. Which depicted the age-old tribulations of women’s lives.

Question.9. Answer any six of the following questions in 30-40 words:
(a) Why did Gandhiji feel that taking the Champaran case to the court was useless?
(b) Why did the peddler derive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rattrap?
(c) How is Mukesh different from the other bangle makers of Firozabad?
(d) What tempted Franz to stay away from school?
(e) Why did the Maharaja ban tiger hunting in the state?
(f) How was the skunk’s story different from the other stories narrated by Jack?
(g) Which words of her brother made a deep impression on Bama?
Answer.
(a) Gandhiji believed that the peasants were under the grip of fear. He felt that taking the Champaran case to the court f would be useless because actual relief for the peasants would come when they would be free from fear. So, his ultimate motive was to kill the fear in them.
(b) The peddler was never treated kindly by the world, which was why he was amused by the idea of the world to be a rattrap. He nurtured hard feelings towards the world by comparing it to a giant rattrap.
(c) Mukesh who hailed from the city of Dhaka was different
from other bangle makers of Firozabad because he liked to dream, unlike others who followed the family lineage of making bangles, he wanted to be a motor mechanic and drive cars.
(d) Franz was prepared for the test on participles. The chirping birds and sight of the Prussian soldiers were far more interesting to him than his attending the school. That was why he stayed out of the doors of the school to bask in the natures glory.
(e) The Maharaja wanted to prove that the prediction of the State astrologer was wrong for that purpose he restricted the hunting of tigers in all the tiger-rich forests of Pratibandapuram, so that he could hunt them down.
(f) Usually, the stories told by Jack were taken well by Jo. But she was not satisfied and convinced with the ending of the skunk’s story. She believed that the wizard should have hit back the skunks mommy and that the skunk should have smelled like roses.
(g) On narrating what happened while returning home, Bama’s elder brother told her, that although, people did not get’ to decide the family they were born into, they could outwith the indignities inflicted upon them if they were well read and successful. It was by educating themselves that they could attain a feeling of individuality that left a deep impression on her.

Question.10. Answer the following in about 100-125 words. Has Sophie met Danny Casey? What details of her meeting with Danny Casey did she narrate to her brother?
OR
Describe the precautions taken by the prison officers to prevent Evans from escaping.
Answer. No, Sophie had not met Dahny Casey in reality. One day, while drawing Geoff’s attention, Sophie narrated an imaginary story about accidentally meeting Danny Casey at the Royce’s. Geoff, however, refused to believe her. So, she describes Danny Casey’s physical appearance to make her brother believe her story. She told Geoff that she was also willing to get an autograph for little Derek, but she did not have a pen or a paper for the same. Then, Sophie claimed that the two of them talked about clothes at Royce’s. She ended her story by saying that Danny has promised to meet her again.
OR
Special precautions were taken by the prison staff to prevent Evan from escaping during his O-level German test. The test was to be taken where he was kept. A parson from St. Mary Mags was called to invigilate and to keep the prisoner incommunicado during the exam. Evans-was kept in the heavily guarded Recreational Block. There were two locked doors between his cell and the yard, which boasted of a high wall. All the prison officers were also on high alert. The Governor got a microphone installed in Evans’ cell, while Stephens kept, a hawk’s eye on Evans. Two prison officers, , Mr. Jackson and Mr. Stephens, thoroughly checked his cell for any sign of a possible escape. Even his razor, nail filer and mail scissors were taken away.

Question.11. Read the following and answer the question that follows:
The story “Deep Waters” has made you realize that with determination and preseverance one can accomplish the impossible. Write a paragraph in about 100 words words on how a positive attitude and courage will aid you to achieve success in life.
Answer. In the story “Deep waters”, the author over comes his childhood fear , of water through determination, perseverance and hard work. Thus, the story sends the message that with positive attitude and strength of will, one can accomplish everything in life. All of us are in the grip of fear. But fear, when conquered through courage, becomes victory which has its own charm. It might appear to be long and arduous journey, but it will definitely culminate in success. Douglas improved himself and was able to develop into a full-fledged swimmer. It gave him a feeling of victory and achievement in the end.

SET II

Note : Except for the following questions, all the remaining questions have been asked in previous sets.

SECTION-B
(Advance Writing Skills)

Question.1. You are Smrithi Saran of Victoria Public School, Hyderabad.Your school has organized a Science Exhibition in connection with the. death anniversary of Ramanujam.Write a nbtice in not more than 50 words inviting students to participate in it. Provide all the necessary details.
OR
You want to sell off your motor bike which you have been using for five years, as you have decided to buy a car. Write an advertisement, in not more than 50 words, to be published under the classified columns of a national daily. Furnish all the necessary details.
Answer.

OR

Question.2. You are Sampreet, an educationist. You have noticed that the youth of today are often unable to cope with stress and become frustrated and bitter. Write a speech in 125-150 words to be delivered at a college function on ‘Youth, their problems and solutions.’
OR
After Independence India has seen a steep upward trend in the graph of corruption. The public has often become disgusted and disappointed. As Venkat, a well known journalist, write a speech in 150-200 words on ‘Corruption, its causes and solutions.
Answer.
Youth, Their Problems and Solutions
Good Morning ! I am Sampreet and, as an educationist it is my duty to throw light, on the disturbing trend of the youth becoming more and more frustrated in dealing with stress.
Aspirations are now high and with this the level of competition and peer pressure among the youth has been increasing with each passing day. The youth is either not yet mature or trained enough to handle so much stress and therefore, they ultimately get frustrated, easily commit suicide, road rage, hatred crimes, drug abuse, looting, rapes etc. At the slightest provocation, they hold out protests and demonstrations. The minimum desired level of tolerance is missing in them. They don’t see any harm violating the norms and fundamental rules.
The solution is a doddle one. The youth of today needs our unstinted support; it needs to know that, irrespective of the situation they are in; they are always loved by their parents, teachers and elders. They need to develop confidence in their capabilities. We need to remove the unnecessary pressure that our education system exerts on the young minds; it needs to be eased and, CCE is a positive step in this direction. Counselors can help the young generation understand and solve their problems. More job opportunities have to be. created; better recruitment processes need to be developed; and professional courses that equip them with necessary skills have to be designed.
The most important thing is to impart value based education so that they have high self-esteem, tolerance and patience and more importantly the zeal to create a clean and civilized society and to be good citizens.
OR
Corruption, its Causes and Solutions
Good morning, friends! I am Venkat. As a journalist and responsible citizen of India, it is my duty to shed light and apprise you, how corruption exists in almost every nook and corner of our country.
Corruption can be understood as misappropriation of government or public property or money. It is an unlawful and immoral act. Corruption has had a gradual growth in our country. How and why did corruption become so common in our country? India’s colonial past has contributed in flourishing corrupt practices. It is said that corruption cannot survive long in this world. Although with the increase in scientific technology and advancement of the nation, corruption still remains unbeatable. Also, it is not difficult to visualize. The Corrupter also has a relation with scarcity and corruption exists especially because of the vested interests and greed of the people in power.
It is the spasmodic snare of corruption which springs from all prodigality and dissipation. Whatever the reason may be, corruption is an ill practice that is seen as the major hindrance in the process of economic growth and modernization of the nation. The need for an anti-corruption bill like Jan Lokpal has long been discerned now. But, in a Democracy like India^ the power of the common man should not be underestimated. Constant vigil and intervention by the civil society is also required to bring positive changes in the country. Punishment must be increased and illegally confiscated wealth must be recovered. As aware citizens and of course as a united whole, we must overcome our fears and work towards bringing about a corruption free society.

SET III

Note : Except for the following questions, all the remaining questions have been asked in previous sets.

SECTION-B
(ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS)

Question.1. You are Anoop/Aiya, the cultural secretary of your school.
As part of national heritage programme the school has decided to put up a show on ancient art forms. Write a notice to be put up on the school notice board inviting students to watch the show and encourage the artists. Write the notice in not more that 50 words.
OR
You would like to let out a portion of your independent house for office use. Write an advertisement for the classified coloumns of the local newspaper giving all the necessary details.Write the advertisement in not more than 50 words.
Answer.

OR

Question.4. On Teacher’s day, the badge holders of your school organized a grand celebration to honour the teachers of your school. As the head boy of the school, write a report on the celebration in 125-150 words.
OR
As you were travelling by train, you happened to witness an accident at an unmanned level crossing. As the reporter of a newspaper, write a report on the accident, including details of the number of people injured and the extent of damage caused.
Answer.
TEACHER’S DAY CELEBRATIONS
A Report by: Head boy
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of our former president, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the badge holders of our school had organized a grand celebration on 5th September to honour the teachers of our school. The celebration took place in the assembly hall. The celebrations began at around 9.30 a.m. In the morning, senior students greeted the teachers warmly in a traditional way by putting tilak on their forehead ‘ and giving them rose sticks. The senior students were dressed up as teachers and played the role of different teachers. They counted the teacher’s efforts by praising them. After honouring all the teachers, the students performed activities like dance, drama, singing and speech. They also organized few games like musical chair, dodge ball, balloon game etc. to make the day memorable. Teachers were made to dance and sing. In the end teachers were provided a lavish lunch by the seniors. It was indeed a great celebration.
OR
ACCIDENT AT AN UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING
BY: REPORTER
I witnessed a horrible sight of a train accident at an unmanned level crossing while going to Udaipur, near Chittor, a bus carrying nearly 45 people happened to cross the railway track when suddenly the train arrived. It happened to collide with one of the bogies of the train and overturned badly, 23 people were seriously injured and they were immediately taken to a nearby hospital by the locals. The bogie was also derailed. The extent of damage caused was not yet estimated. Due to this accident, the train got delayed and the schedule of the other trains of that route was also disturbed. It resulted into lot of inconvenience to the passangers. Government has set up an enquiry to probe into the matter. A sum of Rs. 5O,O0O was announced for all those injured.

Question.5. You are the Physical Education Instructor of All Saints School. You had placed an order for sports goods with Bat and Ball Enterprises. When the items arrived you found that some of them were defective. Write a letter to the Manager, Bat and Ball Enterprises, asking him to replace the defective items.
OR
You live in a crowded area in Mumbai. Unauthorized parking of vehicles in your area is causing a lot of inconvenience to the locals. Write a letter to the Police Commissioner of the District complaining against the practice. You are Rohan/ Rohini of Sakinaka, Mumbai.
Answer.
All Saints School
18th December, 20XX
The Manager
Bat and Ball Enterprises
Subject: Replacement of the defected Sports items
Sir,
It is to bring to your kind notice that one month ago our school placed an order for the following sports items : 5 Bats, 10 Balls, 3 Footballs, 3 Basketballs, 5 Badminton Racquets, etc. On the arrival of the goods. It was found that some of them were defective. The handle of the bats were cracked, the net of one of the badminton racquet was loose and the stitching of the football was not properly done. Therefore I request you to replace the defective items as soon as possible as the sports week of the school is approaching and the children are required to do the practice. I would be obliged if you kindly understand my problem and arrange for the early delivery.
Thanking You
Yours Sincerely,
Atul Sharma
(Physical Education Instructor)
OR
Sakinaka
Mumbai
24th August, 20XX
District Police Commissioner
Mumbai.
Subject: Unauthorized Parking of Vehicles
Dear Sir,
This is to draw your attention towards the problems faced due to unauthorized parking of the vehicles in our area. There is not a single day when the place is without disorder or free from trafifc jams. As it is a crowded place, there is inadequate parking space. It creates problems not only to the residents but also to the people who come to meet their relatives or for some other purpose. As it is a busy area, vehicles are parked all over in a haphazard manner. It often results in quarrel among people which displays the lack of civic sense in them also creating noise pollution. It is therefore necessary to take some action and provide the proper parking area to the residents as well as do some arrangements for the visitors too.
We all hope for an immediate action to get respite from this problem. ,
Thanking You
Yours Sincerely,
Rohini (Resident, Sakinaka)

SECTION C
(TEXT BOOKS AND LONG READING TEXT)

Question.10. What were Sophie’s plan for her future? Why would you call her dreams unrealistic ? (100-125 words)
OR
What benefits did Derry reap from his association with Mr. Lamb?
Answer. Sophie was a day dreamer although she belonged to a middle class family. She was blind to the bitter truth of life. She dreamt of an imaginary life, full of beautiful things in which she owned a boutique. She also dreamt of becoming an actress as there was a lot of money and fame in that profession. She wanted to be a fashion designer too. It can be said that she wanted to lead a lavish and grand life which was not possible. Her dreams were unrealistic in the sense that ultimately she would have to work in a biscuit factory. She only thought of impractical things. The house in which she lived was also not very good and her father was working hard to earn bread for the family. They entertained themselves by watching the United team’s matches. Thus, she wanted to achieve the impossible.
OR
Derry had no association with the outer world till he met Mr. Lamb. His meeting with Mr. Lamb was a turning point in his life. He learnt to live a respectful life and also appreciated Mr. Lamb’s attitude and outlook towards people and life. He realized his true worth. Mr. Lamb inspired him to face the world in spite of his disability. Derry’s thinking towards people and life completely changed and he became self-confident. Mr, Lamb successfully infused in him courage and the self-determination. He advised him to ignore the comments made by people on his physical impairment and enjoy beauty of life and nature. That was why Derry went back to Mr. Lamb’s garden in spite of his mother’s refusal. Now, Derry had understood the importance and true meaning of life and understanding himself better than before.

CBSE Previous Year Solved  Papers  Class 12 English Delhi 2015

Time allowed : 3 hours                                                                                           Maximum Marks: 100
General Instructions :

1. This paper is divided into three sections : A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them faithfully.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

SET I

SECTION —A
(READING)

Question.1. Read the passage given below carefully:

1. For four days, I walked through the narrow lanes of the old city, enjoying the romance of being in a city where history still lives – in its cobblestone streets and in its people riding asses, carrying v-ine leaves and palm as they once did during . the time of Christ.
2. This is Jerusalem, home to the sacred sites of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. This is the place that houses the church of the Holy Sepulchre, the place where Jesus was finally laid to rest. This is also the site of Christ’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
3. Built by the Roman Emperor Constantine at the site of an earlier temple to Aphrodite, it is the most venerated Christian shrine in the world.. And justifiably so. Here, within the church, are the last five stations of the cross, the 10th station where Jesus was stripped of his clothes, the 11th where he was nailed to the cross, the 12th where he died on the cross, the 13th where the body was removed from the cross, and the 14th, his tomb.
4. For all this weighty tradition, the approach and entrance to the church is nondescript. You have to ask for directions.
   Even to the devout Christian pilgrims walking along the Via Dolorosa – The Way of Sorrow first nine stations look clueless. Then a courtyard appears, hemmed in by other buildings and a doorway to one side. This leads to a vast area of huge stone architecture.
5. Immediately inside the entrance is your first stop. It’s the stone of anointing: this is the place, according to Greek tradition, where Christ was removed from the cross. The Roman Catholics, however, believe it to be the spot where Jesus body was prepared for burial by Joseph.
6. What happened next ? Jesus was buried. He was taken to a place outside the city of Jerusalem where other graves existed and there, he was buried in a cave. However, all that is long gone, destroyed by continued attacks and rebuilding; what remains is the massive – and impressive – Rotunda (a round building with a dome) that Emperor Constantine built. Under this, and right in the centre of the Rotunda, is the structure that contains the Holy Sepulchre.
7.  “How do you know that this is Jesus tomb ?” I asked one of the pilgrims standing next to me. He was clueless, more interested, like the rest of them, in the novelty of it all and in photographing it, than in its history or tradition.
8. At the start of the first century, the place was a disused quarry outside the city walls. According to the gospels, Jesus crucifixion occurred at a place, outside the city walls with graves nearby…….’. Archaeologists have discovered tombs from that era, so the site is compatible with the Biblical period.
9. The structure at the site is a marble tomb built over the original burial chamber. It has two rooms, and you enter four at a time into the first of these, the Chapel of the Angel. Here the angle is supposed to have sat on a stone to recount Christ’s resurrection. A low door made of white marble, party worn away by pilgrims hands, leads to a smaller chamber inside. This is the ‘room of the tomb’, the place where Jesus was buried.
10. We entered in single file. On my right was a large marble slab that covered the original rock bench on which the body of Jesus was laid. A woman knelt and prayed. Her eyes were wet with tears. She pressed her face against the slab to hide them, but it only made it worse.

I. On the basis of your understanding of this passage answer the following questions with the help of given options :
(a) How does Jerusalem still retain the charm of ancient era ?
(i) There are narrow lanes.
(ii) Roads are paved with cobblestones.
(iii) People can be seen riding assess.
(iv) All of the above.
(b) Holy Sepulchre is sacred to ————.
(i) Christianity.
(ii) Islam.
(iii) Judaism.
(iv) Both (i) and (iii).
(c) Why does one have to constantly ask for directions to the church ?
(i) Its lanes are narrow.
(ii) Entrance to the church is nondescript.
(iii) People are not tourist-friendly.
(iv) Everyone is lost in enjoying the romance of the place.
(d) Where was Jesus buried ?
(i) In a cave.
(ii) At a place outside the city.
(iii) In the Holy Sepulchre
(iv) Both (i) and (ii)
Answer.
(a) (iv) All of the above.
(b) (iv) Both (i) and (ii)
(c) (ii) Entrance to the church is nondescript.
(d) (iv) Both (i) and (ii).

II. Answer the following questions briefly:
(e) What is the Greek belief about the ‘stone of anointing’ ?
(f) Why did Emperor Constantine build the Rotunda ?
(g) What is the general attitude of the pilgrims ?
(h) How is the site compatible with the Biblical period ?
(i) Why did the pilgrims enter the room of the tomb in a single file ?
(j) Why did a woman try to hide her tears ?
(k) Find words from the passage which mean the same as:
(i) A large grave (para 3)
(ii) Having no interesting features/dull (para 4)
Answer.
(e) According to the Greek belief, the stone of anointing is a place where Christ was removed from the cross.
(f) Emperor Constantine built Rotunda to safeguard the Holy Sepulchre and the remaining structure around it.
(g) Pilgrims have a very casual attitude and they are completely unaware about the history and tradition. They are more into capturing pictures and appreciating the novelty of the church. .
(h) According to the gospels, Jesus Crucifixion occurred at a place outside the city walls with graves nearby…’ and as the archaeologists have discovered tombs from the Biblical era, the site is compatible.
(i) ‘Room of the tomb is a very small place, hence the pilgrims entered in a single file.
(j) The woman knelt down to pray looking at the large marble slab and wanted to hide her tears as she became very sentimental.
(k) (i) Tomb.
(ii) Nondescript.

Question.2. Read the passage given below:

1. We often make all things around us the way we want them. Even during our pilgrimages we have begun to look for whatever makes our heart happy, gives comfort to our body and peace to the mind. It is as if external solutions will fulfil our needs, and we do not want to make any special efforts even in our spiritual search. Our mind is resourceful — it works to find short cuts in simple and easy ways.
2. Even pilgrimages have been converted into tourism opportunities. Instead, we must awaken our conscience and souls and understand the truth. Let us not tamper with our own nature of that of the Supreme.
3. All our cleverness is rendered ineffective when nature does a dance of destruction. Its fury can and will wash away all imperfections. Indian culture, based on Vedic treatises, assists in human evolution, but we are using our entire energy in distorting these traditions according to our convenience instead of making efforts to make ourselves worthy of them.
4. The irony is that humans are not even aware of the complacent attitude they have allowed themselves to sink to. Nature is everyone’s Amma and her fierce blows will sooner or later corner us and force us to understand this truth. Earlier, pilgrimages to places of spiritual significance were rituals that were undertaken when people became free from their worldly duties. Even now some seekers take up this pious religious journey as a path to peace and knowledge. Anyone travelling with this attitude feels and travels with only a few essential items that his body can carry. ‘Pilgrims traditionally travelled light, on foot, eating light, dried chickpeas and fruits or whatever was available. Pilgrims of olden days did not feel the need to stay in special AC bedrooms, or travel by luxury cars or indulge themselves with delicious food and savouries.
5. Pilgrims traditionally moved ahead, creating a feeling of belonging towards all, conveying a message of brotherhood among all they came across whether in small caves, ashrams or local settlements. They received the blessings and congregations of yogis and mahatmas in return while conducting the dharma of their pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is like penance of sadhana to stay near nature and to experience a feeling of oneness with it, to keep the body healthy and fulfilled with the amount of food, while seeking freedom from attachments and yet remaining happy while staying away from relatives and associates.
6. This is how a pilgrimage should be, rather than making it like a picnic by taking a large group along and living in comfort, packing in entertainment, and tampering with environment. What is worse is giving a boost to the ego of having had a special darshan. Now alms are distributed, charity done while they brag about their spiritual experiences !
7. We must embark on our spiritual journey by first understanding the grace and significance of a pilgrimage and following it up with the prescribed rules and rituals – this is what translates into the ultimate and beautiful medium of spiritual evolution. There is no justification for tampering with nature.
8. A pilgrimage is symbolic of contemplation, meditation and acceptance, and is a metaphor for the constant growth or movement and love for nature that we should hold in our hearts.
9. This is the truth !

I. On the basis of your understanding of the above passage answer the questions that- follow with the help of given options:
(a) How can a pilgrim keep his body healthy ?
(i) By travelling light
(ii) By eating small amount of food
(iii) By keeping free from attachments
(iv) Both (i) and (ii)
Answer. (iii) By keeping free from attachment.

(b) How do we satisfy our ego ?
(i) By having a special darshan
(ii) By distributing alms
(iii) By treating it like a picnic
(iv) Both (i) and (ii)
Answer. (iv) Both (i) and (ii)

II. Answer the following as briefly as possible :
(c) What change has taken place in our attitude towards pilgrimages ?
Answer. Earlier pilgrimages were a penance to stay near nature and did not require luxury rooms and big cars to travel, now they have become more of a tourism opportunity where people go for a picnic.

(d) What happens when pilgrimages are turned into picnics
Answer. When pilgrimages turn into picnics, the entire significance of pilgrimage as a sadhana is lost. It becomes more of a social gathering, a life of comfort and a boost to ego, where pilgrims brag about charity and their special darshan.

(e) Why ate we complacent in our spiritual efforts ?
Answer. Pilgrimages are no more of travelling on foot and living in the ashrams with basic necessities, it has become a picnic with all the comfort, AC rooms, travelling by car with a large group to have all the fun and entertainment. Hence, we are complacent in our spiritual efforts.

(f) How does nature respond when we try to be clever with it ?
Answer . We are ruining our bodies because of the extra comfort that we are adapting our bodies into. We are not making any efforts to -make our body work and adjust in adverse conditions rather making it all the more tender. Nature is just like everyone’s Amma and would act destructive by affecting our health etc. sooner or later and force us to’ understand this truth.

(g) In olden days with what attitude did people go on a pilgrimage ?
Answer . In olden days, pilgrimages were more of a sadhna to love people, stay close to the nature, understand it, stay healthy and eat healthy. It was also for seeking freedom from attachment. It was not to adhere to materialistic pleasure and live a luxurious life.

(h) What message does the passage convey to the prilgrims ?
Answer. It conveys that pilgrimages are a religious connotation and undertaken for ritualistic purposes, to understand .the realities of life, to stay close to nature and should not be taken as a tourism opportunity where you gather a large group, enjoy almost all the luxuries and make a life rest upon only comfort. You should learn to live in hardships and only basic things needed for survival.

(i) Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:
(i) made/turned (para 3)
(ii) very satisfied (para 4).
Answer . (i) Rendered (ii) Complacent.

Question.3. Read the passage given below:
It is surprising that sometimes we don’t listen to what people say to us. We hear them, but we don’t listen to them. I was curious to know how hearing is different from listening. I had thought both were synonyms, but gradually, I realized there is a big difference between the two words.
Hearing is a physical phenomenon. Whenever somebody speaks, the sound waves generated reach you, and you definitely hear whatever is said to you. However, even if you hear something, it doesn’t always mean that you actually understand whatever is being said. Paying attention to whatever you hear means you are really listening. Consciously using your mind to understand whatever is being said is listening.
Diving deeper, I found that listening is not only hearing with attention, but is much more than that. Listening is hearing with full attention, and applying our mind. Most of the time, we listen to someone, but our minds are full of needless chatter and there doesn’t seem to be enough space to accommodate what is being spoken.
We come with a lot of prejudices and preconceived notions about the speaker or the subject on which he/she is talking. We pretend to listen to the speaker, but deep inside, we sit in judgement and are dying to pronounce right or wrong, true or false, yes or no. Sometimes, we even come prepared with a negative mindset of proving the speaker wrong. Even if the speaker says nothing harmful, we are ready to pounce on him with our own version of things.
What we should ideally do is listen first with full awareness. Once, we do that, we can decide whether we want to make a judgement or not. Once, we do that, communication will be perfect and our interpersonal relationship will become so much better. Listening well doesn’t mean one has to say the right thing at the right moment. In fact, sometimes if words are left unspoken, there is a feeling of tension and negativity. Therefore, it is better to speak out your mind, but do so with awareness after listening to the speaker with full concentration.
Let’s look at this in another way. When you really listen, you imbibe not only what is being spoken, but you also understand what is not spoken as well. Most of the time we don’t really listen even to people who really matter to us. That’s how misunderstandings grow among families, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters.

On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it, using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary – minimum four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it.
Answer.
1. Listening Vs. Hearing
1.1 Difference between the two synonyms
1.2 Hearing but not listening
1.3 Paying attention
1.4 Hearing as a physical phenomenon
1.5 Consciously using your mind
1.6 Mind full of needless chatter
1.7 Accommodating what is said
2. Judgement about the speaker
2.1 Prejudiced and preconceived notions
2.2 Neg. mindset
2.3 Proving our ver. of things right
3. Ideal way of listening
3.1 Listen first
3.2 Listen with awareness ,
3.3 Think before you judge .
3.4 Words unspoken leave a feeling of’ tension and negativity
3.5 Speak your mind out
4. Listening to understand people
4.1 Imbibe what is not spoken
4.2 Times when we don’t listen to people who matter
4.3 Triggers misunderstanding
List of abbreviations used
1. Vs. — Versus
2. Neg. – Negative
3. Ver. – Version
4. Don’t — Do not
Title- Listening Versus Hearing
Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words.
Answer . Sometimes, we hear people but do not listen to them attentively. The difference between the two synonyms is that one is a physical phenomenon while the other is a conscious use of mind.
We, as listeners, often have preconceived notions about the speaker. We come prepared with a negative mindset, tend to prove them wrong and pounce our own version of things Ideally, we should listen to them, understand their perception and stop judging them in order to avoid misunderstandings.

SECTION-B
(Writing Skills)

Question.4. Every year in the central park of the city a flower show is held in the month of February. Your school has received a circular from the District Collector inviting your students to visit it. Write a notice in about 50 words informing the students about the show and advising them to go and enjoy it. You are Navtej/Navita, Head Boy/Head Girl, Sunrise Public School, Surat.
OR
Sarvo days Education Society, a charitable organization is coming to your school to- distribute books among the needy students. As Head Boy/Head Girl, Sunrise Public School, Surat, write a notice in about 50 words asking such students to drop the lists of books they need in the box kept outside the Principal’s office. You are Navtej/ Navita.
Answer.

OR

Question.5. Recently you went to your native village to visit your grandparents. You saw that some of the children in the age group 5-14 (the age at which they should have been at school) remained at home, were working in the fields or simply loitering in the streets.
Write a letter in 120-150 words to the editor of a national daily analysing the problem and offering solutions to it. You are Navtej/Navita, M-114 Mount Kailash, Kanpur.
OR
When cricket teams go abroad the members are allowed to take their wives, even friends along with them. Does this fact distract them or help them to focus on their game in a better way ? If it is good, why don’t we allow our athletes to enjoy the same privilege ?
Write a letter to editor of a national daily in 120-150 words giving your views on the issue. You are Navtej/Navita, M-l 14 Mount Kailash, Kanpur.
Answer.
M-l 14, Mount Kailash
Kanpur
3 March, 2015
The Editor,
The Times of India,
Kanpur
Subject: Pathetic condition of children
Dear Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the attention of the government and NGOs towards the large population of children not attending school. Children are the future of any country and a country that does not take care of this valuable resource suffers later. A successful nation is that which makes its youth strong enough to lift this mighty responsibility on their shoulders. Unfortunately, this is not the case in our country. Education, which is a necessity, is still a luxury here. Poor people hesitate to send their children to school. On a recent visit to a village,
I could not help but notice the sheer amount of children who should have been in the school, but were not. Children in the age group of. 5-14 are supposed to attend school to make a bright future. But in the villages, they are either seen loitering around or helping their parents in the fields, which is a very painful and depressing situation.
It is high time that the government and the NGOs take up the issue seriously and implement measures to solve it. Besides, literate villagers can also help by starting makeshift schools to educate the children till reforms are made by the government.
Yours sincerely,
Navita
OR
M-114, Mount Kailash
Kanpur
3 March, 2015
The Editor,
The Times of India,
Kanpur
Subject: Pathetic condition of children Dear Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I ‘ would like to express my views on the difference in the status of Cricketers and Athletes.
Cricket is a very popular game in India and Cricketers are idolised. The public as well as the officials are willing to give special privileges to them. The extent of their love is such that rules are easily bent for them. Cricketers are allowed to take their families with them when they go on tours, irrespective of the fact that this may distract them while playing. But when it comes to other games, Indian Government becomes rather stingy and the players do not get the same treatment. Why do we have two policies ? I believe, this is because Cricket and Cricketers are worshipped, while the other games and their players are ignored. Even the finances that are allotted to these games are either too less or are utilised by the officers themselves.
The perspective of India needs a revolution and all the games need equal treatment, after all they all bring glory to the country. Government needs to implement measures to ‘ keep all the games at par.
Yours sincerely,
Navtej

Question.6. Mobile phone of today is no longer a mere means of communication. Music lovers are so glued to it that they don’t pay attention even to the traffic while crossing the roads. This leads to accidents sometimes even fatal ones. Write a speech in 150-200 words to be delivered in the morning assembly advising the students to be careful in the use of mobile phone otherwise it is a very useful gadget. Imagine you are the Principal of your school.
OR
Power shortage has become a norm even in the Metropolitan Cities. One way to face this situation is by Preventing the wastage of power.
Write a speech in 150-200 words on the importance of power in our daily life and how to save power at school and at home. Imagine that you are the Principal of your school.
Answer. Mobile and Its Ill-Effects “I fear the day when technology surpasses human interaction, we will have a generation of idiots”.
My deaf students’, a very good morning to one and all. You might have already guessed why I quoted Albert Einstein. Yes, I am talking about the mania that has gripped i this generation. I couldn’t help but notice youngsters swimming so deep in the waves of the gimmicks that these gadgets offer, that they are unconcerned about the surroundings. Just the other day, I read in a newspaper that a girl in New York fell off the harbour because she was too involved in her phone to notice where she was going. Even while crossing roads, children don’t seem to notice the oncoming cars. And music lovers always have earphones plugged in and they don’t seem to hear the blaring horns of the traffic. A lot of youngsters are dying even before they see the dawn of adulthood. And if they are lucky enough to survive, they have to live-with a disability for the rest of their lives due to the accident.
Children, you should understand that you have a bright life ahead if you adhere to safety. Gadgets are for our help and convenience, not to lead us to death trap. Stay safe children, and make your parents proud, not sorry.
Thank You.
OR
Saving Power
Good morning to one and all!
The dwindling resources of today are giving all of us nightmares , and the scariest one is loss of electricity. It won’t be long before we are plunged into darkness and that too because of .our own foolishness. Though electricity can be generated, it is not easy to do so and this fact needs to be recognized and realized at the earliest. We dread power failure but do nothing to save power so that we may not face such a situation. It is high time we started saving power, not only at school but at home too. Saving electricity will save fossil fuel too. We should switch off the lights and fans when not in use. We all should make use of the daylight to do most of our chores and not forget to check the switches before we leave the room.
Remember, power needs to be saved and used efficiently for future use. Wasting power is going to leave us powerless in the future and I am sure no one would like that. So, children please heed my advice and save electricity. Set an example for others in doing so and lead the country to a brighter future.
Thank you and wish you a power full day.

Question.7.In the year to come (if you have not already done this year) you are going to celebrate your 18th birthday. Write an article in 150-200 words on the joys and responsibilities of being eighteen. You are Navtej/Navita.
OR
Write an article in 150-200 words on how we can make India a carefree and enjoyable place for women when they can go wherever they like to without any fear of being stared at, molested or discriminated against. You are Navtej/ Navita.
Answer. Responsibility and J6y of Being 18
By — Navita/Navtej
Turning 18 is a big deal, not just from a parent’s emotional perspective, but legally too. Eighteen is a magic birthday, a milestone into adulthood accompanied by great privileges as well as serious legal implications. At 18, a teen can vote, buy a house or marry his high school sweetheart. He can also go
to jail, get sued, gamble away his/her tuition via online poker, and make terrible stock market investments — just like you. That’s because an 18-year-old is considered an adult in nearly every state in our union.
Some teens think it’s acceptable to get out of control just because they’re of the legal age. It’s not OK. I think being 18 years old should make teens become more responsible and mature instead of careless and stupid. At 18, you have to be more accountable for your actions, so doing crazy things should not be an option. At that age, people expect more from you because you’re not a child any more. You’re considered an adult. You’re at the age when you can start working, get your own apartment or go off to college and live alone. The age of 18 is a transition from your young adult years to adulthood. You have to be conscientious; it’s not the start of your wild years where you get crazy just because you’re legal. You can still have fun, but remember that people are watching. You’ll still make mistakes as you try to find your way, but don’t forget everything you were taught.
The law is harsher on legal teens than minors, so you should keep that in mind. Being legal and grown up are two different things. Have fun while you’re young and live life to the fullest, but make wise decisions and choices because it will affect your future.
Why shouldn’t you be able to do crazy things when you’re 18 ? As long as you’re not doing anything illegal, no one can really bother you. I’m not saying you should go out and crash a car or get arrested, but you should take advantages of being an adult and really celebrate the moment. ,
Also, if doing crazy things at the age of 18 is legal, then- I don’t think it’s that “crazy”. For example, you can buy cigarettes when you’re 18 what’s so crazy about that ?
May be in your parents point of view things like smoking, getting a tattoo or gambling all your money away is crazy and irresponsible, but they aren’t necessarily against the law. At the age of 18, you can do whatever you want. However, if you make the wrong move, you should also be adult enough to face the consequences. One thing to remember is that if you still live,with your parents, you have to abide by their rules. So if they say no, you might want to listen to them, so you don’t end up on the streets.
As long as you’re safe and smart about what you decide to do when you reach the legal age, then go ahead and go crazy. Be adventurous ! You only live once.
OR
How Safe are Women ?
By Navtej/Navita
One woman killed for dowry, minor raped by an acquaintance, eve-teasing in broad day light, road r,age leads to death of a woman driver – these are the headlines of everyday newspaper and horrendous reality of living in the capital city of India. On one hand we talk of women liberation and on the other, we are so cruel to them. Is this humanity,What Indianness is ail about ? The land where women are considered to be the manifestation of goddess Durga and Shakti, there they are worshipped in so many forms, should witness such ghastly crimes against women—folk is shocking.
What is surprising is that these incidents occur in big cities, where most of the people are educated and broad-minded, having an understanding and being aware as compared to rural India where houring an women in any case are not liberated.
It’s high time that awareness is created amongst people; organization of the Police Force is done on such humanitarian issues. We should stop treating these women as an object but rather look at them as home makers, mothers, sisters, colleagues and friends. With increasing pressures on family life, with increasing education and awareness, it is evident that women need to work. We all like money and comfort, then isn’t it our duty to make their safety our prime concern? We must consider safety options for them, increase police patrolling in lonely places and sensitive areas like colleges,hostels and universities. Women police and personnel should be mobilized and women should be given training in Self-Defence and Martial Arts. Police should adopt sensitive approach in handling cases of atrocities against women, so that women can come out to lodge complaints more openly. Punishments should be given for heinous crimes like rape and dowry deaths. All these measures, if heeded can go a long way in making life of women safer and better.

SECTION – C
(Literature : Text Books and Long Reading Texts)

Question.8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow
I saw my mother,
beside me,
doze, open mouthed, her face
ashen like that
of a corpse and realized with
pain
that she was as old as she
looked but soon
put that thought away,……
(a) What worried the poet when she looked at her mother ?
(b) Why was there pain in her realization ?
(c) Why did she put that thought away ?
(d) Identify the figure of speech used in these lines.
OR
Far far from gusty waves these children’s faces.
Like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pallor:
The tall girl with her weighed-down head.
(a)Who are these children ?
(b) What does the poet mean by ‘gusty waves’ ?
(c) What has possibly weighed-down the tall girl’s head ?
(d) Identify the figure of speech used in these lines.
Answer .
(a) The poet was worried about her mother’s advancing age.
(b) There was pain in the poet’s realization because her mother now looked as old as she was, her bodily infirmities that come with old age were visible on her face and she was fast approaching her death. –
(c) The poet put that thought away because she would not be
able to go through with her plan of travelling away from home if she continued to dwell on her mother’s old age. (as old as she looked)
(d) The figure of speech used is a simile.
OR
(a) The children referred to in the poem are slum children who attend an elementary school in that slum.
(b) “Gusty waves refers” to the sea and its waves. It is to
denote that the children were far away from the presence of nature and sinking further and further into a hopeless mire in spite of receiving education. ;
(c) The tall girl’s head is possibly weighed-down by the troubles and tribulations of living out her life in abject poverty and thinking of a future within the hopeless confines of a slum.
(d) The figure of speech is a simile. (Like rootless weeds)

Question.9. Answer any four of the following in 30-40 words each:
(a) Who occupied the back benches in the class room on the day of the last lesson ? Why ?
Answer . The villagers occupied the back benches in the classroom because they had come to know about the new order that has come from Berlin. They sat down on the back benches as it was their way of thanking their teacher who had devoted his life for the welfare of the society. They also felt sorry as they had ignored the school and the lessons.

(b) Why did Douglas mother recommend that he should learn swimming at the YMCA swimming pool ?
Answer . When Douglas was ten or eleven years old, he decided to learn swimming. He chose YMCA pool because it was safe and his mother had also warned him to learn swimming in this pool. Yakima River was full of danger and she warned Douglas against it by reminding him of every drowning incident in this river.

(c) What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve ?
Answer . Counting up to twelve and keeping still helps us to introspect. We will be able to find our inner-self, think and redetermine our future for the betterment of ourselves as well as environment in which we live. It is necessary for creating a feeling of mutual understanding among men. This way people will be together in sudden strangeness and it would be an exotic moment.

(d) What does a thing of beauty do for us ?
Answer . Beautiful things are good for mind as well as soul. They give us aesthetic pleasure and permanent joy. Its beauty increases forever. They divert our mind from all the ugly things of the world. They allow us to find a ray of hope even in despair, sorrow and sufferings.

(e) Which do you think is a better ending of Roger Skunk’s story, Jo’s or her father’s ? Why ?
Answer. Jo wanted the story to have another end in which wizard should hit the mommy by his magic wand because for her the smell of roses was awful. Jo thought that Roger was the hero of the story so he must not look ugly or stinky. Jo’s perspective on life was different from her father’s.
Whereas her father thought the different way. He wanted 1 to convey that for a mother, her son never smells bad. The adults’ world is full of hardships and they had to face the reality of life.
His ending may not be very pleasing but is realistic and he wanted to highlight the fact that for a mother, her child is always an object of love. His smell makes no difference. Thus, the original ending is acceptable.

(f) What could the Governor have done to securely bring Evans back to the prison from the ‘Golden Lion’ ?
Answer. The governor was extra careful at every place \ except in the end. He took all the steps and precautions for not letting Evan escape anyway. He got success also to bring Evan back to the prison from Golden Lion but in the end acted foolishly. He could not judge Evan’s cleverness. He should understand that Evans could not go out of the cell in Mcleery’s disguise. McLeery was found injured and covered with blood in the cell. No one took the pain to check the identity of the injured. It was Evans himself. Further, when Evans was arrested and handcuffed, he was made to sit in the police van. But the van and – driver’s identification was not done and Evans was able to escape.

Question.10. Answer the following in 120-150 words :
Giving a bribe is evil practice. How did the Tiger King ‘ bribe the British officer to save his kingdom ? How do you view this act of his ?
OR
Dr. Sadao was a patriotic Japanese as well as a dedicated surgeon. How could he honour both the values ?
Answer.
The Tiger King dispatched a telegram to a famous British Company of jewellers in Calcutta to send samples of expensive diamond rings of different designs. Some fifty rings arrived and the king sent the entire lot to the British officer’s wife. The king and his minister had expected that the D.uraisani would choose one or two rings and send the rest back. However, it turned out that the Duraisani had kept the entire lot and t replied with a thank you note for the gifts. In two days, a bill for three lakh rupees came from the British jewellers, which the Maharaja was happy to pay because he had managed to retain his kingdom. This act of the king sheds light on the deplorable practice of bribery that perpetuates the vicious cycle of corruption, especially considering the fact that the king had personal interests to protect rather than the welfare of his kingdom.
OR
Dr. Sadao Hoki was not only a trained Surgeon but also a fervent patriot who dedicated himself to the cause of serving his country in wartime through Scientific Research. However, the dilemma that Sadao faced in lieu of the arrival of the wounded enemy soldier on his doorstep was a clash between his duties as a doctor and that of a citizen of a particular nation. Sadao remarked that if the. man had been whole and uninjured, then he would not have faced any difficulty in turning him over to the police. However, the fact that he was wounded, complicated this issue because as a doctor, Sadao had taken the oath to put his professional duties first and serve mankind as a whole, without any discrimination on the basis of nationality. But he was able to protect his patriotism by informing the General about the matter. In this way, he balanced both of his values by tending the soldier and helping him escape at the end, while having informed the General about his presence.

Question.11. Answer the following in 120-150 words :
Describe the difficulties the bangle makers of Firozabad have to face in their lives.
OR
The peddler declined the invitation of the” ironmaster but accepted the one from Edla. Why ?
Answer. Every family in Firozabad was engaged in the task of making bangles. It was the centre of India’s glass-blowing industry, where families had spent generations working around furnaces, welding glass and making bangles for apparently all the women in the country. The circumstances that kept them in this trade were the vicious circle of middlemen who wpuld interfere if the young men tried to form a cooperative. Moreover, these youngsters would be hauled up by the police, beaten and dragged to jail for doing something illegal, while it was the middlemen who performed such practices. There was no leader among them who could help them see things differently. Their fathers were as tired as they and continued to sink in the mire of an endless spiral of poverty, apathy, greed and injustice. The bangle seller’s families were caught in a web of poverty, burdened by the stigma of the caste into which they were born and simultaneously suffered under the oppressive regime of a vicious circle of sahukars, middlemen, policemen, bureaucrats and politicians. Together they ‘ imposed a baggage on the children born into such families, from which’they could not free themselves. ‘
OR
Edla proved to be much more persuasive than her father in dealing with the peddler. His gentle behavior and kind treatment managed to, effect a monumental change in the latter. Although Edla had misgivings, she convinced her father to let the peddler stay and revelled in the opportunity to actually help a poor, hungry, homeless man, who was always chased away by everyone. She wanted him to enjoy a day of peace and partake in the Christmas festivities. She was kind, sympathetic and friendly with the stranger, taking hold of his hand and leading him to the dinner table, thus, making him a part of her family, at least for a day. It was this act of kindness that helped the peddler change himself. Besides, before leaving, he left a Christmas present for her and signed it as Captain Von Stahle.

Question.12. Answer the following in 120-150 words :
Describe the ironical situation in which Silas Mamer had to leave Lantern Yard.
OR
Within a few days of his arrival in Iping, people became suspicious of Griffin. Why ?
Answer . Lantern Yard was a place where Silas Marner had lived a successful life. He worked as a weaver and was betrothed to a young servant-woman, Sarah. He had a social life and also a best friend named William Dane. However, it was in this cheerful place of Lantern Yard that Silas became the victim of an evil plot hatched by his best friend William Dane, whom Silas hardly ever found any reason to suspect. William had gradually developed an intimacy with Sarah. It was William who had secredy used Silas’ pocket-knife to accuse him of stealing the dead senior deacon’s church bag. Honest Silas asked the minister to get his house checked. Cunning William pretended to find the church bag tucked behind a chest of drawers in Silas’ house. Silas was thus, proven guilty. It was ironical that the place where Silas used to be most happy, was also the place which he had to leave in unpleasant circumstances.
OR
The stranger’s arrival in Iping created a curious impression on the residents of the village. Although there had been a number of skirmishes with Mrs. Hall on matters of domestic discipline, Griffin used to override her objections with extra payment. He did not even go to church and there was no difference in his costume to tell a Sunday apart from other days. He worked fitfully and some days he would come down early and be continuously busy. On other days, he would rise late, pace his room, fret audibly for hours, smoke and sleep in the armchair by the fire,Communication with the world beyond, was not in his itinerary. His temper was uncertain, he had the manner of a man suffering under almost unendurable provocation and once or twice things were snapped, torn, crushed or broken in spasmodic gusts of violence. He rarely went anywhere by daylight but at twilight he would go out muffled up to render himself invisible, whether it was cold or not. He chose the loneliest paths and those mostly overshadowed by trees or banks. His goggling spectacles and ghastly bandaged face under the penthouse of his hat, came with a surprising suddenness out of the dark upon one or two home going labourers. He came across as a bogeyman to children. All this made people’ suspicious of him.

Question.13. Answer the following in 120-150 words :
Describe Dolly Winthrop as the most lovable character in George Eliot’s ‘Silas Mamer’.
OR
Attempt a character sketch of Marvel.
Answer . Winthrop was a woman of scrupulous conscience. She was a dutiful woman. She used to rise at half-past four and start her day’s work. Yet, she maintained a sweet temper. Though she was good-looking and had a fresh complexion, she liked dwelling upon the saddest and more serious elements of life. It was this reason that Silas’ unfortunate incident of his, gold getting stolen drew her sympathy. She visited Silas on Sunday afternoon carrying some lard-cakes to lift his spirit. She extended her help to the people of Raveloe whenever they needed. Thus, whether it was illness or death in a family, or when leeches were to be applied or when there was disappointment in a monthly nurse, Dolly Winthrop was the person whom the people of Raveloe thought of first.
OR
Thomas Marvel was a large man of flexible appearance. He had a nose of cylindrical protrusion, a fluctuating mouth and a bristly beard. His figure was well-rounded and his short limbs accentuated this propensity towards a rotund figure. He dressed in the attire of a bachelor. Marvel was one day sitting by himself and contemplating upon the poor condition of his shoes, when he encountered the Invisible Man as the voice, who succeeded in bullying him into becoming his reluctant accomplice. Marvel was distraught and harried by this time with the Invisible Man. He wanted to be let out and continually offered his resignation, but to no avail. The Invisible’ Man wanted to use him as a tool. However, Marvel was not willing to be made a tool and he decided to snivel and grovel his way out of his predicament. He became the chink in the armour, for the Invisible. Man as he held the key to the three manuscript books that would help the latter perpetuate his state of invisibility. If Marvel hadn’t turned on the Invisible Man and given himself up to the police, the Invisible Man would not have been apprehended in his demonic task of unleashing a reign of terror. Eventually, Thomas Marvel became the landlord of a little inn near Port Stowe and retained his ill-begotten ownership over the Invisible Man’s prized possessions.