CBSE Term II
2022
English Core
Class XII
CBSE Term II
2022
English Core
Class XII
Chapterwise Summary in All Sections
Extract Based Questions
Short/Long Answer Questions
3 Practice Papers
Author
Sristi Agarwal
ARIHANT PRAKASHAN (School Division Series)
ARIHANT PRAKASHAN (School Division Series)
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CBSE Term II
2022
Contents
READING
. Reading Comprehension
-
CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS
Short Writing Tasks
. Invitations and Replies
-
Long Writing Tasks
. Letter Writing Job Application
. Report Writing
-
LITERATURE TEXTBOOKS
Flamingo : Prose
. The Rattrap
. Indigo
-
Flamingo : Poetry
. A Thing of Beauty
. Aunt Jennifer s Tigers
-
Vistas : Supplementary
. Should Wizard Hit Mommy
. On the Face of It
. Evans Tries an O-Level
-
Practice Papers
-
-
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Syllabus
Section
A
B
Weightage
READING COMPREHENSION : Two Passages
Unseen passage factual, descriptive or literary discursive or persuasive
Case Based Unseen Factual Passage
+ Marks
CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS :
Short Writing Tasks
Formal Informal Invitation Cards or the Replies to Invitation s
Long Writing Tasks One
Letter of Application for a Job
Report Writing
C
LITERATURE
Questions based on extracts texts to assess comprehension and
appreciation, analysis, inference, extrapolation
Book-Flamingo Prose
The Rattrap
Indigo
+ Marks
Marks
Flamingo +
Marks for
Vistas =
marks
Book-Flamingo Poetry
A Thing of Beauty
Aunt Jennifer s Tigers
Book-Vistas Prose
Should Wizard Hit Mommy
On the Face of It
Evans Tries an O Level
Total
ASL
Grand Total
CBSE Term II
2022
+
=
3
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Reading
CHAPTER 01
Reading
Comprehension
Comprehension involves a thorough understanding of the given passage consisting of one or more paragraphs. It is meant to
test the understanding power and intellectual skill of a student. In class XIIth Term II examination, two passages carrying a
total of 14 marks will be asked from Reading Section. First passage (Factual, Descriptive or Literary / Discursive or
Persuasive) carries multiple choice questions of 8 marks and second passage (Case Based Unseen Factual) carries multiple
choice questions of 6 marks.
Types of Passages
Type of Passage
Factual passage
Examples
n
n
Discursive passage
n
n
Literary passage
Case based Factual passage
n
Sources from where passages are taken
A set of facts
Report
n
n
Opinions
Argumentative text
n
n
Instructions
Description
Persuasive text
Interpretative text
Extract from fiction, drama, essay,
biography, etc
Passage with visual and verbal inputs of
n
Statistical data
n
Charts
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Newspapers and magazines
Reference books
n
n
Brochures
Encyclopaedias
Newspapers and magazines
Reference books
Novels
Biographies
n
n
n
Short stories
Dramas
Other literary books
Newspaper reports
n
Magazines
n
Reference books
Graphs
Points to be Kept in Mind
l
l
l
l
l
Read the passage carefully and thoroughly to understand its contents. Underline the main ideas and instances, examples and
arguments supporting them.
Underline the words you don’t understand and try to guess their meaning from the context. Check the vocabulary related
questions and try to find the answers from the context.
In Multiple Choice Questions, analyse the questions and options carefully before selecting the correct option because some
of the four options are closely related.
Quickly go through the subject matter questions and mark the parts of the passage you feel are the answers to the questions.
Make sure you have understood the questions.
Read the passage again to counter check your answers.
4
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Chapter
Practice
l
Unseen Passages
(Factual, Descriptive or Literary/Discursive or Persuasive)
Passage 1
I. Food is an important part of our identity and culture. We are known by what we eat. It reflects the geography to
which we belong and the locally available resources used in our cuisine. Adivasi food systems are deeply
embedded in local culture and traditions, given that the way of life of these indigenous peoples is so closely
linked to nature and its resources.
II. Jharkhand is a natural abode and home to numerous Adivasi communities constituting a little over 25% of the
total population. These communities, in addition to their rich social and cultural traditions, practice immensely
diverse food practices which are based on locally available resources and techniques. Such Adivasi food systems
have been instrumental in maintaining the sovereignty and self-reliance of these communities. They have taken
many varieties of vegetables and tubers, wild or grown, to enrich their diet and also to meet their requirements of
calcium, iron, minerals and vitamins.
III. The realm of medicinal plants and herbal products is even vaster. According to the All India Coordinated Research
Project on Ethnobiology, tribal communities are acquainted with the use of over 9,000 species of plants including
food plants, while specifically for the purpose of healing they know the use of around 7,500 species of plants.
IV. The Adivasi food of Jharkhand may be defined in terms of a few characteristic features: food is influenced by
physiological needs and geographical conditions and the habit is closely associated with habitat. This means food
habits are guided by locally available resources. Adivasis consume boiled food like rice, pulses, herbs or ‘saag’ and
on some occasions, animal or bird meat is roasted on a fire. Because of these consistent food habits that are based
on locally available resources, instances of serious diseases are considerably lower among Adivasis.
V. Nutrition Value: Ingredients used in Adivasi food are a great source of nutrition in addition to taste. Studies have
revealed that Adivasi food provides high immunity to diseases and protection from deformities. Food like tubers,
shoots, berries, nuts, etc. are a good source of protein and fat. The consumption of meat, fish, egg, shellfish, etc.,
provides good quality protein apart from important vitamins and minerals. Widely consumed wild or grown
tubers enrich their dietary requirement of calcium, iron, mineral elements and vitamins.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of ten questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) The mention of medicinal plants and herbal products makes the writer seem.
(a) Commend
(b) Thankless
(c) Appreciative
(d) Critical
(ii) Alliteration refers to the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely
connected words.
Select the option that contains a word from the passage that will form an alliteration with ‘Adivasi food of
Jharkhand’.
(a) Sovereignty
(b) Ingridients
(c) Features
(d) Medicinal
(iii) Select the option that suitably completes the given dialogue as per the context on the passage.
Jaya That seminar about the Adivasis was very informative but I don’t think I can ever eat what they eat.
Rishi Why are you saying that? Their food ……… .
(a) is so different from ours
(c) is made up raw materials
(b) is so rich in nutrition
(d) is obtained from medicinal plants
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iv) What is the relationship between (1) and (2)?
(1) Such Adivasi food systems have been instrumental in maintaining the sovereignty and self-reliance of these
communities.
(2) This means food habits are guided by locally available resources.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1) is the reason for (2).
(2) elaborates the problem described in (1).
(1) gives the motive behind (2)
(2) explains the problem discussed in (1)
(v) The sentence “We are known by what we eat” means that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
It’s important to eat good food in order to be healthy and fit.
We become famous by the kind of food we eat.
Healthful and nutritious food is the reason behind our fame.
People remember us because of our eating habits.
(vi) Select the option that states the reason behind the statement- “Adivasi food provides high immunity to diseases
and protection from deformities”.
(a) The food of Adivasis have more protein and fibre.
(b) The food of Adivasis have a rich balance of protein, vitamins and minerals.
(c) Adivasis grow their own food themselves.
(d) Adivasis know the use of around 7,500 species of plants.
(vii) Which of the following statements is/are true in the context of the passage?
1. Studies have revealed that as the Adivasi food is rich in nutrients, it provides high immunity to disease and
protection from deformities.
2. Most of the Adivasis have frequent cases of serious diseases due to their consistent eating habits.
3. Adivasi food provides ample amount of proteins, vitamins and minerals to boost the immune system of the eater.
4. Adivasi communities cover more than 34% of Jharkhand- which is their natural house.
(a) Only 1
(b) Both 1 and 2
(c) Both 1 and 3
(c) Only 4
(viii) Which quote summarises the writer’s feelings about the Adivasi’s food and culture as described in the passage?
(a) If you keep good food in your fridge, you will eat good food. –Errick Mc Adams
(b) It’s health that is real wealth and not pieces of Gold and Silver. –Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Eating healthy food fills your body with energy and nutrients. Imagine your cells smiling back at you and saying: ‘Thank You!.
–Karen Salmansohn
(d) A Journey of thousand miles begins with a single step. –Lao Tzu
(ix) Select the option that lists what we can conclude from the passage.
(1) Adivasis are self-reliant and have a good immune system as they eat nutritious food that is available as per their
natural resources.
(2) Adivasis are self-reliant and have good immune system as they eat every kind of food that is given to them by their
governing agencies.
(3) Adivasis are self-reliant, modern and have good knowledge of healing properties.
(4) Adivasis are not self-reliant but have good immune system as they eat nutritious food that is available as per their
natural resources.
(a) Only (1) is true
(c) Both (2) and (3) are true
(b) Both (1) and (3) are true
(d) Only (4) is true
(x) The writer mentions that ‘food is an important part of our identity and culture’.
Pick the option that closely gives the meaning of the statement.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Culture is what makes everyone different from who they are and where they originate.
Food is family treasure in a way that the recipes are passed on from one generation to another.
As the world becomes more globalised, it is easier to access cuisines from different cultures.
How we eat and talk about food is a different key part of our identities.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Passage 2
I. There are some places which seem as cute and welcoming, some formal and intimidating. And weren’t we glad
that Potboiler fell into the first category. We had dived into the coffee shop after being caught in a sudden sharp
shower. High ceiling supported by old-fashioned columns, daylight pouring in from the wide windows, fairy
lights, simple but comfortable seating arrangements and we were instantly struck by its inviting ambience.
II. As we were shown to our seats, we discovered there was more to the coffee shop than coffee. There were shelves
of books around us, framed photographs of well-known authors and wall decoration sporting quotes from famous
books. We could pick up any book (it was quite an eclectic collection) and read it while we sipped and munched,
we were informed by the service staff.
III. As we scanned the menu and tried to figure out what to order, up walked a young girl to help us choose. Patiently
she walked us through the varieties of coffee, about the journey of the beans from the farm to the cup, how it is
roasted and brewed. Much later into the conversation we realised we were talking to the owner Sonali Lakhotia,
who also happens to be a certified barista. And it is her love for books and coffee which forms the heart and soul
of Potboiler. Even the brews and the food on the menu have been tweaked to give a literary turn.
IV. “I am an avid reader who loves cafe hopping,” Lakhotia would say later. “I always wanted to create a safe, escapist
space where each and everyone felt like they belong to. A place they could step into to keep their worries away.”
V. Incidentally, Potboiler showcases three to four coffee bean options from different roasters for a wholesome
experience. It being a relatively uncrowded afternoon, we learned about where and how the coffee is grown, how
it is roasted and brewed, and what impacts the final cup. How one should be careful about the brewing method,
the water temperature, the size of the ground coffee beans and their storage, and the water-coffee ratio. And it is
not only the coffee. While the beverage menu has been designed with some coffee experimentation, the food
menu too has been revamped to suit a wide range of palate.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of ten questions by choosing the correct
option.
(i) The use of the word ‘intimidating’ in the first line of the above passage suggests that the place is
(a) friendly
(b) unapproachable
(c) responsive
(d) distant
(ii) A collocation is a group of words that often occur together. The writer says that the book collection at potboiler
was an eclectic collection.
Select the word from the options that correctly collocates with ‘eclectic’.
(a) Antique
(b) Show
(c) Coffee
(d) Approach
(iii) Select the option that lists what we can conclude from the passage.
(1) One needs to be careful about the brewing method for better taste of the coffee.
(2) The coffee shop was full of books and also had an inviting ambience.
(3) Potboiler was a restaurant having palatable list of dishes to eat.
(4) The writer is fond of drinking tea and reading books while traveling.
(a) (1) and (2) are true
(c) (2) and (4) are true
(b) (2), (3) and (4) are true
(d) (1), (3) and (4) are true
(iv) Which quote summarises the writer’s feelings in the best manner after visiting the Potboiler?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Coffee has given me unrealistic expectations of productivity. –Darynda Jones
As long as there was coffee in the world, how bad could things be? –Cassandra Clare
I like coffee because it gives me the illusion that I might be awake. –Lewis Black
Given enough coffee I could rule the world. –Terry Pratchett
(v) Which of the following statements is/are not true in the context of the passage?
1. Sonali Lakhotia, the owner of Potboiler coffee shop, was a certified barista.
2. The owner of the coffee shop was an avid reader of books and a lover of coffee.
3. Potboiler showcases three to four coffee bean options from different roasters for a wholesome experience.
4. The writer had to wait their turn to have a cup of coffee in the packed and congested crowded places.
(a) Only 1
(c) Both 1 and 3
(b) Both 1 and 2
(d) Only 4
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(vi) Select the option that states the meaning of the statement- “As we were shown to our seats, we discovered there
was more to the coffee shop than coffee.”
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The coffee shop had different varieties and flavours of coffee.
They met the owner of the coffee shop, who was a presentable lady.
The coffee shop had good ambience and was full of books and photographs.
The coffee shop had good ambience, decorative books and attractive menus of fast food items.
(vii) Pick the option that correctly states what did not happen after the writer checked in the coffee shop(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The writer found the ambience of the shop very appealing and inviting.
There were shelves and shelves of books around him, framed photographs of well-known authors.
The writer was welcomed by the owner of the shop who was an entrepreneur.
The writer did not like the stuffy and dilapidated look of the shop.
(viii) What is the relationship between (1) and (2)?
(1) ……… weren’t we glad that Potboiler fell into the first category.
(2) …… shelves of books around us, framed photographs of well-known authors and wall decoration sporting quotes
from famous books.
(a) (2) is the reason for (1)
(c) (2) elaborates the problem described in (1).
(b) (1) repeats the situation described in (2).
(d) (1) sets the stage for (2).
(ix) Select the option that suitably completes the given dialogue as per the context in paragraph III.
Writer: I am unable to choose what to order.
Young Girl: Shall I help you, (1) ………………….
Writer: There’s a lot of variety in the menu, isn’t there?
Young Girl: (2)............................................................. Let me show you something more.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1) I am Sonali Lakhotia, the owner of the Potboiler. (2) The essence of the beautiful is unity in variety.
(1) I am Sonali Lakhotia, the owner of this place. (2) Variety is the spice of life.
(1) What could I offer you to drink? (2) Variety is the spice of love.
(1) I’m sure I can help you in choosing the right option. (2) It is a coffee house, there should be ambigvity.
(x) The writer mentions- the food menu too has been revamped to suit a wide range of palate.
Pick the option that closely gives the meaning of the statement.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The food menu had variety of delectable food now.
The food menu did not have any variety of food.
The food menu only had a list of some palatable beverages.
The food menu did not have any variety of food that could please the guests.
Passage 3
I. The town of Mandawa in Rajasthan has come a long way since its days as a trading outpost on an ancient caravan
route for goods from the Middle East and China but it still remains one of the little-known attractions on the
tourism map of the state. But did you know that about 170 km by road from state capital Jaipur, Mandawa can be
your springboard into the splendors of Shekhawati, a region known for its splendid painted mansions?
II. It was their business acumen that found the men from Shekhawati entering into trade with the British and
settling down in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and Bombay (now Mumbai). Most of them would remit the money home
which was used both for luxurious living and social welfare. On one hand, people had their homesteads painted
with murals, as well as with intricate marble work and woodwork. On the other, they built dharamsalas and baolis
for public use.
III. Mandawa, like other towns in the Shekhawati region, is dotted with painted havelis. It is amazing to note that not
an inch of the mansion was missed by the artists. From the front porch to the bedrooms, all walls, ceilings, door
jambs, window sills, were painted upon. Temples, cenotaphs, even local dharamsalas and baolis were not
excluded. With the mansions being lived in by successive generations, the paintings were a study in evolution,
from the use of colours to subjects.
IV. The murals were based on diverse themes – social and folk tales, stories from the epics, contemporary lifestyles,
Raagmala paintings, people from various walks of life, portraits of the merchants’ families, etc. In the later
paintings, the European influence, especially in the lifestyle images, became prominent. So, do not be surprised if
you find motor cars, aeroplanes or gramophones finding a place in the murals.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
V. Occupying the heart of the town is the Mandawa Castle (now a luxury hotel). Said to have been built by Thakur
Nawal Singh to protect the trade post, it later became the focus around which the town grew up. It has some
amazing murals. However, according to local residents, owners of these havelis began to move away starting at the
turn of the 20th century. Some left for good while others left them with the caretakers. There was no maintenance
and the paintings began to fade away. Even today as you go around the town, you will find many dilapidated
buildings with the famous murals peeling off or faded away, the woodwork rotting off.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of ten questions by choosing the correct
option.
(i) According to the passage, one of the reasons for dilapidated paintings that began to fade away in the havelis is
the
(a) Shekhawati entering into trade with the British
(c) Shekhawati moving to Kolkata and Mumbai
(b) lack of maintenance and care
(d) lack of good artists and artisans
(ii) Select the option that states the meaning of the statement- “Mandawa, like other towns in the Shekhawati
region, is dotted with painted havelis.”
(a) Mandawa town has havelis painted full of dots.
(b) Mandawa town is full of many havelis that’s scattered all over the place.
(c) Mandawa region has many havelis that is covered with a row of dots for decoration
(d) None of the above
(iii) Which of the following options is not true in the context of the passage?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Mandawa Castle is said to have been built by Thakur Nawal Singh to protect the trade post.
The havelis in Mandawa are painted with temples, cenotaphs, even local dharamsalas and baolis.
Shekhawati is a region known for its splendid painted mansions.
The town of Mandawa in Rajasthan is just 170km away from Jaipur by road.
(iv) Select the option that suitably completes the given sentence as per the context in paragraph II.
The people of Shekhawati “entered into trade with the British” because
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
They wanted to start the export of the paintings and murals made in Shekhawati.
They were impressed by the business acumen of the Britishers.
They wanted to earn money using their business acumen trading with the British.
Both (a) and (b)
(v) A keyword is a word that occurs in a text more often than would be expected to occur by just chance.
From the options given below, choose a word that is a keyword in the above passage.
(a) Mandawa
(b) British
(c) Mural
(d) Town
(vi) Select the option that clearly indicates the difference in the town of Mandawa before and after entering into
trade with the British.
Before
(a)
Had many potraits
of merchants.
Before
(c)
A place with people from
various classes having
sharp sense of business.
After
Became a centre of
British settlers.
After
Luxurious lifestyle and
social welfare.
Before
(b)
It adorned many
buildings with murals.
Before
(d)
Became bigger attraction
than Jaipur.
After
It became a trade post.
After
Became very rich town.
(vii) What is the relationship between (1) and (2)
(1) ……… people had their homesteads painted with murals.
(2) ……… even local dharamshalas and baolis were not excluded.
(a) (2) is the reason for (1).
(c) (2) elaborates the problem described in (1).
(b) (2) repeats the situation described in (1).
(d) (1) sets the stage for (2).
9
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(viii) Pick the words that correctly list the feelings of the writer with reference to the description of the town,
Mandawa in the passage.
(a) Crazy and anxious
(b) Impassive and hesitant
(c) Curious and spiritless
(d) Captivated and attracted
(ix) The writer mentions the fading away of the murals. He is referring to
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
the over preservation of the paintings and buildings of historical significance.
the negligence of the owners and caretakers.
the need for constant care and maintenance.
Both (b) and (c)
(x) Which image represents the kind of paintings displayed in the havelis of Mandawa as mentioned in the passage?
Image 1
(a) Image 1 and 2
Image 2
(b) Image 2 and 3
Image 3
(c) Image 3 and 4
Image 4
(d) Image 1
Passage 4
I. As we speed our way from Guwahati towards Sualkuchi, vivid images of colourful silk mekhela chadars flood my
mind. This is my second visit to Sualkuchi. Sualkuchi is endearingly referred to as the Manchester of the East.
Situated on the northern banks of the Brahmaputra, it is famous for its centuries-old heritage of weaving. When I
reach Sualkuchi, I can hear the rhythmic click-clack of the traditional throw-shuttle loom.
II. Here, weaving is not just a tradition handed down by generations, but a way of life and a labour of love. The
majority of the families have hand operated looms, which they call ‘taatxaal’. “I’ve been weaving for more than 25
years now; I still love the craft,” says Binita Roy, a weaver working here. As I ask Binita about the different
designs used in the silk garments, I’m amazed at the sheer beauty of the motifs. A popular design used in mekhela
chadars is the ‘kinkhaap’. It is believed that this design has been used since the days of the Ahom kings and
consists of two front-facing lions. Other popular designs include those inspired by Assamese jewellery like the
‘gaamkharu’ (a wrist band) or ‘joonbiri’ (a half moon-shaped pendant) and the kaziranga design inspired by the
wildlife at Kaziranga National Park. These days, colored silk threads are bought from South India as it is not
commercially viable to dye the silks before weaving here.
III. Assam’s flora and fauna often sneak into its mekhela chadars. Creepers are woven into borders, peacocks prance about
the chadars, and delicate, geometric flowers dot the bodies of the mekhelas. Occasionally, pots and lions too make an
appearance. The more I learn about the tedious procedure of weaving, the more my respect for the craft grows.
IV. There are mekhela chadars in different colours: red, blue, green, purple and blue as well as white, beige, black
and grey. The ‘paat’ silk mekhela chadars have intricate designs made out of golden silk threads or guna all over.
In some of them, different coloured threads are also used.
V. The white ‘paat’ silk, warm ‘eri’ and the golden ‘muga’ silk threads are made into exquisite chadars, saris, shawls,
dress materials, rihas and ‘gamochas’. The ‘paat’ fabric is often described as one that dries in the shade and hides
in a fist. The crisp, bright, gold ‘muga’ silk, exclusive to Assam, is of superior quality and very costly. Mekhela
chadars made from ‘muga’ are gracefully draped by dancers during Rongali Bihu, the traditional festival of Assam.
‘Muga’, the golden silk of Assam, was given the Geographical Indication status in 2007 and the GI logo in 2014.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of ten questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) Which of the following statements is not substantiated in paragraph IV?
(a) The paat silk mekhela chadars have intricate designs made from different colors of silk threads.
(b) The silk chadars are made only of limited colors like golden, red, green and blue because of their maximum liking by the
customers.
(c) The mekhela chadars are made in all different types of colors.
(d) The paat silk mekhela chadars have complex designs made out of golden silk threads.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(ii) Onomatopoeia refers to the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.
From the options given below, choose a word that is an example of onamotopoeia.
(a) Click - clack
(b) Creepers
(c) Throw shuttle
(d) White paat
(iii) Select the option that suitably completes the given dialogue as per the context in paragraph II.
Writer: Since how long have you been creating these beautiful designs?
Binita: Do you like these designs? (1) ……………
Writer: What about these coloured silk threads?
Binita: (2) ....................... We cannot make them here.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1) I am in love with these designs too. (2) We export these threads.
(1) I do not like weaving but to earn our bread we have to do it. (2) We buy it from South India.
(1) I am in love with them for the past 25 years now. (2) We buy it from Kerala.
(1) I am in love with these threads for the past 25 years now. (2) We buy it from Rajasthan.
(iv) Select the option that lists central idea of paragraph V.
(a) Muga, the golden silk of Assam.
(b) Assam’s floura and fauna depicted in the mekehla chadars.
(c) The famous golden tea of Assam.
(d) Mekhela chadars- the identity of Sualkuchi in Assam.
(v) What is the relationship between 1 and 2?
(1) ……… paat silk mekhela chadars have intricate designs made out of golden silk threads.
(2) …… different coloured threads are also used.
(a) (2) is the reason for (1)
(c) (1) sets the stage for (2).
(b) (1) repeats the problems mentioned in (2).
(d) (2) elaborates the problem described in (1).
(vi) The writer’s question to Binita, about knowing about the different designs, was intended to
(a) Criticize her creativity and lack of abilities.
(c) Encourage Binita to join a textile design course.
(b) Make the process of creating designs sound simple.
(d) Showcase her expertise in creating designs.
(vii) The ‘gaamkharu’ and the ‘joonbiri’ designs have been inspired by
(a)- The Kaziranga National Park
(c)- The traditional Rangali Bihu festival
(b)- The Assamese jewellery
(d) The Ahom kings
(viii) The reason why the coloured silk threads are still bought from South India is that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
It is not commercially viable to dye the silks before weaving, in the area.
The colored silk threads are found to be more expensive in South India.
Dying silk threads is a very cumbersome and inexpensive process in Assam.
It is nearly impossible to make the silk threads due to lack of facilities in Assam.
(ix) The statement “The more I learn about the tedious procedure of weaving, the more my respect for the craft
grows” means that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The writer appreciates the hard work of the weavers who do the dull and boring work of weaving the craft with perfection.
The writer does not appreciate the hard work of the weavers but respects them a lot for their creativity.
The writer says that the weaving work is very slow so he does not like this work.
The writer respects the craft as weaving is a very creative and interesting work.
(x) Select the option that lists what we can conclude from the text.
(1) Weaving is a part of life and a tradition in sualkichi.
(2) It is very expensive to make mekhela chadars in Assam.
(3) Many plant and animal lives are risked while making mekhela chadars.
(4) The silk used in weaving and the art itself are parts of Assam’s cultural heritage and thus, deserve proper
recognition.
(a) (1) and (4) are true
(c) (1), (2) and (4) are true
(b) (3) and (4) are true
(d) (1), (3) and (4) are true
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Passage 5
I. From picking out souvenirs, collecting coins to sending mail from each city visited—every traveler comes with their
own set of quirks. For many, the very act of painstakingly choosing a postcard, slipping into a local letterbox and
sending it home is sacrosanct. If you fall in that category, you’ll enjoy this list of some of the most unusual post offices
in the world–the highest, lowest and remotest, all standing to make sure your letter is sent from their city, with love.
II. On the waters of Srinagar’s Dal Lake floats a boat. Inside it, sit a few postmen, and with them, a box of stamps. This is
no ordinary shikara, turned into a houseboat for tourists, and nor is it part of the jostling floating market. It is India’s
only floating post office. Established in 2011, the post office acts as a regular post office with banking services and an
in-house philately museum, only bobbing along to the water. In addition, your mail gets stamped with a special
Kashmiri seal depicting a shikara and a boatman, especially for this wooden post office with the pin code: 190001.
III. Seal your first visit to the Eiffel Tower with a stamp. The iron landmark that Paris is most recognizably linked with has
a little post office in its southern wing, allowing tourists and visitors to pop in, and post their mail. If you’re lucky, your
postage may get a special stamp declaring that it has been sent from the Eiffel Tower, but it is no guarantee.
IV. The endeavor to send a letter from the world’s highest post office is certainly a commitment. It takes reaching
Tingri Country in Tibet, battling altitude sickness, lugging oxygen cylinders and trudging up a height of 5300m
above ground level. This tin-shed mailing box, just established in 2008, is located in the Everest Base Camp, and
acts as a resting point for hungry travelers, along with its duties of sending mail to all parts of the world.
V. What does one do after successfully completing their first scuba dive? Their only choice can be found at Vanuatu,
a Pacific island nation located off Oceania and Australia. The first underwater post office in the Hideaway Island,
allows anyone willing to swim among the fishes to post mail on specially designed waterproof postcards. For a
post box located 9 feet below ground level, it attracts a lot of visitors, especially tourists. Incidentally, the country
is driven to make posting mail an adventure activity. It also is home to a volcano post, set on top of Mt. Yasur on
Tanna Island, an active volcano which is known to erupt more than 10 times an hour.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of ten questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) “Every traveler comes with their own set of quirks.” Which set of quirks is the writer discussing here?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Collecting coins and memorable objects while one is traveling for remembrance.
Writing a letter about the visited place for remembrance.
Taking selfies at the places where one goes for visit.
Clicking the photographs in the vicinity of the place one visits.
(ii) Oxymoron is a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.
From the options given below, choose the words that are example of oxymoron.
(a) Adventure activity
(b) Jostting floating
(c) Ordinary shikara
(d) Only choice
(iii) Select the option that suitably completes the given dialogue as per the passage.
Rahil India is so unique in its people, culture, language, basically everything. It added another uniqueness to itself.
Pooja Yes, I agree , ………
(a) an underwater post office is definitely unique.
(c) India’s people are quite unique.
(b) a floating post office is definitely unique.
(d) India’s achievements are quite unique.
(iv) Where can one find a post office with specially designed waterproof postcards?
(a) At Vanuatu in the Tanna Island
(c) Tingri Country in Tibet
(b) Srinagar’s Dal Lake
(d) At Vanuatu in the Hideaway Island
(v) Select the option that indicates the situation in Everest Base Camp before and after 2008.
Before
(a)
No post office in the
location.
(c)
No post office in the
location.
Before
Before
After
World’s only post office
at the bottom of a
mountain.
(b)
Post office destroyed
in battle.
After
World’s highest post
office built.
(d)
World’s highest post
office.
Before
After
New post office
After
Post office destroyed
in battle.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(vi) What is the relationship between (1) and (2)?
(1) ……… list of some of the most unusual post offices in the world ………
(2) …… has a little post office in its southern wing
(a) (1) sets the stage for (2).
(c) (2) elaborates the problem given in (1).
(b) (2) is the reason for (1).
(d) (1) repeats the situation described in (2).
(vii) What is special about Mount Yasur and where is it located?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
It’s an active volcano a day which is known to erupt more than 10 times and is situated in the Hideaway Island, Vanuatu.
It’s an active volcano which is known to erupt more than 10 times an hour and is situated in the Tanna Island, Vanuatu.
It’s an active volcano which is known to erupt more than 10 times an hour and is situated near the Everest Base Camp.
It’s an active volcano which is known to erupt more than 10 times a day and is situated near the Srinagar’s Dal Lake.
(viii) Select the option that lists information about the world’s highest post office as mentioned in the passage.
(a) It’s situated near the Eiffel Tower at Paris.
(b) It’s situated near the Mt. Everest base established in 2011.
(c) It’s located in the Everest Base Camp, established in 2008.
(d) It’s located in Tingri Country in Tibet, established in 2008.
(ix) Which quote best summarizes the writer’s feelings about the details given in the passage?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
I don’t film messages. I let the post office take care of those. –Berhardo Bertolucci
The postal service needs tools to modernize and compete. –Joe Baca
Lenin’s ideal was to build a nation’s productive effor according to the model of the post office. –Ludwig Von Mises
Go work at the post office or starbucks if you want balance in your life. – Jasan Calacanis
(x) Select the option that lists a trait of every traveller.
(1) Calling loved ones to share details.
(3) sharing pictures on social sites.
(5) writing mail from a touring city
(a) (1), (3) and (5) are true
(c) (4) and (5) are true
(2) Picking out souvenirs.
(4) coin collection
(b) (2) and (5) are true
(d) (2), (4) and (5) are true
Passage 6
I. ‘Lifestyle’ is a way used by people, groups and nations and is formed in specific geographical, economic, political,
cultural and religious text. Lifestyle is referred to as the characteristics of inhabitants of a region in special time
and place. It includes day to day behaviours and functions of individuals in job, activities, fun and diet.
II. In recent decades, lifestyle as an important factor of health is more interested by researchers. According to WHO,
60% of related factors to individual health and quality of life are correlated to lifestyle. Millions of people follow
an unhealthy lifestyle. Hence, they encounter illness, disability and even death. Problems like metabolic diseases,
joint and skeletal problems, cardio-vascular diseases, hypertension, overweight, violence and so on, can be caused
by an unhealthy lifestyle. The relationship of lifestyle and health should be important considered.
III. Today, wide changes have occurred in life of many people. Malnutrition, unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol
consuming, drug abuse, stress and so on, are the representations of unhealthy lifestyle that are used as the
dominant form of lifestyle. Besides, the lives of citizens face new challenges. For instance, emerging new
technologies within IT, such as the internet and virtual communication networks, lead our world to a major
challenge that threatens the physical and mental health of people. The challenge is to control the overuse and
misuse of the technology.
IV. Therefore, according to the existing studies, it can be said that: a person’s lifestyle has a significant influence on
their physical and mental health. There are different forms of such influences. Consanguinity in some ethnicity is
a dominant form of lifestyle that leads to the genetic disorders. Reformation of this unhealthy lifestyle is a
preventing factor for decreasing the rate of genetic diseases. In some countries, the overuse of drugs is a major
unhealthy lifestyle. Iran is one of the 20 countries using the most medication. They prefer medication to other
intervention. Furthermore, in 15–40% of cases they use medications without prescription. Pain relievers, eye
drops and antibiotics have the most usage in Iran. While self-medications such as antibiotics have a negative
effect on the immune system, if the individual would be affected by infection, antibiotics will not be effective in
treatment. Overall, 10 per cent of those who are self-medicated will experience severe complications such as drug
resistance. Sometimes drug allergy is so severe that it can cause death.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of ten questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) Which image(s) is/are the representations of unhealthy lifestyle as mentioned in the passage?
Image 1
(a) Images 1 and 2
Image 2
(b) Images 2 and 3
Image 3
(c) Images 3 and 4
Image 4
(d) Images 4 and 1
(ii) Which of the following statements is not substantiated in paragraph IV?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Our lifestyle is responsible for our mental and physical health.
Iran relies mostly on the medicines to cure most of the illnesses and diseases.
Drug overdose causes allergy that becomes fatal sometimes.
If any person is infected by an infection, it can only be treated by antibiotics.
(iii) Assonance refers to the resemblance of sound in nearby words or syllables. It is a figure of speech.
From the given options, choose a phrase from the above passage that can be an example of assonance.
(a) “challenge is the overuse and misuse”
(c) “health and quality of life”
(b) “it can be said”
(d) “referred to the characteristics of inhabitants”
(iv) Select the option that suitably completes the given dialogue as per the context of the passage.
Sona A person should be very informed and aware of the kind of lifestyle they have. Don’t you think?
Ajay Yes, you’re right. After all, ……… .
(a) health is concerning
(c) wealth can be gained by proper health
(b) health is wealth
(d) health is heart
(v) Which quote summarises the writer’s feelings about the emergence of new technologies which is leading our
world to a major challenge that threatens the physical and mental health of people?
(a) The difference between technology and slavery is that slaves are fully aware that they are not free. –Nassim Nicholas Teleb
(b) Every social association that is not face-to-face is injurious to your health. –Nassim Nicholas Taleb
(c) Virtual reality is really a new communication platform. By feeling truly present, you can share unbounded spaces and
experiences with the people in your life. –Mark Zuckerberg
(d) The Internet of Things is not a concept; it is a network, the true technology-enabled network of all networks. –Edewede Oriwoh
(vi) The writer mentions “Consanguinity in some ethnicity is a dominant form of lifestyle that leads to the genetic
disorders.”
Pick the option that closely gives the meaning of the statement.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The genetic disorders in a family lead to increased mortality rate.
Many genetic disorders may occur in a family as they share the same blood.
The chromosomal defects cause most of the genetic disorders.
Coming from the same ethnic background, most of the siblings have same disease.
(vii) Problems like metabolic diseases, joint and skeletal problems, cardio-vascular diseases cannot be caused if
(a) We eat lots of fruits, green vegetables and dairy products daily.
(b) We exercise regularly and keep our body fit.
(c) We avoid malnutrition, unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol consuming, drug abuse, stress etc.
(d) We do meditation and have enough sleep.
(viii) Which option can best includes the definition of the word ‘lifestyle’ as given in the passage?
(A) Lifestyle is referred to the characteristics of people living in an area.
(B) Lifestyle includes day to day behaviours and functions of individuals in job, activities, fun and diet.
(C) 50% of related factors to individual health, fashion, standard, social activities and quality of life are correlated to
lifestyle.
(D) Lifestyle is a way used by people to express their views in terms of a specific geographical, economic, political,
cultural and religious text.
(a) Only (B)
(b) Both (A) and (B)
(c) Both (A) and (C)
(d) Only (D)
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(ix) Select the option that lists what we can conclude from the text.
(1) Iran doesn’t have proper medication facilities.
(2) Severe drug allergy can be fatal.
(3) Unhealthy lifestyle causes several diseases.
(4) Proper use of technology can cause mental illness.
(a) (2) and (3) are true.
(c) (2), (3) and 4 are true.
(b) (1) and (3) are true.
(d) Only (4) is true.
(x) What is the relationship between (1) and (2)?
(1) ….. Sometimes drug allergy is so severe that it can cause death.
(2) …… Overall, 10 per cent of those who are self-medicated will experience severe complications such as drug
resistance.
(a) (1) is the reason for (2).
(c) (1) gives the motive behind (2)
(b) (2) elaborates the problem described in (1).
(d) (2) is the reason for (1)
Passage 7
I. Family is one of the few universal and permanent institutions of mankind. In every society and at every stage of
development we found some sort of family. As a result, we found different types of family all over the world. But
in India we found a peculiar family system which deserves special attention. The family in India does not consist
only of husband, wife and their children but also of uncles, aunts, cousins and grandsons.
II. This system is called joint family or extended family system. This joint family system is a peculiar characteristic of
the Indian social life. Usually, a son after marriage does not separate himself from the parents but continues to
live under the same roof, eating food cooked at one hearth, participating in common worship and holding
property in common with every person’s share in it.
III. All the members of joint family keep their earnings in a common fund out of which family expenses are met.
Accordingly, Indian Joint family system is like a socialistic community in which every member earns according to
their capacity and receives according to their needs. This family is formed on the basis of close blood
relationships. It normally consists of members of three to four generations.
IV. In other words, joint family is a collection of more than one primary family on the basis of close blood ties and
common residences. All the members are bound by mutual obligations and have a common ancestor. It consists of
an individual, his wife and married sons, their children and unmarried daughter, his brother and his parents. But
to have a clear understanding of the meaning of joint family, we must have to analyse its definitions given by
different sociologists.
V. Some of these definitions are as follows:
(1) According to Smt. Iravati Karve, “A joint family is a group of people who generally live under one roof, who eat food
cooked at one hearth, who hold property in common and who participate in common worship and are related to
each other as some particular type of Kindred.”
(2) According to K.M. Kapadia, “Joint family is a group formed not only of a couple and their children but also of other
relations either from father’s side or from mother’s side depending on whether the joint family is patrilineal or
matrilineal.”
Thus, we conclude that the joint family comprises of a large number of members which has greater generation
depth and who are related to one another by property, income, household and mutual rights and obligations.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of ten questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) Simile is a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind.
From the given options, choose a simile example that appears in the above passage.
(a) “normally consists of members of three”
(b) “is a group of people who generally live”
(c) “related to one another by property”
(d) “family system is like a socialistic community”
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(ii) Which of the following statement/statements is not true in the context of the passage?
(A) Indian Joint family system is like a connected system in which every member earns according to their capacity
and receives according to their needs.
(B) The joint family is an extension of the nuclear family (parents and dependent children).
(C) Non-earning members have as much share as the earning members in the joint family system due to the common
funds.
(D) The entire members in the joint family system are not bound by mutual obligations and are free to take their
independent decisions.
(a) Only (A)
(b) Both (A) and (B)
(c) Both (A) and (C)
(d) Only (D)
(iii) Select the option that lists what we can conclude from the passage.
(1) The family in India does not consist only of husband, wife and their children but also of uncles, aunts and cousins
and grandsons.
(2) The joint family is based on close blood relationships and kinship.
(3) One of the main advantages of a joint family system is the strong bonding it creates among siblings and other
members of the family.
(4) The food is cooked in different firesides but eaten at a common place with all the heads in the leading roles.
(a) (1) and (2) are true
(c) (2) and (4) are true
(b) (1), (2) and (3) are true
(d) (1), (3) and (4) are true
(iv) Which quote summarises the writer’s feelings in the best manner about the joint family system?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching, they are your family. –Jim Butcher
Joint Family : Divided by property but united by heart. – Harshita Ashwani
Nobody has ever before asked the nuclear family to live all by itself in a box the way we do. –Margaret Mead
Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city. –George Burns
(v) Which board can be chosen as displaying the title of the above passage?
Global Joint
Family System
Members of
Joint Family
Indian Joint
Family
Types of families
in India
Option (1)
Option (2)
Option (3)
Option (4)
(a) Option (1)
(b) Option (2)
(c) Option (3)
(d) Option (4)
(vi) Select the option that states the meaning of the statement- “But in India we found a peculiar family system
which deserve special attention” as given in the passage.
(a) Families do not exist in isolation and family dynamics are often best interpreted in the context of their societal and cultural
background globally.
(b) Indian families are considered classically as large, collectivistic joint families harboring three or more generations, together.
(c) The cultures of Western Europe and North America with their complex, stratified societies, where independence and
differences are emphasised, are said to be individualistic.
(d) The socio-cultural milieu of India is undergoing change at a tremendous pace, leaving fundamental alterations in family structure
in its wake.
(vii) What is the relationship between (1) and (2)?
(1) …… we found a peculiar family system which deserves special attention.
(2) ……… joint family is a collection of more than one primary family.
(a) (1) sets the stage for (2)
(c) (2) is the reason for (2)
(b) (1) repeats the situation described in (2)
(d) (2) elaborates the problem described in (1)
(viii) Select the option that correctly lists the feelings of the writer with reference to the definition of the Indian
family system in the passage.
1. Pessimistic
2. Acceptance
3. Affectionate
4. Infuriated
5. Disgust
(a) 1 and 4
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 5
(d) 1 and 3
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(ix) Select the option that suitably completes the given dialogue as per the context in paragraph II.
Father We all have started planning for your marriage?
Son Have you finalised the girl? (1) ………….
Father Your uncle and I have visited the girl’s family also.
Son (2) ............... Let me assist you in the further planning.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1) As I have also finalised someone else for me. (2). We can plan for next year then.
(1) Or you are waiting for my consent for the same? (2) Oh! Hope they are very rich.
(1) How can I help? (2) Hope she is modern and fashionable like me.
(1) I’m sure she would be the best fit for our family. (2) Oh! That’s great then.
(x) The writer mentions ‘This family is formed on the basis of close blood relationships.’
Pick the option that closely gives the meaning of the statement.
(a) The joint family members are a coherent group who follow the same culture and ties of blood.
(b) The child who cares for the parents usually receives the house in addition to his or her own share of land and moveable property
in joint families.
(c) An extended family can also be called a complex family, joint family, or multi-generational family.
(d) With globalisation and increasing urbanisation, people have become more individualistic and consider family secondary.
Passage 8
I. The novel coronavirus has had an intense effect on the public as well as private education of India. From schools
shutting down abruptly in 2020 to introducing online education to introducing National Education Policy, 2020,
this year has met some of the most important checkpoints in the history of Indian education. But, what does this
transition mean for the public and the private schools of India?
II. There is a certain operational gap between public and private schools when it comes to digital transition due to
the limited mobile and internet access in non-metro cities. The global emergency has uncovered numerous
inadequacies in our education frameworks – from the availability of computers and internet required for online
education and other environmental conditions required to focus on learning, up to the misalignment among assets
and necessities.
III. Other significant challenges in front of public and private education are:
In India, even though state-funded schools are more than private foundations, they have been lacking in
addressing the necessities and desires of the young students. Because of sub-par foundation, government schools
can’t give private schools a competition. Therefore, the students never have the upside of practicing what they
learn here.
IV. Absence of qualified teachers is another issue in public schools in India. This is on the grounds that educating is
still considered to be the last vocation choice for most aspiring professionals. Educators of government schools get
posted to rural territories, that is normally translated into them going on indefinite leaves or requesting for
transfer. The educators at these government elementary schools in India don’t just handle combined age groups
under one roof, they even get exhausted very much.
V. The IQ level of a normal private school student is significantly higher than the average government school
student. The teachers there are uninformed about these children’s future. This is a genuine concern which the
administration needs to address. There is likewise neglect, deficient public financing and responsibility and an
absence of support among certain teachers to consider giving extra care to the poor children from lower ranks.
VI. When contrasted with the UK or US, India has the most noteworthy number of students going to private schools.
There has been a consistent increase in enlistment in private schools in rural India from 18.7 per cent in 2006 to 25.6
per cent in 2011 consequently demonstrating the expanded significance of education in provincial India.
Government school enrolment in the top 20 states represent almost 55 per cent portion of enlistment at the
secondary/senior secondary level. Following this pattern, India would require extra 1,30,000 private schools by 2022.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of ten questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) Why is there an absence of qualified teachers in public schools in India?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Lack of qualifications and scores.
Poor infrastructure in the schools which makes the teachers hesitant to join teaching profession.
Increasing cutting-edge competition during the recruitment of the teachers.
Educating is still considered to be the last vocation choice for most aspiring professionals.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(ii) What are the significant challenges in front of public and private education as described in the passage?
(1) Absence of qualified teachers.
(2) Absence of support among certain teachers.
(3) Absence of good infrastructure and academics.
(4) Growing nepotism during the recruitment phases while selecting teachers.
(a) Both (1) and (2)
(b) Both (2) and (3)
(c) Both (1) and (4)
(d) Both (3) and (4)
(iii) Select the option that suitably completes the given dialogue as per the passage.
Tanu I am going to change school. I’ll be starting soon.
Madhu Oh, good! …(1)…
Tanu It’s a private school in Bangalore.
Madhu Why …(2)…?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1) is it a private school? (2) are you going there?
(1) where is the school ? (2) not continue in a government school.
(1) it is a private school, I hope. (2) in Bangalore
(1) is it anywhere nearby? (2) change school now
(iv) Alliteration refers to the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely
connected words.
From the options given below, choose a phrase that is an example of alliteration.
(a) “even though state funded ”
(b) “has the most noteworthy number of students”
(c) “significance of education in provincial”
(d) “genuine concern which the administration needs”
(v) Select the option that clearly indicates the situation before and after 2006 in number of admissions in private
schools.
Before
(a)
Lesser number of
admissions.
(c)
Higher number of
admissions.
Before
Before
After
Increase in number
of admissions.
(b)
Higher number
of admissions.
After
Decrease in number
of admissions.
(d)
Lesser number of
admissions.
Before
After
Increase in number of
educated students.
After
Decrease in number of
educated students.
(vi) Which quote summarises the writer’s feelings towards public and private schools in India?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities. – John . F. Kennedy.
Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments. – Boffy scott.
Private schools have been attacking public schools. – Gorilla zoe
None of the above
(vii) The writer mentions “Because of sub-par foundation, government schools can’t give private schools a
competition”. What does ‘sub-par foundation’ refer to here?
(a) The best foundation
(c) The highest foundation
(b) Foundation that is below a usual or a normal level
(d) The base which is average
(viii) What is the relationship between (1) and (2)?
(1) This is a genuine concern which the administration needs to address.
(2) There is a neglect ……… and an absence of support among certain teachers to consider giving extra care to the
poor children from lower ranks.
(a) (1) is the reason for (2).
(c) (2) gives the reason for (1)
(b) (2) elaborates the problem described in (1).
(d) (2) explains the problem discussed in (1)
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(ix) Select the option that lists what we can conclude from the text.
(1) Number of students taking admission in government schools has increased from 2006 to 2011.
(2) A normal private school student is more intelligent than an average government school student.
(3) Compared with India, UK has a greater number of students preferring private schools now.
(4) The digital transition due to the limited mobile and internet access in non-metro cities makes the base for an
operational gap.
(a) (1) and (2) are true
(b) (2), (3) and (4) are true
(c) (2) and (4) are true
(d) (1), (3) and (4) are true
(x) Which of the following options is not true in the context of the passage?
(a) A student of private school has much higher IQ than that of government school.
(b) Costly mobile phones and unlimited internet access causes an operational gap between public and private schools.
(c) From 2006-2011, there has been an increase in enlistment in private schools in India.
(d) Teachers at public schools in rural areas request going on leaves and transfer.
Passage 9
I. As technology advances, men have become reliant on the Internet for all of their requirements. The internet has
provided man with quick access to everything while remaining seated in one location. Every imaginable thing
that man can think of can be done through the medium of the internet, including social networking, online
shopping, data storage, gaming, online schooling, and online jobs. The internet is used in nearly all aspects of life.
As the internet and its associated advantages grew in popularity, so did the notion of cybercrime. Different types
of cybercrime are being committed these days.
II. Cybercrime is defined as illegal conduct in which a computer is utilized as a tool, a target, or both. Cybercrime is
a rapidly developing field of crime these days, and it is increasing at a rapid rate. Criminals have discovered that
the cyber world makes it easier to commit crimes, thus it has become a major issue that adequate laws be put in
place to regulate cybercrime. Women and children are the primary victims of the violation. According to studies,
the number of social network users in India has risen dramatically from 202.7 million in 2016 to 326.1 million in
2019 and is predicted to rise to 390 million in 2021, with 40% of females and 60% of men participating.
III. However, only 25% of the ladies in this group of 40% are even aware of cyber-crime. The majority of cyber-crime
goes unreported owing to the victim’s reluctance and shyness as well as the fear of defamation of the family’s
name. Frequently, the girl believes she is to blame for the crime. Women sometimes neglect to report crimes due
to their concerns, enabling the perpetrator’s spirits to become even more high and harmful.
IV. Basically, cybercrime is on the rise because it is regarded to be the easiest method to commit a crime, and people
who have a lot of computer expertise but are unable to find work or do not have a lot of money turn to this source
and begin abusing the internet. It is simple for cyber criminals to gain access to data and then use it to withdraw
money, blackmail or do other crimes.
V. Cyber thieves are on the rise because they don’t see much of a threat and because they are so well-versed in the
networking system that they believe they are safe. They are also the ones that create phony accounts and then
commit crimes. Because there are so many different forms of cybercrime, harmful individuals don’t only use it for
fraud, stalking, harassment, morphing and bullying but also for, email-spoofing, defamation, hacking, and many
other things.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of ten questions by choosing the correct
option.
(i) Select the option that suitably completes the given sentence as per the context in paragraph II.
“Cybercrime is defined as an illegal conduct because……………”.
(a) It can involve criminal activities such as theft, fraud, forgery, defamation and mischief, all of which are illegal.
(b) It especially through the Internet, has grown in importance as the computer has become central to commerce, entertainment,
and government.
(c) It affects both a virtual and a real body, but the effects upon each are different.
(d) Both (a) and (b)
(ii) Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is used for a whole or vice-versa.
From the given options, choose a word that is a synecdoche that appears in the above passage.
(a) Cybercrime
(b) Men
(c) Woman
(d) Children
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iii) Select the option that suitaly completes the given dialogue as per the passage.
Ruby I don’t know why it is a crime. Cybercrime doesn’t scare me much.
Mona It should ………… .
(a) It is illegal and can get you imprisoned.
(b) It is illegal and can defame and felicitate you.
(c) It can defame you and the person you harm.
(d) It can steal all your money.
(iv) According to the passage, “they are also the ones that create phony accounts and then commit crimes.” This
statement refers to
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Cybercrime that can involve violence, sex or drugs but also discrimination, road rage, undeclared work and burglary.
Cyber thieves who create fake accounts and commit crimes violating the privacy of the users.
Cyber thieves who create fake accounts and steal the financial or personal information stolen via computers.
Both (b) and (c)
(v) What is the relationship between (1) and (2)?
(1) ……… men have become reliant on the Internet for all of their requirements.
(2) …… cybercrime is on the rise ………
(a) (1) is the reason for (2)
(c) (2) repeats the situation discussed in (1)
(b) (2) elaborates the problem mentioned in (1)
(d) (1) is unrelated to (2)
(vi) Which image/images represent(s) the kind of cybercrimes which are on rise due to the rapid use of internet
these days as mentioned in paragraph I?
Image 1
(a) Image 1 and 2
Image 3
Image 2
(b) Image 1 and 4
(c) Image 3 and 4
Image 4
(d) Image 1 only
(vii) Select the central idea of the paragraph III of the passage.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Women promptly report the cybercrime cases which defame their reputation.
Women are reluctant to report the cybercrime cases as it defames their reputation.
Cyber thieves easily target women and children to extract online money through fake accounts.
Most of the women easily get duped by the false online sale gimmicks when they are shopping online.
(viii) As per the passage, “women sometimes neglect to report crimes due to their concerns”. What happens as a
result of the same?
(a) They are easily targeted by the society as a crime victim.
(b) They boost the criminal’s spirits to become even more harmful.
(c) They take the help of the family to solve the cases.
(d) Both (a) and (c)
(ix) Which quote summarises the writer’s feelings about the cybercrime as described in the passage?
(a) At the end of the day, the goals are simple: safety and security. –Jodi Rell
(b) A good programmer is someone who always looks both ways before crossing a one-way street. – Doug Linder
(c) If you spend more on coffee than on IT security, you will be hacked. What’s more, you deserve to be hacked. –Richard A. Clarke
(d) Government never adapts quickly to new challenges, but our slow-footedness on cyber is unparalleled. –Ben Sasse
(x) Why does the writer say ‘Cyber thieves are on the rise because they don’t see much of a threat’?
(a) As the Cyber thieves are well-trained about computers and cannot be caught ever.
(b) As the Cyber thieves are knowledgeable about the networking system and are unable to be caught.
(c) As the Cyber experts are up-to-date about all norms of the technology and know about different ways to fool the people.
(d) As the Cyber thieves are familiar about the latest technology which helps them to hide their identities.
20
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Passage 10
I. No one would have guessed that a virus-like Covid-19 would come and without differentiating, it will alter the
lifestyle of people. Due to Covid-19, many changes came to our world and it took some time for everyone to adopt
the new normal. The Covid-19 impact was everywhere, which resulted in the closure of schools and other
educational institutions.
Initially, most governments have decided to temporarily close the schools to reduce the impact of Covid-19. Later
they were reopened for a few grades, which increased the number of infection rates and then closed again.
II. Though schools are closed, students are attending their classes through various educational initiatives like online
classrooms, radio programs etc. Though it is a good thing happening on the other side, there are lots of students who
didn’t own the resources to attend the online classes suffer a lot. Many students are struggling to obtain the gadgets
required for online classes.
Teachers who are all experts in Blackboard, Chalk, books and classroom teaching are really new to this digital
teaching, but they are adopting the new methods and handling it like a pro to aid the students in the current
position.
III. But on the negative side, many teachers are looking for an alternative job to support their families. Educated parents
are supporting their children throughout the pandemic, but we should understand that there are some illiterate
parents, who feel helpless in their children’s education.
IV. There are students in India who came to school just because they can get food. The great midday meal scheme
has helped many children who couldn’t bring food from their homes to get their nutrition. Because of the closure
of the schools, many students are suffering from not getting enough food for their survival.
V. There is always a delay or cancellation of exams, which leads to confusion for many students and there is no room
for curriculum. Most of the school-going children are involved in child labour to support their families.
There is a lot of chance that the education of female and transgender children will be affected, as their parents
may see this as a situation of financial loss. This pandemic has not only affected the students but also the
low-budget institutions and schools, resulting in closing-down of the same.
VI. There are both positive and negative matters happening around us amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology
paves the way for education, thus helping the students and teachers to connect virtually through online
classrooms, webinars, digital exams and so on. But the sad truth is that it is not available to many students all over
the nation.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of ten questions by choosing the correct
option.
(i) Select the option that suitably completes the given sentence as per the context in paragraph IV.
“There are students in India who came to school just because…………….”
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
they were getting food
the mid-day meal concept of the schools attracts the students.
good education quality is necessary for the children to grow.
Both (a) and (b)
(ii) A collocation is a group of words that ofter occur together . The writer says “technology paves the way for
education.”
Select the word from the options that correctly collocates with paves the
(a) woods
(b) life
(c) lives
(iii) Select the option that suitably completes the given dialogue as per the passage.
Siya The closing of schools due to the pandemic is very disappointing.
Mehar Yes, …(1)…… .
Siya Also, …(2)…… .
Mehar Really? Is that your sole concern?
(a) (1) I miss our friends (2) our education suffered
(b) (1) my time is being wasted at home (2) everything is boring
(c) (1) our education is suffering (2) I miss the classes
(d) (1) our studies have suffered a lot (2) we are not getting the free food
(d) diamonds
21
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iv) According to the passage, “Due to COVID-19, many changes came to our world and it took some time for
everyone to adopt the new normal.”
What kind of changes the writer refers to in the passage?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Technology twisted the phase of online education and the students started dropping out of schools.
Majority of students started searching for employment opportunities as the schools were shut down.
All schools were closed and the classes went from off-line to online mode.
Both (b) and (c)
(v) Select the option that clearly indicates the situation before COVID-19 lockdown and after.
Before
(a) Regular classes in schools
and mid-day meals
Before
(c)
Digital education.
After
Online education, radio
programs.
After
Online learning.
Before
(b)
Mid-day meals everyday.
(d)
Blackboard classes.
Before
After
Mid-day meals weekly.
After
Notebook classes.
(vi) What is the relationship between (1) and (2)?
(1) …… they are adopting new methods and handling it like a pro ……… .
(2) …… COVID-19 impact was everywhere, which resulted in the closure of schools ……… .
(a) (2) is the reason for (1).
(b) (2) elaborates the problem discussed in (1).
(c) (1) repeats the situation mentioned in (2).
(d) (1) sets stage for (2).
(vii) Select the option that lists the central idea of the paragraph V of the passage.
(1) The strong curriculum has enhanced the online mode of education during the pandemic.
(2) There is an increase in the closure of schools as students do not go to schools after the pandemic.
(3) Most of the parents have welcomed the online education as it gives more room to good exposure.
(4) Most of the children from the poor families are unable to bear the cost of the online education.
(a) (1) and (2) are true
(c) (1), (3) and (4) are true
(b) (2) and (3) are true
(d) Only (4) is true
(viii) Which quote best summarises the views of the writer about the pandemic in the context of the passage?
(a) The pandemic broke the records of manufacturing of multiple industries worldwide and demolished the systems in place.
(b) In this new world, investing in innovation to adapt to a dynamic environment isn’t just recommended but is essential to survive
and thrive.
(c) A global pandemic can affect our mental and physical health – and that’s without even moving outside the house.
(d) “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”
(ix) Select the option that lists the impact of COVID -19 pandemic.
(a) Temporary closing of educational institutions.
(b) Obstruction in education due to lack of gadgets and other facilities.
(c) Children facing hunger due to closing of schools
(d) All of the above
(x) The writer mentions “But on the negative side, many teachers are looking for an alternative job to support their
families.” Why?
(a) The COVID-19 crisis has forced education systems worldwide to find alternatives to face-to-face instruction.
(b) As the education moved online during the COVID-19 crisis, many teachers could not cope with it as they are not trained in
online pedagogies.
(c) Certain parents have not been able to receive good feedback of the online tutors’ teaching modes which increased the attrition rate.
(d) Some teachers don’t have expensive gadgets and data connections to support online mode of teaching.
22
Case Based (Factual) Passages
Passage 1
I. The federal government is starting to recommend third shots of COVID-19 vaccines to large numbers of
vulnerable people living in the US. But the truth is that many people have already taken it upon themselves to get
boosted, whether they are in priority groups or not. They say their side effects are, by and large, a lot like the ones
they had after a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna. More than 2.3 million Americans have gotten booster doses
already, according to CDC data, a number that most certainly includes people who are not immunocompromised.
II. More than 21,900 people have reported their third dose side effects using the CDC’s v-safe text messaging
system. In general, reactions to third doses of the two mRNA vaccines appear quite similar to second doses,
though third dose side effects may be slightly milder.
III. By far the most common side effect felt after a third COVID-19 dose is arm pain at the injection site. Fatigue and
other muscle aches (myalgia) are also common in the week after a third mRNA injection. Data that Pfizer
presented to the CDC this week also suggested that more people may have swollen lymph nodes after the third
dose of the vaccine than after the first or second, but that is temporary and only happened about 5% of the time in
their trials.
Most common solicited reactions reported at least once 0-7 days after dose 3 of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
100
90
80
Moderna
70
Percentage
l
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Pfizer-BioNTech
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Pain-injection
site
Fatigue
Myaliga
Headache
Fever
Swelling
Joint pain
injection site
Chills
Redness
Nausea
Figure 1
IV. The CDC is also suggesting that other adults who’ve had Pfizer, if they wish, may receive a third shot at least six
months after their initial vaccination course if they:
• are 18-49 years old with underlying medical conditions
• are 18-49 years old and are at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission “because of occupational or
institutional setting”
• (e.g. healthcare workers, prisoners and other frontline workers). The CDC stresses adults under the age of 50
should make their decision about a booster “based on their individual benefits and risks.” Independent advisors to
the CDC were torn about recommending booster shots to younger adults who are at higher risk of catching
COVID-19 at work, like healthcare workers, frontline workers and prison guards.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct
option.
(i) Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to Fig 1.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
After the 3rd dose of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine, the most solicited reaction is joint pain and chills among the people.
Around 70% of the people have reported pain at the injection site after getting the 3rd dose of Moderna Vaccine.
Around 50% of the people have reported headache after getting the 3rd dose of Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine.
After the 3rd dose of BioNTech Vaccine, the least solicited reaction is fatigue and headache.
23
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(ii) The term ‘immunocompromised’ refers to the
(a) People having a strong immune system.
(b) People who do not make any compromise to boost their immune system.
(c) People having an impaired immune system.
(d) People who are strong and do not carry infection to others.
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) More than 2.3 million Americans have gotten booster doses already, according to CDC data.
(2) A number that most certainly includes people who are not immunocompromised.
(a) (1) is the problem and (2) is the solution for (1)
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1)
(c) (1) summarises (2)
(d) (1) is true and independent of (2).
(iv) Select the correct inference with reference to the following.
‘In general, reactions to third doses of the two mRNA vaccines appear quite similar to second doses, though
third dose side effects may be slightly milder.’
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The side effects of the first and second doses of the two mRNA vaccines were less severe than the third dose.
The third dose of the two mRNA vaccines is creating more immunity amongst its receivers so its side effects are less severe.
The reactions to first and second doses of the vaccines are less severe than the third booster dose.
After getting the booster dose of the mRNA vaccine people are reporting more reactions.
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph preceding paragraph II.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Many Americans have not taken the booster dose of the vaccination to protect themselves from diseases.
The people who have taken the first and second doses of the vaccinations had fewer side-effects as compared to the third one.
American people wish to wait for instructions from the US Government before getting the booster dose of vaccination.
Many Americans have themselves taken the booster dose of the vaccination to protect themselves from diseases.
(vi) Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship (as per the passage).
Cause
(a)
I am a 12 years old
student with underlying
medical conditions.
(c)
I got my third shot of
the COVID-19
vaccination.
Cause
Effect
I am at an increased risk
of COVID-19 exposure
and transmission as per
the CDC data.
Effect
I have reported my
third dose side effects
using the CDC’s v-safe
text messaging system.
Cause
(b)
I am a 60 years old
housewife.
(d)
I am a front-line worker.
Cause
Effect
I am at an increased
risk of COVID-19
exposure and
transmission “because
of occupational or
institutional setting”.
Effect
I am at a lower risk of
catching COVID-19 at
work.
(vii) The data shared by Pfizer with the CDC, suggests that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
many people may have temporary swollen lymph nodes after second dose of the vaccine than after third one.
many people may have permanent swollen lymph nodes after second dose of the vaccine than after the third one.
many people may have permanent swollen lymph nodes after third dose of the vaccine than after first or second one.
many people may have temporary swollen lymph nodes after third dose of the vaccine than after first or second one.
(viii) Based on your reading of the I, select the appropriate counter-argument to the given argument.
Argument I think I was right to get the third booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as I heard about it.
It is imperative that we all stay vaccinated.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
I will get vaccinated as soon as possible before they run out of the vaccines.
The third dose has many side-effects and I think I should wait before rushing in to get the wrong vaccine.
This situation is temporary and happens only 5% of the time and thus, doesn’t demand any dire steps.
I think if I am vulnerable and in the priority group, I’ll get the shot too, otherwise if I am not immunocompromised, I don’t
need it.
24
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Passage 2
I. The 21st century will be ruled by data. Data Science has become an indispensable part of many businesses and
industries. It provides valuable insights into customer behaviour that can lead to increased conversions, more
detailed market analysis for competitive advantage in pricing strategies or product development, improved
operational efficiency and minimised risk exposure through accurate forecasting models.
II. The emergence of disruptive technologies like IoT, digital media platforms, smartphones, artificial intelligence,
big data analytics, blockchain and quantum computing has ushered in an era where Data Science will be central
to organisational success. As organisations are turning towards Machine Learning, Big Data and Artificial
Intelligence, the demand for data science roles is seeing a sustained and accelerating upward surge. Since 2012,
the Data Science sector has witnessed a massive hike of 650%, far outpacing other sectors.
III. Therefore, transitioning to data science is a smart move as it fetches far higher comparative returns. For instance,
transitioning from a marketing analytics job to a data science job leads to a 37% salary growth on average.
Average analytics salary comparisons (per annum)
in lakh rupees
200
3-6 Years of Experience
6-10 Years of Experience
10-15 Years of Experience
15+ Years of Experience
160
150
130
120
100
73
50
0
38
23
130
130
108
80
43
25
70
35
22
80
38
23
108
70
40
23
48
32
Marketing Risk
Digital
Analytics
Data
Data
Analytics Analytics Analytics Consulting Engineering Science/
Machine
Learning
Figure 1
IV. Similarly, the expected salary growth when people switch from digital analytics to data science is 31% on average.
For someone transitioning from a data engineering role to a data science role, the salary hike could be as high as
44%. According to recruitment firm Michael Page’s 2021 India Talent Trends report, data science professionals
with 3-10 years of experience get annual salaries in the 25-65 lakh range, while those with more experience can
command pay packages upwards of 1 crore.
V. Professionals with over 15 years of experience can get paid up to 1.8 crores. Similarly, the average annual pay hike
for data science professionals falls between 20-30% compared with 15-20% for professionals from other
backgrounds. India Inc is witnessing the rapid digitization of businesses and services, making it the
second-largest hub for data science in the world. Analysts predict that the country will have more than 11 million
job openings by 2026. In fact, since 2019, hiring in the data science industry has increased by 46%.
VI. Data Science and Machine Learning have a steep learning curve. Even though there is a huge influx of data
scientists in India every year, very few people have the required expertise and specialisation. As a result, there is
a surging demand for professionals with specialised data skills.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct
option.
(i) Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to Fig 1.
(a) The Data Science professionals with a working experience between 5-10 years are the highest paid professionals in the market
today.
(b) The Digital Analytics professionals who have a work experience of 6–10 years are the most paid.
(c) The Data Science professionals with a working experience of more than 15 years are the highest paid professionals in the market
today.
(d) The Digital Analytics professionals who have a work experience of more than 10 years when move towards Analytics Consulting
easily get a hike of 5 lac per annum in their salaries.
25
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(ii) According to the passage, one of the reasons for why Data Science has become an indispensable part of many
businesses and industries is that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
people are getting hike in salaries after learning data science analytics.
it provides valuable insights into the understanding of the customer behaviour.
it helps in analysing the unpredictable patterns of the market and consumers.
transitioning to data science is not a smart move as it does not fetch higher comparative returns.
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) Data Science and Machine Learning have a steep learning curve.
(2) Even though there is a huge influx of data scientists in India every year, very few people have the required
expertise and specialisation. As a result, there is a surging demand for professionals with specialised data skills.
(a) (1) is the problem and (2) is the consequence.
(c) (1) summarises (2)
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1)
(d) (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1)
(iv) Based on your reading of the passage, select the appropriate counter-argument to the given argument.
Argument One should always decide one’s career and professional field based on the financial perks of the field.
(a) A person’s choice of career should depend on the overall growth including learning aspect, financial benefits, communicational
benefits, that the field offers.
(b) A person’s choice of career should solely circulate around the growth offered in the financial aspect of the career.
(c) Choice of career is not as integral as the financial profits in a particular field.
(d) Data science is the field that offers the most financial profits and thus, should be chosen as a person’s career.
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph preceding paragraph IV.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The transitioning to data science is not a smart move and should not be encouraged.
The transitioning from a marketing analytics job to a data science job leads to a plunge in the salary on average.
The transitioning from a marketing analytics job to a data science job leads to a boost in the salary on average.
The transitioning to data science leads to organisational success by minimising the attrition rate.
(vi) Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship.
(a)
Cause
Effect
I just quit my previous
My salary saw a hike of
job as a data science
35% on the switch.
professional and will start
as a digital analytics
professional tomorrow.
Cause
(c)
I just quit my previous
job as a data science
professional and will
start as a digital analytics
professional tomorrow.
Effect
My salary saw a drop
of 35% on the switch.
Cause
(b)
I just quit my previous
job as a digital analytics
professional and will
start as a data science
professional tomorrow.
(d)
I just quit my previous
job as a digital analytics
professional and will
start as a data science
professional tomorrow.
Cause
Effect
My salary saw a hike of
35% on the switch.
Effect
My salary saw no hike
or drop and remained
constant as I was a
fresher in the field.
(vii) The demand for ……………… is seeing a sustained and accelerating upward surge.
Which demand is being referred to here?
(a) Robotics’ learning
(b) Design Thinking
(c) Nanotechnology
(d) Data Science
(viii) Select the correct inference with reference to the following
‘…the average annual pay hike for data science professionals falls between 20-30% compared with 15-20% for
professionals from other backgrounds.’
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
There is a lot of scope of annual increment for professionals from any other background than data science.
There isn’t much scope of annual increment for professionals from any other background than data science.
There is a lot of scope of annual increment for data science professionals.
There isn’t much scope of annual increment for data science professionals.
26
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Passage 3
I. One of the major social issues in India is unemployment. As the Indian labour laws are inflexible and restrictive,
and its infrastructure is poor, which is actually the main reason for India’s unemployment situation, according to
The Economist. As of September 2018, according to the Indian Government, India had 31 million jobless people.
II. The scenario of Assam, in the case of unemployment, is also worst. As per statistics made available by the State
Skill Employment and Entrepreneurship department, the total numbers of registered employed people in the
state is 19,63,376; of them, 16,65,866 are educated or skilled ones and 2,97,510 unskilled ones. Further, as per
statistics, the state has 942 unemployed medical graduates, 7,804 jobless engineering graduates, 327 jobless
veterinary graduates, 832 jobless Agri graduates, 16575 postgraduates, 3,97,824 general graduates, 6,82,796 H.S.passed candidates, 5,67,340 HSLC passed candidates and 46,137 others. The highest number of unemployed
people registered in Guwahati is almost 3 lakh. The lack of skill-based education in schools and colleges is the
main reason for unemployment.
III. Our education system is primarily concerned with the quality and knowledge and written examination more than
practical based tasks. For these reasons, after completion of graduation, while facing interviews, students find
themselves lacking in confidence and skills. The rapid growth of population also being the burden on cultivation,
low productivity in the agriculture sector, defective economic planning, lack of capital, etc., are also some of the
foremost reasons for unemployment. The overall result of the unemployment rate is already not so good; while
now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has left an even more devastating impact on the economy of India.
IV. The world has changed drastically in the last few months. The corona virus pandemic has resulted in a tragically
large number of human lives being lost. As many countries had already implemented necessary quarantine and
social distancing practices to prevent the widespread of the pandemic, almost the whole world was put under
lockdown. There is an uncertainty about its impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. In addition, many countries
are now facing multiple problems -a health crisis, a financial crisis, and a collapse in commodity prices which
interact in complex ways. The COVID-19 crisis has led to a severe economic loss for the country.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct
option.
(i) Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to the passage.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
During the pandemic, some of the countries had forced lockdown conditions upon the people.
The dearth of skill-based education in schools and colleges is the main reason for unemployment.
The COVID-19 crisis has led to a severe crash in the stock market of the country.
Our education system is primarily concerned with practical based tasks rather than imparting theoretical knowledge.
(ii) As used in the passage, the term ‘devastating effect’ refers to the
(a) Lack of skilled workmen
(c) Effect of the national lockdown
(b) Increase in unemployment rate
(d) Lack of capital and goods
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) The whole world has been put under lockdown.
(2) There is an uncertainty about its impact on people’s lives and livelihoods.
(a) (1) is the problem and (2) is the solution for (1)
(c) (1) summarises (2)
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1)
(d) (1) is the reason for (2)
(iv) Select the correct inference with reference to the following:
“For these reasons, after completion of graduation, while facing interviews, students find themselves lacking in
confidence and skills.”
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
In the schools, the focus is always on the bookish aspects of knowledge.
The rapid growth in the population is focusing more on skill development.
Defective educational planning is causing harm to the students.
Low focus on skills and practical knowledge in schools leads to employment later.
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph preceding paragraph III.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
More skilled and educated graduates are employed as compared to the undergraduates in Assam.
More skilled and educated graduates are unemployed as compared to the undergraduates in Assam.
The Government of Assam is setting skill-based projects to boost the employment rate.
Most of the schools and colleges are focusing on skill-based value education in Assam.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(vi) Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship (as per the passage).
Cause
(a)
I am a 12 years old
student who has
exceptional theoretical
knowledge.
Cause
(c)
I have lost my job due to
the national lockdown.
Effect
I am at an increased risk
of lack of practical
knowledge in future.
Effect
I can easily get a good
job as the country is
creating more job
opportunities during
the lockdown.
Cause
(b)
I am a school teacher
affected by the
pandemic.
Cause
(d)
I am a fresh graduate
of Assam region.
Effect
I am at an increased risk
of COVID-19 exposure.
Effect
I can easily get a job
due to my good grades.
(vii) The data shared in this line of the passage ‘Within a month, unemployment rose from 6.7% on 15 March to 26%
on 19th April’ suggests that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Many people lost their jobs within the first 3 months of the lockdown during the pandemic.
Many people got new jobs within the first 2 months of the lockdown during the pandemic.
Many people lost their jobs after a month itself because of the lockdown during the pandemic.
The unemployment rate nearly doubled within a month because of the lockdown during the pandemic.
(viii) Based on your reading of the passage, select the appropriate counter-argument to the given argument.
Argument The lack of proper education is the sole reason for the ever-rising unemployment rate.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Low agriculture productivity and impeccable economic planning add to the problem of unemployment.
Low agriculture productivity and flawed economic planning add to the problem of unemployment.
High agricultural yield and flawed economic planning add to the problem of unemployment.
High agricultural yield and impeccable economic planning add to the problem of unemployment.
Passage 4
I. India is a rapidly changing country in which inclusive, high-quality education is of utmost importance for its
future prosperity. The country is currently in a youth bulge phase. It has the largest youth population in the
world—a veritable army of 600 million young people under the age of 25. 28 percent of the population is less than
14 years of age, with more than 30 babies being born every minute, population growth rates are expected to
remain at around 1 per cent for years. India is expected to overtake China as the largest country on earth by 2022
and grow to about 1.5 billion people by 2030 (up from 1.34 billion in 2017). The UN projects that Delhi will
become the largest city in the world with 37 million people by 2028.
II. Some analysts consequently argue that India will eventually economically close in on China, because of India’s
greater propensity for entrepreneurial innovation and its young, technically skilled, rapidly growing
English-speaking workforce—which is projected to be in increased global demand as labor costs in China rise
faster than that in India.
III. Indeed, India is now the world’s fastest growing major economy, outpacing China in terms of growth rates, even
though it is still much smaller in overall size. Large parts of Indian society are simultaneously growing
richer—the number of Indians in middle-income brackets is expected to increase almost 10-fold within just two
decades, from 50 million people in 2010 to 475 million people in 2030. Some analysts now predict that India will
become the second largest economy in the world by 2050.
IV. At the same time, India is still a developing country of massive scale and home to the largest number of poor
people in the world next to Nigeria. Consider that some 40 per cent of India’s roads are still unpaved, while the
country accounts for more than a quarter of all new tuberculosis infections worldwide—the disease kills more
than 435,000 Indians each year. India also has one of the highest mortality rates among children under the age of
five worldwide, as well as one of the worst sanitation systems : 524 million Indians did not use a toilet in 2017.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct
option.
(i) Select the option that goes in the favour of the statement
‘India also has one of the highest mortality rates among children under the age of five worldwide’.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
In 2018, an estimated 882,000 children under five died in India, the highest in the world.
In 2021, an estimated 822,000 children above five died in India, the highest in the world.
The under-five mortality rate (37 per 1,000 live births) is lower than the global average in 1990.
Older children (5-9 years) had one of the largest number of deaths in the recent years.
(ii) According to the passage, one of the reasons why more than 435,000 Indians are killed each year is
(a) Malnutrition and Cancer
(c) Viral infections
(b) Tuberculosis
(d) Skin infections
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) India also has one of the worst sanitation systems in the world.
(2) 524 million Indians did not use a toilet in 2017.
(a) (1) is the problem and (2) is the solution for (1)
(c) (1) summarises (2)
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1)
(d) (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1)
(iv) Based on your reading of the passage, select the appropriate counter-argument to the given argument.
Argument Quality education is of the most import to ensure a buoyant future for India.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The nation has the largest youth population in the world, which ensures its flourishing future.
The rapidly rising shortcomings of the economic field of India certify the nation’s prospering future.
The projection of becoming the second largest economy in the world is a sign of India’s prosperous future.
None of the above
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph III.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
By 2025, India has the potential to become the largest economy in the world.
India has the possibility of becoming the largest economy in the world by 2050.
India will become the second largest economy in the world in the next 29 years.
The number of Indians in middle-income brackets is expected to increase by 2030.
(vi) As mentioned in the passage, the statement– “The country is currently in a youth bulge phase” means
A. The relatively large increase in the numbers and proportion of a country’s population of youthful age,
conventionally less than 25 years of age.
B. The relatively large increase in the numbers and proportion of a country’s population of youthful age,
conventionally 16–30.
C. The population of the youth group in a country is lesser than all other age groups.
(a) Only (A)
(c) Both (C) and (D)
(b) Only (B)
(d) Both (A) and (B)
(vii) Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship.
Cause
(a)
More than 4 lakh
people die due to
tuberculosis in India,
annually.
(c)
India is a developing
country with the largest
population of poor
people in the world.
Cause
Effect
The unemployment rate
of India is very elevated.
Effect
In terms of children,
India has one of the
highest mortality rates
in the world.
Cause
(b)
India has one of the
highest mortality rates
in the world.
(d)
India is a developing
country with a large
number of poor people.
Cause
Effect
More than 4 lakh people
die due to tuberculosis
in India, annually.
Effect
India has the second
largest poverty-stricken
population in the world.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(viii) The survey statistics mentioned in the third paragraph indicates that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
the number of middle-class people will increase nine to ten times in 20 years.
the number of middle-class people will increase ten times in 10 years.
the number of middle-class people will mitigate by nine to ten times in 20 years.
the number of middle-class people will mitigate by ten times in 10 years.
Passage 5
I. India’s unemployment rate – the share of labour force that is without work but available for it – rose sharply to
7.11% in the pandemic year 2020 to reach the highest level in at least three decades, according to the
International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) ILOSTAT database. For over a decade, India’s joblessness has been
more acute than its immediate neighbours, while till 2009 Sri Lanka had a higher rate.
II. Though the methodology may not be strictly comparable, going by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy’s
(CME) data for the subsequent period, the second COVID-19 wave seems to have pushed India’s unemployment
rate further and the current calendar year could possibly see an even higher rate of joblessness in the country.
Monthly unemployment rate of the country, as per CMIE, rose from 6.62% in January 2021 to 7.97% in April
2021. Amidst lockdown and restrictions on mobility, the unemployment rate touched 14.5% in the week that
ended on 16th May, 2021 and rose further to 14.7% for the week that ended 23rd May, according to CMIE.
Unemployment rate
% of total labour force
8
Sri Lanka
India
6
4
2
0
2005
Bangladesh
Pakistan
2010
2015
2020
Figure 1
III. As per Indian Government’s Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, the country’s unemployment rate was
6.1% in 2017-18, a 45-year high. While that hogged headlines, the rate dipped to 5.8% in 2018-19, but is sure to
have gone up to a much higher level in 2020-21. The National Statistical Office (NSO) has been conducting PLFS
since April 2017 to estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators.
IV. According to the ILO database, India’s unemployment rate rose between 2008 (5.36%) and 2010 (5.65%), and then
fell between 2013 (5.67%) and 2019 (5.27%). It then rose sharply in 2020.
V. Globally, the average unemployment rate was 6.47% in 2020, up from 5.37% in 2019. In 1991, the average global
unemployment rate was 4.8%. Sri Lanka had the higher unemployment rate of 5.85% in 2009 compared with
India’s 5.61%; but since then, the island nation has improved on the most important parameter of the labour
market that gauges ability of an economy to generate employment.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct
option.
(i) Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to Fig 1.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The lowest rate of unemployment between 2015 and 2020 was in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The highest rate of unemployment between 2015 and 2020 was in India and Bangladesh.
In 2005, Bangladesh had the lowest unemployment rate.
In 2005, Sri Lanka had the unemployment rate of around 6%.
(ii) According to the passage, one of the reasons behind the increase in the unemployment rate in India is that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
people have lost their job and are getting poor salaries after the widespread of the pandemic.
the Global lockdown and its impact on GDP.
the pandemic and the national lockdown that happened in 2020.
the impact of the second wave of COVID-19.
30
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) The island nation has improved on the most important parameter of the labour market that gauges ability of an
economy to generate employment.
(2) Sri Lanka had the higher unemployment rate of 5.85% in 2009 compared with India’s 5.61%.
(a) (1) follows (2)
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1)
(c) (1) summarises (2)
(d) (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1)
(iv) Based on your reading of the passage, select the appropriate counter-argument to the given argument.
Argument The unemployment rate in India remained unaltered in the face of the worldwide pandemic.
(a) The second wave of COVID had a drastic effect on the already worsening unemployment rate in India.
(b) The second wave of COVID had a middling effect on the already worsening unemployment rate in India.
(c) Low-quality education and poverty remain the sole causes of sharply rising rate of unemployment in the world.
(d) The unemployment rate rose globally and fell nationally.
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph preceding paragraph IV.
(A) National Statistical Office (NSO) launched Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017.
(B) The objective of PLFS is primarily twofold: to estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators.
(C) The National Statistical Office (NSO) has been conducting PLFS since April 2016 to estimate unemployment rate.
(D) The national data of unemployment is indicated by PLFS which was launched in 2017 by the GOI.
(a) Both (A) and (B)
(b) Both (A) and (C)
(c) Both (A) and (D)
(d) Both (C) and (D)
(vi) Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship.
Cause
(a)
The second wave of
COVID hit India in
February of 2021.
(c)
The second wave of
COVID hit India in
February of 2020.
Cause
Effect
The unemployment rates
saw an unprecedented
rise that didn’t slow
down in time.
Effect
The unemployment rates
saw a familiar rise that
slowed down in time.
Cause
(b)
The unemployment rates
saw a familiar rise that
slowed down in time.
(d)
The unemployment rates
saw an unprecedented
rise that didn’t slow
down in time.
Cause
Effect
The second wave of
COVID hit India in
February of 2021.
Effect
The second wave of
COVID hit India in
February of 2020.
(vii) ……….. in India has been more acute than its immediate neighbours, while till 2009 Sri Lanka had a higher rate.
Which problem has been discussed here?
(a) Illiteracy
(b) Unemployment
(c) Health issue
(d) Cyber crime
(viii) Pick the option that lists the statement that is not true according to the passage.
(a) India’s unemployment rate was 6.1% in 2017-18 and the rate dipped to 5.8% in 2018-19.
(b) India’s unemployment rate rose from 2008 (5.36%) to 2010 (5.65%).
(c) Globally, the average unemployment rate was 6.47% in 2020 and 5.37% in 2019.
(d) Analysts predict that India is going to see dip in the unemployment rate in the coming years.
Passage 6
I. Where do the air pollutants come from? Ambient air pollution, household pollution, and ozone pollution are the
three main types of pollution. They have different sources and affect us in varied ways.
II. Sources of outdoor (ambient) pollution are not limited to commercial biomass burning, industrial emissions,
coal-burning for energy production, windblown mineral dust, construction activities, brick kilns, waste burning,
vehicular emissions, agricultural stubble burning and Diesel Generator (DG sets).
III. Ozone pollution occurs when emissions from vehicles, power plants, factories, and other sources come in contact
with hydrocarbons from various sources in the presence of sunlight. Household (indoor) pollution is majorly
caused by the persistent use of solid fuels for cooking purposes.
31
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
IV. Air pollution does not only affect the health of an individual or a community, but also disrupts the functioning of a
country. It reduces overall productivity and leads to a decrease in the supply of labour. It translates into elevated
expenditure in health care due to the rise in morbidities. Therefore, economic growth takes a blow reflected in
the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) and mortalities.
V. India has an exponential trajectory for the economy and development. However, being a fast-growing developing
economy comes with a cost as fluctuating air quality. According to the study, India suffered an estimated economic
loss of 36.8 billion USD due to air pollution in 2019. This figure accounts for approximately 1.4% of the GDP in the
same year. The premature deaths due to air pollution caused a loss of 28.8 billion USD. The morbidities accounted for
losses worth 8 billion USD.
Number of deaths, (millions)
Percentage of total deaths (2019)
Air pollution
1.67
17.8%
Ambient particulate matter pollution
0.98
10.4%
Household air pollution
0.61
6.5%
Ambient ozone pollution
0.17
1.8%
VI. Going by the figures, there has been a 64.2% decline in the death rate due to household air pollution between the
years 1990 and 2019. India has been instrumental in taking state- and national-level initiatives to ameliorate
household air pollution. The Indian government launched Unnat Chulha Abhiyan in June 2014, Pradhan Mantri
Ujjwala Yojana in May 2016, and National Infrastructure Pipeline Project that has contributed to this decline. The
report also delves into the causes of death.
Causes of Deaths Attributable
to Air Pollution in India in 2019
1 .7 %
0.2%
Ischaemic heart disease
16.2%
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
29.2%
Lower respiratory infections
3.8%
Neonatal disorders
5.2%
Stroke
Diabetes
11.2%
Cataract
32.5%
Lung cancer
Figure 2
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to Fig 1.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
A greater number of people died in 2019 due to air pollution.
A greater number of people died in 2019 due to household air pollution.
A greater number of people died in 2019 due to ambient ozone pollution.
A greater number of people died in 2019 due to ambient particulate matter pollution.
(ii) As mentioned in the passage, the term ‘morbidities’ refers to
(a) people having a weak immune system
(c) people having a strong immune system
(b) having a disease or a symptom of disease
(d) state of Euphoria
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) In 2019, air pollution was responsible for around 1.67 million deaths in India.
(2) Out of the total number of deaths, 0.98 million deaths are attributable to ambient particulate pollution, while
household pollution caused 0.61 million deaths.
(a) (1) is the problem and (2) is the solution for (1)
(c) (2) elaborates the problem mentioned in (1)
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1)
(d) (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1)
32
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iv) Select the correct inference with reference to the following.
‘India has an exponential trajectory for the economy and development.’
(a) India is a developing country failing in diminishing the pollution rate.
(b) The economical and developmental growth in India is very rapid.
(c) The economical and developmental growth in India is very leisurely.
(d) India is a developing country failing in expediting the economical growth.
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph following paragraph V.
(a) There has been a significant decline in the death rate due to household air pollution between the years 1993 and 2019 in India.
(b) The projects like Unnat Chulha Abhiyan and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and National Infrastructure Pipeline Project have
contributed a lot to the decline in the death rate due to air pollution between 2014 to 2016.
(c) According to the study, India suffered an estimated economic loss of 36.8 billion USD due to air pollution in 2017.
(d) India has been sluggish in taking state- and national- level initiatives to ameliorate household air pollution.
(vi) Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship (as per the passage)
(a)
Cause
Effect
Emissions from vehicles, Increase in Ozone
power plants, factories. pollution.
Cause
(b)
Cause
(c)
Effect
I am a patient of low
I am prone to stroke and
blood sugar and asthma. cardiac arrests.
I am a 60 years old man
with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease.
Cause
(d)
I am a house wife who
burns Chulha.
Effect
Increase in death case
related to the chronic
lung disease.
Effect
I am at a lower risk of
air pollution.
(vii) The data given in figure 2, suggests that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
In 2019, the least number of deaths occurred due to lung cancer.
In 2019, the maximum number of deaths occurred due to lower respiratory infections.
In 2019, most of the people died due to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
In 2019, around 20% deaths occurred due to brain stroke.
(viii) Based on your reading of paragraphs II-III, select the appropriate counter- argument to the given argument.
Argument: I keep getting the air pollution certificate updated for my car.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Emission of harmful gases by vehicles cause air pollution and ozone pollution also.
Diesel cars do not cause much air pollution as compared to other vehicles.
I am planning to sell my new car and buy a new one soon.
My air pollution certificate has expired and will not be renewed now.
Passage 7
I. The handicrafts sector is of importance to the Indian economy as it is one of the largest employment generators
and account for a significant share in the country’s export. The state and regional clusters contribute significantly to
handicrafts export. The Indian handicrafts industry is fragmented with more than seven million regional artisans and
over 67,000 exporters/ export houses promoting regional art and craftsmanship in the domestic and global markets.
II. Government of India increased incentive rates under the Merchandise Export from India scheme (MEIS) to
seven per cent from five per cent for handicraft items which will help exporters to recover the input costs
involved in the production of handicrafts and will lead to competitive pricing and boost export.
III. Indian handicrafts are exported across geographies, with the top 10 destinations being the US, the UK, the UAE,
Germany, France, Latin American Countries (LAC), Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and Australia.
IV. The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is the apex Government body and operates under the
administrative control of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
33
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
25270.14
25548.97
24392.39
23029.36
21557.12
20082.53
13892.59
11130.04
3207.54
5000
712.99
10000
386.57
15000
8490.16
20000
14526.85
25000
7870.31
30000
19103.98
EPCH has the distinction of being considered a ‘model council’, a self-sustaining body that self-finances all its
promotional activities.
0
3
7
6
1
6
1
2
4
5
8
9 0
1
7
6
98 99 9 9 00 00 01 01 01 01 0 1 01 01 01 01 02
- 1 0- 1 5- 1 0 - 2 5- 2 0- 2 1- 2 2- 2 3- 2 4- 2 5 - 2 6- 2 7- 2 8 -2 9- 2
6
9
1
8
1
9
0
1
1
1
1
1
1 1
1
0
19 1 9 19 20 20 20 20 20 2 0 20 20 20 20 20 20
Exports of Handicrafts
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct
option.
(i) Which one of the following is TRUE about the importance of handicraft sector in Indian economy?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
It is the highest revenue generating sector.
It is one of the largest employment generators and account for a significant share in the country’s export.
It creates a brand name for India.
It has the highest share in export.
(ii) The highest export was in the year ………… .
(a) 2017-2018
(b) 2016-2017
(c) 2018-2019
(d) 2015-2016
(c) fragmented
(d) incentives
(iii) The antonym of individual in the given passage is
(a) significant
(b) clusters
(iv) A significant fall in the exports was witnessed in the year ………… .
(a) 2011-2012
(b) 2010-2011
(c) 2009-2010
(d) 1986-1987
(v) The apex body for handicraft Export is …………… .
(a) Ministry of Exports
(c) The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH)
(b) Ministry of Textiles
(d) Ministry of Trade and Commerce
(vi) EPCH has the distinction of being considered a ‘model council’ because ……… .
(a) the best apex body of all
(b) a self-sustaining body that self-finances all its promotional activities
(c) a regulating body controlling all its affairs
(d) best self governing authority
(vii) Government of India increased incentive rates under …………… .
(a) Atma Nirbhar Bharat Yojana
(b) Skill India Scheme
(c) Make in India Scheme
(d) The Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS)
(viii) The Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS) will help the exporters
(a) to increase business.
(b) to recover the input costs involved in the production of handicrafts.
(c) to reduce competition.
(d) to manage supply demand ratio.
34
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Passage 8
I. India is a country that occupies a greater part of South Asia. Its capital is New Delhi, built in the 20th century just
South of the historic hub of Old Delhi to serve as India’s administrative centre. Its government is a constitutional
republic that represents a highly diverse population consisting of thousands of ethnic groups and likely hundreds
of languages. With roughly one-sixth of the world’s total population, India is the second most populous country,
after China.
II. It is known, from archaeological evidence, that a highly sophisticated urbanized culture—the Indus Valley
Civilisation—dominated the north-western part of the subcontinent from about 2600 to 2000 BCE. From that
period on, India functioned as a virtually self-contained political and cultural arena, which gave rise to a
distinctive tradition that was associated primarily with Hinduism, the roots of which can largely be traced to the
Indus Civilisation. Other religions, notably Buddhism and Jainism, originated in India—though their presence
there is quite small now and throughout the centuries residents of the subcontinent developed a rich intellectual
life in such fields as mathematics, astronomy, architecture, literature, music, and the fine arts.
TAJIKISTAN
CHINA
IRAN
AFGHANISTAN
N
AAN
STT
I
S
I
KK
PPAA
NEW DELHI
NEPAL
INDIA
BHUTAN
BANGLADESH
MYANMAR
Figure 1
III. Throughout its history, India had been intermittently disturbed by incursions from beyond its Northern mountain
wall. Especially important was the coming of Islam, brought from the northwest by Arab, Turkish, Persian, and
other raiders beginning early in the 8th century CE. Eventually, some of those raiders stayed; by the 13th century
much of the sub-continent was under Muslim rule, and the Muslim population increased steadily. Only after the
arrival of the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama in 1498 and the subsequent establishment of European
maritime supremacy in the region did India become exposed to major external influences arriving by sea, a
process that culminated in the decline of the ruling Muslim elite and absorption of the sub-continent within the
British Empire.
IV. Direct administration by the British, began in 1858 and lasted almost a century. This period is, to date, one of the
darkest times in the Indian history. It saw major famines, pandemics and an alarming number of deaths in the
country. Additionally, the colonisation period witnessed several rebellions, movements and a resistance against
the British Raj. When the rule came to an end in 1947, the sub-continent was partitioned along religious lines
into two separate countries—India, with a majority of Hindus and Pakistan, with a majority of Muslims; the
eastern portion of Pakistan later split off to form Bangladesh.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to Fig 1.
(a) Besides India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Iran and Bhutan are the neighbouring countries of China.
(b) Afghanistan and China are the nearest to Arabian Sea.
(c) Besides India, Pakistan, Nepal, Iran and Bhutan are the neighbouring countries of China.
(d) Myanmar and Bangladesh are close to the Bay of Bengal.
(ii) Pick the word closest to the meaning of the word ‘sophisticated’ as given in the paragraph II of the passage.
(a) Simple
(b) Primitive
(c) Rustic
(d) Urbane
35
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) The residents of the subcontinent developed a rich, intellectual life in such fields as mathematics, astronomy,
architecture, literature, music, and the fine arts.
(2) The rise of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism occured in India.
(a) (1) is the problem and (2) is the solution for (1)
(c) (1) summarises (2)
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1)
(d) Both (1) and (2) are true but unrelated
(iv) Select the correct inference with reference to the following.
‘Throughout its history, India had been intermittently disturbed by incursions from beyond its northern
mountain wall.’
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
India’s history witnesses multiple incidents of attacks from the Mughals and Britishers.
India has been recurrently attacked from the Northern side by multiple enemies.
Most of the Northern India in the past has been kept captive by Mughals.
After getting the independence, India’s Northern beauty has attracted our enemies.
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph preceding paragraph III.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Hinduism mostly shares common terms with the other Indian religions including Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.
Indus Valley Civilisation gave birth to Buddhism and Jainism between 2300 B. C and 1500 B. C.
Most scholars believe Hinduism has its roots, somewhere between 2600 B.C. and 2000 BC, in the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Hinduism and Sikhism have their roots in Indus Valley Civilisation.
(vi) Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship (as per the passage).
Cause
(a)
I have been living in
India since 1945.
Cause
(c)
We stay at New Delhi
in India.
Cause
Effect
I have not witnessed any
communal disharmony
till date.
(b)
Effect
It was made the national
capital of India.
(d)
Arabs invaded India.
Cause
Advent of Mughals.
Effect
Islam arrived in India.
Effect
Most of the Northern
and Southern India
was captured.
(vii) As mentioned in the passage, what happened when British rule came to an end in 1947?
(a) With the kick off, the British rule divided colonised India into predominantly Hindu India and mainly Muslim Pakistan.
(b) The British withdrew from the area and it was partitioned into two independent countries - India (mostly Hindu) and Pakistan
(mostly Muslim).
(c) The British withdrew from the area and it was partitioned into two independent countries - India (mostly Hindu) and
Bangladesh (mostly Muslim).
(d) British Raj, period of direct British rule over the Indian subcontinent from 1858 until the independence of India and Pakistan in
1947, extended further.
(viii) Pick the option that lists the statement that is not true according to the passage.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer and the first European to reach India by sea.
India’s capital, New Delhi, was built in the 20th century.
The Britishers ruled India for 150 years till India became independent.
India is the second most populous country, after China.
Passage 9
I. The conventional process of making hydrogen uses fossil fuels. Hydrogen is a key input in fertilizers and
refineries, so green hydrogen would help these industries cut aggregate emissions. It could also be used in steel
manufacturing to reduce emissions by replacing the use of coal as the energy source and as a reducing agent.
“Till now, we have been focusing on renewable energy sources for clean electricity, but for industries and the
transportation sector to transition to net zero emissions, we need clean fuel; green hydrogen can play a critical
role in this,” Amit Kumar, a former senior director of social transformation at The Energy and Resources Institute
(TERI), told India Spend.
36
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
II. As extreme weather events around the world drive home the urgency of climate action, countries are striving to
cut emissions — many have already announced ‘net zero’ targets — to limit global warming to 1.5-2 degrees
Celsius (°C). Green hydrogen is being seen as a key component of a worldwide, economy-wide and system-wide
shift to a lower carbon footprint for humankind.
III. In India, the central government and several states are launching programmes to support the production and use
of green hydrogen. In September 2021, Kerala initiated talks with energy companies to make green hydrogen
from a solar power facility at Cochin Airport. In August, the prime minister announced the National Hydrogen
Mission to support India’s energy transition goals. Our explainer tells you what green hydrogen is and why it is
important for India.
Different Types of Hydrogen
Colour
Process
Source
GREY
HYDROGEN
BLUE
HYDROGEN
TURQUOISE
HYDROGEN
GREEN
HYDROGEN
SMR or gasification
SMR or gasification
with carbon capture
(85-95%)
Pyrolysis
Electrolysis
Methane or coal
Methane or coal
Methane
Renewable
Electricity
Figure 1
India’s demand for grey hydrogen—produced using fossil fuels—was around six million tonnes in 2020, according
to a report by TERI.
IV. “Hydrogen is basically a colourless gas; the colours—green, blue, turquoise and grey—indicate how it is
produced,” said Ashish Guhan Bhaskar, an energy engineer affiliated with the Council on Energy, Environment
and Water (CEEW), “Green hydrogen is the only clean type that uses renewable energy.”
V. By 2050, India will see a five-fold growth in grey hydrogen demand, the TERI report predicts. But only by 2030
will green hydrogen become cost-competitive with hydrogen from fossil fuels, when its cost is likely to fall by
more than 50%, which is below $2 (Rs 147/kg). Its current cost is between $3/kg (Rs 221/kg) and $10/kg (Rs
737/kg).
VI. Green hydrogen can help decarbonise sectors such as shipping and transportation, where it can be used as a fuel,
as well as in manufacturing industries such as steel and chemicals, where it can constitute an important raw
material as well as a fuel. It could replace fossil fuels in power generation and be used to store renewable energy.
Further, green hydrogen could be used in gas turbines, along with ammonia, to manage fluctuations in the
demand and supply of power.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct
option.
(i) Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to Fig 1.
(a) Methane is the source of Grey, Blue and Turquoise Hydrogen.
(b) Coal is the source of Grey and Turquoise Hydrogen.
(c) Green hydrogen is produced by Chlorophyll.
(d) Steam methane reforming produces Turquoise Hydrogen through methane.
(ii) As mentioned in the passage, the term ‘affiliated’ means
(a) being dependent on an organization
(b) officially attached or connected to an organisation
(c) closely associated with another, typically in a dependent or subordinate position
(d) state of being associated with something
37
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) Green hydrogen can help decarbonise sectors such as shipping and transportation.
(2) It can be used as a fuel, as well as in manufacturing industries such as steel and chemicals.
(a) (2) explains (1)
(c) (1) summarises (2)
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1)
(d) (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1)
(iv) Select the correct inference with reference to the following.
“Green hydrogen is the only clean type that uses renewable energy.”
(a) Green hydrogen is created by using renewable energy and hence, is very beneficial for the environment.
(b) Green gydrogen is essentially a toxic burning fuel that eliminates emissions.
(c) Green hydrogen though eliminates emissions yet cannot be used for generating renewable power.
(d) Both (a) and (c)
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph I.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
One needs to cut the emission of harmful gases to reduce climate changes.
Green hydrogen can play a critical role in reducing the emission of harmful gases.
Fossil fuels produce green hydrogen that can be used in reducing the depletion of the ozone layer.
Hydrogen produced from fossil fuels can reduce the emission of harmful gases.
(vi) Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship (as per the passage)
(a)
(c)
Cause
Effect
Green hydrogen is being It has managed
fluctuations in the
used in gas turbines.
demand and supply of
power.
Cause
Cause
Effect
The cost of fossil has
India has more demand
fallen by more than 50%. of Green and Blue
hydrogen.
(b)
The solar power facility
at Cochin Airport.
(d)
I have a fertilizers and
refineries factory.
Cause
Effect
More Blue and Grey
hydrogen is being
produced.
Effect
I need more Green
Hydrogen and Electricity.
(vii) Hydrogen is basically a colourless gas
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Which has methane and coal that causes lung cancer.
Which is toxic if inhaled as it contains methane.
Which has four colors- green, blue, grey and turquoise, indicating how it is produced.
Which has three colors- green, blue and grey, indicating how it is produced.
(viii) Based on your reading of paragraphs IV-V, select the appropriate counter- argument to the given argument.
Argument By 2050, India will see a five-fold growth in grey hydrogen demand.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Emission of harmful gases by vehicles will cause increase in hydrogen.
Green hydrogen is the only gas that does not use renewable energy.
Its cost is likely to increase by more than 40%.
None of the above
Passage 10
I. The Indian state has been more penetrated by social actors than many East and South-East Asian states. Unlike
China, India could neither abolish private enterprise nor could it embrace globalisation with the same speed and
ferocity. Both complete state-driven nationalisation and state-driven globalisation would demand a state, which
would have much greater command over interest groups like industrialists, farmers and trade unions. Policies
favouring economic growth and development in India needed to evolve gradually after building a social
consensus on those policies. This is a model of development driven by a relationship between the state and
society, where the power of the state, even in its commanding moments, was moderated by the power of social
actors.
II. Developmental ideas were debated within the state. Substantial economic policy change would require building
upon a historical path of gradual changes in ideas and policies, punctuated by economic crises. This paper
demonstrates how this dynamic is critical for explaining the politics of the Green Revolution and consequent
self-sufficiency in food grains, as well as for understanding India’s globalisation beyond 1991.
38
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
It is a story of getting to higher rates of economic growth in a gradual and circuitous way after building a policy
consensus among diverse stakeholders. Economic crises aided the arrival of a new consensus.
15
India
GDP growth (annual %)
10
5
0
–5
–10
1969
1979
1989
1999
Figure 1 India’s GDP Growth
Measuring India's Globalisation- Merchandise Trade/GDP (%)
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
05%
0%
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
Figure 2 Measuring India’s Globalisation–Merchandise Trade/GDP (%)
III. India’s growth rates began looking more like China’s after 2003. Figure 1 gives us a visual feel of the trajectory of
India’s growth. Between 1956 and 1974, India’s GDP grew between 3 and 4 per cent per annum, when it was a
closed and highly regulated economy. The same increased to over 5 percent between 1975 and 1990 when India’s
domestic private sector was given greater room for manoeuvre. This was not a period when India’s engagement with
the global economy saw a significant rise (Figure 2). The paradigm shift in private sector and trade orientation
beyond 1991 has been associated with higher rates of growth, over 6 percent between 1991 and 2004, and over 8.5
percent between 2003 and 2007. It is the latter figure that has drawn the attention of the world when India became
one of the fastest growing economies in the world after China.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct
option.
(i) Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to Fig 1.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Between 1956 and 1974, India’s GDP grew between 3 and 4 per cent per annum.
Between 1976 and 1988, India’s GDP grew between 5 and 6 per cent per annum.
Between 1991 and 2001, India’s GDP grew between 6 and 7 per cent per annum.
Between 2003 and 2007, India’s GDP grew between 8 and 9.5 per cent per annum.
(ii) As mentioned in the passage, the term ‘trajectory’ refers to
(a) The curved path that shows something that moves in space.
(b) A path showing the dip in something.
(c) A curve of growth.
(d) A path, progression, or line of development.
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) The shift in private sector has been associated with higher rates of growth, over 6 percent between 1991 and
2004, and over 8.5 percent between 2003 and 2007.
(2) India’s growth rates began looking more like China’s after 2003.
(a) (1) is the problem and (2) is the solution for (1)
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1)
(c) (1) and (2) are independent of each other.
(d) (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1)
39
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iv) Select the correct inference with reference to the following.
‘Unlike China, India could neither abolish private enterprise nor could it embrace globalisation with the same
speed and ferocity.’
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
China is a federal nation which has abolished all private companies and businesses.
India is a socialist market economy unlike China.
India is lagging behind as it has still not been able to pace up with globalisation.
India has penetrated the global market with extreme enthusiasm and passion.
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph III.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The Green Revolution helped produce more food and prevented the starvation of many people.
After India opened its doors to the private companies in 1991, its GDP started improving steadily year after year.
As an impact of globalization in 1990, the retail management concept opened its wings in India.
India has been sluggish in adopting the privatisation concept after 1991.
(vi) ‘The paradigm shift in private sector and trade orientation beyond 1991 has been associated with higher rates of
growth’.
Explain the meaning of the term ‘paradigm shift’ in this statement as mentioned in the passage.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
A fundamental change in approach towards something.
A situation in which same trend is followed without any change.
An idea representing the notion of the growth in a certain thought pattern.
A dramatic change in the paradigm of a scientific community.
(vii) The data given in figure 2, suggests that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The GDP growth of India was the least in the year 1991.
India’s GDP grew to the maximum in the year 2005.
The GDP growth of India was the least in the year 1995.
India’s GDP grew to the maximum in the year 2000.
(viii) Based on your reading of paragraphs II-III, select the appropriate counter- argument to the given argument.
Argument China is going to become one of the fastest growing economy in the world by 2050.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
India will beat China to become the fastest growing economy in the world by 2050.
China has a good economic growth graph in the terms of private sector and trade orientation.
India can never beat China on the terms of economic growth.
After the advent of globalization in 1991, India is facing more conflict to improve its GDP.
ANSWERS
Unseen Passages
(Factual, Descriptive or Literary/Discursive or Persuasive)
Passage 1
(i) (c) The author mentions information about the medicinal
and herbal prowess of the Adivasis and the concerned
realm is an appreciative and grateful sense.
(ii) (c) The word ‘features’ should be added to the phrase
Adivasi food of Jharkhand, to make it an example of
alliteration.
(iii) (b) ‘Is so rich in nutrition’ is appropriate to complete the
dialogue.
(iv) (a) According to the passage, the Adivasi food is prepared
from locally available resources and thus, option (a) is the
correct answer.
(v) (a) The phrase ‘we are known by what we eat’ means that it’s
important to eat good food in order to be healthy and fit’.
(vi) (b) The passage mentions that the Adivasi food have a
rich balance of protein, vitamins and minerals.
Hence, they provide high immunity to diseases. Thus,
option (b) is the correct answer.
(vii) (c) The statements given in the options (1) and (3) are true in
the context of the passage. So, the option (c) is the correct
answer.
(viii) (c) As per the passage, the quote which best summarises
the food and culture of Adivasis is given in option (c).
(ix) (a) Only the statement listed as (1) is true. According to
the passage, the Adivasis rely on themselves and their
community and have a very strong immune system
because they consume nutritious food.
(x) (b) Option (b) is the correct answer as it gives the correct
meaning of the given statement.
Passage 2
(i) (b) The use of ‘intimidating’ in the passage suggests that
the place is ‘unapproachable’.
(ii) (d) ‘Eclectic approach’ is the correct collocation. Hence,
option (d) is the correct answer.
(iii) (a) The statements given in the options (1) and (2) are true
according to the passage. So, option (a) is the correct
answer.
40
(iv) (b) The quote given in option (b) best summarises the
writer’s feelings after visiting the Potboiler.
(v) (d) The statement given in the option (d) is not true in
the context of the passage it is mentioned in the passage
that the writer was welcomed nicely in a coffee shop
which was well-ventilated, well-lit and had a nice
ambience without much crowd.
(vi) (c) The correct answer is the option (c). The given
statement means that the coffee shop had good
ambience was full of books and photographs.
(vii) (d) According to the passage, the writer found the coffee
shop appealing and pleasing. Hence, option (d) is the
correct answer.
(viii) (a) The writer mentions that they were glad that the
Potboiler was welcoming because it had appealing
interior consisting of books, framed photographs and
quotes on wall. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
(ix) (b) The phrases given in option (b) suitably completes
the dialogue.
(x) (a) The given statement means that the food menu had
been updated with variety of delectable food.
Passage 3
(i) (b) According to the passage, the reason that the paintings
faded away is the lack of maintenance and care.
(ii) (b) The phrase ‘dotted with’ means to be scattered over
an area. Hence, the sentence in option (b) gives the
correct meaning of the statement in the question.
(iii) (b) The statement given in the option (b) is not true in
the context of the passage.
(iv) (c) According to the passage, the men of Shekhawati
entered into trade with the British because of their strong
business acumen. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
(v) (d) The word ‘town’ is a keyword in the given passage.
(vi) (c) Before entering into trade with the British, the town
had people belonging to various classes, who had very
strong sense of business and after starting trade with the
British, they mostly led lavish life and contributed in the
welfare of the society.
(vii) (b) The statement listed as (2) repeats the situation
described in (1).
(viii) (d) It’s obvious from the tone of the passage that the
writer felt very attracted and captivated while
describing the details of the Mandawa village in the
passage. So, option (b) is the correct answer.
(ix) (d) While mentioning the fading of the murals, the
writer is referring to the negligence of the caretakers
and the constant need for care and maintenance of the
paintings.
(x) (a) According to the passage, the images of the Raagmala
painting and the gramophone painting in the image 1
and image 2 best display the kind of paintings done in
the havelis of Mandawa. So, option (a) is correct answer.
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Passage 4
(i) (b) According to the passage, the statement mentioned in
option (b) is not true.
(ii) (a) ‘Click-clack’ is an example of onomatopoeia.
(iii) (c) The sentences given in option (c) are appropriate to
complete the dialogue.
(iv) (a) The paragraph V of the passage discusses Muga, the
golden silk of Assam. So, option (a) is the correct answer.
(v) (c) The sentences given as (1) introduces and thus, sets the
stage for the sentence in 2.
(vi) (d) According to the passage, the writer asks Binita about
some designs with an intention to get her showcase her
expertise in creating designs. So, option (d) is the correct
answer.
(vii) (b) According to the passage, the ‘gaamkharu’ and the
‘joonbiri’ designs have been inspired by the Assamese
Jewellery.
(viii) (a) According to the passage, dyeing the silks before
weaving is not commercially viable in the area. Hence, the
coloured silks are bought from South India.
(ix) (a) The meaning of the given statement is clearly stated in
option (a).
(x) (a) The sentences listed as (1) and (4) can be concluded
from the given passage.
Passage 5
(i) (a) According to the passage, the author lists picking out
souvenirs, collecting coins and sending mail from visited
city as few of the quirks of a traveller. Hence, option (a) is
the correct answer.
(ii) (d) ‘Only choice’ is an example of oxymoron. Hence, option
(d) is the correct answer.
(iii) (b) ‘A floating post office is definitely unique’ is appropriate
to complete the dialogue in the context of the passage.
(iv) (d) As mentioned in the passage, one can find a post office
with specially designed waterproof postcards at Vanuatu in
the Hideaway Island. So, the option (d) is the correct
answer.
(v) (c) Based on the passage, it can be said that before 2008,
there was no post office in the everest base camp because
the first and only post office in the location was built in
2008. It become the world’s highest built post office.
(vi) (a) The sentence listed as (1) introduces the topic further
discussed in (2) and thus, sets the stage for the sentence in
(2). Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
(vii) (b) The special thing about Mt. Yasur is that it is an active
volcano that erupts 10 times on hour and it is located in the
Tenna Island at Vanuatu.
(viii) (c) As mentioned in the passage, the world’s highest post
office is located in the Everest Base Camp, established in
2008. So, option (c) is the correct answer.
(ix) (a) The quote that best summarises the writer’s feelings
about the details given in the passage is given in option (a).
41
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(x) (d) According to the passage, every traveller has their
own traits including picking out souvenirs, collecting
coins and writing mails from a touring city.
Passage 6
(i) (a) The images 1 and 2 are the representations of
unhealthy lifestyle. So, option (a) is the correct answer.
(ii) (d) The statement given in the option (d) is not
substantiated in the paragraph IV.
(iii) (a) The phrase ‘challenge is the overuse and misuse’ is an
example of assonance, because of the resemblance of
sound in ‘is’ and ‘misuse’.
(iv) (b) ‘Health is wealth’ is appropriate to complete the
dialogue.
(v) (b) The quote that summarises the writer’s feelings about
the emergence of new technologies which is leading our
world to a major challenge that threatens the physical
and mental health of people is given in option (b).
(vi) (b) The option that closely gives the meaning of the
statement in the question is ‘many genetic disorders may
occur in a family as they share the same blood.’
(vii) (c) According to the passage, such problems can only be
caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. So, if we avoid
malnutrition, unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol
consuming, drug abuse, stress, etc. and maintain a
healthy lifestyle, we can prevent all these problems.
(viii) (b) According to the passage, the statements given in the
options (a) and (b) best give the definition of the word
‘lifestyle’.
(ix) (a) The sentences listed as (2) and (3) can be concluded
from the given passage.
(x) (d) According to the passage, around 10% of people who
self-medicate end up suffering from severe drug-related
complications and allergies, which can eventually cause
death. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.
Passage 7
(i) (d) The phrase ‘family system is like a socialistic
community’ is an example of simile. Hence, option (d) is
the correct answer.
(ii) (d) The statement mentioned in option (d) is not true in
the context of the passage.
(iii) (b) The statements listed as (1), (2) and (3) can be
concluded from the given passage and hence, are true.
(iv) (b) The quote that summarises the writer’s feelings in the
best manner about the joint family system is stated in
option (b).
(v) (c) The board listed as option (3) best displays the title for
the given passage. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
(vi) (b) The option that states the meaning of the given
statement option (b).
(vii) (a) The sentence listed as (1) introduces the ‘peculiar
family system’ that is further discussed in the sentence in
(2). Thus, option (a) ‘(1) set the stage for (2)’ is the correct
answer.
(viii) (b) The options 2 and 3 correctly list the feelings of the
writer which are that of acceptance and affection. So,
option (b) is the correct answer.
(ix) (d) The sentences given in option (d) complete the
dialogue properly.
(x) (a) The option that closely gives the meaning of the
statement in the question is option (a) which states is
‘The joint family members are a coherent group who
follow the same culture and ties of blood’ and hence, is
the correct answer.
Passage 8
(i) (d) There is an absence of qualified teachers in public
schools in India because educating is considered the least
prefered vocation by most expiring professionals.
(ii) (a) The sentences listed as (1) and (2) give the significant
challenges faced by private and public education, which
are absence of qualified teachers and support among
teachers.
(iii) (b) The phrases given in option (b) are appropriate to
complete the dialogue.
(iv) (b) The phrase “has the most noteworthy number of
students” is an example of alliteration, because of the
occurence of same letter at the beginning in ‘noteworthy’
and number.
(v) (a) Based on the passage, it can be said that, the number
of students enlisting in private schools was lesser before
2006 because of increase in the number of admissions
after 2006. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
(vi) (b) None of the quote summarise the writers feelings
towards public and private schools in India.
(vii) (b) ‘Sub-par foundation’ means a ‘foundation that is below
a usual or a normal level’.
(viii) (c) According to the passage, the administration feels the
need to address the concern of neglect shown to poor
children from lower ranks. Because there is a neglect and
an absence of support among certain teachers. So, option
(c) is the correct answer.
(ix) (c) The statements listed as (2) and (4) can be concluded
from the given passage.
(x) (b) The sentence given in option (b) is not true in the
context of the passage.
Passage 9
(i) (a) The option that suitably completes the given sentence
is option (a).
(ii) (b) ‘Men’ is an example of synecdoche because it is being
used to refer to all human beings.
(iii) (a) ‘It is illegal and can get you imprisoned’ is appropriate
to complete the dialogue.
(iv) (c) According to the passage, the given statement refers
to the cyber thieves who create fake accounts and steal
the financial or personal information stolen via
computers.
42
(v) (d) Both of the statements are taken from the passage, but
are not related to each other because reliance on the
Internet doesn’t mean that everyone is becoming a cyber
criminal.
(vi) (b) The images 1 and 4 represent the kind of cybercrimes
mentioned in the paragraph I.
(vii) (b) The sentence in option (b) gives the central idea of
the paragraph III of the passage.
(viii) (b) According to the passage, when women sometimes
neglect to report crimes they boost the criminal’s spirits
to become even more harmful.
(ix) (a)
The quote that summarises the writer’s feelings
about cybercrime as described in the passage is given in
option (a).
(x) (b) According to the passage, the cyber thieves don’t see
much threat because they are knowledgeable about the
networking system and difficult to catch and imprison.
Passage 10
(i) (d) Both statements in option (a) and (b) are appropriate
to complete the given sentence.
(ii) (a) ‘Wood’ is appropriate to add to ‘paves the’ to form the
collocation ‘paves the woods’.
(iii) (d) The phrases in option (d) are appropriate to complete
the dialogue.
(iv) (c) The kind of changes the writer refers to in the
mentioned lines is stated in option (c) that the schools
were closed and the classes went from off-line to online
mode.’ So, option (c) is the correct answer.
(v) (a) Option (a) gives the correct before and after situation
of the COVID-19 lockdown.
(vi) (c) Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,
schools were closed resulting in adoption of new teaching
methods. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
(vii) (d) The central idea of the paragraph V that ‘most of the
children from the poor families are unable to bear the cost
of the online education’. So, option (d) is the correct answer.
(viii) (b) The quote that best summarises the writer’s views
about the pandemic is given in option (b).
(ix) (b) The impact of the pandemic includes shutting down
of educational institutions, obstruction of education and
hunger being faced by children. Hence, option (d) is the
correct answer.
(x) (b) The writer mentions that teachers are looking for
alternative jobs because they were not trained and thus,
couldn’t cope with the new form of education (online
learning) that arose during the nationwide lockdown.
Case Based (Factual) Passage
Passage 1
(i) (b) As per the data of percentage given in the figure
around 70% of the people have reported pain at the
injection site after getting the 3rd dose of Moderna
Vaccine. So, option (b) is the correct answer.
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(ii) (c) The term ‘immunocompromised’ means ‘people
having an impaired immune system’.
(iii) (d) The statements listed as (1) and (2) are both correct
according to the passage, but the statement (1) is not
dependent on the statement (2).
(iv) (b) The sentence in option (b) is the inference of the
statement given.
(v) (d) The first paragraph suggests that many Americans
have self-administered booster doses of the vaccinations
to protect themselves. Hence, option (d) is the correct
answer.
(vi) (c) On the basis of the second paragraph, option (c)
displays the correct cause-effect relationship.
(vii) (d) The third paragraph suggests that many people may
have swollen lymph nodes after the third dose than that
after the first or second dose. Hence, option (d) is the
correct answer.
(viii) (d) The given argument suggests getting the booster shot
without checking the need, whereas the statement in
option (d) suggests getting the booster shot only if the
need arises. Hence, the statement in option (d) is the
correct counter-argument for the given argument.
Passage 2
(i) (b) The statement given in the option (b) can be easily
understood by the data given in Figure 1. So, option (b) is
the correct answer.
(ii) (b) According to the passage, Data science has become an
indispensable part of many businesses because it
provides valuable insights into the understanding of
customer behaviour.
(iii) (a) The sentence given as (1) gives the problem, the
consequence of which is given as (2).
(iv) (a) The statement in option (a) is the correct
counter-argument for the given argument.
(v) (c) The third paragraph mentions that the transitioning
from a marketing analytics job to a data science job leads
to a boost in the salary on average giving a hike of 37%.
So, option (c) is the correct answer.
(vi) (b) On the basis of the given passage, option (b) displays
the correct cause-effect relationship.
(vii) (d) The passage suggests that the demand for data science
is accelerating. Hence, ‘data science’ is the demand being
referred to in the question.
(viii) (c) The given sentence suggests that the scope of annual
increment for data science professionals is very high.
Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
Passage 3
(i) (b) The option that displays the true statement with
reference to the passage is given option (b).
(ii) (b) The term ‘devastating effect’ refers to the increase in
unemployment rate, in the passage.
(iii) (d) As the whole world has been put under lockdown,
there is uncertainty about its impact on people’s lives and
livelihoods. So, option (d) is the correct answer.
43
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iv) (a) The given sentence infers that in schools, bookish
aspect of knowledge is given more focus, which
eventually results in lack of confidence in students.
(v) (b) The second paragraph suggests that the number of
unemployed skilled graduates is higher than the
undergraduates in Assam.
(vi) (a) The option that displays the correct cause-effect
relationship (as per the passage) is option (a).
(vii) (c) The data shared in the given line suggests that
many people lost their jobs in the short period of a
month during the nationwide lockdown. Hence,
option (b) is the correct answer.
(viii) (b) The sentence given in option (b) is the correct
counter-argument for the given argument as it
suggests reasons that add to the problem of
unemployment as opposed to a single reason (lack of
proper education) mentioned in the argument.
Passage 4
(i) (a) The sentence given in option (a) gives statistical
data which goes in favour of the sentence given in the
question.
(ii) (b) According to the passage, one of the reasons why
more than 435,000 Indians are killed each year is
‘tuberculosis’.
(iii) (c) The sentence listed as (1) summarises the sentence
listed as (2), as (2) only provides an example of the
problem mentioned in (1).
(iv) (b) On the basis of the passage, it can be said that none
of the given options present a proper
counter-argument for the given argument.
(v) (c) The central idea of the third paragraph is that India
will become the second largest economy in the world
by 2050. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
(vi) (b) The given sentence means that the Indian youth
population, which includes the people of age group
16-30, is increasing.
(vii) (d) On the basis of the fourth paragraph, option (d)
displays the correct cause-effect relationship.
(viii) (a) The information given in the third paragraph
suggests that the number of middle-class people is set
to increase 9 to 10 times from the year 2010 to 2030.
Passage 5
(i) (b) The given figure shows that the highest rate of
unemployment between 2015 and 2020 was in India
and Bangladesh.
(ii) (d) The reason behind the increase in unemployment
rate in India is the second wave of the COVID-19
pandemic.
(iii) (a) The information given in the sentence listed as (2)
is being followed upon by the sentenced listed as (1).
Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
(iv) (a) The sentence in option (a) is the correct
counter-argument for the given argument.
(v) (a) Both the sentences listed as (A) and (B) give the central
idea of the third paragraph.
(vi) (a) On the basis of the second paragraph, option (a) displays
the correct cause-effect relationship.
(vii) (b) The given sentence discusses the problem of
unemployment. Hence, ‘unemployment’ is appropriate to fill
the blank.
(viii) (d) The passage gives evidence of a continuing rise in the
unemployment rate and predicts a further increase, hence,
dip in the unemployment rate is opposite of the predictions
made. Thus, option (d) is the correct answer.
Passage 6
(i) (a) The option that displays the true statement with
reference to Fig 1 is option (a).
(ii) (b) The term ‘morbidities’ refers to ‘having a disease or a
symptom of disease.’
(iii) (c) The sentence listed as (2) elaborates on the problem that
is mentioned in the sentence listed as (1). Hence, option (c)
is the correct answer.
(iv) (b) The given sentence infers that the economical and
developmental growth in India is very rapid.
(v) (a) The central idea of the sixth paragraph is that number of
deaths due to household air pollution had declined between
1990 and 2019. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
(vi) (a) The option that displays the correct cause-effect
relationship is option (a).
(vii) (a) According to the data given in the figure 2, in the year
2019, most people died due to chronic obstructive
pulmonary diseases.
(viii) (a) The sentence in option (d) is the correct
counter-argument for the given argument.
Passage 7
(i) (b) It is one of the largest employment generators and
account for a significant share in the country’s export.
(ii) (c) 2018-2019
(iii) (b) clusters
(iv) (b) 2010-2011
(v) (c) The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH)
(vi) (b) a self-sustaining body that self-finances all its
promotional activities.
(vii) (d) The Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS)
(viii) (b) to recover the input costs involved in the production of
handicrafts.
Passage 8
(i) (a) According to the given figure, Myanmar and Bangladesh
are close to the Bay of Bengal. Hence, option (d) is the
correct answer.
(ii) (d) The word closest to the meaning of the word
‘sophisticated’, as given in the passage is ‘urbane’.
(iii) (d) Both the sentences listed as (1) and (2) are true, but they
are not related to each other. Hence, option (d) is the correct
answer.
44
(iv) (b) It can be inferred from the given statement that India
has been recurrently attacked from the Northern side by
multiple enemies.
(v) (c) The central idea of the second paragraph is that it is
believed that Hinduism originated and has its roots in the
Indus Valley Civilisation.
(vi) (b) The option that displays the correct cause-effect
relationship (as per the passage) is option (b).
(vii) (b) According to the passage, when the British rule came
to an end in 1947, the area was divided into two
independent countries – India and Pakistan.
(viii) (c) The option that lists the statement that is not true
according to the passage is option (c). According to the
passage, the Britishers ruled India for about 90 years.
Passage 9
(i) (a) The option that displays the true statement with
reference to Fig 1 is option (a).
(ii) (b) The term ‘affiliated’ means ‘officially attached or
connected to an organisation’.
(iii) (a) The sentence listed as (2) further explains the point
made in the sentence listed as (1). Hence, option (a) is the
correct answer.
(iv) (a) It can be inferred from the given sentence that unlike
other hydrogen including grey, blue and turquoise
hydrogen, green hydrogen is created using renewable
energy and thus, is very beneficial for the environment.
(v) (b) The first paragraph suggests that green hydrogen can
play a very critical role in reducing the emissions from
the industries. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(vi) (a) The option that displays the correct cause-effect
relationship (as per the passage) is option (a).
(vii) (c) Hydrogen is basically a colourless gas which has four
colors- green, blue, grey and turquoise, indicating how it
is produced. So, option (c) is the correct answer.
(viii) (d) No counter-argument can be made for the given
argument, on the basis of the paragraphs IV and V.
Passage 10
(i) (a) The option that displays the true statement with
reference to Fig 1 is option (a).
(ii) (d) The term ‘trajectory’ refers to ‘a path, progression, or
line of development’.
(iii) (c) The sentences listed as (1) and (2) are both correct in
reference to the given passage. They are also
independent of each other. Hence, option (c) is the
correct answer.
(iv) (c) It can be inferred from the given sentence that India
had not been able to pace up with globalisation and is
lagging behind. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
(v) (b) The central idea of the third paragraph is that India’s
GDP improved when the nation let the private
companies in and began trade with them, in 1991.
(vi) (a) The meaning of the term ‘paradigm shift’ is ‘a
fundamental change in approach towards something’.
(vii) (b) The data given in figure 2, suggests that India’s GDP
grew to the maximum in the year 2005. So, option (b) is
the correct answer.
(viii) (a) The sentence given in option (a) is the correct
counter-argument for the given argument.
Chapter Test
l
Unseen Passages
(Factual, Descriptive or Literary/Discursive or Persuasive)
1. Read the passage given below.
I. Many of us believe that ‘small’ means ‘insignificant’. We believe that small actions and choices do not have much
impact on our lives. We think that it is only the big things, the big actions and the big decisions that really count. But
when you look at the lives of all great people, you will see that they built their character through small decisions, small
choices and small actions that they performed every day. They transformed their lives through a step-by-step or
day-by-day approach. They nurtured and nourished their good habits and chipped away at their bad habits, one step
at a time. It was their small day-to-day decisions that added up to make a tremendous difference in the long run.
Indeed, in matters of personal growth and character building, there is no such thing as an overnight success.
II. Growth always occurs through a sequential series of stages. There is an organic process to growth. When we look
at children growing up, we can see this process at work: the child first learns to crawl, then to stand and walk, and
finally to run. The same is true in the natural world. The soil must first be tilled, and then the seed must be sowed.
Next, it must be nurtured with enough water and sunlight, and only then will it grow, bear fruit and finally ripen
and be ready to eat.
III. Gandhi understood this organic process and used this universal law of nature to his benefit. Gandhi grew in small
ways, in his day-to-day affairs. He did not wake up one day and find himself to be the ‘Mahatma’. In fact, there
was nothing much in his early life that showed signs of greatness. But from his mid-twenties onwards, he
deliberately and consistently attempted to change himself, reform himself and grow in some small way every day.
Day-by-day, hour-by-hour, he risked failure, experimented and learnt from mistakes. In small and large situations
alike, he took up rather than avoiding responsibility.
IV. People have always marvelled at the effortless way in which Gandhi could accomplish the most difficult tasks. He
displayed a great deal of self-mastery and discipline that was amazing. These things did not come easily to him.
Years of practice and disciplined training went into making his successes possible. Very few saw his struggles,
fears, doubts and anxieties, or his inner efforts to overcome them. They saw the victory, but not the struggle.
V. This is a common factor in the lives of all great people: they exercised their freedoms and choices in small ways
that made great impact on their lives and their environment. Each of their small decisions and actions, added up
to have a profound impact in the long run. By understanding this principle, we can move forward with confidence
in the direction of our dreams. Often when our ‘ideal goal’ looks too far from us, we become easily discouraged,
disheartened and pessimistic. However, when we choose to grow in small ways, taking small steps one at a time,
performing it becomes easy.
On the basis of the understanding of the passage, answer any eight of the questions given below with the help of
the options that follow.
(i) The main idea in the first paragraph is that
(a) big things, big actions and big decisions make a person great.
(b) small actions and decisions are important in one’s life.
(c) overnight success is possible for all of us.
(d) personal changes are not important.
(ii) The line “Chipped away at their bad habits” given in the passage means
(a) steadily gave up bad habits.
(c) gradually criticised bad habits.
(b) slowly produced bad habits.
(d) did not like bad habits.
(iii) Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that lists the correct sequence of the process of
growth followed by Gandhiji.
1. Attempt to change
3. Risking failure
(a) 1, 3, 4 and 2
(c) 4, 1, 3 and 2
2. Learning from mistakes
4. Experimented
(b) 1, 4, 3 and 2
(d) 2, 3, 1 and 4
(iv) What did Gandhi try to do after he was about 25 years old?
(a) Change and reform his followers.
(c) Gain success.
(b) Change and reform himself.
(d) None of these
(v) How great people transform their lives?
(a) They approach life on a day-by-day basis.
(c) They believe in performing every day.
(b) They build character in small ways.
(d) All of these
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(vi) We can achieve our goals by ………… .
(a) becoming discouraged and disheartened
(c) setting ideal goals
(b) taking one step at a time
(d) taking profound decisions
(vii) What is the ‘Universal Law of Nature’ mentioned in the passage?
(a) Slow and steady change.
(b) Continuous training and discipline results in success.
(c) The organic process of growth.
(d) Small ways have great impact.
(viii) The word ………… in para 3 means ‘purposely ’.
(a) Consistently
(c) Universal
(b) Deliberately
(d) Risked
(ix) The word ………… in para 1 is an antonym of ‘slight’.
(a) Insignificant
(c) Nourished
(b) Nurtured
(d) Tremendous
(x) Pick the option showing the CORRECT use of the word ‘marvelled’.
(a) He marvelled at the dog.
(c) Rajat asked me if I marvelled today.
2.
(b) He paused to marvel at the spectacular view.
(d) Sonakshi marvelled the floor.
Read the passage given below.
I. The birthday party for me this year was extraordinarily special with the essential elements – family, friends, bunches of
exotic flowers, a huge trail of jostling helium filled golden balloons, gifts and gluten-free cake! Memories of the celebration
will linger on as simple, sweet; and are destined to take their place in my album of cherished reminiscences. Yet more
significant, as I turned my tassels to reach the milestone of golden year fifty; I received an overwhelming ovation of
reflections and loving wishes from many, who have been associated with me in my journey until now as I have arrived at
the colour of sunset.
II. While I rejoiced in each moment, the social tag of ageist attitude came along too. Like all forms of discrimination, ageism
too generates divisions and hierarchies in society and influences one’s social position on the basis of age. Well, isn’t it
paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t implore happy vibes.
The perceptions are many, to each one his or her own. Realistically, we don’t get old on purpose, it just happens; and all
those who are lucky, it will happen to them too.
III. As we age, the fountain of youth flips over and we tend to exchange beauty with wisdom. Wisdom once gained is here to
stay, so why cling to the ephemeral! Old is just fine when you can look back and feel proud of the path you have trodden,
realize that you’ve become wiser with age, capable of gifting your intellect to the young, be the ray of light whenever they
have needed one. You become the eye of every storm, the anchor to many boats, and yet in good weather you have been
the wind too.
IV. Your story grows, page by page & it certainly transforms into a worthy tale. Mine is no different too. An ageing woman is a
great contributor to society, with her wisdom churned through experience, her jewel of patience, perseverance and the
temperance of time. In physical terms though, the mirror tells me otherwise. A part of me wants to erase all those fine
appearing lines, rewind the clock and begin again. But there is another part that loves every crease for they are the part of
who I have become – no longer a girl but an accomplished mother of achiever kids, a secure individual with humble
accomplishments of her own & an integral contributor to the career I have invested in successfully for over 26 years now.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of the ten questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) Which of the following statement/statements is TRUE in the context of the passage?
(1) The writer is celebrating her golden birthday year.
(2) As we grow old our physical beauty is replaced by wisdom.
(3) Everyone is enthusiastic to celebrate the graciousness of old age.
(4) Everyone wishes to remain mortal with perpetual beauty.
(a) Only (1)
(b) Both (1) and (2)
(c) Both (1) and (3)
(d) Only (4)
(ii) Which image represents the number of years the writer has enjoyed her motherhood as per the passage?
25
26
Image 1
Image 2
(a) Image 1
(c) Image 3
27
Image 3
(b) Image 2
(d) Image 4
28
Image 4
47
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iii) “Wisdom once gained is here to stay, so why cling to the ephemeral!” Which word is closest to the meaning of the word
‘ephemeral’ in the mentioned statement?
(a) Perpetual
(c) Eternal
(b) Mortal
(d) Transient
(iv) What is the relationship between (1) and (2)?
(1) ….. Realistically, we don’t get old on purpose, it just happens; and all those who are lucky, it will happen to them too.
(2) …… As we age, the fountain of youth flips over and we tend to exchange beauty with wisdom.
(a) (2) is the reason behind (1)
(b) (1) and (2) are independent statements
(c) (1) gives the motive behind (2)
(d) (2) explains the fact discussed in (1)
(v) The statement “my album of cherished reminiscences.” means that
(a) the series of events that makes her recall her past memories.
(b) the photo album of her childhood.
(c) her cherished memories spent with her family and friends.
(d) her marriage album that makes her recall her parents and husband.
(vi) Select the quote that states the paradox behind the statement- “Well, isn’t it paradoxical that the idea of living a long life
appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t implore happy vibes” (a) “Every man desires to live long, but no man wishes to be old.”
(b) “Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.”
(c) “Cherish all your happy moments; they make a fine cushion for old age.”
(d) “All my life I've been taught how to die, but no one ever taught me how to grow old.”
(vii) As mentioned in the passage, choose the option that lists the correct sequence of the explanations/events in the passage.
(1) A part of me wants to erase all those fine appearing lines, rewind the clock and begin again.
(2) You become the eye of every storm, the anchor to many boats, and yet in good weather you have been the wind too.
(3) As I turned my tassels to reach the milestone of golden year fifty; I received an overwhelming ovation of reflections and loving wishes
from many.
(4) While I rejoiced in each moment, the social tag of ageist attitude came along too.
(a) 4, 3, 2, 1
(b) 3, 4, 2, 1
(c) 1, 2, 3, 4
(d) 2, 3, 1, 4
(viii) Pick the word that is opposite to the meaning of the word ‘erase’ given in the statement ‘A part of me wants to erase all
those fine appearing lines, rewind the clock and begin again’.
(a) Obliterate
(c) Eradicate
(b) Write
(d) Accept
(ix) Select the option that lists what we can conclude from the passage.
(a) The writer has a mix of feelings of happiness, nostalgia and apprehension while she is celebrating her birthday.
(b) The writer has a mix of feelings of anger, regret and apprehension while she is celebrating her birthday.
(c) As the writer is celebrating her birthday her mind is full of thoughts of happiness, repent and apprehension.
(d) As the writer is celebrating her birthday her mind is full of thoughts of unhappiness, apprehension and melancholy.
(x) The writer mentions that ‘An ageing woman is a great contributor to society, with her wisdom churned through experience,
her jewel of patience, perseverance and the temperance of time’. Pick the option that closely gives the meaning of the
statement.
(a) With the passage of age, a woman becomes more experienced and valuable for the family.
(b) With the passage of age, a woman becomes less experienced and valuable for the society.
(c) As a woman grows old, she becomes more indispensable with her experience, patience and efforts.
(d) The growing age of a woman adds more beauty and patience in her personality.
3. Read the passage given below.
1. This is the largest Malay house on the peninsula. It is built of wood painted green and white, with bold floral designs on a
white background around some of the circular windows, and a very large porch for followers to wait in, up a ladder of
course.
2. Really the upper class of Malay houses show some very good work. The thatch of the steep roof is beautifully put on, and
between the sides of finely woven checked matting interspersed with lattice work and bamboo work, the shady inner
rooms with their carved doorways and portieres of red silk, the pillows and cushions of gold embroidery laid over the
exquisitely fine matting on the floors, the light from the half-shaded windows glancing here and there as the breeze sways
the screens, there is an indescribable appropriateness to the region.
3. I waited for the elephant in a rambling empty house, and Malays brought pierced coconuts, buffalo milk, and a great
bouquet of lotus blossoms and seed-vessels, out of which they took the seeds, and presented them on the grand lotus leaf
itself. Each seed is in appearance and taste like a hazel-nut, but in the centre, in an oval slit, the future lotus plant is folded
up, the one vivid green seed leaf being folded over a shoot, and this is intensely bitter.
48
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
4. The elephant at last came up and was brought below the porch of the house. They are truly ugly beasts, with their grey
wrinkled, hairless hides, the huge ragged ‘flappers’ which cover their ears, and with which they fan themselves ceaselessly,
the small mean eyes, the hideous trunk which coils itself snakishly round everything, the formless legs, the piggish back,
with the steep slope down to the mean, bare tail, features so unlike any other familiar and friendly beast.
5. Before I came out from England, I dreamt of howdahs and cloth-of-gold trappings, but my elephant had neither. In fact
there was nothing grand about him but his ugliness. I dropped into one of two baskets on either side of his back from the
porch, a young Malay lad dropped into the other, and my bag was tied on behind with more ropes.
6. My ride was not comfortable. One sits facing forwards with the feet dangling over the edge of the basket. This edge soon
produces a sharp ache or cramp, and, when one tries to get relief by leaning back on anything, the awkward rolling
position is so painful that one reverts to the former position till it again becomes intolerable.
7. After we had travelled two hours, the baskets slipped down very dangerously and needed adjustment. We were forced to
dismount while the pack was adjusted. Then, while the elephant was still sitting, the driver jumped on the elephant’s back
and giving me his hands hauled me up over the head, after which the creature rose gently from the ground and we went
on our journey.
8. Soon the driver abandoned the elephant for a gossip and a smoke, leaving the animal to go its own way for a mile or more.
The elephant turned into the jungle, where he began to rend and tear the trees, and, going to a mud-hole, he drew what
water there was out of it, and squirted it with a loud noise over himself and his riders, soaking my clothes with it. When he
turned back to the road again, he several times stopped and seemed to stand on his head by stiffening his trunk and
leaning upon it, and when I hit him with my umbrella he uttered the loudest roar I ever heard. My Malay fellow-rider
jumped off and ran back for the driver, at which the baskets both came down on my side of the elephant.
9. On the driver’s return I had to dismount again, and this time the elephant was allowed to go and take a proper bath in a
river. He threw large quantities of clear water over himself, and took up plenty more with which to cool his sides as went
along. Thick as the wrinkled hide of an elephant is, a very small insect can still draw blood from it, and so, like the water
buffalo, he wisely plastered himself with mud from the river’s edge for protection. Mounting again, I rode for another two
hours, but he crawled along about a mile an hour, and seemed determined to lie down. He roared whenever he was asked
to go faster, sometimes with a roar of rage, sometimes in loud distress. In despair, the driver got off and walked behind
him, but at that point the elephant stopped altogether. The driver tried to pull him along by putting a hooked stick in his
huge ‘flapper’ but this produced no other effect than a series of howls.
10. So, he climbed back on to his head, after which the brute made a succession of exaggerated stumbles. The driver with a
look of disgust got off again. I let myself down his unshapely shoulder by a rope till I could use the driver’s shoulders as
steps. I walked the remaining miles to Kwala Kangsa, and the driver carried my suitcase! Such was the comical end of my
first elephant ride.
On the basis of the understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of the ten questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) How are the upper class of Malay houses appropriate for the region?
(a) Pillows and cushions laid on the floor are embroidered with gold.
(b) The inner rooms have carved doorways with red silk curtains on them.
(c) The thatch of the steep roof looks beautiful.
(d) All of the above
(ii) The author had previously regarded riding on an elephant as a luxurious means of travel because
(a) before coming out from England he did not know what an elephant was.
(b) he thought it would be very costly to ride on an elephant.
(c) he dreamt of howdahs and cloth of gold trappings on the elephant.
(d) All of the above
(iii) Why did the light in the inner room kept changing?
(a) Because of the winds that was swaying the screen.
(b) Because of the changing direction of the Sun.
(c) Because of movement inside the room.
(d) Because the screens were being repaired.
(iv) What was the first incident in which the elephant showed that it was not co-operative?
(a) It refused to move when the author sat on it.
(b) Whenever the elephant was asked to go faster, it roared as if in distress.
(c) It trumpeted its protest when it was not given water to drink.
(d) None of the above
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(v) Which option correctly represents how the author had imagined elephants to be?
1.
2.
3.
(a) Option 1
(c) Option 3
4.
(b) Option 2
(d) Option 4
(vi) When the elephant was asked to go faster, he protested by ………… .
(a) stopping in his tracks
(c) roaring in rage
(b) turning and going back
(d) None of these
(vii) Why does the author call the elephant’s act of putting mud on itself wise?
(a) Because it would save it from taking a ride.
(b) Because it would mean that the elephant had more time to relax.
(c) Because the mud would save it from insect bites.
(d) Because then it would have to be set free.
(viii) How does the author describe the elephant?
1. As truly ugly beasts.
2. Having small huge flapper.
3. Having small mean eyes.
4. Having well-formed legs.
(a) 1 and 4
(c) 3 and 4
(b) 1 and 3
(d) 2 and 4
(ix) ‘‘the light from the half-shaded windows glancing here and there’’. Pick the option in which the meaning of ‘light’ is not the
same as it is in the passage.
(a) I opened the curtain to let some light come inside.
(c) I had a light breakfast today.
(b) White light is light such as sunlight.
(d) I was dazzled by the light coming from the sun.
(x) Pick the option showing the correct use of the word ‘hauled’.
(a) He was hauled as a famous scientist by the media.
(c) I hauled myself out of the traffic.
l
(b) There was a haul in the wall.
(d) A crane had to be used to haul the car.
Case Based (Factual) Passages
1. Read the passage given below.
I. India has a rich tradition of imparting knowledge. The ‘gurukul’ was a type of education system in ancient India with shishya
(students) living with the guru in the same house. Nalanda was the oldest university-system of education in the world.
Students from across the world were attracted to Indian knowledge systems. Many branches of knowledge system had its
origin in India.
II. Education was considered at a higher virtue in ancient India. However, modern India failed to capitalize on its initial edge
due to years of colonial rule, financial constraints, and wrong policies.
Status of Education in India : Data from Census 2011
Table Literacy Rate Trend in India 1951-2011
Census Year
Persons
1951
18.33
1961
28.3
Decadal Increase
Males
Females
Gender gap
27.16
8.86
18.30
9.97
40.40
15.35
25.05
1971
34.45
6.15
45.96
21.97
23.99
1981
43.57
9.12
56.38
29.76
26.62
1991
52.21
8.64
64.13
39.29
24.84
2001
64.83
12.62
75.26
53.67
21.59
2011
74.04
9.21
82.14
65.46
16.68
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Status of Education in India: Data from Census 2011
l
Literacy rate in India as per Census 2011: 74%.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
l
Literacy rate: Male: 82.1%; Female: 65.5%
l
Kerala tops the rankings, followed by Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
Bihar is the lowest among states, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand etc., however, they are improving
their position.
Bihar has a literacy rate of 63.8%, and that of women is 53.3%.
Literacy rates for both adults as well as youths have increased, still, the absolute number of illiterates in India is as much
as India’s population was at the time of independence.
The gender gap in terms of literacy began to narrow first in 1991 and the pace has accelerated, however still lags far
behind global female literacy rate of 7% (UNESCO 2015).
There are large state variations in the gender gap.
However, during 2001 – 2011, male literacy rate increased by 6 percentage points but female literacy increased by nearly
12 percentage points. Achievement in female literacy in Bihar is noteworthy: from 33% in 2001 to 53% in 2011.
Be that as it may, India is still lagging behind the world literacy rate of 86.3% (UNESCO 2015). A major group of states
lies in the average rank i.e. just above the national level of 64.8 percent.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to Fig 1.
(a) The gender gap between the males and females was the maximum in the Census year 2001.
(b) The highest number of males were educated in the Census year 2011.
(c) The literacy rate of both males and females has equally increased from the year 1951 to 2011.
(d) The highest number of females were educated in the Census year 2001.
(ii) The term ‘virtue’ refers to the
(a) conformity of one's life and conduct to immoral and unethical principles.
(b) quality of showing despise towards honesty in life.
(c) behaviour showing high moral standards.
(d) self-discipline and advantages.
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) Kerala tops the rankings, followed by Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
(2) Literacy rate in India as per Census 2011 is 74%.
(a) (1) is the problem and (2) is the solution for (1).
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1).
(c) (1) and (2) are independent statements.
(d) (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1).
(iv) Select the correct inference with reference to the following.
‘The ‘gurukul’ was a type of education system in ancient India with shishya (students) living with the guru in the same
house.’
(a) In Gurukul system, the guru (teacher) as well as shisya (student) resided in the same area, living near to each other as neighbours.
(b) Gurukul was actually the home of teacher or Acharya and was the center of learning where pupils resided till their education got
complete.
(c) The Students were expected to learn from their gurus and use their knowledge in practical life and give Gurudakshina at the end.
(d) Gurukul system of education existed during ancient times where students were given education on the basis of the religion, caste of the
students.
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph preceding paragraph II.
(a) Most of the people around the world were attracted towards the rich culture and knowledge system of India.
(b) Nalanda University is famous for its Gurukul system till date in the world.
(c) India used to be an epicentre of rich culture and struggling education system before independence.
(d) Most of the people in the world know India for its ancient history in which education was the highest virtue.
(vi) Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship (as per the passage)
Options
Cause
Effect
(a)
I am a female student from Bihar.
I passed out with flying colours in 2011.
(b)
I am from a male student from Kerala.
I am still struggling to get education.
(c)
I did my graduation from Delhi.
I am still struggling to get a job.
(d)
I am from Tamil Nadu.
I am at a higher risk of facing
unemployment issues.
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
51
(vii) The data of the Literacy rate in India as per Census 1991 suggests that
(a) the literacy rate of the males was more than the females.
(b) the literacy rate of the females was more than the males.
(c) the overall literacy rate was 64.57%.
(d) the gender gap in terms of literacy began to increase in 1991.
(viii) The survey statistics mention that ‘India still lags far behind global female literacy rate of 7%’, indicates that(a) the large proportion of illiterate females is another reason for the low literacy rate in India.
(b) there is a large proportion of uneducated males in India.
(c) India has the dubious distinction of having one of the world's highest rates of adult illiteracy.
(d) India's female literacy has gone up but is still 22 percentage points behind world average.
2.
Read the passage given below.
I. Maharashtra witnessed a jump of 14 per cent in crime rate in 2020, a better part of which was spent in a lockdown, as
compared to 2019, according to records. The statistics compiled by the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) from
January 2020 to December 2020 further revealed that even as crimes such as theft, house break-ins, robbery, dacoity,
offences against women, use/sale of narcotics and property offences saw a drop, crime rate increased in offences of hurt,
rioting, attempt to murder and cases under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
II. The overall cases registered in 2019 under the Indian Penal Code were above 3.4 lakh across the state, which increased to
over 3.9 lakh in 2020, an official from the CID said. The detailed data will be made available by next month. The state saw a
one per cent increase in cases of murder from 2020 and an eight per cent increase in cases of attempt to murder or section
307 of the IPC. Street crime chain-snatching saw a decrease of 47 per cent, dacoity a decrease of 23 per cent and theft a
decrease of 42 per cent.
III. An official said that the most substantial decrease was in cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS)
Act, with a drop of 67 per cent compared to 2019. “A major reason for fewer crimes in many of these can be credited to
increased presence of police on the streets due to the lockdown. Another reason was that police officials were busy in
lockdown duties and did not find the time to conduct raids and investigations in their regular cases,” a senior police official
said.
IV. Cases against women also saw a decrease of 16 per cent with 10 per cent fewer rapes recorded than 2019. Organisations
working with women had said that while more instances of domestic violence were expected due to the lockdown, they
may not have led to registration of complaints by the victims as mobility was restricted due to the curbs that were in place
since 24th March, last year.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) Select the reason that can best display the information with reference to the passage about the increase in domestic
violence cases during the lockdown in Mumbai.
(a) The increase in violence against women must be dealt with urgently with suitable measures.
(b) An abusive partner may threaten to turn you in to authorities for illegal activity if you report the abuse, or if you resist.
(c) Confinement is fostering the tension and strain created by security, health and money worries.
(d) Before COVID-19 existed, domestic violence was already one of the greatest human rights violations.
(ii) As mentioned in the passage, the term ‘curbs’ refers to
(a) a check or restraint on something.
(b) a raised edge along the side of a street.
(c) something that is harmful and dreadful.
(d) a ban on something.
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) They may not have led to registration of complaints by the victims as mobility was restricted due to the curbs.
(2) Cases against women also saw a decrease of 16 per cent with 10 per cent fewer rapes recorded than 2019.
(a) (1) is the problem and (2) is the solution for (1).
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1).
(c) (1) is the reason for (2).
(d) (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1).
(iv) Select the correct inference with reference to the following:
‘Another reason was that police officials were busy in lockdown duties and did not find the time to conduct raids and
investigations in their regular cases.’
(a) During the pandemic, police officials could not track the crime cases as they were busier with their lockdown duties.
(b) More and more people are were sitting at home, so the crime cased dropped.
(c) During the lockdown there was a drop-in crime cases due to restrictions of movement.
(d) The police officials were better able to handle the law and order as they had enough time for their normal duties.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph preceding paragraph III.
(a) During COVID 19, the overall crime cases had a huge drop in number.
(b) The overall crime cases increased during the pandemic out of which maximum cases were of attempt to murder.
(c) The overall crime cases decreased during the pandemic out of which maximum cases were of attempt to murder.
(d) The overall crime cases increased during the pandemic out of which maximum cases were of theft and domestic violence.
(vi) Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship (as per the passage)
Options
Cause
Effect
(a)
I had to stay at home during the
lockdown.
I adapted to the COVID restrictions.
(b)
I am a housewife and taking care of my
family during the lockdown.
I am still struggling to bear my household
expenses.
(c)
I am posted on my lockdown duty as a
policeman.
I rarely get time to cover other crime
cases during the lockdown.
(d)
I am a student facing restrictions during
the lockdown.
I am at a higher risk of facing health
issues due to lack of exercise.
(viii) Which of the following statement is TRUE in the context of the passage?
(a) The most substantial decrease was in cases under Narcotic Drugs during the lockdown.
(b) In 2019, there was a rise in the domestic violence cases as compared to 2020.
(c) Maharashtra witnessed a jump of 24 per cent in crime rate in 2020.
(d) The state saw a 3 per cent increase in cases of murder from 2020.
(viii) Based on your reading of paragraphs I-II, select the appropriate counter- argument to the given argument.
Argument I work as a maid and I belong to the Scheduled Caste. My owner has not paid me during the lockdown months.
(a) Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 protects me from this injustice.
(b) I would never lose my job as I am protected by the law.
(c) I am planning to switch my job and clear all my previous dues.
(d) The owner of the house was laid off due to COVID and he is unable to bear the expenses of his family.
3. Read the passage given below.
A large majority of the elderly in India does not get long-term and palliative care, revealed a study conducted for the United
Nations. The survey of more than 10,000 respondents across Northern, Southern, Western, Eastern, and Central India during
May-June 2018, showed that 62.1% of the elderly did not get such care. More than half of these people, 52.4%, said they
primarily need traditional family support, says a study by Agewell Research and Advocacy Centre.
Older people in India often face problems such as disability, restricted mobility, loneliness, poverty and lack of awareness on
accessing old-term care. With a fast growing population of older people, the ever-increasing gap between generations and
the fast and demanding lifestyle of young people, for a majority of older people, life is still a struggle for independence.
“According to 64% of elderly respondents, loneliness, marginalisation, and isolation are the most critical issues faced by
bedridden, elderly patients as they cannot visit, meet or interact with their relatives, friends and neighbours,” said Himanshu
Rath, founder of Agewell Foundation.
The elderly have to compromise and make adjustments in their lifestyle according to the wishes of the younger members of
their families to ensure they are cared for, the study revealed. It highlighted that 67.6% of the elderly being taken care of their
family members have to look after the children of the families. They have to perform tasks such as babysitting in return for
proper care and support.
“Around 73.7% said they have to take care of the house and other properties of their younger family members to ensure
long-term and palliative care in old age,” the study report said. “Over 75% of respondents have to limit their personal social
interactions as their family members direct them to do so, otherwise their family members can avoid providing their basic
needs of food and medicines.” Most elderly respondents (68.5%) said breaking up of the joint family system is one of the
biggest factors for the challenges they face in getting long-term, palliative care.
Healthcare equipment such as wheelchairs, relief material such as adult diapers and care-giving service should be provided on
a regular basis to destitute older people, who are bedridden and suffering from acute mobility issues, the report said.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
“Though providing long-term and palliative care to older persons comes in the purview of family responsibilities in India, it is
observed that older persons, who are financially independent, have a high net worth or hold property entitlements, are
treated comparatively well by their family members” said Rath.
“Managing home care for the elderly is a massive challenge as multiple service providers—nursing agencies, physiotherapists
and medical suppliers—are small scale and unorganised and, therefore, provide incomplete care,” he said. “In India, health
insurance coverage is essentially limited to hospitalisation. The concept of geriatric care has remained a neglected area of
medicine so far in the country.”
.
.
.
On the basis of the understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct option.
(i) According to the passage what is the primary need of all elders in India?
(a) Long term care
(b) Traditional family support
(c) Independence
(d) Proper healthcare
(ii) Pick the option that lists the statements that are NOT TRUE according to the passage.
1. Older people in India often face problems.
2. The elderly have to compromise and make adjustments in their lifestyle.
3. Healthcare equipment such as wheelchairs, adult diapers, etc should not be provided on a regular basis.
4. Managing home care for the elderly is a small challenge.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 and 4
(iii) The word ‘acute’ as used in para 6, means the same as
(a) deserving
(c) serious
(b) poor
(d) intermittent
(iv) How does an elder get the proper care and support?
(a) By babysitting.
(b) By transferring their properties to the family members.
(c) By shifting into a old age home.
(d) By taking care of the household.
(v) Based on the data given in the picture passage, choose the option that correctly states the outcomes of the survey during
May-June 2018.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Elderly did not get long
term and palliative care.
Elderly did not get long
term and palliative care.
Elderly did not get long
term and palliative care.
Elderly did not get long
term and palliative care.
Elderly get long term
and palliative care.
Elderly get long term
and palliative care.
Elderly get long term
and palliative care.
Elderly get long term
and palliative care.
(a) Option 1
(c) Option 3
(b) Option 2
(d) Option 4
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(vi) Based on the data given in the passage, choose the option that lists the statements that are TRUE.
1. The survey was conducted in the Northern and Eastern states in India.
2. More than 10,000 people were surveyed.
3. Around 72.7% of the elderly have to take care of the property of their younger family members to ensure their long-term care.
4. 64% of the respondents cited that loneliness, marginalisation and isolation are the most critical issues faced by the bedridden elderly
patients.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2 and 4
(vii) The passage specifically focuses on ………… .
(a) all old people in old age homes
(c) bedridden old people
(b) elderly with mental disorder
(d) all old people
(viii) In India, the responsibility of the elders lies on ………… .
(a) family systems
(c) government
(b) old age centres
(d) hospitals
ANSWERS
Discursive Passages
1. (i) (b)
(ii) (a)
(iii) (a)
(iv) (b)
(v) (d)
(vi) (b)
(vii) (c)
(viii) (b)
(ix) (d)
(x) (b)
2. (i) (b)
(ii) (b)
(iii) (d)
(iv) (b)
(v) (a)
(vi) (a)
(vii) (b)
(viii) (b)
(ix) (a)
(x) (c)
3. (i) (d)
(ii) (c)
(iii) (a)
(iv) (b)
(v) (a)
(vi) (c)
(vii) (c)
(viii) (b)
(ix) (c)
(x) (d)
Case Based (Factual) Passages
1. (i) (a)
(ii) (c)
(iii) (c)
(iv) (b)
(v) (a)
(vi) (a)
(vii) (a)
(viii) (a)
2. (i) (c)
(ii) (a)
(iii) (c)
(iv) (a)
(v) (b)
(vi) (c)
(vii) (a)
(viii) (d)
3. (i) (b)
(ii) (d)
(iii) (c)
(iv) (a)
(v) (c)
(vi) (d)
(vii) (c)
(viii) (a)
57
Short W riting Tas ks
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
CHAPTER 01
Invitations
and Replies
In this Chapter...
l
Formal Invitations
l
Informal Invitations
l
Chapter Practice
An invitation is a request, a solicitation or an attempt to get another person or group of people to join you for
some special occasions like birthdays, house warming party, inauguration ceremonies, conferences, shows,
etc. It can be printed on cards or can be drafted in the form of formal letters.
There are two types of invitations
(i) Formal invitations
(i) Informal invitations
I. FORMAL INVITATIONS
Fomal invitations are polite, pleasant and courteous. All printed invitations cards are generally considered
formal invitations.
In a formal invitation card, one starts with the designation of the organiser, followed by name and address of
the host and the details about the date, time and venue of the function. The name of the chief organiser is
also placed with ‘RSVP’ on the bottom left hand corner of the card.
Guidelines for Writing Formal Invitations
n
n
n
n
n
Formal invitations do not include the name of the addressee.
Formal invitations are always written in third person i.e. he, she or it are used in
place of I, you or we.
The occasion, name of the invitee, name of the host, date, day, time, venue etc,
are written in proper sequence.
Some more details like name, designation, address etc, of organiser, sponsor or
host should be included.
If a VIP is invited, then the name of that VIP should appear prominently.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Format of a Card with an Example
You are opening an exclusive parlour for ladies. Draft a formal invitation for its inauguration with the necessary details.
M/S FASHIONERS
announce the opening of their exclusive Parlour for Women
at 80, Mall Road, Nainital
Name/Designation of
the Host/Organiser
Venue
Snip
Inauguration
On Saturday, the 18th June, 20XX
Occasion/Event
Date and time
at 11:00 AM
By Superstar Deepika
All are Cordially Invited
Free Haircut by Habib for First 10 Customers!
RSVP
Manya Singh
Phone: 059422-61XXX
Contact details
Format of a Letter with an Example
Sarvodaya Public School is organising its Annual Sports day. The Principal wishes to invite Mr PK Singh, the District
Magistrate as a Chief Guest to preside over the function. Draft a formal letter of invitation to be sent to the above-mentioned
dignitary.
Event/
Occasion
Sarvodaya Public School
E-7 New Model Town
Shikohabad-283135
Sender's address/
Letterhead
12th August, 20XX
Date
Mr PK Singh
District Magistrate
Civil Lines
Shikohabad-283135
Receiver’s name
and address
Subject Invitation for Annual Sports Day
Subject
Respected Sir,
It is a matter of great pride that our school is celebrating its 25th Annual
Sports Day on 25th September, 20XX from 10 AM at the school ground.
We shall consider it a great honour if you could grace the occasion by
presiding over the function as the Chief Guest and give away the prizes.
Salutation
Date/Time/Venue
Soliciting a line in reply or an e-mail at sarvodayaacademy@gmail com.
Yours faithfully
Principal
Sarvodaya Public School
Subscription
Sender’s name
and designation
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
II. INFORMAL INVITATIONS
Informal invitations are sent for personal occasions/to close friends or relatives. They are written in the form of personal
letters. The style is relaxed and informal.
Format with an Example
HOCUS-POCUS, the magic of focus, presents the Mother’s Pride Baby Show. You are the Secretary, Mother’s Pride Group.
Prepare an informal invitation for the same.
www. mothersprideonline.com
1st June, 20XX
Dear Parents
Date
Sender’s
details
Salutation
The Magical Baby Show is back, a show that will showcase your baby’s most
spellbinding antics and qualities. Avail this opportunity and turn your little
heroes into mega stars and super heroes. Mother’s Pride network has the
proud privilege to invite you on the occasion of the Mother’s Pride Baby Show
on Monday, 29th June, 20XX at all branches. Do participate and win prizes.
For registration details, contact 93106XXXXX.
Secretary
(Mother’s Pride Group
Occasion Date,
time and venue
Subscription
Sender’s Name
Replies to Invitation
Whenever we receive an invite, it is considered good etiquette’s to confirm or decline your presence in the event.
Formal Replies
Formal replies involve a certain standard and form. They are usually very short and to the point. In a formal reply, first of all
the invitation is acknowledged, with a note of thanks are in third person. Acceptance is communicated or regret is shown if the
person is unable to attend the occasion. In case of not attending, a specific reason is to be given.
(i) If the invite comes in the form of a printed card, one can simply RSVP the status on the given number.
(ii) In other cases, you send a reply to the host.
Format with an Example
Draft a suitable reply to the given formal invitation.
Mrs & Mr KL Shastri request the pleasure of your
company on the
auspicious occasion of the wedding of their son
MOHIT With MANYA
(D/o Mrs & Mr Deepak Mehta, Jammu)
on
Monday, 15th October, 20XX
at 7 pm at
Hotel Mountview, Sector 10 Chandigarh - 160010
RSVP
Manoj Shastri
5135/3, Modern Housing Complex
Manimajra, Chandigarh-160101
Phone 098210XXXXX
With Best Compliments from
Relatives
and
Friends
60
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Accepting the Invitation
Mr Rakesh Rana has much pleasure in accepting
the kind invitation of Mrs & Mr KL Shastri to the
marriage of their son Mohit on 15th October, 20XX
at 7 PM.
Declining the Invitation
Mr Rakesh Rana sincerely thanks Mrs & Mr KL Shastri for their
kind invitation to the wedding of their son Mohit on
15th October, 20XX at 7 PM, but regrets his inability to attend
because of a prior engagement. He wishes Mohit a blissful
conjugal life.
Informal Replies
In informal replies, simple language is used and the invitation is acknowledged in first or second person. Acceptance is
communicated or refusal is regretted with a specific reason.
Format with an Example
Draft a suitable reply to the given informal invitation.
5135/3, Modern Housing Complex
Manimajra
Chandigarh
15th September, 20XX
My Dear Rakesh,
You will be delighted to know that our son Mohit is getting married on 15th October, 20XX.
Our would-be daughter-in-law, Manya, is a lecturer in a private college in the same city.
Your bhabhi, Mohit and I are looking forward to your presence at the wedding, with family.
Yours affectionately
Krishan Lal
61
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Accepting the Invitation
15, Doctors’ Colony
Bhopal-462004
Sender’s address/
Letterhead
18th September, 20XX
Date
Dear Kumar and Bhabhi
Salutation
Expressing gratitude
Thanks a lot for your invitation to Mohit’s wedding. I am really stumped! Has he
grown so big? I still remember him as a little boy competing with other kids,
pestering me for chocolates! Anyway, it is really a happy occasion and I will
definitely join the festivities. I am coming with Ranjana and the kids. See you
soon.
Accepting the invitation
Yours affectionately
Rakesh
Subscription
Sender’s name
Declining the Invitation
15, Doctors’ Colony
Bhopal-462004
Sender’s address
16th September, 20XX
Date
Dear Kumar and Bhabhi
Salutation
Thanks a lot for your invitation to Mohit’s wedding.
Expressing gratitude
It is a happy occasion and I would have loved to join in all the festivities, but
Shaurya, our little son is not keeping well and needs our constant care and
attention.I really feel bad for missing the event. Please accept my best
wishes.
Yours affectionately
Rakesh
Declining invitation
Subscription
Sender's name
62
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Chapter
Practice
Ans. (a) The RSVP details of the invite should include the
PART 1
Objective Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
Directions (Q. Nos. 1-5) You are a student leader of Apex
Public School, Bengaluru. Draft an invitation on behalf of the
Principal for a musical evening to be held in your school.
1. The organisers of the event would include
(a) the Principal and students
(b) the Principal and staff
(c) the students
(d) the Principal, staff and students
Ans. (d) The organisers of the given invitation would include
the Principal, the staff including the teachers and the
students who are participating in the event.
2. Select the option that would be invitation line for
the invite.
(a) This is to invite you….
(b) ..takes great pleasure in inviting you all..
(c) …is pleased to have the honour of inviting you…
(d) …would like to lend an invitation.
Ans. (b) ‘..takes great pleasure in inviting you all’ is the
5. Would the unique name of the event be reflected in
the invite?
(a) Yes, it would make the notice attractive
(b) No, it would take more space
(c) Yes, it is an essential detail
(d) No, it is not required
Ans. (c)
Directions (Q. Nos. 6-10) You are Roshan Khera, a resident
of Haryana. Invite your friend Hrishit Arora who lives in old
Delhi to spend a part of his summer vacation with you at
your farm house near Pinjore.
6. Would this letter of invitation contain a subject
line?
(a) Yes, as letter of Invitation
(b) No, the subject is already intended
(c) Yes, as the venue of the invitation
(d) No, it will occupy unnecessary time
Ans. (b) The subject line is not required in the informal
invitation letter as the purpose of the letter is already
intended to the reader.
7. Select the option that can be an appropriate
opening of the invitation letter.
suitable option.
3. Select the option that would be a part of the invite.
(i) Name of the school
(ii) Details of the program
(iii) Chief guest details
(iv) Time of the event
(v) Venue of the event
(vi) Date of the event
(a) (i) and (ii)
(c) (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v)
details of the person to contacted, herein the principal
(name) and the contact number of the organisation
hosting the event.
(a) I am very glad to inform you that
(b) This letter is written with a purpose to invite you…
(c) Soon, the summer vacations will be over and we all will
happily enjoy the summer….
(d) How are you? I am fine and eagerly waiting for your
presence…
Ans. (c)
(b) (iii), (iv) and (v)
(d) All of these
Ans. (d) The invites would include every detail of the event
including- name of the organising school, date, time,
venue, details of the chief guest and the program details.
4. The RSVP details of the invite would include
(a) The contact details of the school
(b) The address of the school
(c) The contact details of the Principal
(d) The email id of school
8. Select the option that can come in the body of the
invite.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
Address of the sender
Address of the farmhouse
Address of the receiver
Details of the stay
Names of friends who have accepted the invite
The nearby attractions
(a) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
(c) (i), (iii), (v) and (vi)
(b) (i), (ii), (iv) and (vi)
(d) (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v)
63
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Ans. (b) An informal invite contains the address of the sender
along with the details of the event. It includes- venue
and its address, nearby attractions and details of the stay
in this case.
9. Select the appropriate conclusion for the invite.
(a) Looking forward to your arrival
(b) Eagerly waiting for your response
(c) Kindly confirm your presence
(d) I will send you a detailed plan later
Ans. (a)
10. Select the option that appropriately reflects the
body of the letter of invitation.
(a) I will be returning to my farm house after the
examination. I invite you to spend at least a fortnight
with me at my farm house. We shall also visit Pinjore
gardens and Kalka hills. Looking forward to your
arrival.
(b) As soon as the summer vacations starts I will go to my
farmhouse and invite you to spend at least a fortnight
with me there. I have also invited some of our other
friends and they had accepted the invite. We will have
loads of fun in the sylvan surrounding of the Pinjore
gardens and the Kalka hills. Looking forward to your
arrival.
(c) On 12th May, I will go to my farmhouse and invite you
to spend at least a fortnight with me there. I have also
invited some of our other friends. We will have loads of
fun in the sylvan surrounding of the Pinjore gardens
and the Kalka hills. Looking forward to your arrival.
(d) As soon as the summer vacations starts I will go to my
farmhouse and invite you to spend at least a fortnight
with me there. It is a pollution free place with lots of
trees and greenery all around. The sylvan surroundings
will have a refreshing effect on your heart and mind.
We shall also visit Pinjore gardens and Kalka hills.
Looking forward to your arrival.. Looking forward to
your arrival.
Ans. (b)
Directions (Q. Nos. 11-15) You are Anshika Kapoor, 646,
Defence Colony, Delhi. You have received an invitation
from the Secretary, Bharat Vikas Parishad to attend a
function on 15th July, 20XX. Draft a formal reply declining
the invitation for the same.
11. Select the appropriate opening of the reply to the
invite.
(a) I am honoured for the invitation….
(b) With deep regret, I have to inform you about…
(c) Anshika Kapoor thanks the Secretary….
(d) To receive the kind invitation for a seminar is a….
Ans. (c)
12. What would be title of the reply?
(a) Refusal
(b) Inability to attend
(c) Regretful decline
(d) No title
Ans. (d) No title is used in the replies of an invitation letter.
13. Select the option that would be kept in mind while
writing the reply.
(i) Polite tone
(iii) Details of the event
(ii) Reason for refusal
(iv) Kind regards
(a) (i) and (ii)
(c) (ii) and (iv)
(b) (iii) and (iv)
(d) All of these
Ans. (d) The given reply would be formal so it must use a polite
and a courteous tone. It should include all the details of the
event and then the reason for refusal. It should also include
kind regards for the invite.
14. Select the appropriate closing line for the reply.
(a) I am deeply regretful for the same and wish you success.
(b) She conveys her wishes for the success of the program.
(c) Thank you again for the kind invite.
(d) I hope the program goes smoothly and becomes a success.
Ans. (b)
15. Would this reply contain Anshika’s address as given
in the question?
(a) No, it will make it informal
(b) Yes, as sender’s address
(c) No, it is not of importance
(d) Yes, to know the authenticity of the reply
Ans. (a) Formal replies to invitation do not contain the sender’s
address as it will make it informal.
PART 2
Subjective Questions
Informal Invitations
1. You are Rukmini/ Raja of R-201, Fort Road, Chennai.
You have just purchased a new house. You decide to
have a house-warming ceremony and invite your
cousin Balaji. Write the invitation giving all
necessary details.
Ans. R-201, Fort Road, Chennai
23rd July, 20XX
Dear Balaji,
How are you doing! I hope that you and your family
members are hale and hearty. I would like to share a good
news with you. I have purchased a new house in T Nagar
in Chennai. It is a 2 BHK apartment and we are planning
to shift there on Sunday, 23rd July, 20XX.
I would like you to join the house-warming ceremony
along with your family. Please come a day before the
ceremony and take necessary precautions while travelling
due to the ongoing COVID pandemic.
Looking forward to meet you,
Yours affectionately
Rukmini/Raja
64
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
2. Rohit has successfully cleared the NEET admission
I know you won’t be able to go home this Diwali and so I
am inviting you to celebrate it at my house. We will have
loads of fun with sweets and Diwali gifts. Looking
forward to your arrival.
Your affectionately
Sooraj
test. He wants to celebrate his admission to Shivaji
Medical College, Nagpur by throwing a party to his
friends. Write an informal invitation giving details
of the venue, time and date.
Ans. 33/472 Krishna Nagar
Delhi
28th June, 20XX
Dear Rakshit,
It gives me immense pleasure to tell you that I
have secured 80th rank in the NEET exam and got
admission in Shivaji Medical College, Nagpur. I really
want to share this memorable moment and celebrate it
with the company of all my friends. So, I invite you to a
celebratory dinner at the Imly’s at 6:30 pm on 1st July,
20XX.
Please join the celebrations and merry-making.
Your dearly
Rohit
5. Your are Pihoo Sengupta. The wedding of your
sister Aarohi Sengupta is going to be held on 24th
November, 20XX at Hotel Palace, Udaipur. Draft an
informal invitation to your friend Malini requesting
her to attend the functions.
Ans. 4357, Vasant Vihar
Raj Nagar
24th October, 20XX
Dear Malini
You will be pleased to know that the wedding of my
elder sister Aarohi Sengupta is going to be held on 24th
November, 20XX at Hotel Palace, Udaipur. The whole
family will be leaving for the functions on 20th
November and I invite you to join us for the same. It
will be great fun as we will enjoy all the wedding
festivities together.
I do hope you will join us on the ausipicious occasion.
Your affectionately
Pihoo
3. You are Neena/Naveen of 21, Shakti Vihar, Delhi.
You have opened a Departmental Store in Chandni
Chowk. Draft an information invitation to invite
your friend in the inauguration ceremony.
Ans. 21, Shakti Vihar Delhi
27th November, 20XX
Deal Varun
With the grace of God and your blessings I am opening
my first ever business venture, a departmental store, by
the name of ESSENTIAL GROCERY. I would like to
invite
you to the inauguration of my store in Chandni Chowk on
5th December, 20XX at 9 : 00 am.
Please come in time to join the ceremony and shower
your blessings on us.
Yous sincerely
Neena/Naveen
4. You are Sooraj Dwivedi. Your Manav from Mumbai
is staying in a paying guest accomodation. Invite
him to join Diwali celebrations with you at your
residence.
Ans. 417/2, Block B-1, Janakpuri
New Delhi-110058
11th November, 20XX
Dear Manav,
I am so excited for the upcoming festival of lights Diwali.
I know that you are excited too. So, lets double up our
excitement and celebrate diwali together.
Formal Invitations
6. You are Faiz/Falak Mazumdar living at 39, Udampur
Colony, Shimla. You decide to hold a dinner party
to congratulate your grandparents on their golden
wedding anniversary. Draft a formal invitation to all
family members to attend a grand dinner at home.
[CBSE 2018]
Ans.
The children of Mazumdar Family
Solicit your presence
on the auspicious occasion of the
50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration
of their
Loving Grandparents
on
Sunday, 08th of May, 20XX.
at our residence 39, Udampur Colony, Shimla
from 7 pm onwards followed by dinner.
Please accept the cordial invitation and oblige.
R.S.V.P.
Faiz/Falak Mazumdar
Phone : 0123456789
65
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
7. You are Dhruv/Deepa. Your father, Shri Dheeraj
Garg of Gurugram wants you to draft an invitation
to be sent to friends and relatives on the occasion of
your elder sister’s marriage. Prepare the invitation
giving necessary details.
[CBSE 2019]
Ans.
Mrs & Mr Dheeraj Garg
request the pleasure of your
company on the auspicious occasion of the
wedding of their daughter
Naina With Vikram
(S/o Mrs & Mr Deepak Mehta, Jammu)
On
Monday, 15th October, 20XX
at 7 : 00 pm at
Dream Resort
Sector 10, Chandigarh–160010
RSVP
Dheeraj Garg
With best compliments from
Dhruv Garg and All Relatives
5135/3, Modern Housing
Complex Gurugram
Phone 98210XXXXX
8. As the President of the Spastic Society of India, invite
all its members on 10th March, 20XX, to a dance
programme by ‘Hema Ratna’ at 6:30 PM at Siri Fort
Auditorium. Famous film personality Mrs Madhuri
Mani has consented to be the Chief Guest.
Ans.
The President Staff and Members of
Disha
on Monday, 10th March, 20XX
at Siri Fort Auditorium
from
6:30 PM onwards
The Spastic Society of India,
cordially seek the pleasure of your
inspiring presence at the
Dance Programme
Famous film personality
Mrs Madhuri Mani has very
kindly consented to be the
Chief Guest
Ans. Loktak High School, Manipur
15th November, 20XX
Ms MC Mary Kom
Manipur
Subject Invitation as the Chief Guest for the School’s
Annual Day
Respected Madam,
We shall be honoured if you could spare some time from
your busy schedule to be the Chief Guest at our school’s
Annual Day to be held on 30th November, 20XX from
2 : 00 PM onwards in the school’s auditorium.
Kindly confirm your acceptance by 23rd November and
oblige.
Yours respectfully
Nainai Kom
Head Girl
10. You are Shahneela/Sameer Malik living at No. 4,
Zakir Bagh, Meerut. You and your friends decide to
host a dinner to honour the teachers who have
taught you in Class XII. Draft a formal invitation to
all your teachers to a grand dinner at your
residence.
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. No. 4, Zakir Bagh, Meerut
5th November, 20XX
Class XII teachers
XYZ school,
Meerut
Subject Honorary dinner
Respected teachers
You are all cordially invited by the students of class 12th
to the dinner party as a token of gratitude and honour for
the great sacrifice you all have done to bring us to this
position. We request you to kindly grace the evening of
14th November with your presence at No 4, Zakir Bagh,
Meerut at 6:00 pm. Your presence shall eagerly awaited.
Sameer Malik
XII
RSVP Admin Officer
by
Hema Ratna
in the aid of spastic children
9. You are Nainai/Nachaobi Kom,
Phone : 011-233743XX
Tickets available online
and at the venue.
www.dishatheevent.com
Head-boy/Head-girl of Loktak High School,
Manipur. Your school wishes to honour an old
student of your school, the famous boxer Mary Kom
for all her numerous achievement by inviting her to
the school Annual Day as the Chief Guest. Write a
formal invite to be sent to Mary Kom requesting her
presence on the occasion.
[CBSE 2019]
11. On 30th November your school is going to hold its
annual sports day. You want Mr. Dhanraj Pillai, a
noted hockey player to give away the prizes to the
budding sportspersons of the school. Write a formal
invitation requesting him to grace the occasion. You
are Karuna/Karan, Sports Secretary, Sunrise Global
School, Agra.
[CBSE 2016]
Ans. Sunrise Global School, Agra
2nd November, 20XX
Mr Dhanraj Pillai
XYZ Colony, Mumbai
Subject Invitation for Annual Sports Day
66
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Respected Sir,
It is a matter of great pride for us that our school is
celebrating its 25th Annual Sports Day function
on 25th November, 20XX from 10 am at the school
ground. We shall consider it a great honour if you could
grace the occasion to preside over the function as the
Chief Guest and give away the prizes.
We solicit a line in reply or an e-mail at
sunriseglobalagra@gmail.com.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely
Karan
(Sports Secretary)
Informal Replies
12. Your old friend, Suresh Upreti has invited you to join
him on his 10th marriage anniversary. Unfortunately,
you are not able to attend the function. Write a
message expressing your inability to be present on
the occasion. You are Gitika/Ganesh, 10, Pandit
Nagar, Nashik.
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. 5, Vasundra Colony
16th May, 20XX
Dear Suresh
It was a great pleasure to receive the invitation to
attend your 10th wedding anniversary celebration on
23rd May. I would have loved to attend it, but
regretfully I shall not be able to join on you on the
auspicious occasion because of an unavoidable situation
related to my daughter’s academics. I send you my
warmest regards and many more happy years of a
successful marriage.
Yours sincerely
Gitika Suman,
10, Pandit Nagar,
Nashik
13. You are Rahul Gupta and you have been invited to
the post selection party of your friend Anuj. Write
an informal reply regretting your inability to attend
the same.
Ans. 7-C Yojna Vihar, Delhi
10th May, 20XX
Dear Anuj
Many thanks for inviting me to attend your post selection
party, but I am sorry to say that I shall not be able to
attend the same as I shall be out of station next week.
I wish you all the best for the future.
God Bless You
Yours truly
Rahul Gupta
14. Your friend, Manish Tripathi has invited you to
attend his wedding anniversary. You cannot attend
it as you have a family get-together on the same day.
Write a polite letter, expressing your inability to
attend the function and wish him all the happiness
on this joyous occasion. You are Mita/ Mahendra
Juneja of 5, Vasundra Colony, Patna.
Ans. XYZ Colony
Patna – 800009
07th June, 20XX
Dear Manish
It was a great pleasure to receive the invitation to attend
your wedding anniversary on 15th June. I would have
loved to attend it, but I have a family get-together on the
same day in which many relatives are coming from
outside Patna. Thus, I will not be able to attend the
wedding. Please convey my best wishes to Anuja Bhabhi
for the anniversary.
Yours sincerely
Mahendra Juneja
15. You are Aakriti/Aman. You have been invited to
attend the wedding of your friend’s sister during
summer vacation. Respond to the invitation,
regretting your inability to attend it.
Ans. 205, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
4th March, 20XX
Dear Neha,
Thank you for your cordial invitation on the occasion of
you sister’s wedding. I, however, regret my inability to be
with you on the happy occasion as my family will be
leaving for Shimla for summer holidays on 12th May,
20XX. Please excuse my absence and convey my best
wishes to the couple.
Your sincerely
Aakriti
Formal Replies
16. You are Dr Stanzin, a certified art Therapist from
Leh. You have been invited by G D Public School,
Jammu, to conduct a seminar for students on ‘Art
Therapy the Way Forward’. This seminar is to
introduce students the usefulness of art in dealing
with personal and social problems. Write your
reply, accepting the invitation.
Ans. The Principal
GD Public School
Jammu
3rd September, 20XX
Subject Invitation for Art Therapy Seminar
67
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Sir/Ma’am
This is with reference to your invitation to conduct a
seminar on the topic ‘Art Therapy the Way Forward’ for
your school students. I appreciate your initiatives for
conducting the seminar as it will help the students in the
long run. I also thank you for the invitation and want to
know the date, time and duration of the seminar to
confirm my availability.
Looking forward to your correspondence.
Thanking you
Your sincerely
Dr Stanzin
17. You have received an invitation to preside over the
annual function of Goodwill Public School, Noida.
But due to some urgent prior engagement, you have to
decline the invitation. Send a formal letter of reply.
You are M. Mohan, Secretary, M.D.B. International
School, Delhi.
Ans. Goodwill Public School, Noida
12th December, 20XX
Subject Inability to accept the invitation
Sir,
Thank you very much for inviting me to attend the
annual function of your school on 25th December,
20XX. I feel honoured and obliged.
However, I shall not be able to accept your invitation
due to some previous commitments which keep me
confined to my place on that day. Thanking you once
again for your kind invitation.
Thank you
M. Mohan
Secretary
M.D.B International School, Delhi
18. You are a social activist. You want to voice your
opinion and take part in the discussion concerned
about wrong tobacco habbits initiated by the
Manager of limited smokeless Tabacco Association.
Make a reply to the confirming your presence for
the meeting.
Ans. Acceptance (Informal)
102, Gali No 23, Dariba
Delhi–110006
5th June, 20XX
Dear Shri Malhotra,
I feel proud that the tobacco association is promoting a
virtual tirade against the tobacco trade. Toxic substances
and obnoxious gases that create pollution and toxicity
should not continue any more. I shall feel delighted to
attend the meeting.
Thank you for the invitation and best wishes.
Ajit Bansal
19. You are Pankaj Gupta and have received an
invitation card from Sh AK Sinha, Principal of
St Xavier’s School, Dehradun to attend the school’s
annual function. Draft a formal reply of acceptance
in 50 words.
Ans. Mr Pankaj Gupta thanks Mr AK Sinha, Principal, St
Xavier’s School, Dehradun for his kind invitation to the
annual function to be held on 1st March, 20XX in the
school ground. He is pleased to accept the invitation and
will attend the same.
20. Draft a formal reply accepting an invitation to be
present on the occasion of the wedding to Ankush
S/o Mr. and Mrs. Shankar of 24, Green Park Road,
Kanpur. Your are Vikram Gaur, Raja Marg, Agra.
Ans. Mr. and Mrs. Vikram Gaur thank Mr. and Mrs. Shankar
for inviting them on the occasion of the wedding of their
son at 24, Green Park Road, Kanpur on 24 June, 20XX
and assure them that they will be present on the occasion
to wish the couple a happy married life. The details of
their arrivals will be shared with them soon.
Vikaram Gaur
5th June, 20XX
68
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Long W riting Tas ks
CHAPTER 02
Letter Writing
(Job Application)
In this Chapter...
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Letter of Job Application
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Chapter Practice
Letter writing is one of the most effective ways of
communication. Today, although telephone, fax and e-mail
have replaced personal (informal) letters, formal letters are
still in vogue. Commerce, trade, official correspondence,
public representation, complaints and other dealings,
transactions and communication with people are still
conducted through formal letters. Therefore, one must
cultivate the art and skill of letter writing.
Main Elements of a Letter
Sender’s Address
According to the latest format, sender’s address is written at
the top along with pin code. Do not write sender’s name with
the address.
e.g. K-127, Ashok Nagar
New Delhi-110092
or
House no 373, Sector 14
Gurgaon-122001
While writing the address, one must not use ‘comma’ at the
end of each line. If the address is not provided in the
question, then you may create a fictitious address, but writing
a sender’s address is mandatory.
Date
It appears directly below the sender’s address, after leaving
one line space. It is advisable to always write the full date.
e.g. 25th December, 20XX
Receiver’s Address
It appears directly below the date and comprises the
receiver’s name, designation and the complete address.
e.g. Mr Rohit Saluja
Marketing Manager
Taneja Enterprises
47/ 1567, Daryaganj
Delhi - 110002
If the name is not given, then you can directly address the
person by his/her designation.
Subject
Subject is generally used in a formal letter. It is written after
the receiver’s address in a short and to the point manner.
e.g. Subject Application for the post of Content Writer
Salutation
This consists of words of greeting and is written on the left
hand side of the page after the subject. The form of greeting
depends upon your relation to the person to whom the letter
is being written.
e.g. To unknown persons ® Sir/Madam/Respected
Sir/Respected Madam
To acquaintances ® Dear Mr Sharma
The Body
The body is the main part of any letter. This is written in
response to the topic given in a simple and direct language.
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
69
The body includes three main parts
1. Introductory paragraph/sentence ® States the purpose of writing
2. Informative paragraphs ® Details about the subject of the letter
3. Concluding paragraph/sentence ® The closure of the letter/conclusion stating hope, request or comment.
Complimentary Close
It is a courteous way of ending the letter. The expression used must match the salutation. e.g.
Thanking You
Yours sincerely/Yours truly/Yours faithfully for Principal, boss or for any other official person.
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Name
It is written just below the ‘complimentary close’ and includes the sender’s name and designation (if applicable).
e.g. Ankita Chakravarti
Editor
Types of Letter
Letters are categorised into two types
(a) Formal letters (Official letters, Business letters etc)
(b) Informal letters (Personal letters to friends, Relatives etc)
Formal Letters
These letters have set patterns and are generally written to officials regarding serious issues. They are written in a crisp and
clear pattern in a matter-of-fact style. The language should be kept simple without including any unnecessary expressions.
Different Kinds of Formal Letters
A. Business Letters
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Making enquiries/asking for information
Replying to enquiries/giving information
Placing orders and sending replies
Cancelling orders
Registering complaints
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B. Official Letters
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Registering complaints
Making request/appeal
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Making enquiries
C. Letters to the Editor
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Giving suggestions on an issue of public interest
Expressing views on an issue already raised in an article/write up/in a published letter.
D. Letters of Job Application
Application for a job (includes resume)
Note In class XII term II Exam, questions on only letters of Job Application will be asked.
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LETTERS OF JOB APLICATION
These are letters that are written to apply for a job or a service. It is the primary means of introducing the applicant or the job
seeker to the employer. Therefore, it acts as a personal advertisement with an appeal for a job with a letter and a bio-data. A
job application thus contains.
(i) A covering letter
(ii) A Bio-data/Curriculum Vitae
The Curriculum Vitae or Bio-data refers to a person’s life and his/her achievement. It has a very specific format.
70
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Format with an Example
Read the following advertisement.
young Sales Assistant on part-time
Wanted ! Suitable
basis to market garments for a leading fashion designer
A p p ly t o M a n a g e r ,
New Creations, 147 Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi-110024
Write an application in response to this advertisement.
23, Kunwar Kunj
Balark Road,
Deoria-274006
Sender’s address
4th March, 20XX
Date
The Manager
New Creations
New Delhi-110024
Subject
Receiver’s name/rank
and his/her address
Application for the Post of Sales Assistant
Subject of the letter
Sir/Ma’am
With reference to your advertisement for the post of Sales Assistant on part-time basis in the ‘Times
of India,’ dated 27th February, 20XX, I wish to apply for the same. I am a young marketing enthusiast
with a keen interest in fashion and lifestyle. I have completed my diploma pursuing my interest in
fashion and have utilised my knowledge to market garments at Gopal Readymade Garment House.
My experience and knowledge makes me an appropriate candidate for the position. I have attached
by bio data along with the application for further correspondence. Hoping for a positive reply.
Thanking you
X Y Z
Enclosure : Bio-data
Salutation
Body of the letter
Complimentary Closure
BIO-DATA
Name
Father Name
Address
Date of Birth
Nationality
Contact No.
Email id
Educational Qualifications
XYZ
PQR
ABC Colony, Deoria
16th May, 1998
Indian
98XXXXXXXX
xyz123@gmail.com
Exam
College/Board/University
Year of Passing
Percentage
Diploma in Stitching and Tailoring
YWCA
2020
63%
BA
Delhi University
2019
72%
12th
CBSE
2017
92%
10th
CBSE
2015
91%
Work Experience
Language Known
Hobbies
References
Working for last 3 years in ‘Gopal Readymade Garment House’ as sales woman.
English, Hindi
Embroidery, stitching
(i) KP Sing, Manager, PNB Deoria
(ii) SP Gupta, General Manager Sales, Gopal Readymade Garment House, Deoria
71
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Chapter
Practice
PART 1
Objective Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
Directions (Q. Nos. 1-7) You are Anand/Arti of 14, Model
Town, Delhi. You have seen an advertisement in The Hindu
for the post of Chief Chef in a 5-Star Hotel. You have to
write a Job application with complete biodata.
1. Select the correct subject line for the given letter.
(a) Candidature for an opening
(b) Application for the post of Chief Chef
(c) Chief-Chef application
(d) Post of Chief-Chef
Ans. (b) The appropriate subject line for all job application is
‘application for the post of Chief Chef ’.
2. While elaborating your qualifications in the cover
letter, which of the following should you mention?
5. Select the appropriate opening to the cover letter.
(a) Through the medium of this letter…
(b) With reference to advertisement in XYZ newspaper
dated…..
(c) This is to inform you that I wish to apply….
(d) You had advertised a post in XYZ….
Ans. (b)
6. Select the option that would not become a part of
the curriculum vitae.
(a) Age
(b) Languages known
(c) Skills
(d) Hobbies
Ans. (a) It is no necessary to mention age in a curriculum vitae
as we already mention the Date of birth in it.
7. To make sure that you have mentioned everything
in the biodata, you have created a checklist. Which
of the option represents the most appropriate
checklist?
(a) Work experience
(b) Subject knowledge
(c) Any special achievement (d) All of these
Ans. (d) While elaborating your cover letter, you can elaborate
upon your work experience, your expertise at subject and
an unique achievement that makes you skill proficient.
3. Select the appropriate ending of the letter.
(a) Enclosure: Bio Data
(b) Complementary close with contact information
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) References
Ans. (a) The covering letter of the job application ends with a
reference to the enclosed bio-data.
4. Which of the following will be an appropriate
ending to the body of the cover letter of the Job
application?
(a) Hope you find my qualifications satisfactory
(b) Kindly revert back at the earliest.
(c) Hoping for a positive response.
(d) I am able to travel, I necessary.
Ans. (c)
Option 1
Name
Date of birth
Age
Contact number
Educational qualification
Blood group
Work experience
Option 3
Contact number
Address
Email id
Work experience
References
Signature
(a) Option 1
(c) Option 3
Ans. (b)
Option 2
Name
Date of birth
Contact number
Address
Educational qualification
Work experience
Reference
Option 4
Contact number
Educational qualification
Work experience
Languages known
Family Background
Signature
(b) Option 2
(d) Option 4
72
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Directions (Q. Nos. 8-14) Navjot Kapoor of Delhi saw an
advertisement of The Hindu for the post of a Human
Resource Manager in a reputed firm. He has to write an
application to the area manager of Gayatri Consultants, 2,
Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, applying for the post with a
complete bio-data.
8. Select the correct way in which Navjot will write
the receiver’s address.
(a) The Area Manager
Gayatri Consultants,
2, Barakhamba Road
New Delhi
(c) To Area Manager
Gayatri Consultants,
Barakhamba Road
(b) To,
The Area Manager
2, Barakhamba Road
New Delhi
(d) To
Respected Area Manager
Gayatri Consultants,
New Delhi
Ans. (a)
9. Which of the following should Navjot not include in
his Biodata?
(a) Working experience
(b) Knowledge of accounting apps
(c) Score in the CA exam
(d) Any pursuing degree
Ans. (c) The score of the CA exam is of no consequence in the
bio-data and the job application in general.
12. Read the given closure to Navjot’s cover letter and
select the correct option to complete it.
I am available for the interview on any day of your
convenience. If ………… that I shall work with
utmost sincerity and dedication up to your
satisfaction.
(a) Given the opportunity and resources, I know
(b) Given the chance, I am confident
(c) Given a chance to serve you, I assure you
(d) Given the opportunity, I can ensure
Ans. (c)
13. Select the option that would essentially come in the
Curriculum Vitae.
(a) References
(b) Marital status
(c) Computer knowledge
(d) Age
Ans. (a) It is essential to mention the references as it increases
the chances of getting hired.
14. Which of the following depicts the correct way of
mentioning the educational qualifications?
Option 1
Educational qualifications
Exam
10. Which option would help Navjot in organising his
cover letter appropriately?
(a) Reference to advertisement- application of candidaturehoping for early response
(b) Reference to advertisement- candidature- why you are
suitable- hoping for an early response
(c) Reference to advertisement- why you are suitablehoping for a positive reply
(d) Reference to advertisement- candidature- hoping for a
positive reply
11. While elaborating on the skills related to the post,
which skill Navjot should not mention?
(a) Organisation
(b) Communication
(c) Punctuality
(d) None of the above
Ans. (d)
Year of
passing
Percentage
MA
BA
Option 2
Educational qualifications
Exam
Ans. (b) A Job application’s cover letter must start with a
reference to the newspaper where the posting was seen
followed by candidature. After placing the candidature,
one must talk about why one is a suitable candidate and
then end the letter with a hope for an early or positive
reply.
Board/
University
Board/University
Year of passing
BA
MA
Option 3
Educational qualifications
1. BA
2. MA
(a) Option 1
(b) Option 2
(c) Option 3
(d) Option 4
Ans. (a)
Option 4
Educational qualifications
(i) MA
(ii) BA
73
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
PART 2
Subjective Questions
Language Skills Fluency in English, Hindi, Punjabi and
French
References Mr Sudhanshu Kelkar, Manager at ABC firm.
1. Pradeep Kumar of 25, Mount Road, Chennai has
seen an advertisement for the job of Computer
Engineer in a reputed Computer firm Galaxy
Infotech, 112 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi and
decides to apply for it. As Pradeep Kumar apply for
the job giving all relevant information including
your bio-data.
[CBSE 2015]
Ans. 25, Mount Road
Chennai
2th December, 20XX
The HR Manager
Galaxy Infotech
112 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi
Subject Application for the Post of Computer Engineer
Sir,/Ma’am
In response to your advertisement in ‘The Hindu’ dated
30th November, 20XX, I wish to apply for the post of a
Computer Engineer in your firm.
I have done Masters in Computer Science from the
Chennai University. I have also done an internship from
the esteemed organisation where I polished my skills as a
software developer. I worked as a software developer in
the XYZ Company for 6 months and am now currently
working as a computer engineer. Being experienced I
think I’m the best fit for this position.
As regards my qualifications and experience, I am
enclosing my bio-data to enable you to make an
assessment of my suitability for the given post. In case my
application is considered, I will be available for the
interview at any time suitable to you.
If selected, I assure you that I shall work with utmost
dedication and sincerity to your full satisfaction.
Thank you
Yours faithfully
Pradeep Kumar
Enclosed: Bio-data
BIO-DATA
Name
Pradeep Kumar
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
3rd September, 1985
Father’s Name
Mr. Sumit Kumar
Postal Address
25, Mount Road, Chennai
Contact No.
98XXXXXXXX
Educational Qualification :
1.
Name of
Course
M.C.A.
ABC University
Year of
Passing
2010
2.
M.Com
ABC University
2008
S.No.
University
Percentage
79%
65%
2. You are Ketan Panday of 63, Civil Lines, Delhi. You
saw an advertisement in The Hindu for the post of
accountant in a reputed firm. Write an application
to the area manager of Gayatri Consultants, 2,
Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, giving your detailed
biodata.
[CBSE 2015]
Ans. 63, Civil Lines
Delhi
5th March, 20XX
The Area Manager
Gayatri Consultants
2, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi
Subject Application for the Post of Accountant
Sir/Ma’am
In response to your advertisement in ‘The Hindu’ dated
4th March, 20XX, I wish to apply for the post of
accountant in your reputed firm. I have a total of thirteen
years’ experience in the said field. Currently, I am
working as an assistant accountant with XYZ
Corporations. As regards my qualifications and
experience, I am enclosing my bio-data to enable you to
make an assessment of my suitability for the given post.
In case my application is considered, I will be available
for the interview at any time suitable to you.
If selected, I assure you that I shall work with utmost
dedication and sincerity to your full satisfaction.
Thank you
Yours faithfully
Ketan Pandey
Enclosed: Bio-data
BIO-DATA
Name
Ketan Pandey
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
2nd December, 1982
Father’s Name
Mr. Kamal Pandey
Postal Address
63, Civil Lines, Delhi-42
Contact No.
98XXXXXXXX
Educational Qualification :
1.
Name of
University
Course
M.B.A.
ABC University
2.
M.Com
ABC University
2005
65%
3.
B.Com
Delhi University
2003
67%
S.No.
Year of
Passing
2007
Percentage
79%
Language Skills Fluency in English, Hindi and German
Hobbies Reading and music
References Mr. Suresh Holkar, Sr. Accounts Manager,
XYZ Corporation
Mr. Prabhas Rao, General
Manager, XYZ Corporation
74
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
3. Write an application (including a resume) for the
post of receptionist advertised in a national
newspaper by JKL Publishers, Peshwa Road, Pune.
You are Karuna, M114, Mall Road, Pune, a graduate
from SNDT University and have done a Secretarial
[CBSE 2016]
Practice Course from YWCA, Mumbai.
Ams. M 114, Mall Road
Pune
17th March, 20XX
JKL Publishers
Peshwa Road
Pune
Subject Application for the post of Receptionist
Sir/Ma’am
This is in response to your advertisement published in
‘The National Daily’ dated 15th March, 20XX for the post
of receptionist in your publishing house. I wish to apply
for the same.
I have a total of three experience in the said field.
Currently, I am working as an receptionist with XYZ
Corporations. As regards my qualifications and
experience, I am enclosing my bio-data to enable you to
make an assessment of my suitability for the given post.
In case my application is considered, I will be available
for the interview at any time suitable to you.
If selected, I assure you that I shall work with utmost
dedication and sincerity to your full satisfaction.
Thanking You
Yours sincerely
Karuna
Enclosed: Resume for your reference.
BIO-DATA
Name
Karuna Chauhan
Gender
Female
Date of Birth
11th October, 19XX
Father’s Name
Mr. Om Chauhan
Postal Address
M 114, Mall Road Pune
Contact No.
98XXXXXXXX
Educational Qualification :
S.No.
Name of
Course
University
Year of
Percentage
Passing
1.
Secretarial
Practice
YWCA
2005
65%
2.
B.A. Program
SNDT University
2003
67%
Language Skills Fluency in English, Hindi and French
Hobbies Reading and music
References
Mr. Anil Thackerey, Marketing head, XYZ Corporation
Mr. Prabhas Rao, HRM, PQR agencies
4. You are Ram/Rajani, living at 1, Rana Pratap Marg,
New Delhi. Read the advertisement given below
and apply for the job that suits you giving your
biodata separately.
[CBSE 2017]
Sun University
Requires Lecturers in English and Demonstrators
in Physics, Chemistry and Botany for their new
Campus at Panipat. Candidates with a minimum
of 5 year experience alone can apply. Excellent
command of English is a must. Excellent package
and compensation for experienced persons. Those
interested may e-mail to
sununiversityjobs@gmail.com or mail their
response to : Box no 123. ‘The Harbinger’,
New Delhi.
Ans. 1, Rana Pratap Marg
New Delhi
10th April, 20XX
Box no. 123,
The Harbinger
New Delhi
Subject Application for the Post of Lecturer in English
Sir/Ma’am
This refers to your advertisement published in ‘The
Harbinger’, dated 8th April, 20XX for the post mentioned
above. I wish to apply for the same. My detailed resume
is enclosed herewith for your kind consideration. As
required by you, I have excellent command over English,
both in speaking and writing.
This has been developed as I have been teaching English
to the senior-most classes in the Senior Secondary school
in which I am employed for the last 7 years. I assure you
of my devotion to the work while working as a teacher in
your reputed university.
I shall be available for interview at any time convenient
to you. However, a notice of two days will be highly
appreciated.
Yours sincerely
Rajani
Enclosed: Resume
RESUME
Name
Rajani Srivastava
Father’s Name
Shri AK Srivastava
Date of Birth
20th October, 1983
Address
Rana Pratap Marg, New
Delhi-110001
Mobile
98562XXXXX
E-Mail
rajani198@ gmail.com
75
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Educational Qualifications
S.No. Name of Course Board/University
Year of
Percentage
Passing
1.
B.Ed
University of Delhi
2007
72%
2.
MA (English)
University of Delhi
2005
58%
3.
BA (Honours)
University of Delhi
2003
62%
4.
Senior
Secondary
Examination
CBSE
2000
72%
5.
High School
CBSE
1998
75%
Work Experience I have been teaching in Surjit Singh
Public School since July 2007 as TGT (English).
Marital Status Unmarried
Languages Known Hindi, English, Punjabi
References
(i) Dr GS Sidhu (94326XXXXX), HOD English,
University of Delhi,
(ii) Shri RM Singh (94483XXXXX), Financial Advisor,
GRASIM (India)
5. You are Ashish/Nimmi Dhar, B-94 Fort Road,
Jammu. You have read the advertisement given
below. You are qualified for the job. Write an
application along with a resume.
[CBSE 2017]
India Chemical Industries, Delhi
Requires Accounts Officers
Qualification
: B.Com
Experience
: Minimum 4 years
Job requirement : Maintaining books of
accounts, preparation of
Balance Sheet etc.
Salary
: Best in the industry
Apply to
: Managing Director, ICI,
B-12 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi
Ans. B-94 Fort Road
Jammu
20th March, 20XX
The Managing Director
Indian Chemical Industries
B-12 Barakhamba Road
New Delhi
Subject Application for the Post of Accounts Officer
Sir/Ma’am
In response to your advertisement in ‘The Indian
Express’ dated 19th March, 20XX, requiring Accounts
Officers, I wish to be considered for this post. I have
completed my B. Com (Honours) with a First Class from
University of Delhi. In addition, I possess a Diploma in
Tele Accounting from NIIT, Delhi.
I have work experience of 5 years in maintenance of
books of accounts, preparation of trial balance and
preparation of Balance Sheet in a commercial
organisation. I also have hands-on working experience in
the line and am well versed in Accounts procedures.
I feel my qualifications and experience are suitable for
the posts advertised by you.
I am enclosing my resume and attested copies of my
certificates. I hope to receive a positive response from
your side.
Yours faithfully
Ashish
Enclosed : Resume, testimonials, attested copies of
certificates.
RESUME
Name
Ashish Dhar
Father’s Name
Ram Saran Dhar
Address
B-94 Fort Road, Jammu
Contact Mob. No.
98589XXXXX
E-mail
ashish22@yahoo.com
Date of Birth
22nd March, 1990
Educational Qualifications
Name of Exam
College/Board/
University
Year
Percentage
Diploma in Tele NIIT, Delhi
Accounting
2011
–
B.Com. Honours ARSD college, Delhi
University
2010
78%
Work Experience Working as Account Officer in
CPA Global Company, Noida
Expressway Since 2012
April till date
Languages Known Hindi, English
References
1. Mr BS Negi Asstt. Manager CPA Global, Noida
2. Dr Piyush Goyal 190, MGB House Kailash Hills,
New Delhi
6. Bal Vidya Public School, Bhilai, urgently requires a
post-graduate teacher to teach political science for
which they have placed an advertisement in The
Bhilai Express. You are Sanjay/Sanjana Sharma
from 21, Vasant Marg, Bhilai. Draft a letter
including a CV, applying for the advertised post.
[CBSE 2018]
Ans. 21, Vasant Marg
Bhilai
3rd March, 20XX
The Principal
76
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Bal Vidya Public School
Bhilai
Subject Application for the post of a Post-Graduate
teacher of Political Science
Sir/Ma’am
In response to your advertisement in ‘The Bhilai Express’
dated 1st March, 20XX, I offer myself as a candidate for
the post of Post-Graduate teacher of Political Science in
your renowned school.
I have finished my B.Ed from Govt. College of
Education, Bhilai. I have 3 years of teaching experience
in a reputed school.
I will be highly obliged if you kindly consider me for the
said post. I am enclosing my resume for your kind
persual. I look forward to attending an interview at your
earliest convenience.
Yours faithfully
Sanjay Sharma
Enclosures : CV
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name
Sanjay Sharma
Father’s Name
Ashutosh Sharma
Address
21, Vasant Marg, Bhilai-100421
Date of birth
16th June, 1991
Nationality
Indian
Marital status
Single
Educational Qualifications
Year
Percentage
B.Ed. Govt. College of Education,
Bhilai
2014
87%
M.A.
Govt. College, Bhilai
2013
84%
B.A.
Govt. College, Bhilai
2011
73%
12th
CBSE
2008
82%
10th
CBSE
2006
85%
Exam
College/Board/University
Work Experience
Presently working as a Post
Graduate Teacher in Political
Science in Maharshi Vidya
Mandir since April, 2015
English, Hindi
Computer proficiency, MS office
Languages known
Other skills
References
(i) Dr Santosh Saini, Vice Principal, Maharshi Vidya
Mandir
(ii) Pramila Saxena, PGT, Economics, Maharshi Vidya
Mandir
7. Blue Waters Public School, Port Blair, urgently
requires a Physical Education Teacher to teach the
senior classes. The instructor should also be able to
teach swimming. The school places an advertisement
in ‘The National Express’. You are Bharat/Madhu
Sharma, from 21, First Cross Street, Chennai. Draft a
letter along with your biodata for the advertised post.
[CBSE 2019]
21, First Cross Street,
Chennai
25th December, 20XX
The Principal,
Blue Waters Public School,
Port Blair,
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Subject Applying for the post of a Physical Education
Teacher
Ma’am/Sir,
This is with reference to the advertisement in ‘The
National Express’ dated 25th August, 20XX, I, Madhu
Sharma, would like to express my interest for the post
of a Physical Education Teacher at your esteemed
school.
I have been working as a physical instructor for children
for the past 3 years in a government school at Chennai. If
given a chance, I can prove my ability in your services
and help in arousing in the senior students as well a love
for physical activity and sports.
I am appending my biodata herewith for your kind
persual. I shall be awaiting a positive response from your
side soon.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Madhu Sharma
BIO DATA
Name
Madhu Sharma
Father’s Name
Krishna Sharma
Address
21, First Cross Street, Chennai
Phone
98XXXXXXXX
Date of Birth
28th September, 1989
Marital Status
Unmarried
Hobbies
Music, Reading, Photography,
swimming
Educational Qualification
Name of the Institute
Percentage
M.P.ed
Name of the Exam
Maharishi Agrasen College
76%
B.P.ed
Delhi University
65%
77
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Experience Working as swimming coach in St. Andrews
school since 2017
Language known English, Hindi and Gujarati
References Malvika Ray, Head of Department,
St. Andrews school
Jyoti Sahe, Head of Department,
Dyal Singh College, D.U.
8. You are Arun Bhasin of C/5, Patel Nagar, New
Delhi. You have seen an advertisement in a
newspaper for the post of accountant in Fine Prints
Pvt. Ltd., Sector 18, Noida. Write an application
(including your bio-data) for the above post.
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. C/5, Patel Nagar, New Delhi
20th March, 20XX
Fine Prints Pvt. Ltd.
Sector-18, Noida
Subject Application for the Post of Accountant
Sir/Ma’am
In response to your advertisement in ‘The Indian
Express’ dated 19th March, 20XX, requiring Accounts
Officers, I wish to be considered for this post. I have
completed my B. Com (Honours) with a First Class from
University of Delhi. In addition, I have completed my
Chartered Accountant professional course.
I have a work experience of 7 years in maintenance of
books of accounts, preparation of trial balance and
preparation of Balance Sheet in a commercial
organisation. I also have hands-on working experience in
the line and am well versed in accounts procedures.
I feel my qualifications and experience are suitable for
the posts advertised by you. I am enclosing my resume
and attested copies of my certificates. I hope to receive a
positive response from your side.
Yours faithfully
Arun Bhasin
Enclosed Resume, testimonials, attested copies of certificates
BIO-DATA
Name
Arun Bhasin
Father’s Name
Milind Bhasin
Address
C/5, Patel Nagar, New Delhi
Contact No.
98589XXXXX
E-mail
arun87@yahoo.com
Date of Birth
22nd March, 1990
Educational Qualifications
S.No. Name of the Exam
1.
2.
C.A.
B.Com
Institute
ICAI
Delhi University
Percentage
Cleared
76%
Work Experience Working as Accountant in CPA Global
Company, NOIDA Expressway since April, 2012 till date
Languages Known Hindi, English
References
(i) Mr BS Negi (Mobile No. 98765XXXXX) Asstt.
Manager, CPA Global, NOIDA
(ii) Dr Piyush Goyal (Mobile No. 88047XXXXX) 190,
MGB House, Kailash Hills, New Delhi
9. The Gandhi Foundation is recruiting graduates for
an intensive leadership-training programme during
the summer, in villages across India. You are
Anjana/Benji from 21, Ratnapur Village, Bilaspur.
You are very excited to see the advertisement and
decide to apply for the same. Draft a letter applying
for the advertised programme. Include a biodata
showing how suitable you are for the training.
Ans. 21, Ratnapur Village,
[CBSE 2019]
Bilaspur
14th March, 20XX
The Gandhi Foundation
Bilaspur
Subject Application for Intensive Leadership training
Programme
Sir/Ma’am
This refers to your advertisement published in ‘The
Times of India’ dated 12th March, 20XX for the Intensive
Leadership Training Programme to be conducted by you
from 10th April, 20XX onwards. I wish to apply for the
same. My detailed resume indicating my suitability is
enclosed herewith for your kind consideration.
As required by you, I have excellent command over
English, both in speaking and in writing. I also meet your
requirements of qualifications, age limit and other
requirements given in your advertisement.
I wish to thank you in anticipation of an early response to
my application.
Yours sincerely
Anjana Sah
Enclosed: Resume
RESUME
Name
Anjana Sah
Father’s Name
Shri AK Sah
Date of Birth
20th October, 19XX
Address
21, Ratnapur Village, Bilaspur
Mobile
98562XXXXX
E-mail
anjana198@ gmail.com
Educational Qualifications
Year
Percentage
High School
Name of Exam
CBSE
Board/University
2012
75%
SSCE
CBSE
2014
72%
BA (Honours)
English University
of Delhi
2017
62%
Work Experience I have been teaching in Surjit Singh
Public School, Bilaspur since July, 2017
as TGT (English).
78
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Marital Status
Unmarried
Languages Known Hindi, English, Punjabi
References
(i) Dr GS Sidhu (94326XXXXX), HOD English,
University of Delhi, Delhi
(ii) Shri RM Singh (94483XXXXX), Financial Advisor,
GRASIM (India), Bengaluru
10. You have read an advertisement in ‘The National
Times’ for the post of Chartered Accountant in Happy
Times Industry, Kanpur. You believe you possess the
requisite qualifications and experience and would
prove to be an asset to the company. Apply for the post
giving your complete biodata stressing your suitability.
You are Amrendra Singh of 2, Kailash Puri, Delhi.
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. 2, Kailash Puri
Delhi
20th March, 20XX
The Managing Director
Happy Times Industry
Kanpur
Subject Application for the Post of Chartered Accountant
Sir/Ma’am
In response to your advertisement in ‘The National
Times’ dated 19th March, 20XX, requiring a Chartered
Accountant, I wish to be considered for this post.
I have completed my B.Com (Honours) with a First class
from University of Delhi. I have also cleared the CA final
exam two years back.
I have a work experience of 2 years in financial reporting
and accounting and have also dealt with corporate taxes. I
am well versed with all the laws governing corporate
taxation. I feel my qualifications and experience are
suitable for the post advertised by you.
I am enclosing my resume and attested copies of my
certificates. I hope to receive a positive response from
your side.
Yours faithfully
Amrendra Singh
Enclosed Resume, testimonials, attested copies of
certificates.
RESUME
Name
Amrendra Singh
Father’s Name
Mahendra Singh
Address
2, Kailash Puri, Delhi
Contact No
9760XXXXXX
E-mail
amrendra24@gmail.com
Date of Birth
24th Feb, 1994
Educational Qualifications
Name of
Exam
College/Board/
University
Year Percentage
CA Final
ICAI
2017
Rank 172
B.Com
Honours
NPD College, Delhi
University
2015
78%
Work Experience Working as a Chartered Accountant
in CPA Global Company, Noida
since July 2017.
Languages Known English, Hindi
Reference
(i) Mr BS Negi
Asstt. Manager
(CPA Global, Noida)
(ii) Dr Piyush Goyal
HOD Commerce,
NPD College, Delhi
11. You are Aami/ Ajoy Sarkar of 83, Model Town,
Guwahati, Assam. You are a sports enthusiast.
Rangshala School, Guwahati, has advertised the
requirement of a Sports teacher, in the local
newspaper. You are excited and decide to apply for
the post. Write a letter responding to the given
advertisement, submitting your candidature with a
detailed bio-data.
Rangshala School, Guwahati
SPORTS TEACHER NEEDED
A P.T.I needed (B.P.Ed); National level player; coaching
experience preferred. Specialisation in volleyball/hockey a
pre-requisite. Salary inclusive of PF.
Apply with bio-data, addressed to the Principal at 108,
Model Town, Guwahati.
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. 83, Model Town Guwahati, Assam
7th September 20XX
The Principal
Rangshala School
108, Model Town
Guwahati
Subject Application for the Post of Sports Teacher
Sir/Ma’am
This is with reference to your advertisement in the Assam
Times dated 01/09/20XX for the post of Sports Teacher. I
am a sports enthusiast with a B.P.Ed degree. I have also
played Hockey and Volleyball at the state level in my
school and college days.
79
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
I sincerely hope that I would do justice to the post of a
PTI in your school. I am enclosing my bio-data along
with the application for your kind reference.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Aami/Ajoy Sarkar
Enclosures : Bio-data
BIO-DATA
Name
Aami Sarkar
Father’s Name Sh KK Sarkar
Date of Birth
21st September, 19XX
Address
83, Model Town, Guwahati, Assam
Educational Qualifications
Name of
Exam
College/Board/
University
Year
Percentage
B.P.Ed
Guwahati University
2018
78%
XII
CBSE
2015
78%
X
CCBSE
2013
9.2 CGPA
Work experience Worked as a Volleyball coach at a local
club for 1 year.
Hobbies
Listening Music, Travelling
References
(i) Sh SP Shukla, Sr Lecturer, Guwahati
(ii) Sh AB Vajani, Principal, Happy School
12. You are Tapas/Tapasya of A-150, Mount Road,
Chennai. You have seen an advertisement in the
newspaper, ‘The Chennai Times’ for the post of
Manager (Accounts) in Sundaram Westside,
Chennai. Apply for the post with your complete
biodata.
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. A-150, Mount Road, Chennai
20th March, 20XX
The Managing Director
Sundaram Westside, Chennai
Subject Application for the Post of Accounts Manager
Sir/Ma’am
In response to your advertisement in ‘The Chennai
Times’ dated 19th March, 20XX, requiring Accounts
Manager, I wish to be considered for this post. I have
completed my B.Com (Honours) with a First Class from
University of Delhi. In addition, I possess a Diploma in
Tele Accounting from NIIT, Delhi. I have a work
experience of 5 years in maintenance of account books,
preparation of Trial Balance and preparation of Balance
Sheet in a commercial organisation. I also have a hands-on
working experience in the line and am well versed in
accounts procedures. I feel my qualifications and
experience are suitable for the post advertised by you.
I am enclosing my resume and attested copies of my
certificates. I hope to receive a positive response from
your side.
Yours faithfully
Tapas
Enclosed : Resume, testimonials, attested copies of
certificates
RESUME
Name
Tapas
Father’s Name
Ram Saran
Address
A-150 Mount Road, Chennai
Contact/Mob. No.
98589XXXXX
E-mail
Tapas22@yahoo.com
Date of Birth
22nd March, 1990
Educational Qualifications
College/Board/
University
Name of Exam
Year
Percentage
Diploma in Tele NIIT, Delhi
Accounting
2011
—
B.Com Honours ARSD College, Delhi
University
2010
78%
Sr. Sec. School
CBSE
2007
80%
High School
CBSE
2005
75%
Work Experience Working as Account Manager in CPA
Global Company, Noida Expressway
since April, 2012
Languages Known Hindi, English
References (i) Mr BS Negi, Asstt. Manager
CPA Global, NOIDA
(ii) Dr Piyush Goyal
Senior Lecturer, Delhi University
13. Sunshine Public School, Pune requires two sports
coaches (one male and one female). Each should
be a degree holder in physical education as well as
an SAI certified coach in athletics. You have
seen their advertisement and you know that you
have these qualifications. Write an application
along with your resume. You are Praveen/Praveena,
M-114, Najafgarh, Delhi.
[CBSE 2017]
Ans. M-114, Najafgarh
Delhi
17th March, 20XX
The Principal
Sunshine Public School
Pune
Subject Application for the Post of Sports Coach
80
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Ans. 56, A Block, Saket, Agra
Sir/Ma’am
With reference to your advertisement in the Hindustan
Times dated 15th March, 20XX for the post of sports
coaches, I wish to apply for this post. I am enclosing
details of my educational qualifications and experience in
my resume. As required by you, I am a degree holder in
Physical Education and have been certified by the Sports
Authority of India (SAI) in Athletics. In addition, I have
three years’ experience of coaching students of a reputed
public school. I am confident that I will not disappoint
you and produce some champion athletes of whom you
will be proud.
I shall be available for interview at any time convenient
to you. Hoping to receive a positive reply soon.
Yours faithfully
Praveena
Encl : Resume
RESUME
Name
Praveena Singhal
Father’s Name
SK Singhal
Date of Birth
20th September, 1990
Address
M–114, Najafgarh, Delhi–110044
Mobile
97111XXXXX
E-Mail
praveena12@yahoo.com
Educational Qualifications
Name of Exam
College/Board/
University
Year Percentage/
Grade
BA (Physical Education) University of Delhi 2010
78%
Senior Secondary
CBSE Delhi
2007
82%
Secondary Exam
CBSE Delhi
2005
80%
Professional Qualification
Certified Coach in Athletics by Sports Authority of India
Work Experience I have been working as Physical Education
Instructor in Saraswati Public School since March 20XX
Strengths Have coached students in Athletics and volleyball
with discipline and good time management
References
(i) Dr Rajkumar Shrivastava—Senior coach, Sports
Authority of India, New Delhi (9643XXXXXX)
(ii) Sri RM Singh – Financial Advisor, GRASIM (India),
Bengaluru. (88006XXXXX)
14. You are Shobha/Sushil from 56, A Block, Saket,
Agra. Write an application along with a personal
resume in response to the following advertisement
:Wanted an experienced hockey coach having
B.P.Ed Degree for our school. Apply to the
Principal, Agarsen Public School, Agra by 15th
March, 2019.
[CBSE 2019]
10th March, 20XX
The Principal
Agarsen Public School, Agra
Subject Application for the post of hockey coach
Sir/Madam,
In response to your advertisement in the Indian Express
dated 5th March, 20XX for the position of hockey coach,
I hereby offer my candidature for the same. I believe
that my experience and background fit your
requirements for the position.
I have had the pleasure to be the hockey coach at Delhi
University for the last five years. I have two Bachelor’s
degrees, one Physical Education and another in Education.
Coaching students has been my passion and I am sure that
I can work well with the team. The teams I have worked
with previously have been able to play in multiple
competitions statewide. I have received positive feedback
from the students, the parents and the school.
As requested, I have enclosed my resume with this letter.
You may call me for an interview on any date as per your
convenience. I shall be able to join my duties at one
month’s notice if appointed.
Yours sincerely,
Shobha /Sushil
Encl.: Resume
RESUME
Name
Shoba/Sushil
Father’s Name
Krishna
Address
56, A Block, Saket, Agra
Phone
98XXXXXXXX
Date of Birth
28th September, 1989
Marital Status
Unmarried
Hobbies
Music, Reading, Photography
Educational Qualification
S.No.
Name of the
Exam
Name of the
Institute
Percentage
1.
B.Ed
Maharishi Agrasen College
60%
2.
B.P.ed
Delhi University
65%
Experience Worked as Hockey Coach for five years
at St. Stephens College
Language known English, Hindi and Gujarati
References
(i) Malvika Ray, Head of Department, St. Stephans
College, DU
(ii) Mrs. Dipti Chandra, Head of Department, Physical
Education, Maharishi Agrasen College.
81
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
15. You have read an advertisement in the newspaper,
‘Pune Times’ for the post of software engineer in
Alex Software, Pune. You believe that you possess
the requisite qualifications and experience and
your innovative ideas will prove an asset to the
company. Write an application emphasising your
strong points and your suitability for the post.
Also include your bio-data. You are
Saurab/Shikha, 12, Mall Road, Chandigarh.
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. 12, Mall Road
Chandigarh
10th January, 20XX
The Manager
Alex Software
Pune
Subject Application for the post of a Software Engineer
I am enclosing my detailed resume for your perusal. I
would be glad to get this opportunity and speak more about
my work in a personal interview. I am available to come to
Pune at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Shikha
Encl. : Detailed Resume and Work Experience Certificate
BIO-DATA
Name
Shikha
Father’s Name
Ramesh Sharma
Address
12, Mall Road, Chandigarh
Phone
85XXXXXXXX
Date of Birth
27th September, 1989
Marital Status
Unmarried
Educational Qualification :
S.No. Name of the Exam Name of the College
Percentage
Sir/Madam,
1.
M.Tech
SNDT University
76%
In response to your advertisement in the Pune Times
dated 8th January, 20XX for the post of a software
engineer, I hereby offer my candidature for the same.
I believe that my skills and qualifications match your
requirements.
I have worked as a software engineer at GT for the last
eight years in my specialty that is user interface and
coding. I have been appreciated for my efficiency by
my previous employers. If given the opportunity, I am
sure I will be able to prove my capabilities to you as
well.
2.
B.Tech
IIT Delhi
79%
Experience
Worked as Manager for eight years at GT, Mumbai, and Software
Engineer for two years at Tutech, New Delhi
Languages known Fluent in English, Hindi and German
Reference Mr. D. K. Paul
Senior Manager, GT Mumbai
Mrs. Premalata Barua,
Manager, Tutech, New Delhi
82
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
CHAPTER 03
Report
Writing
In this Chapter...
l
Newspaper Reports Involving Accidents
l
Reports on Events/Functions
l
Chapter Practice
A report is a description or a brief account of an event that had already taken place. It is written from the
objective prespective of the reporter. It is a piece of writing that helps in recording events of importance that
occurs in our day-to-day lives. It attempts to give a first-hand information of an event with a scope of
reporting one’s ideas, opinions and impressions about the event as well.
Mainly there are two types of reports
(i) Newspaper reports involving accidents
(ii) Reports on events/functions
Points to be Kept in Mind
n
A good report should present all the necessary information as clearly as possible.
n
Write in a less formal and descriptive manner.
n
Write in indirect speech and passive voice.
n
Write in third person form and avoid using pronouns like I, me or you.
n
n
Ornamental language is to be avoided. The contents should include details like
what, when, where, why, who, how, eye-witness account, action/mishap etc.
The aim of the report and source from where it was obtained should be mentioned
in the beginning itself.
n
It should have a proper heading.
n
Include information collected from the people around or affected by the event.
n
Present impressions and impact to make the report interesting.
83
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Type 1 Newspaper Reports Involving Accidents
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
Value Points to be used in an Accident Report
Where
How
People/ vehicles involved (if any)
Eye-witness account (if any)
Details of rescue and relief operations
Police action/ enquiry ordered
Warning/ recommendations/ action required
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
What happened
When
Why (if known)
Loss of life and property
Details of accident site
Details of casualties - dead/ injured/ hospitalised
Compensation to families of those killed or injured
Format of an Accident Report
Rishikesh is popular in India for its river rafting. A well-known rafting guide drowns in the river while saving
eight Mumbai tourists. Write a report, to be published in a local daily, covering this rafting mishap.
Rafting Guide Drowns After Saving Eight Lives
by Narendra Solanki, Staff Reporter
Heading with Byline
(What)
Place and Date
Dehradun, 10th April, 20XX
A rafting guide drowned in the Ganga river near Rishikesh after saving
eight tourists, all residents of Mumbai. He was well-conversant with the
river and having more than 25 years experience of the swift flow of the river
in Rishikesh. However, his heroism cost him his life.
The mishap occurred at about 2:00 PM last Saturday, when the raft
carrying the tourists turned turtle while going downstream in the river. All
the eight tourists were saved by 45-year old Rajesh Kumar, as he
physically dragged them away from the fast swirling water. He managed to
reach the last tourist to the shore, but collapsed and fell into the water
again due to exhaustion. By the time bystanders came to his rescue, too
much water had gone into his lungs, causing asphyxiation.
He was rushed to a government hospital in Rishikesh where doctors tried
to revive him, but to no avail. After trying for half an hour, they declared him
dead. Rajesh, who was a well-known rafting guide of the area, had been
one of the most hospitable friend to those who came across him in his 25
years as a guide. Government has ordered an enquiry into the mishap and
has announced a bravery award for him. He will always be remembered for
his excellent devotion to duty.
Content
Expression
(a) Grammar, vocabulary
and spelling
(b) Coherence, relevance
of ideas and style
Type 2 Reports on Events/Functions
Value Points to be used in a Report on Events/Functions
Type of function or its name
Date, time and place
Objective and main highlight of the programme
Description of the event
Prize distribution (if any)
Conclusion
Comments about the quality of the programme
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
Occasion
Name/ Designation of the Chief Guest
Inauguration, (if any)
Chief Guest’s address to audience
Vote of thanks
Contribution of the writer (if any)
84
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Format of an Event Report
You are Ram/ Reena of BPS International School, New Delhi. Recently your school organised a cultural show as
part of a cultural exchange programme. Write a report for your school magazine.
Cultural Show with a Difference
Heading with Byline
by Reena
Our school organised a cultural show in the school auditorium on 10th
January, 20XX at 6:00 pm as part of a cultural exchange programme
between India and France. The theme was ‘Friendship between
countries’. The Chief Guest was the Indian External Affairs Minister, who
inaugurated the show.
A variety of performances including folk dances, drama, role play,
Rabindra Sangeet and musical programmes were staged. The role play
stole the show due to its theme of the commonality of cultures between the
two countries and the fantastic acting of the children. The dances were
both the classical ones (Kathak and Bharat Natyam) as well as the modern
(hip-hop and rock). The rendering of various items of the Rabindra
Sangeet by the artistes of both countries was the highlight of the
programme and much appreciated by the audience. The qawwalies sung
by group of little children had the audience joining in the chorus, much to
the delight of the Chief Guest.
The show concluded with a prize distribution ceremony honouring the
talented children who had participated. Then the Chief Guest spoke,
congratulating the students for their excellent performances. Our
Principal, Mr Ompal Singh, proposed a vote of thanks. The function ended
with the playing of the National Anthem of both countries. It was an evening
to remember.
Content
Expression
(a) Grammar, vocabulary
and spelling
(b) Coherence, relevance
of ideas and style
85
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Chapter
Practice
PART 1
Objective Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
Directions (Q. Nos. 1-5 ) Recently your school held a Seminar
as a part of World Water Day celebrations wherein you talked
about the depleting water resources and how to save the
planet by simple acts of saving water. As the School Pupil
Leader of Maryland School, Gurgaon, Rupam has been asked
to write a report for a local daily.
1. Select the most appropriate title of the Report.
(a) World Water Day
(b) Seminar on Water Conservation
(c) Seminar on World Water Day
(d) Water Seminar
Ans. (b)
2. Select the most appropriate opening lines for the
given report.
(a) Our school organised a seminar on ‘Water Conservation’
as…
(b) XYZ proudly organised a seminar with noted
personalities on ….
(c) A seminar on water conservation was held on the ….
(d) In Gurgaon, a very pronounced school held a seminar….
Ans. (a)
3. Which of the following can help Rupam organise
the ideas for the report?
(a) Event details-Chief guests- central topics concernedmovie related to the issue- pledge
(b) Event purpose-event details- central topics concernedeminent personalities speech- pledge- conclusion
(c) Event purpose-presence of eminent and distinguished
personalities-central topics discussed- pledge
(d) Event details- event purpose- presence of
environmentalists- central topics discussed- conclusion
with a movie
Ans. (c)
4. Which of the following would be written as the
main aim of the seminar?
(a) The main aim of this seminar was to remind us all about
the need to not exploit our natural resources as it is a
precious source imperative for our survival.
(b) The main aim of the seminar was to encourage people
and all the institutions to take action and save water as it
is an essential source of our survival.
(c) The main aim of the vent was to tell children about ways
in which they can do their part in conserving water.
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Ans. (d)
5. Read a line from the report written by Rupam and
select the correct option to complete it.
Distinguished environmentalists and eminent
personalities were our guest speakers and they
reiterated the need not only of conserving water
but also spoke at length on how to conserve water
by stressing upon the fact that each drop of water is
precious. ……………………………
(a) Dr. Yashraj, an eminent environmentalist, suggested
rain-water harvesting as one of the best ways to conserve
water.
(b) One of them gave an excellent speech on how the world
would be a better place if we all start taking action.
(c) Dr. Yashraj used visual aids to highlight the need to
conserve water and how infrastructural change could
help it.
(d) One of them was a UN representative of the environment
helped us understand how UN works towards the cause.
Ans. (a)
Directions (Q. Nos. 6-10 ) Your school organised an
exhibition-cum-sale of the items prepared under Work
Experience Certificate by your school students. There was
an overwhelming response from the public. You have to
write a report for a local daily. You are the Coordinator,
S.U.P.W. activities, Nita School, Gurgaon.
6. Select the appropriate title for the report.
(a) An Exhibition-Cum-Sale
(b) A Exhibitory Fest
(c) A School Event
(d) Something Different by the School
Ans. (a)
7. Select the option that would follow the title of the
report.
(a) Name of the writer
(c) Name of the host
Ans. (d)
(b) Position of the writer
(d) All of these
86
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
was also one of them. As the camp for the preparations
was starting on 1st January, all four of us reached Delhi
on 31st December. The aim of the Republic Day Camp is
to enhance the self-confidence of cadets, deepen their
value systems and provide an exposure to the rich culture
and traditions of our nation. It was an enlightening
experience to meet NCC cadets from other states at the
camp on the parade ground in Delhi Cantonment. The
preparations were very rigorous, but we four managed
them to perfection. Even the rehearsals went off very
well.
Finally, on Republic Day itself, we marched down
Rajpath with our contingent in perfect unison and earned
the applause of the VIP stand. After crossing India Gate,
we broke ranks to watch the various state and
government department floats passing by. The various
folk dances not only mesmerised us but also enriched our
knowledge.
They were really exquisite, with our state’s float
displaying our true culture. All in all, it was a one-month
long wonderful experience to participate in the Republic
Day celebrations in the nation’s capital.
8. Would this report reflect the date of the event?
(a) Yes, it is essential part of its body
(b) No, it would take unnecessary space
(c) Yes, to store the report in data
(d) No, it is intended
Ans. (a)
9. Read the given extract from the report and select
the correct option to complete it.
The students were really encouraged by the
………………… they got from everyone present.
(a) Huge sale
(c) Recognition
(b) Positive feedback
(d) Kind words
Ans. (b)
10. Read the following options for the self-checklist for
this report and select the option that includes the
most appropriate self-checklist for this report.
Option 1
1. Title
Option 2
1. Title
2. Name of the writer
2. Name of the organisation
3. Date, location
3. Location
4. Body of the report
4. Event details
5. Thankyou
5. Conclusion
Option 3
1. Title
2. Name of the writer
2. Date
3.Date, location
3. Location
4. Body of the report
4. Body of the report
5. Conclusion
5. By line
(b) Option 2
(d) Option 4
Ans. (c)
PART 2
Subjective Questions
1. You are Ram/Rajani, an N.C.C cadet who attended
Republic Day Parade in Delhi. You study in
Shyamala Public School, Salem. Write a report to
be published in your school magazine, on
Republic Day Camp & Parade. Don’t forget to
mention the floats and how you enjoyed the
occasion.
[CBSE 2017]
Ans.
organised by an NGO–‘For Your Health’ . Many
people visited the camp and donated blood. Write a
report for a local newspaper covering the
arrangement, doctors’ team, refreshment served,
etc.
[CBSE 2019]
Option 4
1. Title
(a) Option 1
(c) Option 3
2. In your locality a blood donation camp was
Proud Moment for Our School
by Rajani, Class XII-A
It was a proud day for our school when four of our NCC
girl cadets were selected to participate in the Republic
Day parade at New Delhi in front of the whole nation. I
Ans.
Blood Donation Camp
by Kanha, Special Correspondent
A blood donation camp was organised in ABC Nagar on
10th April, 20XX by the NGO ‘For Your Health’. It was
conducted in the primary school of the locality. A large
number of local residents visited the camp and donated
blood.
All the preparations such as arrangement of beds,
sanitation etc, were made. A team of experienced doctors
and nurses from the local government hospital helped the
NGO. The procedure followed was that each donor was to
lie on a bed with a soft ball in one’s hand. The entire
event was well organised as clear cut instructions were
followed. All norms were followed before the blood was
taken. First BP and sugar was tested, then the process of
extracting the blood started. After it was over, the donors
were given fruits and milk to be consumed immediately.
The camp continued till about 3 PM after having started
at 9 AM. After that, the Chief Guest, our city’s Mayor,
delivered a speech praising those who had donated their
blood. He told the audience that the donated blood would
be used for saving the lives of the injured and the sick.
One of the senior doctors also educated the audience by
saying that the blood donation would not weaken the
donors, but that the blood will be made up by their
bodies very soon. He also informed that they can donate
blood again after a gap of three months, if they desire to
do so.
87
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
The Mayor also handed over the certificates to the blood
donors. Finally, the Blood Donation Camp ended with the
singing of the National Anthem. It was certainly a
memorable day for all.
Ans.
3. Last week you visited a two-day long youth festival
organised by YWCA at Bhopal. Students from all over
India participated in it. Programmes included poetry
recitation, staging of one-act plays, classical dance
recitals, etc. There was a perfect atmosphere of national
integration. Write a report on the festival. Emphasise the
significance of such festivals in our national life. You are
Nalini/Ravindra.
[CBSE 2020]
Ans.
Youth Festival
by Nalini
Bhopal, 7th January, 20XX
The YWCA, Bhopal celebrated ‘Youth Festival’ on
7th January, 20XX at the renowned YWCA association
stadium. More than 2000 students from various states
participated in various competitions like Poetry recitation,
Drawing, Staging of one-act plays, Singing, Essay Writing,
classical dance, recitals, etc., themed on National
Integration. The bubbling enthusiasm exhibited by the
participants has been tremendous. There was a perfect
atmosphere of national integration.
As the performances got over, the honourable PM of India
Narendra Modi addressed the students. He mentioned that
the number of participating students are increasing every
year. He advised the students to develop the personal
discipline and give due respect to the parents and teachers.
He also advised the students to remember that the country
we live in is one of the most colorful ones. It is full of life
with festivals and various cultures filling the landscape with
wonder. The gathering was felicitated by Kamla Bhasin, a
renowned feminist. She advised the students to never
forget their culture in the process of westernisation.
The next day was reserved for prize distribution and light
fair for everyone to enjoy. As the prizes were distributed to
the winners of the different competitions and mementos
were given to the teachers who accompanied the students,
other enjoyed the beauty of traditional art forms that graced
the fair.
The function came to a close in the late afternoon with a vote
of thanks proposed to the Chief Guest and other guests and
participants. This event witnessed a grand success.
4. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a sanitation
programme that has caught everybody’s attention.
Your school held a sanitation programme where
students cleaned the school as well as the streets in
the neighbourhood and collected and segregated
garbage. You are Vinod/Asha of St. Agnes School,
Kanpur. Write a report for your school magazine
giving details of the programme that was held. Add
details wherever necessary.
[CBSE 2019]
Sanitation Programme at St. Agnes School
by Asha
The launch of the pan-country cleanliness drive,
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, seemed like a distant dream
initially. Thanks to the role played by several
responsible citizens of the nation, the drive has taken
good shape and is completing its targets regularly and
impressively.
Being responsible future citizens of the country too, the
students of St. Agnes School, Kanpur, showed active
participation in a mission. The cleanliness drive was
organised on Friday, 23rd August, in the early morning
hours to boost the student’s freshness and liveliness.
The drive was aimed at understanding the benefits and
impacts of cleanliness and inculcating in the students a
sense of responsibility towards the cause. Besides, it
also impacted the onlookers positively who came forth
to help the students and involve themselves in the drive
as well. The students not only cleaned the school
premises but also the neighbouring streets, disposing
any garbage after careful segregation. The programme
ended by afternoon, after the streets and the premises
showed massive improvement.
Later, the students were shown the Prime Minister’s
address on the importance of cleanliness. The students
were delighted to be a part of such a programme, and
said they would love to participate in one again.
Thereafter, our Principal delivered the speech telling us
the importance of sanitation. He also honored the
sweepers of the school for their noble job. In the end
we all took oath of keeping our home, locality and city
clean. It was a unique experience for all of us. We were
curious to be the part of this great drive that could have
transformed the face of our country for ever.
5. History Club of your school organised a picnic on
a river bank. During the picnic you observed a
small boat (with two persons in it) sinking. You
saw a good swimmer jump into the river and
rescue the two persons in the boat. Write a report
on the picnic and the rescue. You are Rohit of 2,
Mall Road, Kanpur.
[CBSE 2020]
Ans.
Witnessing a Mishap During Picnic
by Rohit
Kanpur, 05th September, 20XX
The History Club of our school had organised a picnic
on a river bank. Our two history teachers accompanied
us on the bus journey to the river bank. We were very
excited to see the rippling water of the river. We had
carried bedsheets which were spread on the ground.
We put our eatables and other baggages on them.
Some of the students sat on the bedsheets and enjoyed
the pleasant weather, some other were strolling near the
river bank while some students started playing games.
All of us were instructed not to go too near the river for
safety purposes.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
It had been an hour when some of the students saw a
small boat with two people sitting in it and shouting
frantically. It took us a moment to realise that the boat
was actually sinking. We all got scared and started
shouting for help. Hearing this noise a man came near
the bank and jumped into the river. He looked to be a
good swimmer. He reached the boat just as it was about
to sink. With great bravery he brought the two people
safely to the ground. First aid was given to the two
people and everybody appreciated the courage shown
by the swimmer.
7. History Society of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Krishna Nagar
sent a group of students to visit a place of historical
interest. You, Anant/Anita, were its leader. Write a
report for the school newsletter on the tour,
describing the place, its history, how you reached
there and all that you have learnt
[CBSE 2017]
Ans.
6. The eminent psychologist, Dr. Madhumita was
invited by your school authorities to speak to the
students on the topic, ‘How to maintain robust
mental health.’ She delivered a lively speech
without using any medical technical terms. After
the lecture the students asked many questions
especially about how to cope with stress during
examinations. Dr. Madhumita addressed their
concerns very patiently and gave them some very
useful tips. Write a report for your school
magazine describing the session with the
psychologist. You are Noor/Hilal Head-girl
/Head-boy, National School, Sonepat. [CBSE 2019]
Ans.
Psychologist Dr Madhumita Visits our School
by Hilal, Head Boy
The eminent psychologist, Dr Madhumita, visited our
school on 24th February, 20XX and spoke to our senior
students on ‘How to maintain robust mental health’.
She spoke in a lively manner without using technical
jargon, thus ensuring that the students understood what
she wanted to convey. She addressed concerns such as
academic stress, especially at the time of the annual
examinations.
She said that, first and foremost, we need to recognise
and realise that mental health is every single bit as
important as physical health. She added that we should
rule out any underlying physical conditions that may be
contributing to our mental health. In this regard,
nutritious home made food is preferable to junk food.
Next, she stressed the fact that we should get an
adequate amount of sleep every night, even during
examination time. She also highlighted the need of a
systematic study plan and revision for all students.
She further remarked that we should limit the time
spent on social media. Instead, spend time in nature,
whether it is gardening, sitting in your backyard, doing
Yoga meditation, long bike rides in unpopulated areas
or walks through your local park. Such activities can
support mental health in profound ways. She said,
“Nature is therapeutic so I encourage you to get outside
often.”
She concluded her talk by answering questions posed
by the students. It was a wonderful experience for
them.
Visit to a Historical Place
by Anant
Delhi, 20th February 20XX,
History Society of our school had organised a visit to
Bhojpur temple in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh from
24th March to 26th March, 20XX. Our two History teachers
accompanied us 40 students on the train journey to Bhopal
on 24th evening. We reached there next morning.
In Bhopal we visited a hotel to change and get fresh. After
having breakfast we took a bus to this historical temple
town. Bhojpur is a small town surrounded by beautiful hills.
The river Betwa flows nearby. The temple of Lord Shiva
stands on a small hill near the river. The temple was built
by Raja Bhoj. The structure is built with finely cut rocks
kept one over the other.
It was really amazing to look at a fine example of ancient
Indian architecture and sculpture. There is a huge
Shivalinga built on a large platform in the temple. It is one
of the largest Shivalingas in the world. The intricate
architecture of a temple set amidst the beautiful landscape
was not just a delight for all but also an enrichening
experience for historical architectural enthusiasts. As the
students were marvelling the beauty, it became lunch time.
After enjoying a packed lunch in the garden near the
temple, we returned to our hotel. At night, we caught the
return train.
This memorable trip taught everyone that our cultural
heritage is something we all must be proud of. In our land,
every monument and temple has a story to tell just like this
one.
8. An NGO, ‘Health for All’ organised a health check-up
camp in a slum at Amritsar. You are Ruchika/Raunak,
and you visited the camp. Write a report covering
arrangements such as registration, check-up, tests
carried out, etc.
[CBSE 2019]
Ans.
Health Check Up Camp in a Slum
by Ruchika/Raunak
Amritsar, March, 20XX
An NGO, ‘Health for All’ organised a health check-up camp
at Amritsar in a slum recognised to have poor hygiene
because of which the infant mortality rate was too high. The
event was scheduled on 15th of March at 12:00 PM and the
registration started 1 hour prior. The event started with a
step-by-step procedure. The camp was set up in such a way
that each person who opted to get the health check-up first
had to register at the counter by giving his name and age.
Once the check-up was completed, the people were
requested to submit the forms at the registration desk.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Upon registration, the people were required to visit a
general physician, a dentist, and an optometrist.
Once the available doctors had examined them, the
participants were required to get a blood test done.
For most people tested, it was a basic work-up of their
non-fasting blood sugar and other related tests.
However, for those who suffered from other diseases,
the doctors made a note of it in the form given to
them, requesting specific tests be done to understand
the severity of the condition. Financing for additional
tests were also covered by the medical laboratories
associated with the NGO.
The next day another batch of patients were checked.
On the 3rd day of the camp, all the test reports were
examined and proper medicines were prescribed.
Also, the village hospital was supplied with emergency
medicines which were not available before. People
came in large numbers and the 3 day camp was a huge
success. On taking reviews about the camp and the
treatment that was given all the people were very
satisfied. They also suggested us to carry out such
camps every month as it would provide them with
medical assistance which was not available earlier.
The satisfaction of the slum dwellers was the biggest
achievement for the NGO as they were able to achieve
their motto ‘Health for All’.
So we ate pizzas for lunch and lovely hot pakodas with tea at
5 pm. A special feature of the fair was the audio-visual
display held in the evening. A film made on one of
Premchand’s novels was being screened. We watched it till
the interval, but then had to leave, as we would be late
reaching home. It was an enjoyable learning experience for
all of us.
10. You are Akhil/Anjana, a resident of Kailash Colony,
Fort Road, Patna. Recently your city experienced a lot
of rain and consequently people living in the low-lying
areas suffered a lot of difficulties. NDRF rescue teams
reached the affected areas in time. The marooned
people were taken to safer places and provided with
shelter, food and medicines. Write a report on the
floods and rescue efforts.
[CBSE 2020]
Ans.
9. You are Ram/Rajani, write report to be published
in your school magazine, in the recent Book Fair
you visited. Write about the stalls of the different
publishers that participated in the fair. Don’t
forget to mention the cultural shows and the
other special features of the fair.
[CBSE 2017]
Ans.
World Book Fair
by Ram, Class XII-B
16th July, 20XX
Last Sunday I visited the World Book Fair in Pragati
Maidan, Delhi with my family. There was a big crowd
due to it being a holiday. A large number of publishers
from all over the world had set up their stalls to
display what they were printing.
There was a separate section for children’s books, which
included school books and help books from Indian
publishers. A large number of story books for primary
school children were the highlight of the fair. Besides
the books, a number of cultural events and quiz
competitions were taking place.
My elder sister and myself participated in a quiz on
Indian authors. She was fond of Indian literature and
had been reading Indian authors extensively. She was
overjoyed to win the runner-up prize in the quiz.
Her prize was a complete set of new autographed
books of her favourite author. There were many food
stalls to take care of our hunger due to the extensive
exercise of visiting various stalls.
Floods in Patna
by Akhil
Patna, 13 July, 20XX
The unexpected rains that came with thunderstorm left the
residents of most of the districts in Patna looking for safety.
The continuous rains and winds resulted in floods in many
areas. Almost every street and colony saw the same picture
as the strong winds lashed and even uprooted trees, and left
some homes destroyed too.
Those people living in the low lying areas are worst affected
and suffered a lot of difficulties. They had to vacate their
homes and go to drier and higher grounds for safety.
The NDRF rescue team arrived in time to help facilitate the
easy transportation of these victims to the designated relief
camps for the time being. The marooned people were taken
to the safer places and provided shelter, food and medicines.
Many volunteers worked to help these teams work faster
and local residents also helped by providing food and clothes
to all affected. Even though there were numerous donations
done to help them ease their pain, their condition has not
improved. Two teams of NDRF are still working on getting
everyone to safety while nearly 15000 people have been
evacuated so far.
11. Independence Day was celebrated in your school.
District Magistrate, Ms. Indu Bala Sharma was the
Chief Guest. Write a report on the function describing
all the activities that took place. You are Head
boy/Head girl.
[CBSE 2017]
Ans.
Independence Day Celebration
by PQR, Head girl
Tripura High School celebrated the Independence Day with
great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour. On the morning of
14th August, 2019, our students presented hand-made
greeting cards and tri-colour flag badges to the senior
management functionaries of the school.
The cultural programme at school commenced with
everyone singing ‘Vande Mataram’ followed by flag hoisting
by the chief guest, Ms Indu Bala, the District Magistrate.
90
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
The spirit of freedom and nationalism was well exhibited
by the students as well as the teachers through a
spectrum of patriotic poems, speeches, quiz on freedom
fighter, songs and dance.
Committed to the task of nation building, both faculty and
student teachers pledged to serve their motherland
through spreading education and serving the community.
A presentation on the historical evolution of the national
flag of India was shown. A documentary on the
contribution of unsung heroes of Indian freedom struggle
like Tirupur Kumaran, Kamla Devi, etc. enlightened the
audience. A few of them spoke on the history and
significance of the Independence Day and shed light on
the special highlight of celebrations this year.
It ended with a speech by the principal on the topic,
“What does freedom mean to me?” The celebration
concluded with the inspiring words of the principal
madam, followed by the National Anthem and the
distribution of refreshments.
12. The Fine Arts Club of your school celebrated its
tenth anniversary in a grand manner.
Distinguished artists Pt. Jasraj, Hariprasad
Chaurasia and the veteran Kathak dancer
Shovana Narayan graced the occasion and
enthralled the audience by their mesmerizing
compositions. Shovana Narayan’s graceful
movements were a delight to watch. The function
ended with two lilting songs by Shambu, a class
10th student of your school.
Write a report on the event, to be published in
your school magazine. You are Sohan/Sakhi,
Secretary of the Club.
[CBSE 2019]
Ans.
10th Anniversary of The Fine Arts Club
by Sakhi/Sohan, Secretary of Fine Arts Club
Last Friday marked the tenth anniversary of our school’s
Fine Arts Club. To commemorate this achievement, a
grand celebration was held to honour the milestones
achieved by the club. The celebration, lasting nearly an
entire day, included a variety of renowned artists and
veterans of the business as well as performances by the
club members. Held at the famous Chatrasal
Auditorium, the Club is proud to say that the entire hall
was full of audiences. Aside from the notable faces, the
crowd also held parents of the club members and
participants as well as guests.
The audience was treated by performances of the
distinguished artists such as Pt. Jasraj and Hariprasad
Chaurasia. Everyone was enthralled by their
mesmerising compositions. With the Veteran Kathak
dancer Shovana Narayan gave us the honour of
performing on the stage. The graceful movements of
shovona Narayan were a delight to watch.
In grand finale of the show, there was two litling songs
performed by Shambu, a class 10 student. The talented
and heart-wrenching performance earned a standing
ovation from the audience. The President of the club
presented the vote of thanks after which light refreshments
were served.
13. You are Sandhya/Sohan an active member of the
Animal Lovers Club which works for the welfare of
animals by preventing cruelty to them. Recently you
visited Mahatma Gandhi Animal Care Home. You
were pleasantly surprised to see the good treatment
given to the animals. Write a report on your visit.
You may use the following points injured dogs and
cats–abandoned pets–very old animals–all very well
cared for–well-equipped medical room–veterinary
surgeon – green surroundings.
[CBSE 2018]
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi Animal Care Home
A Heaven for Animals
by Sandhya, Animal Lovers Club
Durgapur, 28th February, 20XX
On a recent visit to Mahatma Gandhi Animal Care Home I
was completely mesmerised. Being an active member of
the Animal Lovers Club working for the welfare of animals
I was sure this park would be treating their animals with
cruelty. Generally such parks are money minting
organisations that try to attract people especially children
by the display of animals. They underfed the animals and
treat them mercilessly.
My eyes however met a completely different picture. The
animals in the park were all healthy, clean and properly
fed. There were six animal keepers constantly at the
service. The animals were given a good amount of space to
graze about.
Humans were not allowed to touch or feed them, nor
disturb them. Nice and powerful field glasses were fixed
at points from where the animals and their activities could
be viewed. There were a number of peacocks, deer,
rabbits, monkeys, chimps, birds and from what it looked
there were old animals as well. But all were hale and
hearty.
Upon enquiry I got to know that most of them are
abandoned pets, rescued animals, and the ones injured on
the streets. It was astounding to see the quality of care the
animals are being given. They have a family-like
environment for them. Further, the animal home has all the
facilities ranging from a well- equipped medical room to a
veterinary surgeon.
Mahatma Gandhi Animal Care Home is doing a
mind-blowing job by understanding and fulfilling the
needs of those who can’t speak for themselves. The
experience was an overwhelming one.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
14. You are a reporter of ‘Aaj Kal’, a newspaper. You
witnessed a quarrel among a group of boys outside
a college gate over some minor issue. The quarrel
took an ugly turn when some more students joined
in. Write a report for your newspaper, giving an
account of the quarrel, its cause, the number of
students involved, etc. Give your comments on the
lack of tolerance in today’s youth.
[CBSE 2020]
Ans.
Quarrel outside ABC College Gate
by XYZ
Delhi, 12th April, 20XX
Many students of the ABC College witnessed a violent
quarrel in front of their college gate. What started as just
a verbal argument between the first year Commerce
students and the third year Arts students took an ugly
turn when students of other streams joined in.
The quarrel started over a spilled coffee. A first year
student accidently spilled coffee on a third year student.
When the first year student apologised, he was verbally
assaulted by the third year’s student. This sparked the
quarrel.
The General Secretary along with the department heads
soon came in between to stop the quarrel. But till then
the situation had worsened to physical fighting. The
presence of the students from various streams led to a
violent combat between about a hundred students. The
police had to be called to manage the situation. Twenty
students have been arrested on account of the quarrel. It
feels sad to saw that the youth today is so intolerant that
such a trivial matter became a source of contest and
quarrel.
15. MMD School, Nashik, recently organised a science
symposium on the topic: ‘Effect of pollution on
quality of life’. You are Amit/Amita Raazdan, editor
of the school magazine. Write a report on the event
for your school magazine.
[CBSE 2018]
Ans.
Effect of Pollution on Quality of Life
by Amit/Amita Raazdan
4th December, 20XX, Nashik
The two days Regional Level CBSE Science Symposium
with the theme ‘Effect of Pollution on the Quality of Life’
was hosted by MMD School, Nashik on 2-3rd December.
The event saw young enthusiastic participants from
different parts of the state putting up 72 participatory
exhibits displaying how environmental pollution is
impacting our life. The programme was inaugurated by
Ramdas Kardam, Maharashtra’s Environment Minister.
He was very impressed by the presentations and
congratulated the participants.
The students not only expressed their concern about the
environmental pollution but also suggested various
effective solutions which if executed will lengthen the life
of the earth. In the Valedictory Function organised on 3rd
December, the eminent judges comprising Dr Narendra
Singh (Research Scientist) and Dr Vikram Sisodia
(Associate Professor and Dean-Faculty Welfare, SDIT)
gave their judgments after inspecting each project on
their own merit.
All the participants were presented with certificates.
The judges applauded the students for their noble ideas
which would help the world to become a much better
place to live in. Mrs Sushmita Narayan, Principal, MMD
School, thanked all the participating teams for making
this event a success and appreciated their noble projects.
Section Test (Writing)
Invitation and Replies
Directions (Q. Nos. 1-3) As the principal of a reputed college, you have been invited to inaugurate a Book Exhibition in
your neighbourhood. Draft a reply to the invitation expressing your inability to attend the function. You are Tarun/Tanvi.
1. Select the appropriate subject line for the given invite.
(a) Acceptance of invite
(c) Unfortunate declining of invite
(b) Inability to attend
(d) No subject line would come
2. In which form will you reply to the invite?
(a) Letter
(c) Email
(b) Card
(d) SMS
3. Will the reply include ‘Reply to invite’ as heading?
(a) Yes, to clearly indicate what it is
(c) Yes, to make it informal
(b) No, it is not a part of the format
(d) No, it is not required
4. You are the Secretary of the Old Students’ Association, Mayo School, Ajmer. The 20th Alumni Meet will be held on
Sunday, the 28th Sept. 20XX at 8.00 p.m. at Palace Hotel. Write invitation letters to ail the old students of the school
to attend the meet.
5. Your sister Nivedita is going to marry Akhilesh (S/o Mr & Mrs SM. Joshi, Nainital) Your father Mr K.S. Bhardwaj has
planned to hold the wedding at Hotel Kunal, New Delhi on 25 May 20XX at 8 p.m. Write a formal invitation on behalf
of Mr & Mrs K.S. Bhardwaj inviting guests to the auspicious occasion. Give other details.
6. Invite your friend to the house warming party of your newly constructed house.
7. You are Atul Gupta. You are opening a new branch of your business house NEWLIGHT FURNISHINGS at C-32, Ansal
Plaza, Delhi. Write an invitation to your uncle to attend the inauguration ceremony and bless you.
Report Writing
Directions (Q. Nos. 1-3) You are Kirti/Kamal, the Cultural Secretary of your school. Recently your school celebrated the
20th anniversary of its foundation. Write a report for your school magazine in 120-150 words on the celebration of
Founder’s Day in your school.
1. Select the appropriate heading for the report.
(a) 20 Glorious years
(c) Foundation Anniversary Celebration
(b) Celebrating the 20 years of excellence
(d) All of these
2. Select the option that would follow the title of the report.
(a) Date
(c) Class
(b) Name of the writer
(d) Both (b) and (c)
3. Would this report reflect the date of the event?
(a) Yes, it is essential part of its body
(c) Yes, to store the report in data
(b) No, it would take unnecessary space
(d) No, it is intended
4. You are Amrita/ Amrath, staff correspondent of ‘The Times of India’, Mumbai. You visited the places in the city
devastated by the terrorist attack in November, 2008. Write a report on the loss of lives and the immense damage
caused to property.
5. Recently your town experienced a cloudburst during heavy rains. Write a newspaper report covering the incident.
6. You are Karan/ Karishma, the literary correspondent of ‘The Indian Express’. A festival of Shakespeare’s plays is being
organised, by a visiting drama group from the UK in your city. Your editor has asked you to write a report on the
festival.
7. You are Sahitya/Sahida, a senior child education consultant in Jaideep School Management and Trust. You organized
a seminar for teachers and students. You invited educationists and sociologists to talk on the topic to right to free
and compulsory education to children in age brackets of 6-14 years, problems and implications. Write a report for
the Trust’s magazine.
CBSE Term II Political Science Class 12th
93
Letter Writing
Directions (Q. Nos. 1-3) You are Chahat Chaturvedi. Recently you read an advertisement for the post of Mechanical Engineer in ITC
technologies Ltd. located in Manipal Center, Bangalore. You have to write an application for this job.
1. Select the appropriate opening to the cover letter.
(a) Through the medium of this letter…
(b) With reference to advertisement in XYZ newspaper dated…..
(c) This is to inform you that I wish to apply….
(d) You had advertised a post in XYZ….
2. Which option would help the applicant in organising his cover letter appropriately?
(a) Reference to advertisement- application of candidature- hoping for early response
(b) Reference to advertisement- candidature- why you are suitable- hoping for an early response
(c) Reference to advertisement- why you are suitable- hoping for a positive reply
(d) Reference to advertisement- candidature- hoping for a positive reply
3. Read the given closure to a cover letter and select the correct option to complete it.
I am available for the interview on any day of your convenience. If …………… that I shall work with utmost sincerity and
dedication up to your satisfaction.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Given the opportunity and resources, I know
Given the chance, I am confident
Given a chance to serve you, I assure you
Given the opportunity, I can ensure
4. India Assurance Company, New Delhi has given an advertisement in ‘The Hindustan Times’ for the recruitment of
management trainees to be groomed as managers of their company. Apply for the same, giving your detailed bio-data
(curriculum vitae). Invent all necessary details. You are Aman/Aditi, 54-A, Gulab Road, Lucknow.
5. Draft an application for the post of an accountant in Pioneers (Pvt.) Ltd. Co. Hyderabad in response to their advertisement that
appeared in The Times of India dated 1st August, 20XX. Prepare a biodata to be enclosed. You are Nipun/Aparna.
6. You are Chetan Sharma, a commerce graduate from Delhi University. You are seeking a suitable job. You came across an
advertisement in The Times of India, inviting young and dynamic fresh graduates as sales assistants in a reputed company.
Apply for the said job to Box No. 8365, C/o The Times of India, New Delhi.
7. Write an application to the manager of the bookstore, applying for the position of the storekeeper.
CBSE NEW Pattern English Language & Literature 12th (Term-II)
97
Flam ing o - P ros e
CHAPTER 01
The Rattrap
—by Selma Lagerl Öf
In this Chapter...
l
Chapter Summry
l
Word Meaning
l
Chapter Practice
Chapter Summary
Chapter Sketch
The Rattrap is based on the theme that
the essential goodness in a human
being can be awakened through
understanding and love. The story is
set amidst the iron mines of Sweden.
The author has beautifully brought out
human loneliness and the need to bond
with others.
The Rattrap Seller and his thoughts about the Work
Once upon a time, there was a man who used to sell rattraps made from the material
he got from begging. As his business was not profitable, he also had to beg and even
steal to survive. Even then, the rattrap seller wore rags, his checks were sunken and
hunger gleamed in his eyes.
One day, while the man was engrossed in his thoughts of his rattrap, a very amusing
idea came to his mind. He thought that the world was a big rattrap which existed to set
baits for people. It offered comforts, joys, food and shelter, heat and clothing just like a
rattrap that offers cheese and pork. As soon as anyone touches the bait, the rattrap
traps him and everything comes to an end.
Such a thought entertained the vagabond as the world was never kind to him.
The Crofter Treats the Peddler Nicely
One evening, the rattrap peddler was walking along the road when he came across a
little gray cottage. He went to the cottage to seek shelter for the night. Much to his
surprise, the owner of the cottage invited him in and treated him kindly. The owner
was an old man without any family. He lived alone and so was happy to get someone to
talk to.
The old man not only offered him porridge as supper but also gave him tobacco roll for
his pipe. He also entertained the peddler with a game of cards and his talks. He
informed the peddler that he used to be a crofter at Ramsjö Ironworks. But now he
couldn’t do much labour and he earned his livelihood by selling cow’s milk.
The old man trusted the peddler so much that he told the guest that he had recently
earned thirty kronor. To make the peddler believe him, he also showed him the
money, also revealing that he kept it in a leather pouch which hung on a nail near the
window frame.
98
The Peddler Cheats the Crofter
The next day, both the old man and the peddler got up early. The
old man had to milk his cow. So, both of them left the cottage at
the same time. The peddler thanked the crofter for his kindness
and went on his own way.
But half an hour later, the peddler returned to the cottage. He
went to the window, smashed a pane and stuck in his hand to get
hold of the leather pouch. He, then, took out the money and kept
it in his pocket. He kept the pouch in its place and went away.
The Vagabond Gets Lost in the Woods
The vagabond was quite pleased with his smartness. As he had
just committed a theft, he decided to avoid the public highway
and entered the forest. He felt that he would be safe as no one
would be able to catch him there. In the first half of the day, he
encountered no problems but later, he got lost in the big and
confusing forest.
He tried to walk in a definite direction, but the paths confused
him. Suddenly, he realised that he had let himself be fooled by
the bait and had been caught in a rattrap himself. The entire
forest, seemed to him like a prison that offered no escape.
It was the month of December and darkness was covering the
forest which increased the danger, gloom and despair the peddler
was facing. He could see no way out. He was so overwhelmed
with exhaustion that he sank down to the ground, thinking that
his last moment had come. Just then, he heard the sound of the
regular thumping of a hammer. He realised that the sound was
coming from an iron mill. He summoned all his strength and
walked in the direction of the sound.
The Peddler Declines the
Invitation of the Ironmaster
He reached the Ramsjö Ironworks, which used to be a large plant
with smelter, rolling mill and forge.
Inside the ironmill, the master smith and his helper were
working. So, there was a lot of noise due to which the blacksmith
did not notice that the peddler had entered. As it was usual was
vagabonds to seek shelter in the warm mill, the peddler got the
permission to stay.
As was custom, the ironmaster came into the forge for his
inspection and noticed the peddler. In the dim light he mistook
the peddler for an old regimental comrade and addressed him as
Nils Olof. The peddler didn’t try to clear his doubt, as he thought
the ironmaster might give him some money. But, the ironmaster
invited him home. The peddler thought that going to the manor
house would be like ‘throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s
den’. So, he declined the invitation.
Ironmaster’s Daughter
Persuades the Peddler
The ironmaster assumed that the peddler had declined the
invitation as he felt embarrassed because of his miserable
clothing. He tried to comfort the peddler to convince him but the
tramp constantly refused to go with him.
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
The ironmaster went away, but he was not deterred by
the peddler’s persistent refusal. He sent his oldest
daughter to persuade the peddler. When Edla came to
the ironworks, she found the man alarmed and
frightened.
She sensed that the peddler was either a thief on the run
or an escaped prisoner. Still, she was very friendly and
kind to him. The peddler felt confidence in her and
accepted the invitation.
Edla Expresses her Doubts
About the Peddler
The next day was Christmas Eve. The ironmaster was
happy that he would be spending his time with an old
friend. He told Edla that they needed to feed him well
and provide him with a better business than selling
rattraps. Edla told her father that she was doubtful about
the man, as he didn’t display the slightest sign of being
educated. However, the ironmaster told her that once the
man is properly groomed, she would see something
completely different. Just then the stranger entered the
room. He was now well groomed and was wearing clothes
which belonged to the ironmaster.
The Ironmaster Gets Angry;
the Peddler Retaliates
Seeing the peddler the ironmaster realised that the tramp
was not his friend and that he was mistaken. The peddler
made no attempt to delude them any longer. He
explained that he never said to the ironmaster that he was
Nils Olof. He had even pleaded and begged to stay in the
mill. He added that, if asked, he would wear his rags and
leave. But the iron master stated that he was not honest
and thus needs to go to the sheriff. This agitates the
peddler who informs the ironmaster about how the world
is a rattrap and that the ironmaster would also be caught
in the bait somebody.
The idea amused the ironmaster who decides not to call
the sheriff and asks the peddler to leave.
Edla Stops the Peddler
As the peddler was leaving, Edla stopped him. She was
happy to think that she was going to make things good for
a poor man. Thus, she did not want him to go. She
reasoned with her father that they had promised
Christmas cheer to the peddler. She also added that the
peddler has a very hard time throughout the year. He is
always chased away or is in a fear of being arrested and
cross examined. But for this day she wanted him to enjoy.
The ironmaster gave in and the peddler was allowed to
stay for Christmas, but the only thing he did was to sleep
soundly after that. Once or twice he was woken up to
have food. It seemed as though he had never slept as
quietly and safely.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
The ironmaster and Edla gifted him the suit that he was
wearing as a Christmas present. Edla also told him that he
was welcome to spend even the next Christmas with them.
The Peddler Becomes a Changed Man
The next morning the ironmaster and his daughter went to
the church for Christmas service, leaving the peddler at
home. They returned home and Edla was very sad. At the
church, they had learned that a rattrap peddler robbed an old
crofter who once worked at their Ramsjö Ironworks.
The ironmaster was furious. He thought that by the time they
would reach home, the peddler would have escaped with all
their silver and other valuables. However when they got
home, the valet informed him that the fellow had left but he
had not taken anything with him.
Instead, he had left something for Edla. Edla opened the
package and found a rattrap. In the rattrap were three
wrinkled ten kronor notes and a letter.
The peddler had written that since Edla had treated him
like a real captain, he also wanted to be nice to her. He
wanted the money to be returned to the crofter. He further
wrote that he would not have been able to escape the rattrap,
if he had not been raised to the status of a captain. He
even signed the letter as ‘Captain von Stahle’ as he was a
changed man.
Word Meanings
The given page nos. correspond to the pages in the prescribed textbook.
Word
Meaning
Page 32
at odd moments
in his free time
keep body and sou
together
survive, especially in difficult circumstances
sunken
hollow
hunger gleamed in
his eyes
anybody could make out that he was hungry
from his eyes
vagabond
a person who wanders from place to place
without a home or job
plods along the road
walks slowly with heavy steps on the road
fallen into a line of
thought
started thinking about something
Page 33
Word
Meaning
forge
a furnace where metals are heated or wrought
barges
long flat-bottomed boats for carrying heavy
goods on canals or rivers
scows
flat-bottomed boats for transporting cargo to
and from ships in harbour
pig iron
crude iron first obtained from a smelting furnace
maw
mouth or opening
Page 36
naughty
arrogantly
ragamuffin
a person in ragged, dirty clothes
eased his way
came in slowly and carefully
deigned
condescended
set baits
offering temptations
slouch hat
a hat with a wide flexible brim or edge
unwonted joy
unusual enjoyment
undeceive
reveal his real identity to
dreary ploddings
snare : a trap
slowly progressing
regiment
a unit of an army commanded by a lieutenant
colonel
trudging
walking slowly with heavy steps
manor house
a large country house with lands
carved off
cut
Page 37
mjölis
a card game played in Sweden
inconspicuously
not attracting attention
confidences
secrets, private matters
apprentice
crofter
small farmer
a person who is learning a trade from a skilled
employer
bossy
(here) cow
creamery
a factory that produces butter and cheese
kronor
the currency of Sweden
incredulous
surprised
Page 34
Page 39
things have gone
downhill
matters have deteriorated or worsened
tramp
homeless person who lives by begging or doing
casual work
puckered
wrinkled
in good season
in a timely manner
dissimulate
pretend
peddler
a person who goes from place to place selling
small goods
Page 40
impenetrable
unbreakable
Page 35
summoned
smelter
gathered
an establishment for producing a base metal
from its ore
parson
priest
Page 41
interceded
intervened or spoke on behalf of somebody else
fare
a range of food
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Chapter
Practice
PART 1
Objective Questions
l
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The Peddler had the idea of the world in ……… .
(a) Happy moments
(b) Odd moments
(c) Difficult moments
(d) Distractive moments
Ans. (b) The peddler lead a very monotonous life. As a result,
he had a lot of free time thinking of things. It was during
one of such odd instances when he was thinking about his
rattraps that he had his idea of the world.
2. Why was the peddler’s life sad and monotonous ?
(a) Because he had no family.
(b) Because he had to work hard.
(c) Because he was poor and lonely.
(d) Because he had no respect in the society.
Ans. (c) Peddler’s life was sad and monotonous because he was
a poor rattrap seller. He was alone in the world as he had
no family and due to his poverty striken condition no-one
would befriend him.
3. But one day this man had fallen into a line of
thought, which really seemed to him entertaining.
The ‘line of thought’ implies a
(a) Belief
(b) Philosophy
(c) A fallacy
(d) Fact
Ans. (b) The line of thought, i.e., the idea that the world is a
rattrap with its own baits, is a premise of philosophy.
4. “Left to his own meditations”, one day the peddler
fell into “a line of thought, which really seemed to
him entertaining”. What does the peddler’s
conception of the world as a rattrap, signify about
him?
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(a) The peddler had a lot of time on his hands, with
nothing much to do.
(b) The peddler was a reflective man whose wisdom did
not depend on his status.
(c) The peddler was a lonely vagrant trying to make sense
of his fortunes.
(d) The peddler was a rattrap seller, and his work deeply
inspired him.
Ans. (c) The fact that the peddler came ‘to the line of thought’
indicates that he was a lonely ragabond who was trying to
understand his own poverty stricken and depraved
condition.
5. Why was the old crofter so talkative and friendly
with the peddler?
(a) Because he trusted the peddler.
(b) Because the peddler was his old friend.
(c) Because he lived there all alone and was happy to get
someone to talk to
(d) Because he thought that he peddler was a gold guy.
Ans. (c) The old man/crofter was generous, friendly and
talkative with the peddler because, he lived alone in his
cottage. He had no family and could have enjoyed the
company of another man.
6. The Rattrap seller says that when he reached the
cottage, “instead of the sour faces which ordinarily
met him”, he received a different treatment. What
kind of treatment did the seller get?
(a) Hostile
(b) Incredulous
(b) Generous
(d) Suspicious
Ans. (b) The different treatment received by the peddler was
of kindness, friendliness and generosity. The peddler was
warmly welcomed and entertained in the cottage.
7. Select the suitable option for the given statements,
based on your reading of ‘The Rattrap’.
1. The vagabond enjoyed the company of the crofter
and wanted to help him out.
2. The vagabond stole the money so that he could find a
living for himself.
(a) 1 can be inferred but 2 cannot be.
(b) 1 is cannot be inferred 2 can be.
(c) Both 1 and 2 can be inferred.
(d) Both 1 and 2 cannot be inferred.
Ans. (b) The vagabond was only feeling surprised at receiving
the warm treatment from the old crofter. Infact, he felt
greedy when the old crofter showed him the money. So,
he stole it to make a living for himself.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
8. After following the sound of the regular thumping,
where did the peddler finally land?
(a) City
(b) Forest
(c) Manor house
(d) Ramsjö Iron Mills
Ans. (d) The sound of the regular thumping was coming from
Ramsjo iron mills where the Blacksmith and his
apprentice was working.
9. “Every now and then one of them got up to stir the
glowing mass with a long iron bar, returning in a
few moments dripping with prespiration, though, as
was the custom,” What was the custom?
(a) To sit with the helper in the dark forge
(b) To wear nothing but a long shirt and a pair of wooden
shoes
(c) Shovelling the charcoal into the maw of the furnace
(d) Dripping with perspiration but still working through
the furnace.
Ans. (b) The given lines indicate the custom in the iron mill for
the blacksmith and his apprentice was that they wore
nothing but a long shirt and a pair of wooden shoes while
working near the furnace.
10. “You must have patience, my little girl,” said the
father.
The given line shows that the iron master was a
.................
(a) Loving father
(b) Rational person
(c) Egoist
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Ans. (d) The ironmaster was a loving father who couldn’t say
no to his eldest daughter Edla. At the same time, he was a
rational person who understood the negative
consequences that they could face for harbouring the
peddler.
11. But although his guest was now so well groomed,
the ironmaster did not seem pleased. Why was the
ironmaster not pleased?
(a) Because of the change in his friend
(b) Because of the news of a robbery.
(c) Because the guest was not his acquaintance.
(d) Because his daughter had defied him.
Ans. (c) The ironmaster had expected the stranger to be his
friend captain Nils Olof. However, when the groomed
stranger came out, he did not anyhow resemble his friend
but was infact a stranger.
12. Select the suitable option for given statements,
based on your reading of ‘The Rattrap’.
1. The ironmaster is skeptical of letting the peddler stay
with them.
2. This fears come out to be true as the peddler is
identified as a thief.
(a) Both 1 and 2 are true.
(b) Both 1 and 2 are false
(c) 1 is true but 2 is false
(d) 1 is false but 2 is true.
Ans. (a) The ironmaster was suspicious of the peddler and did
not really approve of letting him stay in his house. This
suspicion came out to be true as the day after Christmas,
they had gotten to know that the peddler was a thief who
had looted the old crofter.
13. “Yes, that was a line fellow you let into the house,”
said her father.
What light does the given line throw on the ironmaster as
a father?
(CBSE Question Bank 2021)
(a) The ironmaster was disapproving of Edla’s decision to
let the peddler stay.
(b) The ironmaster blamed his daughter for harbouring a
criminal at home.
(c) The ironmaster was being playful with Edla, and
supported her decisions.
(d) The ironmaster loved Edla but thought her to be too
naive and idealistic.
Ans. (a) The ironmaster was skeptical of his daughter Edla’s
decision to let the peddler stay with them. So, when the
true identity of the peddler was revealed to them, he
leaves no chance of reminding Edla of his disapproval.
14. “Yes, that was a fine fellow you let into the house,”
said her father. “I only wonder how many silver
spoons are left in the cupboard by this time”.
The tone used in the given lines can be described
as ......... .
(a) Sarcastic
(b) Disgust
(c) Sorrow
(d) Angry
Ans. (a) All through the return journey from the Chruch, the
ironmaster taunts and makes sarcastic comments on
Edla’s decision to harbour a poor peddler.
15. Choose the statement that is not true about the
peddler.
(a) The peddler wanted the ironmaster to give him some
money.
(b) The peddler feels guilty and curses himself for stealing.
(c) The peddler was enchanted by Edla even though he
finds her to be modestly beautiful.
(d) The peddler wishes to live a respectful life like a
captain.
Ans. (c) The peddler gets affected by Edla’s kind and
compassionate behaviour so much so that he decides to
lead a respectable life. There is no mention of infatuation
and Edla’s beauty.
16. Though the reader does not meet Captain von
Stahle in person, they encounter the captain
symbolically. How?
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(a) The ironmaster misidentifies the peddler as his old
friend, the Captain and invites him home.
(b) The reader realises the peddler is actually Captain von
Stahle when he signs off the letter.
(c) Edla attends to the peddler as respectfully, caringly
and kindly, as she would have the Captain.
(d) The peddler accepts the error of his ways, and displays
the qualities expected of a Captain.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Ans. (d) In the end, the peddlers’s action of asking Edla to
return the thirty Kronor makes the peddler a
metaphorical captain. He, much like a captain, accepts
the error in his ways and displays the qualities expected
of a captain.
l
Extract Based MCQs
1. Read the extracts given below and answer the
questions that follow.
“It offered riches and joys, shelter and food, heat
and clothing, exactly as the rattrap offered cheese
and pork, and as soon as anyone let himself be
tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him, and
then everything came to an end.
The world had, of course, never been very kind to
him, so it gave him unwanted joy to think ill of it
in this way.”
(i) How can the peddler describe the world?
(a) Unjust and hostile
(b) Unequal and brutal
(c) Kind and compassionate
(d) Sad and sorrowful
Ans. (a) From the given extract, it can be inferred that the
peddler does not think anything positive for the world.
The world for him is not kind and just.
(ii) Select the option the matches the reference to
‘riches and joys, shelter and food’.
(a) Deceit
(b) Temptation
(c) Materialism
(d) Luxury
Ans. (b) The ‘riches and joys, shelter and food’ represents the
bait or the temptations that tempt or lures the people to
fall into the rattrap.
(iii) Why do you think that the world was not very
kind to him?
(a) He was poor and dirty
(b) He was a thief
(c) He was a rattrap seller
(d) He looked monstrous
Ans. (a) The peddler says that the world was not kind to him
because he was a poor rattrap seller. He wore rags, had
sunken cheeks and overall looked very dirty.
(iv) The given extract does not talk about
(a) how people treated the peddler
(b) the philosophy of the rattrap seller
(c) the characteristics of the peddler
(d) the monotony of peddler’s life
Ans. (d) The given extract, in its description of the
philosophy given by the rattrap seller and the reason
why such philosophy came to him, characterises the
peddler. There is no mention of monotony of life in the
extract.
(v) Select the option that list the correct characteristic of
the rattrap seller.
1. Shabby
3. Pessimist
5. Mischievious
2. Cunning
4. Vulnerable
6. Petty
(a) 1, 2, 3
(b) 1, 3, 6
(c) 4, 5, 6
(d) 2, 4, 5
Ans. (b) The rattrap seller is a shabby looking poor man.
Because of the unkindly treatment meted out to him, he
became a pessimist and a petty individual.
2. Read the extracts given below and answer the
questions that follow.
…it was a big and confusing forest which he had
gotten into. He tried, to be sure, to walk in a definite
direction, but the paths twisted back and forth so
strangely! He walked and walked without coming to
the end of the wood, and finally he realised that he
had only been walking around in the same part of the
forest. All at once he recalled his thoughts about the
world and the rattrap. Now his own turn had come.
He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been
caught. The whole forest, with its trunks and
branches, its thickets and fallen logs, closed in upon
him like an impenetrable prison from which he could
never escape.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(i) How would you characterise the mood of the above
extract?
(a) Mysterious, restful
(b) Ominous, despairing
(c) Thoughtful, whimsical
(d) Philosophical, anguished
Ans. (b) The given extract presents the despairing mood of the
rattrap seller. In his despair, he foretells his death.
(ii) By what bait had the peddler been fooled?
(a) He had chosen to take the ‘safe’ forest route.
(b) He had decided to avoid the public highway.
(c) He had stolen money from the trusting crofter.
(d) He didn’t realize the power of his rattrap analogy.
Ans. (c) The bait that tempts the peddler is the 30 kroner notes
that the old gullible crofter shows him. The peddler is
fooled and trapped by the bait as he steals the money.
(iii) The consequence of ‘his own turn’ having come was
that the peddler had …………
(a) got irreversibly lost in the thick, warped forest.
(b) been fooled and imprisoned in a hopeless prison.
(c) been walking around the same part of the forest.
(d) walked the whole forest without finding the end.
Ans. (a) ‘His own turn’ refers to the act at stealing that makes the
rattrap seller fall in the trap of a thick, warped forest.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iv) The above extract richly employs literary devices. Look
at the table below. Choose the option that correctly
matches the instances/examples in column A with
literary devices in column B.
Column A
Column B
A. The forest closed in upon the peddler
like an impenetrable prison.
(i)
Imagery
B. The big and confusing forest with its
twisted paths, trunks and branches its
thickets and fallen logs.
(ii)
Allegory
C. The lost peddler was reminded of the
world and the rattrap.
(iii)
Metaphor
D. It was a big and confusing forest
which he had gotten into. The
peddler had been fooled and was
trapped in the forest.
(iv)
Simile
world being a rattrap.
(v) For the Peddler, the forest had become
(a) an inevitable prison
(b) a hopeless trap
(c) an unending circle
(d) an impenetrable maze
Ans. (c) As the peddler gets lost in the forest, he feels that it is a
never ending path wherein he is going around in circle’s
reaching the same spot again and again. For him, thus, the
forest had become an unending circle.
PART 2
Subjective Questions
Short Answer Type Questions
1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world
being a rattrap?
[NCERT]
or In what sense was the world a big rattrap, according to
the peddler?
Ans. The peddler was a vagabond who went around selling rattraps
made by him. One day, as he was thinking about his rattraps,
he was struck by the idea that the world was a big rattrap.
Riches, food, joys and shelter served as baits to tempt people,
just like a rattrap offered cheese or meat to tempt rats. As
soon as one was tempted to touch the bait, the rattrap closed
and the individual was trapped.
[CBSE 2016]
Ans. Wherever the peddler went, people were hostile to
him and chased him away. So, he was amused by the
idea of the world being a big rattrap. He was also
happy that those who chased him away would also be
tempted and caught up in the rattrap one day.
3. What do we learn about the crofter’s nature
from the story ‘The Ratrap’?
(a) 1-(i); 2-(ii); 3-(iii); 4-(iv)
(b) 1-(iv); 2-(i); 3-(ii); 4-(iii)
(c) 1-(iii); 2-(iv); 3-(i); 4-(ii)
(d) 1-(ii); 2-(iii); 3-(iv); 4-(i)
Ans. (b) Imagery is a literary device in which words function to
create a sensory image or picture in the mind of the reader. It
includes a detailed description of a scene or event.
Allegory is a reference to another interpretation. Herein, the
speaker interprets his action vis-a-vis a rattrap.
Metaphor includes comparison without the use of words such as
‘like’ and ‘as’, while simile compares using those words.
l
2. Why was the peddler amused at the idea of the
[CBSE 2016]
Ans. The crofter was a lonely person without wife or child.
He was happy to get someone to talk to in his
loneliness. He was also generous and trusting person
because he hosted the peddler for a night and even
showed him where he had kept his money.
4. How did the crofter entertain the peddler.
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. The crofter entertained the peddler by sharing his
feelings, giving him food and even playing a game of
cards with him. He behaved in a friendly manner
with the peddler and welcomed him warmly to his
house.
5. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed
in him by the crofter?
[NCERT]
Ans. No, the peddler didn’t respect the confidence
reposed in him by the crofter. The crofter had
showed him the thirty kronor which he had earned
and where it was kept in a pouch near a window. The
next day, when the crofter had gone out to deliver the
cow’s milk to the creamery, the peddler came back,
broke the window pane, and stole the thirty kronor.
6. What made the peddler think that he had
indeed fallen into a rattrap?
[NCERT]
or Why did the peddler keep to the woods after
leaving the crofter’s cottage? How did he feel?
[CBSE 2011]
Ans. After stealing the crofter’s money, the peddler kept to
the woods because he couldn’t walk on the public
highway for the fear of getting identified and caught.
It was a big and confusing forest and the peddler lost
his way in it. Suddenly, the truth dawned upon him.
He thought that the forest was a big rattrap in which
he had fallen. The thirty kronor were like a bait
which had been set to tempt him, and he had allowed
himself to be fooled and caught.
7. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the
peddler and invite him home?
[CBSE 2016]
Ans. The ironmaster spoke kindly to the peddler and
invited him home because he mistook the peddler for
his old regimental comrade, Nils Olof, who had,
fallen on evil days.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
This happened when the ironmaster came to the mill
for inspection and noticed the peddler lying close to the
furnace. Due to the dim light and the peddler’s dirty
appearance, he mistook him for his former colleague.
8. Why did the stranger not tell the ironmaster that
he was not Nils Olof ?
[CBSE 2012]
Ans. The stranger did not tell the ironmaster that he was not
Nils Olof because he thought that if the gentleman
believed that he was an old friend or acquaintance of
his, then he might take pity on him and help him by
giving him some money.
9. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
[NCERT]
or Why did the peddler decline the invitation
extended to him by the ironmaster?
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. The peddler declined the invitation of the ironmaster
because he was carrying the crofter’s money which he
had stolen. He is fearful that his real identity would be
revealed and he might be handed over to the police.
13. Why did Edla decide to entertain the peddler?
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. Edla decided to entertain the peddler against the wishes of
her father because she felt very bad for him and his
miserable condition. Further, it was Christmas time and as a
true Christian, it was not fair to turn away the guest on the
eve of Christmas.
14. Edla sat and hung her head even more dejectedly
than usual. Which two reasons forced her to behave
in that manner?
[Foreign 2010]
Ans. Edla had shown kindness to the peddler even after
knowing that he was not a captain. This was the reason why
she felt all the more dejected when she came to know that
the peddler was actually a thief who had recently robbed a
crofter. She felt that she had done wrong in offering shelter
to a thief. Secondly, she also felt bad because the peddler
had not measured up to the faith which she had shown in
him.
15. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von
Stahle?
10. What made the peddler accept Edla
Willmanssons invitation?
[NCERT]
or Why did the peddler accept the invitation
extended by Edla having already declined the one
from her father ?
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. Edla’s kindness made the peddler feel that he could
trust her and this made him accept her invitation. Edla
talked to him compassionately, assuring him that no
harm would come to him, and that he would be at
liberty to leave whenever he wanted.
11. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
[NCERT]
Ans. When Edla met the peddler, he became afraid. This
made Edla think that the peddler had stolen something
or he had escaped from jail. She doubted whether he
was her father’s old regimental comrade. Later she even
told her father that there was nothing about him to
show that he was once an educated man.
12. What did the peddler say in his defense when it
was clear that he was not the person the
ironmaster had thought he was?
[NCERT]
Ans. In his defense, the peddler said that it was not his fault.
He also said that he never pretended to be anything but
a poor trader. He pleaded and begged to be allowed to
stay in the forge. He added that he had not done any
harm and if asked he would put on his rags again and go
away.
[NCERT, CBSE 2009]
Ans. The peddler signed himself as Captain von Stahle because
he had been treated at the ironmaster’s home like a real
captain even after knowing he was not a captain. He
wanted to repay Edla for her kindness just as a real captain
would have done. It was an indication that he wanted to
retain the dignity and respect accorded to him.
16. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the
peddler?
[NCERT, CBSE 2010]
Ans. Edla was happy to see the gift left by the peddler because it
was unexpected. Earlier Edla was shocked to learn that
their guest was actually a thief. She had pleaded with her
father to let the peddler stay. She held herself responsible
for offering shelter to a thief.
But when she found the stolen thirty kronor in a rattrap,
she was overjoyed to understand that her kindness and
compassion had changed the peddler and brought out his
essential goodness.
17. If the world is ‘nothing but a big rattrap’, as the
tramp seated in the story ‘The Rattrap’, who might
the rattrap peddler be? Discuss.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. If the world is ‘nothing but a big rattrap’ as per the tramp
then, the rattrap peddler can become someone who sells
the baits of the world. However, he is just another human
being in the world, who is tempted into the rattrap as he
steals money from the old crofter. He is reduced to just a
person who conceptualised the idea but is not saved
from it.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
18. Despite his philosophical insights, the vagabond
fails to resist temptations. What would you
attribute this to? Explain with reference to any
instance from the text.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Despite is philosophical insights, the vagabond fails to
resist temptations simply because of his humanness. The
vagabond is a poor and a deprived man who is treated
and unkindly by the social world around him. Just like
every other individual, he is also vulnerable to the baits
of food, shelter, luxury, etc.
Hence, the bait comes to him when the old crofter shows
him his money. Blinded by the bait, he also falls in the
rattrap.
l
Long Answer Type Questions
3. The peddler believed that the whole world is a
1. The peddler’s story speaks on a general level to
society, urging for a different outlook towards those
maligned individuals who can be redeemed by
compassion and understanding. In the light of the
story ‘The Rattrap’ mentioned, how do you think
society can help individuals, specially juvenile
delinquents, from falling prey to petty crimes and
bad habits?
Ans. The peddler in the story, ‘The Rattrap’, used to earn his
living by selling small rattraps. Since his business was
not profitable, he resorted to petty thefts. Nobody
treated him with kindness or respect. But when he was
showered with affection and respect by Edla, he was
highly touched. The act of concern and compassion
impacted him so much that he left the stolen money at
her home. This shows that goodness is latent in the
human heart which can be brought out by love, care and
understanding.
The peddler’s instance, thus, urges society to change its
outlook towards those maligned individuals who can be
redeemed by compassion and understanding. Society can
help such individuals by being sympathetic and
compassionate.
It should treat these individuals, particularly juvenile
delinquents, with love and kindness and help them from
falling prey to petty crimes and bad habits. Society
should thus develop an empathetic attitude towards them
and try to understand human nature.
2. Compare and contrast the character of the iron
master with that of his daughter.
The ironmaster is also a realist. He is practical and morally
strict. As soon as he sees the peddlers true identity he
orders him to leave. While he does not show any softness
with the peddler, he does so with his daughter whose
wishes he accepts.
On the other hand, Edla, the ironmaster’s daughter, was a
kind and compassionate lady who was really sympathetic
and considerate towards the peddler right from the
beginning. She is observant and suspicious of the
peddler’s identity.
She treated him with respect and dignity even after
knowing that was not a captain. It was her generous
attitude which finally changed the peddler, bringing out
the essential goodness of his nature.
[CBSE 2017]
Ans. The ironmaster was a man of power and ambition. He
was so hardwarking, disciplined and sober that he did
rounds in his mills to make sure that everything was
working properly. But he was also impulsive and
completely non-persuasive. He invited the peddler home
without confirming his identity and even when the
pedder refused, he sent his daughter to convince the
latter to come to his home.
rattrap. How did he himself get caught in the same?
[CBSE 2017]
Ans. The peddler in the story ‘The Rattrap’ believed very
strongly that this world was a big rattrap. It offered
comforts and joys just like the rattrap offered food to a rat.
As soon as a rat was tempted to touch the bait, it trapped
him. In same way food, joys and shelter served as baits to
tempt people who get trapped thereafter.
But one day peddler himself was caught in such a trap.
One day when he sought refuge at a crofter’s house, he
came across a bait. The old crofter showed him the money
which he had earned. The crofter’s hospitality served as a
bait for the peddler as, the next morning, he stole the
money and fled into the forest.
He got lost there and felt the forest was a big rattrap into
which he had fallen. Later, he again gets caught into the
trap when Edla invites him home with the assurance
of Christmas cheer. Devoid of happiness, food and
shelter, the peddler repeatedly surrenders to worldly
temptations.
4. To be grateful is a great virtue of a gentleman. How
did the peddler show his gratitude to Edla?
[CBSE 2015]
Ans. It is truly said that a gentlemen shows the virtue of
gratefulness. This statement stands true for the character
of the peddler in the story ‘The Rattrap’ wherein the
peddler transforms into a gentleman due to the
compassion and kindness shown by Edla.
Edla knew that her father was mistaken when he invited
the peddler home thinking he was his long lost friend.
Later it was revealed that he was a complete stranger and
not her father’s acquaintance. Despite this Edla begged
her father not to send him away on Christmas Eve. She
invited him home and gave him food, shelter and clothes.
Her kindness, compassion and sympathy bring out the
goodness in the peddler.
He leaves a packet for her as a Christmas gift which
contains a rattrap and three ten kronor notes stolen from
the crofter. It also contained a letter in which he signs
106
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
himself as captain and requests her to return the stolen
money to the crofter. Hence, by transforming himself into
a dignified gentleman the peddler showed his gratitude to
Edla and Edla’s care and concern.
5. The people we meet in life leave an impression on
us. How is the rattrap seller affected by meeting the
crofter and Edla?
[CBSE 2017]
Ans. It is true that the people we meet in life leaves an
impression on us. In the story. ‘The rattrap’, the peddler
comes across two people who change his life for the
better.
The Crofter He was the first person that the peddler
found to be hospitable. He treated him like a guest, gave
him food and entertained him by playing a game of cards
with him after dinner. The crofter also shared his
confidences with the peddler, but the peddler robbed
him of his money. Thus, the crofter’s hospitality did not
affect the peddler’s behaviour although, later on, the
peddler’s conscience pricked him for robbing the crofter’s
money.
Edla She persuaded him to come home for Christmas
and treated him with dignity and respect befitting a
captain and a guest even after realising the truth that
he was not the person her father thought him to be.
She was kind and compassionate, spread Christmas
cheer and gave him gifts. All this finally brought about
a change in the peddler. He decided to change his ways
and live with dignity and respect. When he got the
chance to show his goodness, he returned the stolen
money with a note to give it back to the crofter. He also
left a rattrap for Edla as a Christmas present.
6. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to
highlight the human predicament?
[NCERT]
Ans. The peddler, in the course of his wandering, suddenly
thinks about the whole world as a big rattrap. Just as
cheese and meat are baits in the rattrap, similarly the
riches, joy, shelter and food that the world offers are baits
to entrap and ensnare people. Being an embittered man,
shunned by everybody, these thoughts give ‘unwonted
joy’ to the tramp. He thinks of all the people around him
who have fallen into the trap.
The musings of the tramp does have an iota of truth in
them. We are tempted by temptations, desires and needs.
We go all out to satisfy them. In this desire to amass and
accumulate more and more, we are entrapped by the
world. Just in case we do not get the things we want, we
are plunged into despair and gloom. In this way, the
metaphor of the rattrap highlights the human predicament.
7. A good deed or an act of kindness can change a
person’s view of the world. What characteristics of
Edla’s conduct inspire the peddler to redeem
himself and change his ways?
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. There is great transforming power in the act of kindness.
There are many fictional and real life stories which reveal
us how compassion and kindness changed bad people
into good human beings; these stories teach us the lesson
of being kind. Edla’s empathy and kindness changed the
life of the vagabond rattrap seller.
Edla restored his dignity and self-worth and treated him
like a Captain of the army though she was aware that he
was a common tramp. She was empathetic towards the
peddler and the kindness and concern she showed
towards the peddler touched the core of his heart and
transformed his way of thinking. Her kindness and caring
nature transformed the unscrupulous vagabond into a
good human being.
This shows that the peddler was not a bad man at heart,
but was only bound by his poor and unfortunate
circumstances, which forced him to steal things. But the
love, trust and understanding shown by Edla brought out
his basic human goodness.
8. ‘The Rattrap’ focuses on human loneliness and the
need to bond with others. Comment
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. All the characters in the story, ‘The Rattrap’, suffer from
loneliness and are dreary souls. First of all, the tramp
appears to lead a sad, monotonous existence, left to his
own musings. He is always greeted by sour faces and cold
words wherever he goes.
Next, the old crofter lives all alone in a cottage by the
roadside. He is happy to get someone to talk to and get
over his sense of loneliness. That’s the reason why he is
so generous and hospitable as a host.
Then the ironmaster and his daughter Edla also have no
company for Christmas. The ironmaster takes the tramp
home, mistaking him to be his old comrade. He, with his
daughter, is happy to play the perfect host to his former
colleague.
Thus, all of them have a strong desire for bonding and
comradeship. The crofter is happy to be friends with the
peddler, although only for a night. Similarly, the
ironmaster and his daughter have an opportunity to
practise their Christian virtues of kindness, sympathy and
hospitality. The compassion and sincerity shown by Edla
changes peddler into a man who is one of the members of
society.
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
9. How would your compare the peddler’ actions in
relation to the crofter and Edla? Would you say
kindness does not always beget kindness, and that
the conditions for receiving kindness are important
for it to truly transform people? Elaborate.
Provide relevant textual details to support the
analysis.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. The Peddler’s actions in relation to the crofter is very
different from his actions in relation to Edla. In the case
of the crofter’s, the peddler falls for the bait. The old
crofter’s amiable, friendly and kind attitude tempts the
peddler with livelihood. The thirty kronors shown by the
crofter finally entraps the peddler.
Therefore, the paddler broke the confidence and turst
reposed in him by the old crofter.
In contrast, the peddler reposed the trust and kindness
shown to him by Edla. Edla treats the peddler with
kindness, compassion and respect worthy of a captain,
even after knowing that was a mere tramp. As a
consequence, the peddler decided to change his ways and
start leading a respectful life.
In light of the peddler’s reaction to the kindness shown
by the crofter and Edla, we can say that kindness does not
always beget kindness and that the conditions for
receiving kindness are important to transform people.
The kindness shown by the old crofter does not effect the
peddler to change him. In fact, the crofters kindness baits
him to fall in a rattrap of luxuries.
The peddler in return to the crofter 's kindness brings
him misery by stealing his earnings. A similar kindness is
shown by Edla. She treats the peddler like a captain.
However, unlike the case the crofter the situation is
different. The entrapped peddler, is regretting his acts
so much that Edla’s respect and kindness starts a
process of transformation. Consequently, the kindness
shown by Edla is begetted by her with the peddler
leaving behind the stolen money to be returned.
l
Extract Based Questions
1. Read the following extracts carefully and answer
the questions that follow
No one can imagine how sad and monotonous life
can appear to such a vagabond who plots along the
read, left to his own meditatious but one day this
man had fallen into a line of thought, which really
seemed to him entertaining. He had naturally been
thinking of his rattrap when suddenly he was struck
by the idea that the whole world about him. The
whole word with its lands and seas, it cities and
villages-was nothing but a big rattrap. It had never
existed for any other purpose than to set baits for
people.
107
(i) Why is life ‘sad and monotonous’ for the peddler?
(ii) For what reason was the line of thought entertaining
of the peddler?
(iii) “He had naturally been thinking of his rattrap”. What
does the use of ‘naturally’ indicate in the extract?
(iv) What are the baits that tempt man to fall in the trap
of the world?
(v) If the world is ‘nothing but a big rattrap’ who might
the rattrap peddler be?
Ans. (i) Life is sad and monotonous for the peddler because
he was poor and lonely. He had to make rattraps
everyday or indulge in begging and theft to make his
living. He could not rest or have peace for even one
day.
(ii) The line of thought was entertaining to the peddler
because of the hostility he received from people. It
made him feel good when people get caught in the
rattrap were circling around the bait.
(iii) The word ‘naturally’ in the extract indicates the
association of the peddler with rattraps. The peddler
was a rattrap seller and it is natural for him to think
about them.
(iv) The baits that tempt a man to fall in the trap of the
world include all the basic necessities and luxuries of
life. These include the riches, joys, shelter, food, heat,
etc.
(v) If the world is ‘nothing but a big rattrap’, the rattrap
peddler can be someone who sells baits to people so
that they can be entrapped. However, as per the story,
the peddler himself falls prey into the rattrap.
2. Read the following extracts carefully and answer
the questions that follow
The stranger must have seemed incredulous, for the
old man got up and went to the window, took down
a leather pouch which hung on a nail in the very
window frame, and picked out three wrinkled
ten-kronor bills. These he held up before the eyes
of his guest, nodding knowingly, and then stuffed
them back into the pouch. The next day both men
got up in good season. The crofter was in a hurry to
milk his cow, and the other man probably thought
he should not stay in bed when the head of the
house had gotten up.
(i) Why does the author say that the stranger must have
seemed incredulous?
(ii) How did the old man earn his thirty kronor bills with
him?
(iii) What does the given lines tell us about the old man?
(iv) The next day both men got up in good season’. Explain.
(v) What is the significance of the given lines?
Ans. (i) The author says that the stranger must have seemed
incredulous because the information that the old man
had thirty kronors with him seemed unbelievable to
him.
108
(ii) The old man had earned the thirty kronors by selling
milk that his cow gave.
(iii) The given lines show us that the old man was very
happy and delighted to have someone to talk to. He is
so innocent that he forgets that he is too trusting of the
stranger and had shown him where he kept his
earnings.
(iv) Both the men in the cottage had a great time
together. The old man got someone to talk to and the
peddler got to enjoy some good hospitality from the
crofter.
(v) The given lines are significant because it shows
the trusting and gullible nature of the old man. It points
out that the old man made a mistake in blindly trusting
a strange man by showing him his money.
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
“What in the world are you doing?” Said the father.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
Ans. (i)
(ii)
(iii)
3. Read the following extracts carefully and answer
the questions that follow
The ironmaster began to laugh.
“That was not so badly said, my good fellow.
Perhaps we should let the sheriff alone on
Christmas Eve. But now get out of here as fast as
you can.”
But just as the man was opening the door, the
daughter said, “I think he ought to stay with us
today. I don’t want him to go.” And with that she
went and closed the door.
(iv)
(v)
Why did the ironmaster begin to laugh?
What does the given lines show about the ironmaster?
Why was the man leaving?
Why does Edla stop the man from leaving?
How can you justify the ironmaster’s reaction for his
daughter’s decision?
The ironmaster began to laugh because of the
philosophy of the strange man. The strange man had
just warned the ironmaster that the world is a rattrap
wherein he will also be caught.
The given lines show that the ironmaster was a jovial
and a good natured fellow.
The man was leaving because it was found that he
was not a captain friend of the ironmaster. He was, in
fact, just a tramp who had been misidentified.
Edla stopped the man from leaving because she
wanted to do something good on Christmas by
helping the poor tramp. Further, they had promised
the tramp Christmas cheer and felt that it would be
wrong to send him away without it.
As a rational man, the ironmaster knows that
sheltering the tramp would bring problems to their
house. So, he wanted the tramp to leave and he had
not expected his daughter would go against his
decision.
CBSE NEW Pattern English Language & Literature 12th (Term-II)
109
CHAPTER 02
Indigo
—by Louis Fischer
In this Chapter...
Chapter Sketch
This chapter is an excerpt from
Fischer’s book ‘The Life of Mahatma
Gandhi’. The book has been reviewed
by the Times Educational Supplement
as one of the best books ever written
on Gandhi. The author visited Gandhi
in 1942 and Gandhi narrated him the
incident which prompted him to fight
against the British. Rajkumar Shukla, a
poor peasant, came to Gandhi with
the problem of exploitation in his
district. Gandhi visited the place and
freed the people of Champaran from
tyranny.
l
Chapter Summary
l
Word Meaning
l
Chapter Practice
Chapter Summary
Rajkumar Shukla ‘The Resolute Peasant’
The author had visited Gandhiji for the first time in 1942 at his ashram in Sevagram.
There Gandhi started narrating the incident which made him decide to spur the exit of
the British from India in 1917. Gandhi had gone to the December 1916 annual
convention of the Indian National Congress Party in Lucknow. A poor and emaciated
peasant, Rajkumar Shukla, approached Gandhi there. He wanted Gandhi to visit his
district and look into the condition of the peasants there.
The peasants of Champaran including him were sharecroppers. He had come to the
Congress Session to complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar and
was advised to seek Gandhi’s help.
Shukla was illiterate but was very resolute. Even though Gandhi told him about his
commitments, Shukla did not leave his side. Impressed with his tenacity, Gandhi
finally asked Shukla to meet him in Calcutta on a particular data to go to Champaran.
Visit to Rajendra Prasad’s House and then to Muzaffarpur
When the date came near, Gandhi found Shukla waiting for him in Calcutta. When
Gandhi got free, they went to Patna, Bihar, to meet a lawyer named Rajendra Prasad.
Rajendra Prasad was out of town, but the servants knew Shukla as a poor peasant who
pestered their master to help the indigo sharecroppers. As Gandhi accompanied him,
they thought him to be another farmer and let them stay on the grounds. However,
Gandhi was not allowed to drink water from the well as they thought that he was an
untouchable.
110
Before going to Champaran, Gandhi decided to visit
Muzaffarpur to obtain more information about the
conditions prevalent in the area. So, he sent a telegram to
Professor JB Kriplani, who received them at the station
with a large body of students on 15th April, 1917. Gandhi
stayed in Muzaffarpur for two days in the home of Professor
Malkani, a government school teacher.
He recalled that his stay in the house of a government
servant was an extraordinary thing ‘in those days’ as many
Indians were afraid to show sympathy for advocates of
home rule.
Gandhi Scolded the Lawyers
The news of Gandhi’s arrival spread like wildfire.
Sharecroppers from Champaran began arriving in
large numbers to meet Gandhi. Muzaffarpur lawyers also
met Gandhi and told him about their cases.
When they reported the size of their fee Gandhi scolded
the lawyers for collecting a huge fee from the poor
sharecroppers. Gandhi concluded that the peasants were so
crushed and fear-stricken that going to law courts was
useless. The real relief for them was to be free from fear.
The Sharecropping Arrangement
According to the sharecropping agreement most of the land
fit for cultivation in Champaran was divided into large
estates. These estates were owned by Englishmen but
worked on by Indian tenants. The landlords forced the
Indian tenants to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo
and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. This was
done by a long term contract.
After the landlords learned that Germany had developed
synthetic indigo, they asked for compensation from the
sharecroppers for being released from the 15%
arrangement. The sharecropping arrangement was irksome,
so many peasants signed willingly. At the same time, some
peasants opposed it. Meanwhile, the information about
synthetic indigo reached the peasants who felt cheated. The
peasants now wanted their money back.
Gandhi Disobeys the Official Order
It was amidst such chaos that Gandhi arrived in Champaran
and started his enquiry. First he visited the Secretary of
the British landlord’s association but the Secretary told him
that no information would be given to an outsider. He then
visited the British Commissioner of the region. Here,
Gandhi reported that he was bullied and asked to leave.
Gandhi did not leave and proceeded to Motihari, the capital
of Champaran. There, using a house as headquarters, he
continued his investigations. A report came in that a
peasant had been maltreated in a nearby village. Gandhi
decided to check the matter himself.
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
On the way, he was ordered by a police superintendent’s
messenger to return to the town. Thereafter, he was served
with an official notice to quit Champaran. Gandhi signed a
receipt of the notice and further wrote that he would disobey
the order. As a result, he was summoned to appear in the court
the next day.
Spontaneous Demonstration of the Peasants
Gandhi could not sleep the whole night. He telegraphed
Rajendra Prasad to come from Bihar with influential friends
and sent instructions to the ashram. He also wired a full report
to the Viceroy.
Next day, several thousand peasants reached Motihari and
started demonstrating around the courthouse. They had heard
that a Mahatma who wanted to help them was in trouble with
the authorities. Gandhi felt that this was the beginning of their
liberation from fear of the British.
The government and the officials felt powerless. So, Gandhi
regulated the crowd and gave them a concrete proof that their
power could be challenged by Indians.
The crowd baffled the Britishes who wanted to postpose the
trial. The British authorities wanted to consult the superiors.
But, Gandhi protested against the delay. He confessed that he
broke the law but only because of the voice of his conscience.
Soon, the judge announced that he won’t make a judgement for
days. This allowed Gandhi to remain free.
Gandhi Influences the Lawyers
Rajendra Prasad, alongwith many prominent lawyers,
conferred with Gandhi. Gandhi asked them what they would do
if he was sent to jail. The senior lawyer replied that they were
there to help Gandhi; if he was arrested, they would go home.
Gandhi reprimanded them about the injustice to the
sharecroppers.
The lawyers consulted among themselves. They thought that
when Gandhi, a total stranger, was ready to go to jail for the
sake of the peasants, it would be shameful for them to leave the
peasants, whom they claimed to serve.
They told Gandhi that they were ready to follow him to jail. To
this, Gandhi exclaimed, ‘The battle of Champaran is won’.
Civil Disobedience Triumphs,
Lieutenant-Governor Summons Gandhi
Some days later Gandhi was informed that the LieutenantGovernor of the province had ordered the case to be dropped.
Civil disobedience had triumphed for the first time in modern
India.
Inquiries into the grievances of the farmers over a wide area
began. About ten thousand testimonials were reported and
notes were made of the evidence. The whole area throbbed
with activity while the landlords protested vehemently against
the inquiries.
111
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
In June, the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Edward Gait, summoned
Gandhi. Before he went, Gandhi laid out detailed plans for civil
disobedience if he did not return. The Lieutenant-Governor,
after having four protracted meetings with Gandhi, appointed an
official commission to enquire into the situation. The commission
comprised landlords, government officials and Gandhi.
Consequently, Gandhi stayed in Champaran for 7 months.
Gandhi Agrees to 25% Compensation
The evidence against the landlords was overwhelming. They
asked Gandhi how much they should repay. They thought he
would demand full repayment of the money which was illegally
and deceitfully extorted from the sharecroppers. But Gandhi
asked for only 50%. The landlords offered a refund of 25% which
Gandhi agreed.
Gandhi explained that the amount of the refund was not
important. What mattered was that the landlords were obliged to
surrender part of the money and with it, part of their prestige.
Now, the peasants saw that they had certain rights and people to
defend them while learning courage. Soon, the lands were
reverted to the peasants and indigo sharecropping disappeared.
The Poor Conditions of Champaran
and Gandhi’s Typical Methods
Gandhi now wanted to do something about the cultural and social
backwardness in the Champaran villages. So, many volunteers
from all across the country arrived. These included his wife,
Kasturba and his son. Soon, primary schools were opened in six
villages. Kasturba taught the ashram rules on personal cleanliness
and community sanitation. Health and poor state of women were
among the many issues that were tackled. While in
Champaran, Gandhi kept a long distance watch on the
ashram. He sent regular instructions by post and asked
for financial accounts.
Significance of Champaran Episode
The Champaran episode was a turning point in Gandhi’s
life. He explained that what he did was an ordinary thing.
He declared that the British could not order him about in
his own country.
Champaran didn’t begin as an act of defiance. It was
initially an attempt to help the poor peasants. This was
the typical Gandhi pattern. His politics were intertwined
with the practical day-to-day problems of the millions.
Self-reliance—The Making
of a Free Indian
In all the things that Gandhi did, he tried to mould a new
free Indian, who could stand on his own feet and thus
make India free. Charles Freer Andrews, an English
pacifist, who had become a devoted follower of Gandhi,
came to bid him goodbye. Gandhi’s lawyer friends
wanted Andrews to help them. But Gandhi strongly
opposed the suggestion.
According to him, asking for Andrews’ help was showing
the weakness of their hearts. He assured them the cause
was just and they must rely upon themselves to win the
battle. Gandhi in this way taught them a lesson on
self-reliance.
Word Meanings
The given page numbers correspond to the pages in the NCERT textbook.
Page 46
urge the departure
convention
emaciated
towering
sharecroppers
resort
Page 47
yeoman
tenacity
Page 48
harbour a man
like me
advent
champion
chided
crushed
Page 49
holdings
irksome
thugs
Page 50
—
—
—
—
—
—
start the exit (from India)
a meeting or formal assembly
abnormally thin or weak
very tall or high
tenant farmers who give a part of each crop as
rent
to adopt
—
—
peasant or farmer
determination
—
give shelter to a person who advocated
freedom
arrival
a person who defends or fights for a cause
scolded
suppressed
summons
—
an order to appear before a judge or
magistrate
conflict of duties
—
having two duties opposing each
other
reconvened
Page 51
—
met again after a break in proceedings
conferred
—
consulted or discussed
deposition (s)
—
out-of-court oral testimony of a witness
that is reduced to writing for later use in
court
Protracted
—
longer than expected
entreaty
—
earnest request, appeal
unlettered
—
illiterate
alleviate
—
reduce or lessen
pacifist
—
one who believes in adopting peaceful
means rather than war or violence
seek a prop
—
look for support
Page 52
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
areas of land held on lease or rent
irritating, annoying
criminals
Page 54
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Chapter
Practice
PART 1
Objective Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Why did Rajkumar Shukla come to the Congress
session?
(a) To complain about the injustice faced by farmers.
(b) To receive Gandhiji and take him to Champaran.
(c) To hire a lawyer against landlord system.
(d) To accompany Gandhiji to go to other parts of India.
Ans. (a) Rajkumar Shukla was one of the peasants who were
suffering under the exploitative rule of the British
landlords. He had come to the Congress session to
complain about the injustice meted out to them by the
landlords who had deceived and extorted money from them.
2. ‘‘Under an ancient arrangement, the Champaran
peasants were sharecroppers.”
Here the purpose of calling sharecropping an
ancient arrangement is to imply that ....
(a) sharecropping does not suit the modern market.
(b) sharecropping was adopted very early but now require a
change.
(c) sharecropping was an exploitative arrangement.
(d) sharecropping had not been beneficial for the peasants.
Ans. (b) By calling the sharecropping arrangement as an
‘ancient arrangement’, the writer wants to highlight that it
was an old arrangement that did not suit the present
times. Hence, it needed to be changed.
3. Gandhi told shukla he had an appointment in
Cawnpore and was also committed to go to other
parts of India. Shukla accompanied him everywhere.
The given lines show that Shukla was .….....
(i) Patient
(ii) Dominating
(v) Courageous
(a) (i) and (iv)
(c) Only (iv)
(ii) Irritating
(iv) Resolute
(b) (ii) and (iv)
(d) (iv) and (v)
Ans. (a) The fact that even though Gandhi has informed him of
his commitments, Rajkumar Shukla followed him
everywhere and persisted in taking Gandhi to
Champaran. This shows that he was a patient and a
resolute man.
4. Select the suitable option for the given statements,
based on your reading of ‘Indigo’.
(i) The household servants of Rajendra Prasad’s house
believed in the concept of untouchability.
(ii) They believed Gandhi to be an untouchable and did
not allow him to drink from the well.
(a) 1 is true but 2 is false
(b) 1 is false but 2 is true
(c) Both 1 and 2 cannot be inferred
(d) Both 1 and 2 can be inferred
Ans. (d) The servants at the house of Rajendra Prasad believed
in the concept of untouchability as they considered
Gandhi to be an untouchable and thus did not allow him
to drink water from the well. They feared that if the water
from Gandhi fell it would pollute the well.
5. ‘Gandhi decided to go first to Muzzafarpur, which
was en route to Champaran, to obtain more
complete information about conditions than Shukla
was capable of imparting.’ The given lines show that
(a) Gandhiji did not believe Shukla.
(b) Gandhiji wanted to get to the core of the problem.
(c) Gandhiji knew what he had to do.
(d) Gandhiji wanted to talk to authorities.
Ans. (b) The fact that Gandhi went to Muzzafarpur to gather
more information highlights’ that he knew that Rajkumar
Shukla may not be able to give him complete details
about the problem. For him to help the peasants, it was
essential for him to get to the core of the problem.
6. “It was an extraordinary thing in those days,”
Gandhi commented, “for a government professor to
harbour a man like me.”
With what tone do you think Gandhi would have
spoken the given statement?
(a) Awe
(b) Admiration
(c) Joy
(d) As a matter of fact
Ans. (b) When Gandhi praises professor Malkani, he uses the
tone of admiration to highlight that in time of British
tyranny when every other man feared punishment for
supporting the advocates of home rule, a government
school teacher harbored him in his own house.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
7. In the light of the following statement, choose the
option that lists the characteristics of the Courts as
per Gandhi.
“I have come to the conclusion that we should stop
going to law courts. Taking such cases to the courts
does litte good. Where the peasants are so crushed
and fear-stricken, law courts are useless. The real
relief for them is to be free from fear.”
(i) Just
(iii) Servile
(v) Racist
(ii) Biased
(iv) Resolute
(a) (i) and (iii)
(c) Only (ii)
(b) (i) and (iv)
(d) (ii) and (v)
Ans. (c) According to Gandhi, going to courts is useless as they
will be biased with the peasants and judge in the favour
of the British landlords.
8. What according to Mahatma Gandhi would be a
real solution for peasants of Champaran ?
(a) To free them from fear
(b) To file cases in law courts
(c) To talk to British officials
(d) To hire thugs
9. Gandhi signed a receipt for the notice and wrote on
it that he would disobey the order.
What characteristics would you attach to Gandhiji
based on the given sentence?
(b) Revolutionary
(d) Determined
Ans. (a) The act of disobeying an official government order
shows that Gandhi was bold and daring to challenge
authority.
10. “Morning found the town of Motihari black with
peasants.” Here ‘black’ means
(b) shade
12. “Apparently, the authorities wished to consult their
superiors.” The word ‘apparently’ here indicates
(a) Reason
(b) Excuse
(c) Disbelief
(d) Strategy
Ans. (b) The use of the word ‘apparently’ in the given sentence
indicates that the author does not believe the British
authorities reason of postponing the trail to be
consultation with the authorities. For him it was just an
excuse.
13. The judge released him without bail. The given
sentence is an indication of ........
(a) Victory of the Civil Disobedience Movement
(b) Removal of fear from the peasants
(c) Success of Gandhi over the Britishers
(d) Success of challenge to British authority
for bail for Gandhi shows that the first event of
challenging the British authority had been successful.
from the fear of the British authority. They need to learn
courage and challenge the British tyranny.
(a) colour
a large crowd that was challenging their power and
authority and they did not know how to handle them.
Ans. (d) The fact that the trail was postponed without any need
Ans. (a) For Mahatma Gandhi, the peasants required to be free
(a) Daring
(c) Strong-willed
Ans. (d) The British Government was baffled because they had
(c) crowded
14. In the light of the following statement, pick the
option that lists characteristics of Gandhi.
“Gandhi never contented himself with large
political or economic solutions. He saw the cultural
and social backwardness in the Champaran villages
and wanted to do something about it immediately.”
(i) pragmatic
(iii) compassionate
(v) patient
(ii) obedient
(iv) philanthropic
(vi) dramatic
(a) (i), (iii) and (vi)
(b) (i), (iv) and (v)
(c) (i), (iii) and (iv)
(d) (ii), (v) and (vi)
Ans. (c) The given lines show that Gandhi was pragmatic,
(d) blank
Ans. (c) In the given phrase, the word ‘black’ has been used to
indicate the large number of people who had come to
Muzzafarpur to aid Gandhi. The word has been used to
indicate the large crowd assembled in the town.
11. The government was baffled. Why was the
governmental baffled?
This was so because
(a) They did not how to solve the sharecropping issue.
(b) They did not how to handle to large crowd.
(c) They realised that their power was being questioned.
(d) Both (b) and (c)
compassionate and philanthropic in his approach to
mould a new free Indian.
15. Complete the statement about the form of the
chapter, ‘Indigo’.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
The chapter ‘Indigo’ is ......... a Louis Fischer book.
(a) a preface to
(b) the blurb for
(c) the foreword of
(d) an excerpt from
Ans. (d)The lesson ‘Indigo’ is an excerpt from the Louis
Fischer’s book titled ‘The Life of Mahatma Gandhi’.
114
l
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Extract Based MCQ’s
1. Read the given extracts to attempt questions that
follow.
The news of Gandhi’s advent and of the nature of
his mission spread quickly through Muzaffarpur
and to Champaran. Sharecroppers from Champaran
began arriving on foot and by conveyance to see
their champion. Muzaffarpur lawyers called on
Gandhi to brief him; they frequently represented
peasant groups in court, they told him about their
cases and reported the size of their fee.
(i) What was the nature of Gandhi’s mission as
mention in the passage?
(a) To teach self dependence
(b) To start a result
(c) To help the poor peasants
(d) To chide the lawyers
Ans. (c) The primary purpose and nature of Gandhi’s mission
was to help the poor peasants who were getting exploited
in the sharecropping agreement.
(ii) Of the four meanings of ‘champion’, select the
option that matches in meaning with its usage in
the extract.
(a) Number one title holder
(c) Man at arms
(b) Vigorous advocater
(d) Popular leader
Ans. (b) The word ‘Champion’ means someone who very
extensively advocates or promotes a cause.
(iii) What does ‘their cases’ refer to in the extract.
(a) Their professional history.
(b) Cases against British authoritiers.
(c) Cases against tyrranical landlords.
(d) Their work for the upliftment of peasants.
1. Hope
3. Accountability
5. Fear
2. Courage
4. Leadership
(a) 1 and 2
(c) 3 and 5
(b) 2 and 4
(d) 1 and 4
Ans. (d) The Sharecroppers had come to visit Gandhi because
they hoped that under the leadership of this popular
leader they would be able to get justice.
2. Read the given extracts to attempt questions that
follow.
But Champaran did not begin as an act of defiance.
It grew out of an attempt to alleviate the distress of
large numbers of poor peasants. This was the
typical Gandhi pattern — his politics were
intertwined with the practical, day-to-day problems
of the millions. His was not a loyalty to abstractions;
it was a loyalty to living, human beings. In
everything Gandhi did, moreover, he tried to mould
a new free Indian who could stand on his own feet
and thus make India free. [CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(i) Select the suitable option for the given statements,
based on the extract.
1. His was not a loyalty to abstractions; it was a loyalty
to living, human beings.
2. Gandhi was a humanitarian at heart.
(a) 1 is the cause of 2
(b) 2 is the effect of 1
(c) 2 can be inferred from 1
(d) 1 and 2 are independent of each other
Ans. (c) 2 can be inferred from 1
(ii) The given extract does not talk about
Ans. (c) In the given extract ‘their cases’ refers to the case that
the lawyers are fighting for the sharecroppers against the
tyrannical British landlords.
(iv) Select the terms that can be associated with the
following.
1. ...... spread quickly through Muzzaffarpur
2. ....... reported the size of their fee.
1
(v) Select the option that list the feelings and attitudes
the sharecroppers attached to Gandhi.
2
(a) Gandhi’s popularity
Lawyers Greed
(b) The extent of exploitation
Pride in capability
(c) Belief in Gandhi
Arrogance and earnestness
(d) Seriousness of the issue
Self belief
Ans. (a) The first phrase is indicative of Gandhi’s popularity
because of which peasants were visiting him. The second
phrase highlights the greed of the lawyers who were
fighting for the poor peasants.
(a) details of the daily problems faced by human beings.
(b) efforts to relieve suffering of the common people.
(c) the reason for the occurrence of Champaran.
(d) Gandhi’s principles in the field of politics.
Ans. (a) The given extract talks about how the efforts put
forward by Gandhi to relive the suffering of the common
man led him into the Champaran episode. The extract in
doing do states Gandhi’s principle in the field of politics.
(iii) Which option showcases an example of Action (A)
Result (R), from the passage?
1.
2.
3.
4.
A = Defiance
A = Free Indians
A = Free India
A = Defiance
(a) Option 1
(b) Option 2
(c) Option 3
(d) Option 4
Ans. (b)
R = Poor peasants
R = Free India
R = Defiance
R = Free Indians
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iv) Gandhiji wanted to mould a new free Indian who
could stand on this own feet.
This means that the new free Indian is .....
(a) courageous
(c) strong-willed
(b) self-reliant
(d) empowered
Ans. (c) Gandhi wanted to mold a new free Indian who could
stand on his own feet, fight for him own rights and take a
stand for himself. This new individual will be self-reliant,
courageous and independent.
(v) Choose the option listing the sentence that is the
most appropriate example of an act of difiance’, from
the following.
She picked up the telephone terrified of what was
about to come. She could hear nobody on the other
side. Meanwhile, there was a thud at the door loud
enough to scare her. Curiaus as she was, she wanted to
open it as soon as possible. Her mother tried to stop
her several times, but she went ahead, nevertheless.
(a) She picked up the telephone terrified of what was about to
come.
(b) Meanwhile, there was a thud at the door loud enough to
scare her.
(c) Curious as she was, wanted to open it as soon as possible.
(d) Her mother tried to stop her several times but she went
ahead nevertheless.
Ans. (d) Her mother tried to stop her several times but she went
ahead nevertheless.
PART 2
Subjective Questions
l
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Why did Rajkumar Shukla want to take Gandhiji to
Champaran?
[Delhi 2008]
Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was one of the poor impoverished
sharecroppers of the Champaran district. He had gone to
the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress to
take Gandhiji to Champaran to fight the injustice and the
exploitation of the sharecroppers.
2. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being
‘resolute’?
[NCERT, Compartment 2015]
or How did Rajkumar Shukla establish that he was
resolute?
[All India 2015]
Ans. Rajkumar Shukla is described as being resolute because he
went along with Gandhiji everywhere that he went till
Gandhiji agreed to help him. He was adamant to take
Gandhiji to Champaran to solve the problems faced by
sharecroppers and so he resolutely went everywhere with
Gandhiji until, impressed with his tenacity, Gandhiji
agreed to go with him.
3. How was Gandhi treated at Rajendra Prasad’s
house?
[CBSE 2015]
Ans. Rajendra Prasad was out of town when Rajkumar Shukla
and Gandhiji reached his house. But his sevants knew
Shukla as a poor peasant who pestered Rajendra Prasad
to help the indigo sharecroppers. So he was allowed to
stay there with his companion. But Gandhiji was not
permitted to draw water from the well as he was
considered as an untouchable and some drops of water
from his bucket could pollute the entire source.
4. What was the attitude of the average Indian in
smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?
[NCERT]
Ans. The average Indian in smaller localities was afraid to
show sympathy openly for advocates of ‘home rule’. He
probably feared negative consequences. It is for this
reason that Gandhiji recalls Professor Malkani’s offering
him shelter in his own home as an extraordinary matter.
5. Why did Gandhiji feel that taking the Champaran
case to the court was useless?
[Delhi 2014]
Ans. Gandhiji felt that taking the Champaran case to the
court was useless after discussion with the lawyers, he
realised that the peasants were crushed and fear
stricken. As a result, they would not fight their case and
the court would favour the Britishers. Hence, going to
court was useless and the people needed to be free from
fear.
6. What were the terms of the indigo contract
between the British landlords and the Indian
peasants?
[CBSE 2015]
Ans. The terms of the indigo contract between the British and
the peasants was related to the arable land. The arable
land in the Champaran district was divided into estates
which were owned by Englishmen and worked by
Indian tenants. The chief commercial crop was indigo.
The landlords compelled all tenants to plant 15 per cent
of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire
indigo harvest as rent.
7. How did the invention of German synthetic indigo
affect the peasant-landlord relationship in
Champaran ?
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. When the landlords learned that Germany had developed
synthetic indigo, they wanted to dissolve the
sharecroppers agreement. However, they asked the
sharecroppers to pay them compensation for being
released from the 15% arrangement. Obviously, synthetic
indigo would be cheaper and more readily available and
thus would bring down the price of natural indigo.
The entire arrangement was irksome to the peasants.
Some refused to the arrangement and engaged lawyers
while others who had signed wanted their money back.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
8. Explain the possible reasons for Gandhi’s quick
popularity among the peasants of Champaran.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Gandhi very quickly became popular among the peasants
because he had come to help them fight for justice without
any fee unlike the lawyers. Further, he had gone against the
British law and authority to do so. Consequently, without
any knowledge about Gandhi they had come to protest
against his trail. In addition, even after the Champaran
episode, he stayed with the sharecropping peasants to uplift
them socially as well as culturally.
9. Why did Gandhi tell the court that he was involved
in a ‘conflict of duties’?
[Foreign 2015]
Ans. Gandhi told the court that he was involved in a ‘conflict of
duties’, i.e. he must not set a bad example by breaking the
law (by refusing to comply with the eviction order), but he
must also render humanitarian and national service for
which he had come to Champaran.
10. What made the Lieutenant-Governor drop the case
against Gandhiji?
[Compartment 2014]
Ans. The Lieutenant-General dropped the case against Gandhiji
because thousands of peasants held a spontaneous
demonstration in Motihari leaving the government helpless
and baffed. The judge did not want to aggravate the
situation and decided to hold the situation of several days.
Finally Gandhiji was released without bail and in the end,
the case was dropped.
11. The peasants were themselves the most crucial
agents in the success of the Champaran Civil
Disobedience. Expand.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. The peasants were the most crucial agents in the success of
the Champaran Civil Disobedience because without their
presence in such large numbers, the British authority and
the landlords would have continued their tyranny in
Champaran. If the peasants had not withstood Gandhi or
placed trust in him, then the movement will have been a
great disaster. Gandhi alone could not have achieved
success of Champaran. The support of the peasants made
the movement a success.
12. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25% refund
to the farmers?
[NCERT]
or Why did Gandhi agree to the planter’s offer of a 25%
refund to the farmers?
[Delhi 2009]
Ans. When the landlords agreed to pay a refund of only 25%, they
wanted to create a deadlock which would prolong the
dispute. To everybody’s surprise, Gandhiji accepted the offer.
According to him, the amount of refund was less important
than the fact that the landlords had been obliged to
surrender part of their money and, with it, part of their
prestige.
13. Though the sharecroppers of Champaran received
only one-fourth of the compensation, how can the
Champaran struggle still be termed a huge
success and victory?
[CBSE 2018]
Ans. Though the sharecroppers of Champaran received only
one-fourth of compensation, yet the struggle was a huge
success and victory because the objective of Gandhiji
in his Champaran campaign was to mould a new free
Indian who could stand on his own feet and thus make
India free. The peasants found confidence in fighting
their own battles and they were liberated from fear of
the British. They not only made the landlords obliged to
surrender part of money along with their prestige but
the peasants also gained courage.
14. Gandhi makes it clear that money and finance are
a secondary aspect of the struggle in Champaran.
Comment on aspect that you think was most
important for Gandhi.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Gandhi made it clear that money and finance are
secondary in the struggle in Champaran. For Gandhi, it
was the removal of the fear amongst the peasants that
was central. His persistent efforts, firm determination
and resolution taught courage to the peasant who
realised that they too, had certain rights. For him the
successful challenge to the British tyranny was more
important than the money and finance involved in the
agreement.
15. How did the episode change the plight of the
peasants?
[NCERT]
Ans. The episode changed the plight of the peasants
by helping them immensely. It removed their
mortal fear of the British. They were made aware
of their rights and developed courage to fight for their
own selves.
Consequently, within a few years, the British planters
abandoned their estates, which was reverted back to the
peasants. Slowly, indigo sharecropping completely
disappeared from the district of Champaran.
16. What did Gandhiji do about the social and cultural
upliftment of a Champaran villages ?
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. When Gandhiji saw the cultural and social
backwardness in the Champaran villages, he wanted to
do something about it immediately. He appealed for
teachers. Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh, two
young men who had just joined Gandhi as disciples, and
their wives, volunteered for the work.
Others also joined from other parts of India. Primary
schools were opened in six villages. Kasturba taught the
ashram rules on personal cleanliness and community
sanitation. As the health conditions were miserable.
Gandhiji also got a doctor to volunteer his services for
six months.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
17. How do we know that ordinary people too
contributed to the freedom movement?
[NCERT, Delhi 2009]
Ans. Ordinary people stood by and supported Gandhiji
in their own little ways. Rajkumar Shukla and
Professor Malkani defied all odds to contribute in
the movement.
Professor JB Kriplani motivated a large number of
students and welcomed Gandhiji at the
Muzaffarpur railway station at midnight. The
spontaneous demonstration outside the court was
also a significant contribution, as it showed the
Britishers the unity of the Indians. Civil
disobedience could triumph in India only because
of the courage and unity of ordinary people.
18. Why do you think Gandhi considered the
Champaran episode to be a turning-point in
his life?
[All India 2011]
Ans. Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to be
a turning point in his life because it was the first
successful civil disobedience movement for him.
Though it began as an ordinary attempt to free the
poor peasants from injustice and exploitation, it was
important because it wiped out mortal fear of the
Britishers from the hearts of the simple farmers.
19. Why did Gandhiji not take CF Andrew’s help
during the Champaran campaign? [CBSE 2019]
Ans. Gandhiji was opposed to CF Andrews helping him
in Champaran because he wanted the lawyers to be
self-reliant and know their own strengths. He told
them that their cause was just and they must rely
upon themselves to win the battle. He did not want
them seek a prop in Mr Andrews because he
happened to be an Englishman.
20. Gandhi was a lawyer himself. Examine how
his professional expertise helped in
Champaran.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. The fact that Gandhi was professionally a lawyer
worked to his benefit in the Champaran episode.
When Gandhi came to understand the
sharecropping agreement, his first action was to
view the entire situation. In midst, he realised that
there was no point in getting into cases as law
courts would hardly be able to do justice to the
peasants. He felt that it was necessary to remove
the terror of Britishers and teach farmers how to
be courageous. Once he was able to do so, the
British authority had no choice but to review the
case justly and provide justice.
l
Long Answer Type Questions
1. Give an account of the problems faced by the indigo
sharecroppers. What was Gandhiji’s role in solving the
problem?
Ans. Most of the arable land in Champaran was divided into large
estates owned by Englishmen and worked on by Indian tenants.
The chief commercial crop was indigo. So, the landlords
compelled all the tenants to plant 15% of their holdings with
indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. This was
done through a long-term contract.
When the landlords learned that Germany had developed
synthetic indigo, they obtained agreements from the
sharecroppers to pay them compensation for being released
from the 15% arrangement. This led to a conflict between the
poor sharecropper and the British landlords. Gandhiji, with the
lawyers of Muzaffarpur, conducted an inquiry into the
grievances of the farmers. The investigations, documentation
and evidence collected favoured the peasants.
Hence, Gandhiji asked for only 50% of the money as
compensation as opposed to the landlord’s thinking that he
might demand the whole amount they had extorted.
However, an agreement was reached at 25% of the money to be
compensated to the peasants. Gandhiji accepted the settlement
because he did not want a deadlock between the landlords and the
peasants. Thus, Gandhiji played a very proactive role in resolving
the issue.
2. Gandhiji said, ‘‘Freedom from fear is more important than
legal justice for the poor.’’ How does it become clear from
the lesson ‘Indigo’ that freedom from fear is an essential
condition for justice ?
Ans. When Gandhiji learned about the conditions of the peasants of
Champaran, he concluded that the peasants were so crushed
and fear-stricken that going to the law courts was useless. The
real relief would come if they were free from fear.
The conclusion that Gandhiji reached is true in every sense.
The peasants of Champaran were so exploited by the foreign
rulers that they were scared of the British landlords. In the
Champaran episode, inspite of fighting endless legal battles, the
results were inconclusive due to their fear. Thus, Gandhiji felt
that it was imperative to teach these farmers to be courageous.
So Gandhiji helped the farmers face life boldly. He not only
refused to go to the court but also got arrested for being the
Champion of share croppers. As a result, multitudes gathered at
the court, which the Britishers couldn’t control. Consequently,
the trial was postponed and Gandhiji was released without Bail.
Later, Gandhiji made the landlords surrender money as well
prestige, thus, making the peasants shed their fear.
In this way, it becomes clear from the lesson ‘Indigo’ that
freedom from fear is an essential condition for justice.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
3. Why is the Champaran episode considered to be
the beginning of the Indian struggle for
independence?
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. The Champaran episode was one of the major events in
the struggle for independence. It was in the course of
this small but significant movement that Gandhiji
decided to spur the exit of the British from India. A
close examination of the problem of the Champaran
peasants opened up Gandhiji’s eyes to the unjust
policies of the British.
He realised that people had to be made free from fear and
only then could they be freed from foreign oppression.
The spontaneous demonstration of the people proved that
Gandhiji had the people’s support in his fight against the
Britishers. The triumph of the civil disobedience at
Champaran motivated the launching of the movement on
a large scale during the freedom movement.
Gandhiji’s winning the case of the sharecroppers proved
that British authority could be challenged. Hence, the
Champaran episode served as a stepping stone to the
Indian struggle for independence.
4. Gandhiji’s was not a loyalty to abstractions; it was
loyalty to living, human beings. Why did Gandhiji
continue his stay in Champaran even after indigo
sharecropping disappeared?
[All India 2014]
Ans. After the Champaran battle was won and the land
reverted to the peasants, Gandhiji continued to stay on
in the region. His loyalty was to living human beings
and he realised that a lot needed to be done for the
upliftment of the peasants in the villages of Champaran.
Gandhiji took the initiative and began the work of
eradicating their cultural and social backwardness.
Primary schools were started so that the poor peasants
and their children could be educated. Gandhiji
appealed to teachers, and many of his disciples,
including his wife and son, volunteered for the work.
Health conditions in the area were also miserable.
Gandhiji got a doctor to volunteer his services for six
months. All this goes to prove that Gandhiji’s loyalty was
not to abstractions; his politics was always intertwined
with the practical day-to-day problems of the millions.
5. How did the Champaran episode prove to be a
turning point in Gandhi’s lite?
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. Champaran episodes proves to be a turning point in
Gandhiji’s life. The success of the Champaran episode
made Gandhiji decide to speed up the exit of the British
from India. Gandhiji concluded that the root cause of
the problem was fear, so going to law courts to solve the
dispute was useless. It brought him face to face with
reality and he became aware of the miserable condition
of the poor, illiterate farmers. He also realised the
exploitation that lay beneath the policies of the
Britishers.
The spontaneous demonstration by the peasants was the
beginning of their liberation from fear of the British. Civil
disobedience had triumphed for the first time in modern
India. Gandhiji declared that the British could not order
him about in his own country.
Thus, it was a turning point in his life, which also served as a
source of strength and motivation for his future movements.
With its success, Gandhiji tried to mould a free India which
could stand on its own and thus make India free.
6. Gandhiji, Father of our nation, is a great leader
whose values have been admired by one and all.
Describe at least three characteristics of Gandhiji
you get to know from ‘Indigo’, which you wish to
adopt into your own life quoting suitable instances
from the story.
Ans. Characteristics of Gandhiji we get to know from ‘Indigo’ and
which we can adopt into our own lives are
(i) Humility and Simplicity Gandhiji did not object to
being treated as a peasant at Rajendra Prasad’s house
by the servants.
(ii) Non-violent Attitude He used peaceful means to
bend the British law. He was prepared to go to jail for
subverting the order for his eviction from the district.
(iii) Fellow Feeling Gandhiji worked for the people of
Champaran even though he did not belong to the area
and was not familiar with them.
(iv) Humanitarian Approach He called his wife and
children to work for medical upliftment and literacy of
the peasants of Champaran.
(v) Determination He stayed in Champaran for about a
year to ensure that justice for the peasants there was
accomplished.
(vi) Self-reliance He did everything himself and taught
the lawyers there also to be self-reliant. He did not
take help from CF Andrews, a British pacifist, despite
the lawyers requesting him to do so.
7. Imagine Gandhi were to deliver a speech to students
in present day India showing them the path to
becoming responsible world leaders. Based on your
understanding of Gandhi’s own leadership skills,
write a speech, as Gandhi, addressing the students
about the qualities that every leader and politician
should nurture.
Dear students, you are all leaders of social change. I
see many bright and enthusiastic faces that assure
me that our future is in good hands. I have learnt
from my own experience…………………..
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Dear students, you are all leaders of social change. I see
many bright and enthusiastic faces that assure me that our
future is in good hands. I have learnt from my own
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
experience that emptying away all the biased thoughts
and prejudices gives new values that enhance living. I
stress upon the importance of Truth and Non-violence
and call you to ‘Be Fearless’ on all endeavors. It is you
who is the future, the tomorrow of the nation and the
instruments of social change that we want to see in the
nation.
The modern youth and students have the spiritual and
ethical values to become the means to form idealistic
thoughts, thoughts that aim for greatness. I encourage
young minds about self-reliance as a crucial necessity to
success. The young leader of today must be flexible, self
reliant, independent and open-minded.
Simplicity, kindness, truth and non-violence should be
the life’s mantra of youth. These are the essential things
that you as students have to learn and follow. Morality
and spirituality of course cannot be forgotten.
l
Extract Based Questions
1. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that
follow.
He accordingly sent a telegram to Professor J.B.
Kripalani, of the Arts College in Muzzafarpur,
whom he had seen at Tagore’s Shantiniketan school.
The train arrived at midnight, 15th April, 1917.
Kripalani was waiting at the station with a large
body of students. Gandhi stayed there for two days
in the home of Professor Malkani, a teacher in a
government school. ‘‘It was an extraordinary thing
‘in those days,’’ Gandhi commented, “for a
government professor to harbour a man like me”.
(i) What was the purpose of sending a telegram to
Kripalani?
(ii) What does the fact that Kripalani was waiting for
Gandhi with a large body of students show?
(iii) For what purpose has the specific date being
mentioned in the extract?
(iv) Did something extraordinary take place while
Gandhi was in Muzzafarpur?
(v) Why does Gandhi call staying at Malkani’s house an
‘extraordinary thing’?
Ans. (i) Mahatma Gandhi sent a telegram to Kripalani to
inform him that he was coming to Muzzafarpur to
gather complete information about the problems
faced by the Sharcroppers.
(ii) The fact that Kripalani was waiting for Gandhi with
the large body students at midnight shows the
popularity of Gandhi as a leader amongst the
educated Indians.
(iii) The purpose of mentioning the specific date in the
extract is to show that relevance of the year 1917 in
119
the Indian independence struggle as the first Civil
Disobedience Movement triumphed in this year.
(iv) Yes, something extraordinary did happen while
Gandhi was in Muzzafarpur. The sharecropping
peasants of Champaran and the nearby regions
united together to support Gandhi.
(vi) Gandhi calls staying at Malkani’ house an
extraordinary thing because in those times an
average Indian did not openly show their support to
advocates of home rule and Malkani, a government
school teacher was harboring him.
2. Read the extract below to attempt the questions
that follow.
Presently, the landlords learned that Germany had
developed synthetic indigo. They, thereupon,
obtained agreements from the sharecroppers to pay
them compensation for being released from the 15
per cent arrangement.
The sharecropping arrangement was irksome to the
peasants, and many signed willingly. Those who
resisted, engaged lawyers; the landlords hired thugs.
Meanwhile, the information about synthetic indigo
reached the illiterate peasants who had signed and
they wanted their money back.
(i) What is the significance of the given lines?
(ii) How did the development of synthetic indigo affect
the 15 % arrangement?
(iii) What does the given extract tell us about the British
landlords?
(iv) How would you describe the act of asking for
compensation as done by the British landlords?
(v) Why do you think that the sharecropping agreement
was irksome to the peasants?
Ans. (i) The given lines are significant as they present the
reader with a factual backdrop of the sharecropping
arrangement and the problem faced by the
sharecroppers of Champaran.
(ii) The development of synthetic indigo affected the 15 %
arrangement because now the British landlords did
not require the natural indigo the sharecroppers
produced. The arrangement was now useless for them.
(iii) The given extract tells us that the British landlords
were selfish and greedy people who did not care for
the poor Indian peasants. For their own benefit, they
exploited the poor peasants.
(iv) The act of asking for compensation from the poor
peasants can be described as deceitful and illegal.
(v) The sharecropping agreement could have been
irksome to the peasants because it was compulsory
for them to grow indigo on 15% of the land which
they had to surrender to them as rent.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
3. Read the extract below to attempt the questions
that follow.
In consequence, Gandhi received a summons to
appear in court the next day.
All night Gandhi remained awake. He telegraphed
Rajendra Prasad to come from Bihar with
influential friends. He sent instructions to the
ashram. He wired a full report to the Viceroy.
Morning found the town of Motihari black with
peasants. They did not know Gandhi’s record in
South Africa. They had merely heard that a
Mahatma who wanted to help them was in trouble
with the authorities. Their spontaneous
demonstration, in thousands, around the court
house was the beginning of their liberation from
fear of the British.
(i) Why did Gandhi receive summons to appear in court
the next day?
(ii) What made Gandhi telegraph Rajendra Prasad to
come from Bihar with influential friends?
(iii) ‘Motihari was black with peasants’. Explain.
(iv) What does ‘Gandhi’s records’ refer to?
(v) How do you think the Britishers reacted to the
‘spontaneous demonstration’?
Ans. (i) Gandhi received summons to appear in court the
next day because he had refused to follow the order
of the British Commissioner of the Trihut division
and hence had broken a law.
(ii) Gandhi telegraphed Rajendra Prasad to come from
Bihar with influential friends because he knew that
the British official would show their might and arrest
him to increase the fear in the minds of the peasants.
(iii) Motihari was black with peasants because the
sharecroppers had heard that a man called Mahatma,
who was trying to help them get justice, was in
trouble with the British authorities.
(iv) Gandhi’s records refer to Gandhi professional history
as a lawyer in South Africa.
(v) The British Government officials were confused and
baffled upon seeing the huge crowd of peasants
around the courthouse. They had not expected such
challenge to their might and tyranny and thus did
not know how to control the crowd.
CBSE NEW Pattern English Language & Literature 12th (Term-II)
121
Flam ing o - P oetry
CHAPTER 01
A Thing of
Beauty
—by John Keats
In this Chapter...
l
Explanation of the Poem
l
Word Meaning
l
Chapter Practice
Explanation of the Poem
Central Idea of the Poem
John Keats (1795 - 1821) was an English
romantic poet belonging to the second
generation of romantic poets, along with
Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Although his poems were not generally
well received by critics during his lifetime,
his reputation grew after his death, and
by the end of the 19th century, he had
become one of the most beloved of all
English poets. He had a significant
influence on a diverse range of poets and
writers.
Stanza 1
“A thing of beauty is a joy forever
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.”
Explanation In the given lines, the poet speaks of the permanent nature of beautiful
things which give us eternal joy. According to the poet, beauty is permanent. It is
something that never fades away but increases with time. As the sight of beautiful things
get stored in our memory, its loveliness increases. For the poet, beauty also brings
peace as it provides a quiet shady place to sleep and have sweet dreams. This sound
sleep brings mental peace which results in the good health of our body and mind.
Stanza 2
“Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
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: yes, inspite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits.”
Explanation In these lines, the poet highlights that beautiful things are fundamentally
important to us. Everyday, beauty of the nature helps us prepare a wreath of flowers that
strengthens our bonds with Earth. It essentially fills us with the spirit to live.
122
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
The poet also adds that life is full of trials and tribulations, lost faith
and disappointments which fill us with stress, anxiety and fears. All
of these unhealthy and wicked ways of life are a result of our own
actions. But inspite of all this, some wonderful sights of nature help
us to shed sad and grim thoughts. They remove the veil of gloom,
bringing about hope and optimism in our lives.
Stanza 3
“Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;”
Explanation The poet now goes on to list the objects of beauty
found on earth. He says that the sun, the moon, old and young trees
which provide shade, the daffodils, the greenery, the cool and clear
streams which provide respite in the heat of summer and the bushes
growing in the forest with musk-roses blooming amidst them, are all
eternal sources of joy and pleasure. All of these natural beauties
brings joy and happiness to the simple and innocent spirit of man.
Stanza 4
“And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.”
Explanation According to the poet, there is beauty even
in death. He finds beauty in the stories about our dead
ancestors who were deemed as heroic and mighty. The
poet goes on to say that all the lovely tales that we have
heard or read can also be placed among things of
beauty, as they have a sublime effect on the human spirit.
The poet concludes by saying that all of these beautiful
things are a gift from God. They are like an eternal
fountain of immortal drink that flows from the heaven.
Word Meanings
The given page numbers correspond to the pages in the
NCERT textbook.
Page 98
pass into
bower
morrow
wreathing
spite
despondence
pall
spirits
Page 99
rills
covert
brake
musk-rose
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
change or turn into
a pleasant shady place
morning
weaving or forming into a wreath
malice, ill will
disappointment, dejection
covering, shroud or cloth spread over a
coffin
souls, temperaments
small streams
shelter or covering
dense undergrowth of ferns or other bush
a wild rose with large white musk-scented
flowers
123
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Chapter
Practice
PART 1
Objective Questions
l
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The first line of the poem ‘A thing of beauty is a joy
forever’ can be called a/an
(a) opinion
(b) quote
(c) myth
(d) Fact
Ans. (b) The first line of the poem ‘A thing of beauty is a joy
forever’ can be used as a quote or a saying whenever we
discuss of describe beautiful things around us.
2. Pick the option that DOES NOT complete the
given sentence suitably, as per the poem ‘A Thing
of Beauty’. According to the poet, the gloom and
sadness fades away with .......... .
(a) peace one can find with beauty
(b) the positive vibes of nature
(c) the beauty that surrounds us
(d) the stories that inspire us
Ans. (a) In the poem, the poet states that the things of beauty
provide us with peace and the spirit to live even when life
give us gloom and sadness.
3. The reference to ‘every morrow’ in the poem ‘A
Thing of Beauty’ indicates the poet feels that beauty
impacts us ............ .
(a) every tomorrow
(b) every day
(c) every sorrowful day
(d) every two days
Ans. (b) The reference to ‘on every morrow’ in the poem
indicates that the poet wants to highlight to ever present
and eternal aspect of beauty. Accordingly, beauty has the
power to impact us every day.
4. Which of the following is an example of Anaphora?
(a) Wreathing a flowery band
(b) A flowery band to bind us to the earth
(c) Of noble natures, of the gloomy days
(d) Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
Ans. (c) Anaphora is a literary device in which a word or a
phrase is repeated to put emphasis on them. In the poem
‘A Thing of Beauty’, it is used in ‘of noble natures, of the
gloomy days’ to indicate the trials and tribulations faced
by man.
5. The expression ‘o’er-darkened ways’ implies
(a) dull and dark life
(b) evil and immoral ways of life
(c) never-ending path
(d) fearless manner
Ans. (b) The phrase ‘over darkened ways’ indicates the evil and
immoral ways of life taken by man to meet his selfish
needs and demands.
6. Which of the following does not reflect the dark
spirits that afflict man?
(a) Self doubt
(b) Undying desires
(c) Sorrow of loss
(d) Death and decay
Ans. (d) The trials and tribulations of life, sorrows of loss, self
doubt and the evil and immoral ways of life reflect the
dark spirits that afflict man.
7. Choose the option that correctly mentions the
source of beauty as mentioned in the poem.
(i) Statues
(ii) Museums
(iii) Parks
(iv) Forts
(v) Rivers
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 3 and 4
(c) 4 and 5
(d) All of these
Ans. (d) According to Keats, everything that surrounds us
includes the parks, forts, rivers, statues, museums
reflecting the nature and the wonders of the ancient
civilisation are things of beauty.
8. “Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;”
The given lines appeals to the sense of
(a) Sight
(b) Smell
(c) Touch
(d) Taste
Ans. (b) The reference to ‘sprinkling of fair musk rose blooms’
makes one think of the smell of the rose flowers in the natural
environment. This smell is also associated with beauty.
9. When the poet says ‘grandeur of the dooms’, he
wishes to highlight
(a) the interesting stories of our ancestors
(b) the Nobel qualities possessed by our ancestors
(c) the grand manner in which our ancestors lived
(d) the grand monuments that our ancestors build
Ans. (b) When the poet uses ‘grandeur of dooms’, he refers to
our ancestors to highlight that our ancestors were nobles
with great might.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
10. Keats celebrates the grandeur of the mighty dead in
the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’. With reference to the
given line, which of the following is not true?
(a) Grandeur is associated to our lives.
(b) Grandeur is related to big sculptures and statues.
(c) Grandeur comes from myths.
(d) Grandeur comes from stories.
Ans. (c)
11. ‘An endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring
unto us from the heaven’s brink.’ In the given lines,
the poet indicates that
(a) beautiful things are a unique gift by God to Humanity
(b) Beautiful things have the power to heal anyone.
(c) Beautiful things are formed with rain
(d) All of the above
Ans. (a) As per the phrase ‘an endless fountain of immortal
drink, Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink’, the
things of beauty are a gift from god to humanity. It is an
everlasting fountain that flows from the abode of God.
12. Pick the option that matches the words/ phrases
with the literary device.
Word/Phrase
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Literary Device
(a) Simple sheep
(i) Antithesis
(b) Gloomy days
(ii) Metaphor
(c) Bower quiet
(iii) Symbolism
(d) Clear rill
(iv) Imagery
Ans. (d)
13. William Wordsworth says “One daffodil is worth a
thousand pleasures, then one is too few.”
Choose the option that correctly comments on the
relationship between Wordsworth’s words and the
line from the poem ‘A thing of beauty is a joy
forever’.
(a) Wordsworth endorses Keats belief in nature.
(b) Wordsworth justifies Keats statements about beautiful
things.
(c) Wordsworth undermines Keats intent of justifying the
healing qualities of nature
(d) Wordsworth surrenders to Keats desire to enjoy
nature.
Ans. (a) Keats believes in the healing power of nature as it
brings peace and joy in one’s life. A similar perspective is
put forward by Wordsworth who believes that the
bounties of nature provide immeasurable joy to people.
14. Select the suitable option for the given statements,
based on your reading of ‘A Thing of Beauty’.
I. Each and everything in our surroundings is beautiful.
II. Stories of our ancestors tell us how they worshipped
beauty.
(a) I can be inferred but II cannot be inferred.
(b) I cannot be inferred but II can be inferred.
(c) I and II can be inferred.
(d) I and II cannot be inferred.
Ans. (a) According to Keats, everything that surrounds us are
objects of beauty. Even the stories of our ancestors who
did great heroic deeds, participated in courageous and
intelligent acts are beautiful. There is no mention of how
the ancestors preached beauty.
15. Select the suitable option for the given statements,
based on your reading of ‘A Thing of Beauty’.
I. Keats believes that beauty can only be found in
natural things.
II. For him Beauty can never be created by man.
(a) I is true, but II is false.
(b) I is false, but II is true.
(c) Both I and II cannot be inferred
(d) Both I and II can be inferred
Ans. (c) For Keats, beauty can be found in everything that
surrounds man. Be it objects of nature, parks, museums,
statues, or other creations of man- everything is beautiful
and their beauty is ever increasing.
16. Pick the option that pairs the NOT TRUE based on
the poem, from the list below.
(i) Nature lift the human spirit and bring joy.
(ii) Death is inevitable and everyone faces it.
(iii) Art immortalises man
(iv) People who are bold and courageous.
(a) (i) and (ii)
(b) (ii) and (iv)
(c) (i) and (iv)
(d) (ii) and (iii)
Ans. (d)
17. On the basis of the extract, pick the opinion that is
NOT TRUE about the theme of the poem.
A thing of beauty
transcends time and
doesn’t fade away.
(1)
A thing of beauty is
not only physical but
spiritual as well.
(3)
Beauty doesn’t dispel
darkness and is
surrounded by evil.
(2)
A beautiful thing has a
therapeutic quality and
brings in a ray of hope.
(4)
[CBSE Questions Bank 2021]
(a) Option 1
(b) Option 2
(c) Option 3
(d) Option 4
Ans. (b) As per the poem, all things of beauty are permanent
and their beauty is ever lasting and ever increasing. The
beautiful things bring peace and a ray of hope of a better
tomorrow. The joy and happiness that these things bring
are not just physical but spiritual as well.
125
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
l
Extract Based MCQs
1. Read the following extracts to attempt the questions
that follow.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
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: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(i) In which of the following options can the
underlined words be replaced with ‘despondence’?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The man paced about the room showing restlessness.
A chat with a close friend can take away our blues.
I was in jitters, seeing the boy trapped in the trench.
Being dogged is what led him to negotiate the
challenges.
Ans. (b) The word ‘despondence’ means feeling disheartened
and hopeless.
(ii) Pick the option that is NOT an example of
‘unhealthy and o’er darkened ways.’
(a) A person who is egoistic and looks down upon others.
(b) A person who seeks God’s help for all his problems.
(c) A person who uses evil ways to deceive others.
(d) A person who is corrupt and manipulative.
Ans. (b) The phrase ‘over darkened ways’ refers to the
selfishness and the immorality that people have adopted
in the world. Such people are egoistic, corrupt and
manipulative.
(iii) Pick the option that enumerates what ‘noble
natures’ would include
1. selflessness
2. insensitivity
3. enthusiasm
4. aggression
5. meticulousness
6. judiciousness
(a) 1, 4 and 5
(b) 2, 3 and 6
(c) 2, 4 and 5
(d) 1, 3 and 6
Ans. (d) The ‘nobel natures’ refers to the people who set an
example of positive virtues such as selflessness,
enthusiasm and judiciousness. Such people enjoy the joys
and happiness offered by the bounties of beauty.
(iv) Based on the poem, choose the correct option with
reference to the two statements given below.
I. The earth without the beautiful things is a place full
of despair and unpleasantness.
II. The ornate band created by human beings; ushers
hope in their lives.
(a) I is true but II is false.
(b) I is false but II is true.
(c) Both I and II can be inferred.
(d) Both I and II cannot be inferred.
Ans. (c) According to the poet, the Earth is full of things of
beauty that help remove the pall of sorrows, selfishness,
corruption, etc. If beautiful things did not exist on earth,
it will full of despair and unpleasantness. Because this
beauty exists, our will to live life to the fullest also
increases.
(v) The poet says that we wreath a flowery band that
binds us to Earth.
He means to state that nature’s beauty fills man with
(a) self-belief and motivation
(b) a spirit of living
(c) a sense of satisfaction
(d) joy and peace.
Ans. (b) The reference to that fact that we wreath a flowery
band that binds us to the Earth indicates that the
beautiful things that surround us fills us with a spirit of
living.
2. Read the following extracts to attempt the questions
that follow:
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021, Delhi 2014, 2015]
(i) Pick the quote that matches best with—
‘And such too is the grandeur of the dooms we have
imagined for the mighty dead.’
(a) In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening
love can hear the rustle of a wing.
(b) When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves
behind him, lies on the paths of men.
(c) Endings are not always bad, most times they’re just
beginnings in disguise.
(d) Cowards die many times before their death; the valiant
never taste of death but once.
Ans. (b) The given line tells us that when great men, men who
have shown immense bravery and courage die then for
years the stories and tales of the same stays in the minds
of the people.
(ii) Pick the option that refers to what ‘an endless
fountain of immortal drink’ suggests
1. inspirational deeds of great men
2. a ceaseless series of dreams
3. an infinite source of strength
4. an elixir of life for upliftment of the soul
5. an eternal source of delight
6. a boundless gift of love
(a) 1, 4 and 5
(b) 2, 3 and 5
(c) 1, 2 and 6
(d) 2, 4 and 6
Ans. (a)
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iii) Pick the option that pairs the TRUE statements
based on the extract, from the list below.
1. The bushes with fragrant flowers lift the human
spirit and bring joy.
2. Death is inevitable and everyone faces it no matter
how powerful.
3. Immortality is achieved by man when he drinks
the nectar of joy.
4. Legendary heroes and their heroic deeds instil
inspiration in us.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2 and 3
Ans. (c)
(iv) Pick the option that uses the same literary device
as the ‘mighty dead’.
(a) Sleepless nights
(b) Deafening silence
(c) Glaring lights
(d) Time is a thief
Ans. (b) The phrase ‘mighty dead’ uses the literary device of
imagery. A similar effect is created by the phrase
‘defeaning silence’.
(v) Select the correct option to fill in the blank.
The stories of mighty dead are beautiful because
of ............
(a) their courage
(b) their strength
(c) their intelligence
(d) All of these
Ans. (b) The ancestors are beautiful because of the stories
and symbols of their courage, strength and intelligence.
PART 2
Subjective Questions
l
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Do we experience things of beauty only for a short
moment or do they make a lasting impression on
us?
or How is a thing of beauty a joy forever? [Delhi 2012]
Ans. Things of beauty make a lasting impression on us as a
thing they are a source of pleasure and motivation
forever. The happiness they give never fades away but
keeps on increasing. Thus, all things of beauty are a
source of permanent joy.
2. What does the line, “Therefore are we wreathing
a flowery band to bind us to earth” suggest to
you?
[NCERT]
Ans. This line suggests to us that every day we weave a
wreath of flowers because it keeps us attached to the
beauties of the Earth. Such relations fills one up with
the spirit of living.
3. How does a thing of beauty provide shelter and
comfort?
[All India 2013]
Ans. A thing of beauty provides shelter and comfort in many
ways. It is like a bower, a place under the shade of a tree
where we can rest. The small streams of cool and clear
water and the green forests around make it a comfortable
place for us to rest. Thus, it gives us sweet dreams, peace
and joy.
4. List the things that cause suffering and pain. [NCERT]
or Mention any two things which cause pain and
suffering.
[All India 2015]
Ans. There are many things that cause us suffering and pain.
Malice and disappointment are the biggest source of our
suffering. Another one is the lack of noble qualities. Our
unhealthy and evil ways also give birth to many troubles and
sufferings. They dampen our spirits and cover our lives with
sadness.
5. How would man suffer in the absence of beauty?
Ans. In the absence of beauty, man would suffer from sorrow and
despair. It would be difficult for him to bounce back and he
would have nothing to look forward to or draw strength
from.
Beauty lifts the pall of sadness and rejuvenates him. It lifts
his spirit and fills his life with liveliness and hope.
6. What does a thing of beauty do for us?
[CBSE 2015]
Ans. A thing of beauty adds endless joy to our life and helps us to
come out of sadness and hopelessness. The memory of such
a thing gives us everlasting happiness.
It not only provides a pleasant and quiet place to relax but
also makes life worth livintg in spite of despondence,
inhuman dearth of nobel natures, gloomy days, unhealthy
and over darkened ways.
7. What makes human beings love life in spite of
troubles and sufferings?
[NCERT, All India 2012, 2010]
or What makes human beings love life in spite of all the
troubles they face?
[Delhi 2015]
Ans. Human beings love life in spite of all the troubles and
sufferings they face because of all the things of beauty
which surround them. These things remove our despondent
state and allow us to enjoy the beauty of nature.
8. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
[NCERT]
or Which objects of nature does Keats mention as
sources of joy in his poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’?
[All India 2015]
Ans. Everything in nature is a thing of beauty and a source of joy.
Such objects of nature are the sun, the moon, old and young
trees, daffodil flowers, small streams with clear water,
masses of ferns and blooming musk-roses.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
can act as an inspiration to then. In contrast, for singers or
musicians beauty can be achieved with perfect melody
which brings a peak experience or epiphany. Beauty is
something that we perceive and respond to. It brings a
kind of experience, an aesthetic response that is a
response to the thing’s representational qualities, whether
it is man-made or natural.
9. What rich bounty has the heaven given us?
[CBSE 2017]
Ans. Heaven has given us many bounties. Nature, with its
virgin landscape and innocent creatures including the
sun, moon, sheep, trees, rills, daffodils, quiet lower, musk
rose blooms, etc. imparts indelible impressions of joyful
experiences. The world of art and literature provides
perennial inspiration in the form of stories of the valiant,
which provide support to us.
10. How can ‘mighty dead’ be things of beauty?
[CBSE 2017]
Ans. The ‘mighty dead’ refers to our glorious forefathers and
ancestors who are another thing of beauty that the poet
John Keats mentions. This is so because the stories of
their heroic deeds, their valour and mausoleums fill us
with pride and given us pleasure and motivation.
11. What does Keats consider an endless fountain of
immortal drink and why does he call its drink
immortal?
[All India 2013]
Ans. Keats considers nature’s beauty as an endless fountain of
immortal drink. He calls its drink immortal as the
pleasure and delight given by it never diminishes. It only
increases with time. Beauty is like an elixir of life.
12. If you were given an opportunity to share your
perception of beauty, what would you say? Explain.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Beauty for me is something that brings everlasting joy
and happiness. It has a healing power that makes one
forget all of the sorrows of life. For me everything that
surrounds is beautiful but finding this beauty lies in the
eyes of the beholder. The concept of beauty can be
different for everyone. One can even find beauty in the
unwanted weeds or the humming of the bees if wanted.
13. ‘Beauty is best left undefined’. Support your
position on this statement with your rationale,
coupled with ideas in the poem.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. It is true that beauty is best left undefined because the
concept of beauty is unique for everyone. There are so
many concepts, ideas and sources of beauty that is cannot
be conceptualised or defined under one quality or aspect.
One concrete thing that can, however, be said of beauty is
that it is permanent and healing. It never dies away but it
brings peace, happiness, and joys in lives of people.
14. Artists, singers and musicians have a different
perception of beauty as compared to people who
are in other professions. Comment.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. It is true that the concept of beauty differs for each
individual. An artist can experience the feelings
associated with beauty while looking at a scenery which
l
Long Answer Type Questions
1. ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever.’ This is what John
Keats says in the poem. Do you think in the present
times of acute stress and violence, proximity to
beautiful things can lead man to everlasting
happiness? Discuss.
Ans. A thing of beauty gives us permanent happiness. When
we look at objects of beauty, we feel happy, and the
lasting impression that such objects leave on our mind
continues to give us pleasure even when they are no
longer in our sight.
In the present times of acute stress and fears, the objects
of beauty attain even greater significance. When our
mind is anxious and troubled, the very sight of beautiful
things often comes as a relief and provides us comfort and
happiness for the moment.
Appreciating beautiful things is like appreciating God,
who has bestowed them upon mankind as a gift so that we
can derive happiness and solace from them. Proximity to
beautiful things brings us closer to the Creator, in whom
lies the ultimate power to grant us relief from all anxieties
and troubles. Therefore, it is sure to bring everlasting
happiness at all times.
2. How does a thing of beauty bring joy in our lives?
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. In the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’ the poet dramatically
explains the effect of beauty on the soul. According to the
poet, beauty heals the negative impulses of our life. It
relieves us from being weighed down by worldly worries.
A thing of beauty gives us permanent happiness. When
we look at objects of beauty, we feel happy, and the
lasting impression that such objects leave on our mind
continues to give us pleasure even when they are no
longer in our sight.
In the present times of acute stress and fears, the objects
of beauty attain even greater significance. When our
mind is anxious and troubled, the very sight of beautiful
things often comes as a relief and provides us comfort and
happiness for the moment. Appreciating beautiful things
is like appreciating God, who has bestowed them upon
mankind as a gift so that we can derive happiness and
solace from them.
Proximity to beautiful things gives us mental peace and
makes us happy. Its value lies in its effect on us and it
never breeds a sense of nothingness. It will not diminish
with the passage of time.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
3. Explain ‘An endless fountain of immortal drink’.
Ans. This line is taken from John Keats’ poem, ‘A Thing of
Beauty’. The poem is based on a premise that beauty is
everlasting, as it creates an eternal joy in the beholder. It
is an endless fountain of joy that is continously gifted to
us mankind from God.
The poet here says these words in order to explain the
nature of the pleasure and joy that is created when a
beautiful object is seen by a beholder. He affirms the
truth that beauty is not ephemeral, but eternal. The
pleasure we receive in perceiving a beautiful object is a
gift that is worth treasuring, as the joy removes the gloom
in our minds. Even when we are surrounded by evils or
sad times, the images of beauty fill us with bliss and joy.
4. You are a blogger who loves to record travel stories.
You recently visited a picturesque location and you
were enamoured by its beauty. Pen down the post
for your blog giving vivid descriptions of the natural
beauty of this place. Supplement your writing with
Keats’ ideas about beauty. [CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Keats had correctly said that ‘a thing of beauty is a joy
forever’.
I really felt it yesterday when I was trekking across the
Himalayan ranges. My group leader wanted us to take us
to hidden location near our base. Initially we were also
suspicious but soon the pleasure of the picturesque we
viewed I cannot express in words. The detour from the
occasional trekking took us to a lakeside where
innumerable birds had flocked to drink water.
The small lake in the middle of the forest surrounded by
wild flowers and daffodils flowing in the wind is an image
I can never forget. The clear water was shining as the sun
was almost overhead to us. The majestic view filled me
with pleasure and all the tiredness we felt faded almost
instantaneously. The peace and serenity of the place was
almost non broken except for the occasional cooings and
chirrups of the birds. How I wish I could have stayed there
longer if not forever, away from the rush of modern life.
l
(ii) What is the effect of increase in its loveliness ?
(iii) Which one example of the beauty of nature has the
poet given here ?
(iv) What kind of joy do we get from a quiet bower?
(v) How does the joy from a quiet bower help us in our
lives?
Ans. (i) A thing of beauty gives us everlasting joy because its
loveliness increases with time.
(ii) The effect of increase in its loveliness is that it gives a
peaceful sleep, provides good health and allows quiet
breathing.
(iii) The example of the beauty of nature the poet has
given here is a quiet bower.
(iv) From a quiet bower we get restful sleep full of sweet
dreams, good health and quiet breathing.
(v) A quiet bower gives us the joy of peace and health.
This joy brings us closer to nature and keeps us
positive all throughout our lives.
2. Read the given extract to attempt questions that
follow.
[CBSE 2018]
…and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,
Rich with the sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;
………
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
Ans. (i)
(ii)
(iii)
Extract Based Questions
1. Read the given extract to attempt questions that
follow.
‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever 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.
[CBSE 2017]
(i) How does a thing of beauty give us everlasting joy?
(iv)
(v)
Identify the poem and the poet.
What is the role of the clear rills?
How has the mid forest brake become rich?
Name the figure of speech in ‘cooling covert’.
How does the given lines relate to the theme of the
poem from which it is taken?
The name of poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and the
name of poet is John Keats.
Clear rills makes the land fertile for plants to grow. As
a result, they pave the way for a shady place where
travellers can rest.
The mid forest brake became rich with the fair
musk-rose flower blooming there. The richness
mentioned here is of colour and beauty.
The phrase ‘cooling covert’ uses the literary device
called Alliteration in which the first sound or letter of
two adjacent words are repetitive. Here, the sound of
‘c’ is repetitive.
The given lines present us with the beautiful bounty
of nature which brings peace and joy to all living
beings. The idea of beauty is the central theme of the
poem and these lines reiterate it.
CBSE NEW Pattern English Language & Literature 12th (Term-II)
129
CHAPTER 02
Aunt Jennifer’s
Tigers
—by Adrienne Rich
In this Chapter...
l
Explanation of the Poem
l
Word Meaning
l
Chapter Practice
Explanation of the Poem
Central Idea of the Poem
Adrienne Rich (1929 - 2012) was an
American poet, essayist and radical
feminist. She was called one of the most
widely read and influential poets of the
second half of the 20th century. She is
widely known for her involvement in
contemporary women’s movement as a
poet and theorist. A strong resistance to
racism and militarism echoes through her
work.
Stanza 1
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
Explanation The given lines describe Aunt Jennifer’s tiger who appear to be moving
across a screen or panel. These tigers are bright yellow coloured inhabitants of the forest.
They are fearless, graceful, elegant and confident. They are not scared of any man
standing under the tree and move about freely in a graceful manner.
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers, thus, are not real or living tigers. They are the images created by her.
Stanza 2
“Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool;
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band;
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.”
Explanations The given lines present Aunt Jennifer’s personality as opposite to her tigers.
Aunt Jennifer’s hands are shaking while she is embroidering with wool. She is so terrified
and scared that she is finding it hard to pull or work with the ivory needle. One reason
according to the poet is the heavy wedding band that the Aunt is wearing.
Through this stanza, we get to know that the tigers are actually embroidered. They are the
creative expression of her desire of freedom, courage, grace etc. These tigers are very
different from her own nature. She is suppressed and oppressed in her married life. The
uncle’s wedding band is a symbol of all the responsibilities that burden and restrict her.
She wants to be free from the patriarchal society but is so fearful that even expressing her
desire terrifies her. Her reality is submission but she desires the freedom, courage and
confidence possessed by her tigers.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Stanza 3
“When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.”
Explanation According to the poet, Aunt Jennifer is so burdened within the oppressive male dominated society that even after
death, she will find no relief. Her life’s story will only be about the trauma, the ordeals and oppression that she was subjected to
during her lifetime. In contrast, her tigers will still be proud and unafraid. Her art will forever depict her desire of freedom and
courage.
It is important to note here that Aunt Jennifer represents all women who are restricted and oppressed under male domination. In
addition, the poet also states that the Aunt’s act of embroidery is the only way she could retain her desires. Her art which represents
her struggle for freedom and accomplishment will always remain immortal.
Word Meanings
The given page number corresponds to the pages in the NCERT textbook.
Page 103
prance
—
jump or move in a spirited manner
screen
—
here, the wall or the surface of the tapestry
topaz
—
a bright yellow precious stone
denizens
—
inhabitants
chivalric
—
brave and honourable
certainty
—
confidence
fluttering
—
moving with a light irregular or trembling motion
ringed
—
confined or tied up
ordeals
—
unpleasant or painful experiences
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Chapter
Practice
PART 1
Objective Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’, the poet
through the character of Aunt Jennifer highlights
(a) A happy married life
(b) Domination and oppression of women
(c) Aunt Jennifer’s artwork
(d) The nature of the tigers
Ans. (b) The poet present the domination and oppression that
women face in the male dominated society through the
character of Aunt Jennifer.
2. The act of ‘embroidery’ is used by Adrienne Rich to
dignify
(i) desires
(iii) wishes
(v) ideals
(a) (i), (ii) and (iii)
(c) (ii), (iii) and (iv)
(ii) need of expression
(iv) dreams
(b) (iii), (iv) and (v)
(d) (i), (iv and (v)
Ans. (a) The act of embroidery as performed by Aunt Jennifer
and the creation of tigers signifies Aunt's wish, desire and
need of expression, freedom and courage.
3. What is the reason for the poet to use tigers as a
trope?
(a) To present a contrast
(b) To show how all females should be
(c) To bring symbolism as a literary device
(d) To give a grandeur presence in the poem
Ans. (a) The poet has used the tigers as a trope to contract the
free, courageous and confident nature of tigers to the
submissive and fearful nature of Aunt Jennifer.
4. Choose the option that does NOT reflect what the
tigers represent in the poem. [CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(a) Aunt Jennifer’s undying hopes
(b) Aunt Jennifer’s failing marriage
(c) Aunt Jennifer’s artistic merit
(d) Aunt Jennifer’s frustrations
Ans. (b) The tigers in the poem represent Aunt Jennifer’s
undying hopes that will exit even after her death, her
artistic merit and her frustrations in her married life.
5. Which of the following does NOT represent the
contrast between Aunt Jennifer and the tigers?
(a) Uncertainty and confidence [CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(b) Terror and fearlessness
(c) Serfdom and freedom
(d) Authority and autonomy
Ans. (d) Aunt Jennifer in the poem is associated with
uncertainty, terror and serfdom. In contrast, her tigers
represent confidence, fearlessness and freedom.
6. Select the suitable option for the given statements,
based on your reading of ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’.
(i) Aunt Jennifer finds her freedom in her work of art.
(ii) Aunt’s husband hates her artistic talents.
(a) (i) is true but (ii) is false.
(c) Both (i) and (ii) are true
(b) (i) is false but (ii) is true
(d) Both (i) and (ii) are false.
Ans. (a) It is true that the only way for Aunt to represent her
freedom is through her art. But we do not know whether
her husband is appreciative of it or not.
7. Aunt Jennifer feels the weight of the wedding band.
This indicates
(a) her dissatisfaction with her marriage
(b) her anger in her marriage
(c) her isolation with her marriage
(d) her silence in her marriage
Ans. (a) The uncle’s wedding band is heavy for Aunt Jennifer
because she is suppressed in the burden and
responsibilities of her married life. Because of these
ordeals she is dissatisfied in her married life.
8. What might the “The massive weight of Uncle’s
wedding band” signify?
(a) Bliss
(c) Understanding
(b) discomfort
(d) Flexibility
Ans. (b) The weight of Uncle’s band is representative of the
discomfort that Aunt feels with the suppression that she
faces every day.
9. Choose the option that correctly paraphrases the
given lines from the above extract.
“When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.”
(a) Aunt will only get free after death
(b) Aunt will be subdued even after her death
(c) Aunt will remember old memories even at her death
(d) Aunt cannot become brave even after death
Ans. (b)
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
10. The phrase ‘ringed with ordeals’ suggests the
Ans. (c) There are two different characters in the poem- Aunt
Jennifer the artist and Aunt Jennifer a woman. As an artist,
Aunt is very proficient. It is her strength that she is able to
create an art piece that will live on forever but as a woman
she is weak and fearful.
feeling of
(a) Imprisonment
(b) Burden
(c) Slavery
(d) Violence
15. Select the suitable option for the given statements
based on your reading of ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers.’
Ans. (a) The use of the phrase ‘ringed with ordeals’ present us
(i) Aunt Jennifer knows that even after her death, her
struggles will never be over.
(ii) The suppression faced by Aunt Jennifer will continue
as other women will be oppressed.
a picture of a cage in which Aunt Jennifer is imprisoned.
11. The tigers in the end indicate
(a) their immortality
(b) permanency of their nature
(c) transience of human life
(d) change in Aunt’s condition
Ans. (b) The tigers in the end of poem show how even after
their creator’s death, they will continue to exist and live
on immortally.
(a) 1 is true but 2 is false.
(b) 1 is false but 2 is true.
(c) Both 1 and 2 can be inferred.
(d) Both 1 and 2 cannot be inferred.
Ans. (b) We do not know whether Aunt Jennifer knows or
realises that even after her death, her struggles will never
be over.
12. Read the statements given below. Choose the
16. Which of the following highlights the uniqueness of
option that accurately describes the given
statements.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
I. The poem is a manifesto against the institution of
marriage.
II. Aunt Jennifer represents all women artists.
III. The poem embodies an alternative for women to
express their repressed desires through art.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
the poem?
(a) Use of colours
(b) Use of metaphor
(c) Moving from specific situation to general situation
(d) All of the above
Ans. (d) The poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ is unique because of
its appeal to the senses and use of metaphor. It also moves
from a specific case of Aunt Jennifer to the general case of
all women all across the world which makes it more
relatable to the reader.
I is true, II is false, III cannot be inferred.
I and III are false, II cannot be inferred.
I and II are true, III cannot be inferred.
I is false, II cannot be inferred, III is true.
Ans. (b) The poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ is not a manifesto
against marriage but against the patriarchal setup that
dominates woman. Aunt Jennifer as such represents all
women. The poem does not give a solution or an
alternate for women to find their freedom.
13. Select the suitable option for the given statements,
based on your reading of ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’.
(i) The uncle in the poem is representative of the all
the oppressive forces in the society.
(ii) The Uncle and his family expectation has
suppressed the Aunt.
(a) (i) is true but (ii) is false.
(b) (i) is false but (ii) is true.
(c) Both (i) and (ii) are true.
(d) Both and (ii) are false.
Ans. (b) The uncle in the poem is representative of the male
dominated society which suppresses women.
14. What is the poet suggesting through the different
nature of characters present in the poem?
(a) Diverse attitude regarding women
(b) Each and every individual is different and unique.
(c) Simultaneous nature of fears and strengths of aunt.
(d) Universal struggles of people.
l
Extract Based MCQs
1. Read the given extract to attempt questions that
follow
Aunt Jennifer’s finger fluttering through her wool
find even the ivory needle hard to pull. The massive
weight of Uncle's wedding band Sits heavily upon
Aunt Jennifer's hand.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(i) How would you describe Aunt Jennifer based on the
above extract?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Oppressed
Malnourished
Aging
Diseased
Ans. (a) The given extract presents Aunt Jennifer to be scared and
terrified of something. This shows that she is oppressed.
(ii) Uncle’s wedding band sits heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s
hand because
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
it is an expensive and heavy ring.
she was married against her will.
she feels burdened in her marriage.
their relationship is lacking in love.
Ans. (c) The fact that the uncle's wedding band is heavy
symbolises that the aunt is burdened in her marriage.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iii) Pick the option that displays the image which
correctly corresponds to the type of task Aunt is
engaged in.
(i) Read the statement given below
Aunt Jennifer’s plight is best explained by her
hands, they hold both her freedom and the
instrument of her imprisonment.
Choose the option that best explains the above
statement, as per the extract.
(a) Aunt Jennifer’s hands are terrified, but when she is dead,
her tigers will roam free.
(b) Aunt Jennifer knits her desires, but is overpowered by the
wedding ring she wears.
(c) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are proud and unafraid, but she is
mastered by ringed ordeals.
(d) Aunt Jennifer makes panels of tigers when she has time
from her responsibilities.
Ans. (a) Through her act of embroidery, Aunt Jennifer knits her
desires but her hands are also overpowered or burdened by
the uncle’s wedding band which suppresses her.
(ii) Which of the following CANNOT be inferred from
the given extract?
(a) Option (i)
(b) Option (ii)
(c) Option (iii)
(d) Option (iv)
Ans. (b) Option (ii)
(iv) Which of the following is an example of an
alliteration?
(a) Finger fluttering through the wool
(b) Upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand
(c) Ivory needle hard to pull
(d) Massive weight of Uncle's wedding band
Ans. (a) Alliteration is a poetic device in which a sound or
latter is repeated in the adjacent or closely placed
words.
(v) The ivory needle used to embroider is …………
the difficulty in using it.
(a) symbolic of
(b) in sharp contrast to
(c) a distraction from
(d) representative of suppression which results in
Ans. (b) The ivory needle is a light weighted needle used for
embroidery purposes. However, Aunt Jennifer finds it
difficult to even pull that. This shows that contrast
between the weight of the object and the manner in
which the object is used.
2. Read the given extract to attempt questions that
follow
“When Aunt is dead,
her terrified hands will lie.
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.’’
[Delhi 2012, CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(a) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will keep her alive in everyone’s
memory.
(b) Aunt Jennifer feels oppressed and constricted in her
marriage.
(c) Even in death, Aunt Jennifer cannot escape patriarchal
subjugation.
(d) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance as a lasting symbol of her
desires.
Ans. (a)
(iii) What makes the tigers ‘proud and unafraid’?
(a) They embody the grandeur and supremacy of animals in
the wild.
(b) They symbolise authority and are ‘topaz denizens of green’.
(c) They represent Aunt’s repressed desires for freedom and
power.
(d) They are a product of Aunt’s imagination and colonial
experience.
Ans. (c) The proud and unafraid tiger will represent the Aunt’s
repressed desires for freedom and power even after her
death.
(iv) Choose the option that DOES NOT reflect the
movement implied by ‘prancing’.
(a) Bounding
(c) Frolicking
(b) strutting
(d) shuffling
Ans. (d) The word ‘prancing’ means ‘to walk in a particular
manner’ This movement is reflected by bounding,
strutting, frolicking.
(v) Which of the following can be said to be the theme
associated with the extract?
(a) With art lives the artist
(b) Women need to act while alive for liberation
(c) Male domination transcends centuries of struggle
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Ans. (a) The tiger created by Aunt Jennifer is a work of art. Even
after the mortal Aunt Jennifer dies, her dreams and desires
will be kept alive by her creation.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
PART 2
Subjective Questions
1. Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer.
[Delhi 2009; All India 2008]
Ans. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are bright yellow in colour. They
are fearless and confident residents of dense green
forests. The tigers represent strength, bravery and
fearlessness. They are confident and graceful in their
movements.
2. How are Aunt Jennifer’s tiger different from her?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers created by her on the tapestry are
in sharp contrast to their creator. While Aunt is weak,
meek and submissive and is scared of expressing her
feelings openly, the tigers are strong, fearless and
confident. They are bold creatures and are scared of
none, not even of men.
3. Why does Aunt Jennifer create animals that are so
different from her own character?
[CBSE 2015, 2019]
Ans. Aunt Jennifer creates tigers, representing strength,
fearlessness and confidence to express her longing of
freedom and independence. She wants to get out of the
bondage imposed by her husband if not in reality then
at least symbolically. Her tigers express her hidden
desires and unfulfilled wishes.
4. How does the poet use the image of ‘fingers
fluttering through the wool’ to highlight Aunt
Jennifer’s victimisation?
Ans. Through the image, the poet wants to state that Aunt
Jennifer is burdened by the weight of her marriage and
the responsibilities coming with it. Due to this, even
holding wool firmly seems a big task to her. This
highlights the oppressed state of women in the society.
5. What is suggested by the phrase, ‘massive weight
of Uncle’s wedding band’?
[CBSE 2015]
Ans. The phrase, ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’
refers to the oppressive marriage in which Aunt Jennifer
was trapped. The marriage had subsumed her identity
as an independent woman, reducing her to remain
content with playing the role of a dutiful wife in the
shadow of her husband. As a result, the ring has become
a burden of unhappy marriage.
7. What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded
by, why is it significant that the poet uses the word
‘ringed’?
[NCERT]
Ans. ‘Ordeals’ refers to the oppression or painful experiences
Aunt Jennifer has to face in a male dominated society. The
poet uses the word ‘ringed’ in the context of the demands
of society, which she is surrounded by. Throughout her life
and maybe even afterwards, she will be controlled by
society’s rules.
8. What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she
is dead?
[Delhi 2013]
Ans. The tigers created by Aunt Jennifer will keep on
prancing even after her death, as she has created
them on the tapestry. It shows that her longing for
freedom from male domination will endure forever,
even after she dies. Her art will forever state her
struggle.
9. Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to
be futile. Comment.
[Delhi 2016]
Ans. The trembling hands of Aunt Jennifer because of the
weight of the ‘wedding band’ show that she still is a
victim of male chauvinism. Even her death won't free
her from her ordeal as she will still be wearing the
ring that symbolises her failed marriage.
10. How do symbols in the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’
help us understand her plight?
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. There are many symbols found in the poem that function to
highlight Aunt Jennifer’s plight. Tigers are a symbol of
strength and fearlessness. They are also symbolic of Aunt
Jennifer’s inner desire to be free from oppression. ‘Ring’ is
another symbol which represents bondage. ‘Wedding band’
is a symbol of oppression. Aunt Jennifer herself is a symbol
of all females/women.
11. How does Aunt Jennifer express her bitterness and
anger against male dominance?
[Compartment 2014]
Ans. Aunt Jennifer is too terrified to openly resist the oppression
that she is a victim of. So, she expresses her bitterness and
anger against male dominance silently through her art. She
creates tigers-animals that are symbolic of bravery,
fearlessness and strength on her tapestry. The tigers she
creates are wild and free from any kind of bondage.
12. Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer? What is the
attitude of the poet towards Aunt Jennifer? [NCERT]
6. How did Aunt Jennifer face the ordeals in her life?
Ans. Yes, we sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. She represents those
[CBSE 2020]
women who are victimised by the male dominated society.
She feels oppressed and the rules of society do not allow her
to express herself freely.
The poet herself is very critical of the treatment given to Aunt
Jennifer. So she wants women to fight for their rights, rather
than being silent victims of oppression.
Ans. Aunt Jennifer’s ordeals was that she was dominated by
her husband and was denied freedom. To face the
ordeals, she created woolen tigers with a needle. Her art
is an expression of her inner desires. With the help of
art she created a scene of free, and unafraid tigers in
jungle.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
13. What pictures of male chauvinism do we find
in the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’? CBSE 2016
Ans. In ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger’, we find the picture of
male chauvinism through the presence of the
‘wedding ring’ which bound her to her dominating
husband. Aunt Jennifer faced great hardships in her
married life. She led a terrifying and oppressed life
wherein she had never been free but a helpless
victim of male chauvinism. Dominated and
terrorised by her husband, Aunt Jennifer struggled
for an existence within the deep conflicts of
suppression.
14. Would you say that the poem ends on a note of
hope? Justify your opinion.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. I do not believe that the poem ends on a note of
hope. The end talks about Aunt Jennifer’s death and
how she will still be subdued by the patriarchal
forces. This indicates that even death does not
provide any relief to the Aunt. Her story if
remembered would still be full of the struggles,
burdens and responsibilities that she faced in life.
Even though her art will exist to represent her
dreams, wishes and desires, she herself would not
be able to enjoy them.
15. ‘‘What knitting was to Aunt Jennifer; poetry
was for Adrienne Rich’’. Do you agree?
Comment with reference to the poem ‘Aunt
Jennifer’s Tigers’.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. It is true that the act of knitting by Aunt Jennifer is
similar to the act of writing poetry by Adrienne Rich.
The act of knitting was the creative expression of Aunt
Jennifer's talents through which she puts forward her
desires, wishes and dreams. Similarly, writing poetry
is her creative expression through which she
propagates her ideas, thoughts and beliefs.
16. Read the given quote. In your opinion, what
silence does the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’
break?
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Every poem breaks a silence that had to be
overcome. - Adrienne Rich
Ans. The poem Aunt Jennifer’s tigers break the silence of
women suppression and oppression in the male
dominated society. It talks about how women, her
talents, and her ideas are silenced by the patriarchal
institutions of the society. Throughout the poem,
the central character of Aunt Jennifer is silent. She
cannot speak about the discrimination faced by her
by the hands of her husband and her family.
However, her artistic creation functions to break her
silence. It loudly speaks what she wants.
l
Long Answer Type Questions
1. Explain the stark difference in the death of Aunt Jennifer
and the tigers prancing.
Ans. There are two living images presented in the poem the tigers
and Aunt Jennifer. Both these figure gave different reactions to
the death of Aunt Jennifer, Aunt Jennifer in her death gradually
fades away. She gets defeated due to her unfulfilled desires.
She perhaps accepts the bondage of domination as her fingers
still remain ringed and she dies surrounded by the difficulties
in her life.
The tigers on the other hand remain constant and only seem to
become stronger as the poem progresses. These tigers depict
the cherished world of freedom prancing in pride, a world
which Aunt Jennifer will never able to enjoy. It gives us a
practical look at the reality that Aunt Jennifer never wins and
she accepts her defeat stoically as she conforms to the society
she has lived in. She bears the weight of the ring, whether dead
or alive, because she has already given up her freedom by
getting married.
2. Analyse the symbols and poetic devices employed in the
poem.
Ans. Adrienne Rich has aptly used a number of images, symbols and
poetic devices in the poem to convey the theme. The tigers
symbolise the freedom of spirit which Aunt Jennifer dreams of
attaining, but never achieves except in her dreams and art.
Aunt Jennifer metaphorically represents all women as a group,
women who are victims of male superiority and domination.
Tigers symbolise the true nature of a woman’s free soul that
values strength and assertion.
There lies a metaphor in the implied comparison of the tigers
to the bright topaz denizens where tigers are considered to be
the inhabitants of the forests, the crafted green world on the
panel. The tigers are also attributed with the quality of chivalry
in their confidence. The alliteration in ‘fingers fluttering’
evokes the sense of irony in the poem, as the fingers signify
Jennifer’s physical feebleness. She therefore finds it difficult to
pull the ivory needle. The alliteration ‘prancing proud’ in
complete contrast signifies the everlasting strength of the
tigers.
3. Feminism refers to a collection of movements and
ideologies that advocate women’s rights and seeks to
establish equal opportunities for women in all spheres.
Discuss with reference to ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’.
Ans. All of us live in a patriarchal society wherein a male is
considered as superior to female. As a result, women have
always been considered as subservient to men. They have had
to suppress their desires and emotions.
The poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ is the presentation of all such
females. In the poem, the poet expresses the inner feelings of
Aunt Jennifer. She is embroidering a motif comprising of
energetic, fearless tigers moving freely around the bright
greenery.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
However, her life is the exact opposite of the tigers.
She is living a life of submissiveness to her husband’s
command. Her acts are dominated by him and she
fears him constantly. The wedding ring on her hand is
a constant reminder that she belongs to her husband.
This torments her and it will not end until her death.
Even after her death, the ring will remain on her hand
and she will never be free.
Feminism then emerged as a collection of movements
and ideologies that advocate women’s rights. It seeks
to establish equal opportunities for women in all
spheres of life. Through this poem, Adrienne Rich is
expressing her solidarity with the movement while
presenting the pitiable conditions of women all over
the world.
4. Imagine that Aunt Jennifer read the poem that
Adrienne Rich wrote about her. After much
contemplation, she decided to write a letter to
her husband expressing her feelings and
thoughts. Write a letter as Aunt Jennifer.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Dear Husband,
You might be surprised why I am writing you a letter
and not telling you this face to face but I am terrified
of you reaction. Yes, I am terrified but this feeling is
not new to me. I have always been terrified of you and
your reaction to everything I do. When I got married
to you, I expected a life of respect, equality and
freedom. But my expectations were shattered bitterly.
I was not given any freedom, not even to embroider
which you very well know I love. Then, suddenly all
the filial responsibilities were put on me and everyone
expected me to excel in it.
You know I never thought I would be able to tell this
to you out loud, but I had to. You know Adrienne Rich
wrote about it all and that is what encouraged me to at
least let you know the things I have gone through
because of the social expectations. I do not blame you
because I know you had no idea of how I felt but now
after telling you all this, I expect you to support me.
Hoping that you understand me.
Yours lovingly
Jennifer
l
Extract Based Questions
1. Read the given extract to attempt questions that
follows
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty. [CBSE 2017]
(i) Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers?
(ii) How are they described here?
(iii) How are they different from Aunt Jennifer?
(iv) What does the word, ‘chivalric’ mean?
(v) What does the phrase, ‘a world of green’ mean?
Ans. (i) The tigers are called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers as they were
being embroidered on the tapestry by Aunt Jennifer.
They are also the representation of her hidden
aspirations and desires.
(ii) The tigers have been described here as bold and
fearless. They are described as confident and chivalric.
They are bright golden coloured inhabitants of the
jungles.
(iii) The tigers are different from Aunt Jennifer as they are
shown as symbols of strength, fearlessness and
confidence. Aunt Jennifer on the other hand is a timid
female who is burdened with marital responsibilities.
(iv) The word ‘chivalric’ means ‘gallant’ or ‘brave’.
(v) The phrase ‘a world of green’ indicates the green forest
to which the tigers belong.
2. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool.
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of uncle’s wedding band.
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
[CBSE 2019]
(i) Why are Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her
wool?
(ii) What is Aunt Jennifer doing that she finds very hard to do?
(iii) Why does the wedding band seem too heavy?
(iv) What impression do you form of Aunt Jennifer from the
extract?
(v) Describe the irony in the third line.
Ans. (i) Aunt Jennifer’s fingers are fluttering through her wool,
because she is nervous and anxious. She is so scared of her
dominant husband that she finds the ivory needle hard to
pull.
(ii) Aunt Jennifer is doing embroidery of the image of tigers
on a panel.
(iii) The wedding band seems too heavy as it symbolises the
heavy burden of marriage. It represents the unhappy
and oppressive marriage wherein Aunt Jennifer is
trapped.
(iv) From the given extract, we find Aunt Jennifer to be
weak and submissive. She seems to be unhappy in her
situation and wants to rebel against it.
(v) The irony in the third line is that Aunt Jennifer’s
wedding band which should be a symbol of blissful
conjugal marriage, became a symbol of her bondage to
her husband and his overpowering nature.
CBSE NEW Pattern English Language & Literature 12th (Term-II)
137
Vis tas - Supplem entary
CHAPTER 01
Should Wizard
Hit Mommy?
—John Updike
In this Chapter...
Chapter Sketch
This story is set at the time of the
Second World War. It is a
heart-rendering portrayal of the conflict
between man’s head and heart. An
American sailor is washed ashore in a
dying state and is found at the
doorstep of a very eminent Japanese
surgeon and scientist, Dr Sadao Hoki.
Sadao is torn between his duty as a
doctor and as a patriotic Japanese. His
heart is telling him to save the prisoner
while his mind is fighting to turn him
over to the police. It is a difficult choice
to decide whether one should allow
oneself to be governed by emotion or
by reason.
l
Chapter Summry
l
Word Meaning
l
Chapter Practice
Chapter Summary
Theme of Jack’s Story
The narrator of the story, Jack had a custom of telling an imaginative story to his
daughter Joanne or Jo in evenings and for Saturday naps. This custom was now two
years old and Jack was out of ideas. Every story was a variation of the basic tale: a small
animal, usually named Roger, had some problem. He went to the wise owl, who
advised him to go to the wizard.
The wizard solved Roger’s problem using a magic spell, and asked for a fee which was
greater than the number Roger had. So, the wizard also told Roger where and how he
could get the money. Roger used to pay to wizard, play happily with his friends and
then went home to have a lovely dinner with his family.
The Roger Skunk Story
It was a Saturday evening and time for Jo’s usual naps. Jack felt that the rite of
storytelling was futile as Jo never fell asleep in naps anymore like her two year old
brother, Bobby. Yet, he asked Jo about the new lead in the story. Jo thought and told
Jack that the story should be about a skunk. This filled Jack with a new creative
enthusiasm and he started narrating his story.
The story is about Roger skunk who smelt very bad. Because of his bad smell, no other
animal played with him and called him Roger stinky skunk. So, Roger was very upset.
While telling the story Jack remembered his own childhood humiliation. However,
looking at Jo’s reaction, he continued with the story. He did not want to rush into the
story as he was telling something true and important to Jo. At the same time, Jack also
had to help his wife, Clare paint the living room woodwork.
138
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
The Owl and Wizard Help Roger
Jack continued with the story. Roger Skunk went to the wise old
owl who lived at the top of a very big tree and told him about his
problem. The enormous owl advised Roger to visit the wizard.
Even now, Jo was constantly interrupting Jack. This time, she
asked if magic spells are real. Jo had entered the reality phase
and had started questioning about everything. So, Jack
answered Jo and moved on with the story.
After the wizard’s advise, Roger skunk reached the wizard’s
home and knocked on his door. The wizard opened the door
and found Roger skunk telling him about his smell. The
wizard’s reaction were Jack’s favourite effects and using it he
asked Roger what he wanted to smell like. Roger thought and
said he wanted to smell like roses. So, the wizard chanted a
smell and Roger smelt of roses.
The Intriguing Twist to the Story
Like all other stories, the wizard asked Roger to give him
seven pennies, but Roger had only four. So, the wizard told
him where to find the remaining three pennies. Roger Skunk
had to go to the end of the lane and turn around three times
and look down the magic well. Roger did so and found the
pennies, and gave them to the wizard. Now all the other
creatures played games and enjoyed all afternoon with Roger.
Soon, it got dark and all of them went to their homes.
At this point, Jo had started to fuss and got disinterested in the
story. She felt that the story was over. This irritated Jack and
he forwarded the story.
As Roger shunk reached home, his mother was surprised. She
got angry when she realised that her son was smelling like
roses. So, she wanted to go to the wizard to reverse the smell.
Even when Roger told her that no one played with him
because of the smell, his mother did not agree. She took him to
the Wizard and hit him right over his head. The wizard then
reversed the smell and Roger shunk smelt like a skunk again.
This ending surprised Jo. She did not want Roger to be sad
because of his old smell and thus wanted the wizard to hit
the Mother Shunk on the head. She also did not want the
little Shunk’s smell to be bad again.
Jo’s Ending to the Roger Skunk Story
Jack concluded with the story. With both mother and son
returning home. Mother Skunk was very happy because
Roger smelled like a skunk again. Now, even Roger was
happy as over time all the animals got used to his smell and
didn’t mind it at all.
Jo still could not relate to the story and believed that the
Mother Skunk was stupid. She asked Jack to tell her a story in
which the wizard hits Mother Skunk. Jack tried to reason with
her and told her that Roger Skunk loved his mother very much
and Mother Skunk knew what was right for her baby.
But Jo wouldn’t agree and fussed. So Jack told her that he
would see to it and asked Jo to go to sleep. When Jack came
downstairs, he found his pregnant wife working. Looking at
everything around him Jack felt caged in an ugly middle
position and didn’t want to do anything.
Word Meanings
The given page numbers correspond to the pages in the NCERT textbook.
cranky
—
bad-tempered
naps
—
short bouts of sleep, especially during the day
tag
—
a children’s game
wizard
—
a man with magical powers
lacrosse
—
a team game
Page 48
Page 53
Page 49
futile
—
useless
apprehensive
—
nervour or attentive
woodland
—
a small forest
of all the nerve
—
a phrase used to express shock,
disapproval or anger.
skittered
—
moved lightly and quickly
underbrush
—
shrubs and small trees forming the
undergrowth in a forest
astounded
—
shock or great surprise
crouching
—
to sit by bending the legs
gingerly
—
in a careful or cautious manner
smock
—
a loose coat-like outer garment, worn to
protect clothes while working
stroking
—
painting with a gentle movement of the
hand
solemnly
—
with deep sincerity
humiliations
—
embarrassing situations
Page 50
tiptop
—
the highest point
crick
—
a small stream
Pages 54-55
Page 51
rapped
infantile
—
—
struck hard
characterising very young children
scrunching
—
squeezing
whining
—
complaining
rheumy
—
watery
rummaged
—
searching unsystematically or untidily
spank
—
hit, thrash
trance
—
a half-conscious state
moldings
—
decorative architectural features
baseboards
—
bottom boards
tan
—
a yellowish-brown colour
Page 52
rapt
—
completely fascinated or absorbed
feigning
—
expressing or pretending
139
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Chapter
Practice
PART 1
Objective Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Select the suitable option for the given statements,
based on your reading of ‘Should Wizard hit Mommy’.
(i) Jack developed the custom of storytelling to make
Jo sleep.
(ii) After 2 years, Jack had no idea of what to tell Jo in his
story.
(a) (i) is true but (ii) is false
(c) Both (i) and (ii) are false
(b) (i) is false but (ii) is true
(d) Both (i) and (ii) are true
Ans. (d) Jack had started the custom of storytelling in the
evenings and for Saturdays so that Jo could take her naps.
He had started this custom when Jo was two years old
and now after Jo was four, Jack had run out of ideas for his
stories.
2. Classify (1) to (4) as Fact (F) or Opinion (O), based
on your reading of ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy’.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Jo was no longer interested in Jack’s stories.
Jo was an active girl who would not nap anymore.
Jack found making Jo sleep tiring.
Jack wanted the custom to continue for some more
time.
(a) Fact–(1) and (4); Opinion–(2) and (3)
(b) Fact–(3); Opinion–(1), (2) and (4)
(c) Fact–(1) and (2); Opinion–(3) and (4)
(d) Fact–(2) and (4); Opinion–(1) and (3)
Ans. (b)
3. “The little girl (not so little any more; the bumps
her feet made under the covers were halfway down
the bed, their big double bed that they let her be in
for naps and when she was sick) had at last
arranged herself,”
Some part of the given lines is given in parenthesis
to ……… .
(a) give extra information
(b) present author’s view
(c) give Jack’s view
(d) to separate the information
Ans. (a) The information given in the brackets state extra
information about how Jo had grown up now.
4. “Having a fresh hero momentarily stirred Jack to
creative enthusiasm.” Pick out the line which is in
agreement with the given line from the lesson.
(a) Nature is the best inspiration.
(b) Each and every thing around us can inspire us to act.
(c) For an artist a new experience is a new inspiration.
(d) New always breaks the monotony.
Ans. (c) Jack had been out of ideas when he had to narrate
another story to Jo. So, when Jo stated that she wanted to
hear a story about a new animal called Skunk, Jack got
inspired. As a story teller (artist), a new feature becomes a
source of inspiration.
5. “Sitting on the bed beside her, Jack felt the covers
tug as her legs switched tensely.” The given lines
show that Jo was
(a) Sleepy
(b) Excited
(c) Happy
(d) Eager
Ans. (b) Jo’s reaction shows that she was excited to hear the
new story her father was narrating to make her sleep.
6. “This was a new phase, just this last month, a
reality phase.”
The new phase referred to here points to the fact
that
(a) Jo has become observant.
(b) Jo has started forming her opinions.
(et Jo has started asking questions.
(d) Jo had stopped sleeping in naps.
Ans. (c) The new phase referred to in the given line refers to
new habit of questioning displayed by Jo. Jo had started
to question everything she hears.
7. “They’re real in stories,” Jack answered curtly. She
had made him miss a beat in the narrative.
The curt reply by Jack implies that he was getting
(a) irritated
(b) angry
(c) frustrated
(d) disdainful
Ans. (a) Jo’s constant interruptions irritated Jack.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
8. “Abracadabry, hocus-poo,
Ans. (d) The given statement shows that the Mother Skunk is
angry upon the new smell of Roger Skunk. She wanted
her son to smell the way a skunk should smell.
Roger Skunk, how do you do,
Roses, boses, pull an ear,
Roger Skunk, you never fear: Bingo!"
What is the significance of the rhyming lines?
(a) Through them, the wizard communicated with Roger Skunk.
(b) It is the spell that changes the smell of Roger Skunk.
(c) It serves no specific purpose apart from entertainment.
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) The given lines are the spell orated by the wizard to
12. Why does Jo want the wizard to hit mommy?
(a) Because mommy behaves rudely with the wizard
(b) Because mommy does not let her son have a new smell
(c) Because mommy does not allow her son to play with his
friends
(d) Because mommy was a wicked and a bad person
Ans. (b) Jo wanted the wizard to hit the mommy of Roger Skunk
because she feels that Mommy Skunk is wrong in her
decision to change the new and pleasant smell of Roger.
change the bad smell of Roger Skunk.
9. “Daddy.”
“What?”
“Roger Skunk. You said Roger Fish.”
“Yes. Skunk.”
The above dialogue shows Jo to be ...........
and her father to be ...........
Choose the correct option to complete the
following sentence.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
13. Why does Jack refuse to change the story?
(a) Because it reminded of his own humiliations
(b) Because he wanted Jo to know that parents know what is
best
(c) Because he knew that Jo would not like the changed story
(d) Because he did not want 10 highlight that mothers can be
wrong
Ans. (b) Jack did not want the change the end of the story
because he wanted Jo to understand that parents know
what is best for their children.
(a) confused; exhausted
(b) rude; careless
(c) vigilant, hasty
(d) disrespectful; disinterested
14. Choose the appropriate character traits that
contrast Jo and Jack.
(a) Imagination and reality
(b) Innocence and harsh world
(c) Childishness and adulthood
(d) Immaturity and maturity
Ans. (c) The given lines show that Jo was listening to her father
sincerely and vigilantly. She was so sincere that she even
pointed out her father’s mistake. At the same time, Jack
was in a hurry as he knew he had to help his pregnant
wife.
Ans. (b) Jo in perspective represents the innocent and fairy
tale like world of childhood. In contrast, Jack is the
representative of the mature and harsh real world.
10. “Jack didn’t like women when they took anything
for granted; he liked them apprehensive, hanging
on his words.”
Choose the option with the correct reference to the
textual statement given above.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(a) The way Jo was looking out of the window as if she was
not interested annoyed Jack
(b) The way Clare was shifting the furniture downstairs was
irksome to Jack.
(c) The way Jack was not able to make Jo sleep on time was
making him restless.
(d) The way the Skunk’s mommy in the story didn’t listen to
his son, irritated Jack.
15. Select the suitable option for the given statements,
based on your reading of ‘Should Wizard Hit
Mommy’.
(i) Clare can understand the dilemma that her husband
was going through.
(ii) Clare’s decision to do the work by herself irritates
Jack.
(a) (i) is true but (ii) is false.
(c) Both (i) and (ii) are false
Ans. (c) At the end of the ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy’, Jack
finds himself caught in an ugly middle position. He falls
in a dilemma which Clare cannot understand. At the same
time, we do not know how does Jack react to Clare
starting the work all alone.
Ans. (a) The given lines had been said in reference to the fact that
upon reaching the end of the story, Jo had started getting
distracted and seemed disinterested in the story. So she was
looking out of the window which annoyed Jack.
11. “You come with me and we’re going right back to
that very awful wizard.”
This shows that ……… …
(a) the Mother Skunk hated the wizard
(b) the Mother Skunk was angry
(c) the Mother Skunk disliked the smell of roses
(d) the Mother Skunk wanted her child to smell like a skunk
(b) (i) is false but (ii) is true.
(d) Both (i) and (ii) are true
l
Extract Based MCQs
1. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that
follow
Jo looked at him solemnly; she hadn’t foreseen this.
“Whenever he would go out to play,” Jack
continued with zest, remembering certain
humiliations of his own childhood, “all of the other
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
tiny animals would cry, “Uh-oh, here comes Roger
Stinky Skunk,” and they would run away, and Roger
Skunk would stand there all alone, and two little
round tears would fall from his eyes.” The corners
of Jo’s mouth drooped down and her lower lip bent
forward as he traced with a forefinger along the
side of her nose the course of one of Roger Skunk’s
tears.
(i) ‘Uh-oh’ in extract is used to show ………… .
(a) that something bad has happened.
(b) that something great had happened.
(c) that something strange had happened.
(d) that something clever had happened.
Ans. (a) The exclamatory remark ‘uh-oh’ is generally used to
indicate that something bad had happened and herein it
is that Roger Skunk, who smells bad, had come to play
with the other animals.
(ii) What effect does Jo’s solemn expression have on
Jack?
(a) He gets excited upon realising that Jo likes the story.
(b) He is pleased as Jo shows her sincerity.
(c) He gets nostalgic and regretful for not telling Jo about it
earlier.
(d) He gets into a hurry as he realises Jo’s reaction could
delay her nap.
Ans. (b) Jo shows sincerity and vigilance while listening to the
story. Such a reaction pleases Jack who continues on
narrating the story with zest.
(iii) Select the option that can be associated with Jack as
described in the extract.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Dominating
Imaginative
Effective storyteller
Troubled childhood
Amazing father
(a) 1 and 4
(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(d) All of these
Ans. (c) The extract shows that Jack is an imaginative and an
effective storyteller as he creates effects to capture the
interest of the reader. Further, we also get to know that he
is an amazing father who had faced certain humiliation in
his childhood.
(iv) Select the option that displays a cause-effect set.
Cause
Effect
(a)
Roger Shunk’s smell
Jo’s excitement
(b)
Bad smell of Roger Skunk Jo’s solemn and sincere
expression
(c)
Roger Skunk’s story
Jack’s childhood
humiliations
(d)
Jack’s childhood
humiliations
Roger Skunk’s story
Ans. (b) The new aspect of bad smell of Roger Skunk resulted in
capturing the attention of the little girl Jo. She sat listening
to the story with sincerity and a solemn expression.
(v) How does the information that Jack was
remembering certain humiliations of this own
childhood effect the story?
(a) Makes the story moralistic
(b) Makes the story more interesting
(c) Makes the story relatable
(d) Make the story biographical for Jack
Ans. (d) The fact that while telling the story Jack was
remembering certain humiliations of his own childhood,
lends a biographical aspect to his story.
2. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that
follow.
“Over the crick, and there will be the wizard’s
house.” And that’s the way Roger Skunk went, and
pretty soon he came to a little white house, and he
rapped on the door.” Jack rapped on the window
sill, and under the covers Jo’s tall figure clenched in
an infantile thrill. “And then a tiny little old man
came out, with a long white beard and a pointed
blue hat, and said, “Eh? Whatzis? Whatcher want?
You smell awful.” The wizard’s voice was one of
Jack’s own favourite effects; he did it by scrunching
up his face and somehow whining through his eyes,
which felt for the interval rheumy. He felt being an
old man suited him.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(i) Choose the option that tells the location of the
wizard’s house when Jack says ‘over the crick’.
(1)
(a) Option 1
(c) Option 3
(2)
(3)
(4)
(b) Option 2
(d) Option 4
Ans. (c)
(ii) Select the option that tells you about Jack being a
great storyteller.
1. Jack knew the right way to the wizard’s house as if he
had been there.
2. Jack was commendable at giving his story realistic
details.
3. Jack’s delivery of speech with sound effects was
remarkable.
4. Jack looked like a really old man as if he was the wizard.
(a) 1 and 2
(c) 3 and 4
(b) 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 4
Ans. (b) Jack used to give a realistic detailing to his stories.
This along with his delivery of speech and sound effects
make him a commendable storyteller.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iii) Pick the option that suitably decodes the wizard’s
message when he says “Eh? Whatzis? Whatcher
want?”.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
What is this? What can you want?
What’s this? What do you want?
Who? What can I do?
Who are you? What you want?
Ans. (b)
(iv) What was Jo’s reaction to Jack’s knock on the window?
(a) She stiffened in anticipation of something thrilling.
(b) She held on to the covers tightly and compressed her lips.
(c) She relaxed, knowing that her father was around to protect
her.
(d) She instantly responded in the voice of another character.
Ans. (a) Jack’s method of storytelling and the new aspect of the
story had so captured the attention of the little Jo that she
was excited about everything. So when Jack rapped on the
window, Jo excitedly waited in anticipation of something
thrilling to happen.
(v) Why had Roger Skunk gone to visit ‘a little white
house’?
(a) To find a solution to his problem
(b) To be able to make friends
(c) To get rid of his bad smell
(d) Both (a) and (c)
Ans. (d) Roger Skunk visited the little white house to get rid of
the problem of his bad smell.
3. Why did Jack feel irritated at his daughter?
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. Jack felt irritated with his daughter because of her
constant interruptions. He wanted to tell her
something important and thus wanted her to hang on
to his words. Even when he had finished the story,
Jack did not like Jo protest against his ending. He did
not want to change the ending of the story. Further, Jo
did not fall asleep despite listening to the whole story.
4. How did the Wizard help Roger Skunk?
Ans. Roger Skunk went to the wizard to get rid of his awful
smell. The wizard asked him what he wanted to smell
like, and Roger replied that he wanted to smell like
roses. The wizard then chanted a spell and changed
his smell to that of roses. Roger Skunk was very happy,
as now everybody liked to play with him.
5. What part of the story did Jack himself enjoy the
most and why?
[Delhi 2011]
Ans. Jack enjoyed the part of the story most when he had to
speak in the wizard’s voice, as it was one of Jack’s own
favourite effects. He did it by squeezing up his face
and somehow whining through his eyes. He felt being
an old man suited him. Besides, he also enjoyed telling
the story when Jo listened carefully, without
interrupting him with questions.
6. Having got rid of his stink, what problem did
Roger Skunk face?
[CBSE 2017]
Ans. After having got rid of his stink, Roger Skunk did not
have the required seven pennies to pay the wizard as
fee. He had only four pennies and so when the wizard
demanded seven pennies, Roger Skunk was faced with
another problem. In addition, he also had to face his
mother’s anger at his changed smell.
PART 2
Subjective Questions
l
Short Answer Type Questions
7. On seeing Roger Skunk again with a very bad
1. Why did Jack agree to use Skunk as the hero at the
story?
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. Jack agreed to use Skunk as the hero of the story as Jo had
heard about this new animal at school. Further, Jack had no
idea about the animal upon which he would base his story.
So, Jo’s suggestion of a new animal could work as a fresh
hero.
2. “He was telling her something true, something she
must know”. Why does the narrator make this
statement?
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. The narrator makes the given statement to highlight that he
was telling something real to the listener. Though the
narrator Jack, was telling his daughter Jo an imaginary story
of Roger skunk, he was actually telling her about his
childhood experience and suffering. In addition, by using
this statement that author clarifies why Jack did not want to
hurry through the story.
smell, how did the little animals react first and
then later on when he had lost it? [All India 2020]
Ans. Roger Skunk smelled very bad due to which little
animals ran away from him. Later on, Skunk got rid of
this problem with the help of wizard who made him
smell like a roses. The little animals found skunk’s new
smell quite pleasant. They played many games with
him and gathered around him.
8. Why was Roger Skunk’s mommy angry with
him? What did she finally tell him? [Delhi 2010]
or Why was Roger Skunk’s mommy angry?
Ans. Roger Skunk’s mommy was angry with him because
he got his original smell changed to the smell of roses.
After Roger Skunk got his original smell back, Mother
Skunk told him that he smelled like her little baby
skunk again and that she loved him very much.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
9. Why did Roger Skunk’s mother dislike the new
smell ? What does it tell us about mothers in
general ?
[CBSE 2019]
14. What is the significance of the “half old tan and half
new ivory cage of mouldings, rails and baseboards”
appearing at the end of the story?
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Roger Skunk’s mother disliked the new smell
because that was not the natural smell of Skunk and
thus would not serve its purpose.
This tells us that mothers in general want to impose
their opinion on their children and expect them to be
obedient.
10. What did Jo want the wizard to do when
Mommy Skunk approached him?
[Delhi 2013]
or How did Jo want the wizard to behave when
Mommy Skunk approached him?
[Delhi 2010]
Ans. Jo wanted the wizard to get angry on Mommy skunk.
According to her, the wizard should take the umbrella
and hit mommy skunk on the head and also not change
Roger’s smell.
11. Why did Jo feel that the Skunk’s mommy was
stupid?
[Foreign 2014]
or Why did Jo think Roger Skunk was better off
with the new smell?
[Delhi 2010]
Ans. Jo felt that Roger Skunk’s mommy was stupid
because his mother was gravely wrong in getting
Roger’s original smell back. After Roger began to
smell of roses, he was happily accepted by his
playmates, and, according to Jo, there was no need
for him to smell awful again.
12. How was the Skunk’s story different from the
other stories narrated by Jack?
Ans. The protagonist of each of Jack’s stories used to be an
animal named Roger who suffered from a problem,
solved ultimately by the wizard. Though Skunk’s
story has almost the same characters, its plot is a little
different.
Though the wizard solves his problem, Skunk’s
mother is annoyed and she makes him get back his
original smell. Moreover, Jack’s other stories were too
predictable for Jo while this was not.
13. Wanting Roger Skunk to continue to smell the
way a “little skunk should smell” has great
significance. Explain. [CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Wanting Roger Skunk to continue to smell the way a
‘little skunk should smell’ is of great significance to
the thematic concern of the story. The theme of the
story is that mothers know what is best for the
children. The story of Roger Skunk inspired by Jack’s
own childhood experience puts this forward with a
proper logic. A Skunk’s original bad smell functions
to protect it from preys. In light of this statement, the
mother’s decision to bring back the original smell of
the Skunk is justified.
Ans. The given phrase presents an image of imprisonment which
reflects how Jack feels in his life. Jack had just told an
important lesson of his life to his daughter. While doing so he
remembers his own childhood and the humiliations he had
faced which makes him bitter.
But he had no time to think about it and had to go down to
help his wife. This fills him with the feelings of resentment
and isolation for the life he is living. His past is the still with
him while he prepares for the present as well as the future.
All of these feelings makes him feel as if he is caged.
15. Why does Jack insist that it was the wizard that was hit
and not the mother?
[NCERT, Compartment 2014]
Ans. Jack insists that it was the wizard that was hit and not the
mother because Roger Skunk’s devotion and obedience to his
mother is a reflection of Jack’s own self. This is what his hero,
Roger Skunk, does when he accepts his mother’s command.
Jack believes that parents are always right and must be given
unconditional love and respect.
Moreover, Jack believes that the mother was eventually
proved right because all the animals accept Roger heartily,
with his distinct identity and his original smell.
16. Why does Jo insist that her father should tell her the
story with a different ending?
[All India 2013]
Ans. Jo is a four year old child who was used to the stories that
have a happy ending. However, Roger skunk’s story. For her,
does not have a happy ending. Roger skunk’s mother gets his
original smell, due to which all other animals ignored him,
back. Now, again the little Roger skunk would be left alone
which is unacceptable to Jo. Hence, she wants her father to
fell a story with a happy ending.
17. What is Mother Skunk’s role in the story? [All India 2017]
Ans. Mother Skunk’s role in the story is to convince the reader
about the narrator’s belief that we should never disobey our
parents as they know what is best for us. Mother Skunk
presents and proves the author’s stance that what Roger’s
mother/his mother said and did was correct.
18. Why do you think both Jo and Jack want a different
ending each, for Roger Skunk’s story?
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Both Jack and Jo want a different ending to the story of Roger
Skunk because of the difference in their understanding of the
world. Jack is an adult who sees the world with maturity. His
understanding is realistic and practical and thus he wants
Roger Skunk to retain his original smell.
However, Jo is a child. Her perspective of the world is
innocent and child like. She sees everything around her with
rose-coloured glasses. Thus for her, Roger Skunk must retain
the smell of roses and be happy while the wizard must hit the
Skunk’s mother.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
19. What message do you get from the story,
‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy’ ?
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. The message that the story gives is that an
individual’s views should be respected. We all must
accept that everyone has different perspective, each
one of which is important. Further, the story also hints
that male domination on females should end.
20. Discuss Jack’s perception about gender and its
roles. Cite instances from the text to support
your answer.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Jack’ perception about gender and its roles is derived
from the male dominated society. By virtue of the
patriarchal set up of the society, he feels that he
should be dominating and thus asserts the same time
and again in the story.
He is very peculiar of the females around him. He
wants them to be yielding and submissive to him. He
hated it when women took him for granted even if the
female is his daughter.
When the story is almost reaching the end, his
daughter gets distracted and does not pay much
attention to the story as she feels that the story is over.
This irritates him as he liked women to be
apprehensive. This shows that Jack was a living
embodiment of male chauvinism.
l
Long Answer Type Questions
1. How does Jo show her independent thinking in
the story, ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy’ ?
Ans. It is obvious to find a marked difference in an adult’s
perspective on life and that of a child. This difference
in perspective is shown by Jo who makes sure to show
her personality and independent thinking through her
questions.
Jo herself suggests the animal whose story her father
was to create. Further, when her father is narrating
the story, she keeps interrupting the story with
suggestions about the animals, the skunk was going to
meet. Not just that, she even kept on asking curious
questions like asking whether magic spells were real.
Her individuality comes out when she disapproves of
her father’s ending to the story. Jo wanted the story to
end happily. She wanted Roger Skunk’s problem to be
solved and expected that he would live happily,
playing with his new friends.
She also insists of wizard hitting the mother. This
ending too is justified when we look at it from a
child’s point of view. As a child, her world is fairytale
like and full of happiness. Her thunking will reflect
the need of happy ending which Jo does.
2. How does the story, ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy’ bear
testimony to the fact that the frustrations faced by
adults and their personal experiences often intrude
upon their interaction with their children? Elaborate.
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. It is true that the frustrations faced by adults and their
personal experiences, in this case Jack, often intrude upon
their interaction with their children. Jack’s childhood is
interwoven with the character of Roger Skunk.
Just as Roger has his bad smell, Jack had suffered social
rejection as a child due to his stammering. His mother helped
him to recover from it. So, his childhood humiliation was
transferred as Roger Skunk’s humiliation at not making
friends due to his bad smell. As a result, he cannot even
accept his daughter’s perspective about Mommy skunk.
However, it is wrong on the part of adults to thrust their will
on their children. Once a child is able to express himself, an
adult should not brush aside the child’s queries, suggestions
or opinions.
If the adult finds the child’s approach to be incorrect, the
adult should appeal to his reasoning instead of forcing the
child to see the adult’s point of view through threats or other
coercive methods.
3. What makes Jack feel caught in an ugly middle
position?
[NCERT]
Ans. Jack feels caught in an ugly middle position as he could not
help his wife Clare in painting the woodwork, because at that
time he was busy in narrating the story to his daughter. So,
Clare must be angry with him. Here, it is important to note
that the story also presents the unsettling of gender roles
while at the same time revealing the male psyche and Jack’s
chauvinistic attitude.
Secondly, Jack could not convince his daughter that the
ending of the story was proper and acceptable. As Jack tells
the story, his child Jo strongly expresses, both by words and
gestures, what she thinks about how the story should end,
which is contrary to what Jack had narrated, but which is
according to the principle that the child must respect the
mother and do what she says. Jack realises that what Jo has
asked for will not be proper.
That is why he feels caught in an ugly middle position which
can be taken to be two fold. The first one lies in the present.
He had to choose between his wife clare and his daughter.
The second one oscillates between his part and his present.
Jack cannot get over his childhood and because of it he
cannot prepare for the present and future.
4. What is your stance regarding the two endings to the
Roger Skunk story?
[NCERT]
Ans. It is interesting to contrast the two endings of the Roger
Skunk story. Jack’s ending of the story is quite mature and
practical. It points out the harsh realities that one has to go
through in life. The world is based on individual differences;
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
every species of animal has its distinct features, which
must be respected and accepted in totality. Moreover,
parents know what is best for their children, and their
decisions should be respected and obeyed.
Jo wanted the story to end happily. She wanted Roger
Skunk’s problem solved and expected that he would live
happily, playing with his new friends. This ending too is
justified when we look at it from a child’s point of view.
As a child, Jo was unable to understand the worth of one’s
originality and individuality. Besides, it is difficult for
children to understand or explain unhappy endings. Thus,
both endings are justifiable.
5. Describe Jack’s art of story telling.
Ans. Story telling was a ritual for Jack and his four-year-old
daughter Jo. For Jack it was a medium to express his
wisdom, art and creativity infused with cunningness
through his stories.
Jack begins his story telling sessions in the evenings and
before Saturday naps. The originality of these stories are
that they all revolve around a tiny creature called Roger.
His stories more or less follow one pattern with minor
variations depending on the theme for the day.
Each story begins and describes a Roger who may be a
squirrel, a fish or a chipmunk. The stories also have a wise
owl and a magic wand wielding wizard. The creature
named Roger always has a problem for which he goes to
the owl for advice. The owl directs him to the wizard who
casts a magic spell and the problem gets solved.
While telling the story Jack successfully manages to
capture the attention of his daughter because he
understands her span of attention while using his
creativity to create the desired effect. He imitates
different voices and uses this positive attribute to
communicate his ideas in an enthusiastic manner.
Each of these stories are his own invention and he uses
this talent along with his other talent of adopting the right
facial expressions to capture his daughter’s interest and
provide life lessons along the way.
6. How do you think Jack’s storyline would have been
impacted if Jack had accepted Jo’s ending of the
story?
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. If Jack had accepted Jo’s version of the story then, the
moral of the story would have been lost. Jack’s version of
the story functioned not only to tell something important
or true to Jo but also to teach her that parents and elders
know what is best for the children as they have
experienced the real world.
Hence, by virtue of the Mommy Skunk hitting the Wizard
and the Wizard changing the smell of the skunk to his
original smell, Jack posits that adults are always right. He
also intrinsically accepts and justifies his mother’s
decisions.
In this light, if he had changed the story according to Jo,
the reality aspect of the story would have been lost. All
the morals and justifications would be lost and the story
would just appeal to the innocent and happy fairy tale
world of children like Jo.
l
Extract Based Questions
1. Read the given extracts to attempt the questions
that follow.
Working his way through this scheme was
especially fatiguing on Saturday, because Jo never
fell asleep in naps any more, and knowing this
made the rite seem futile. The little girl (not so little
anymore; the bumps her feet made under the
covers were halfway down the bed, their big double
bed that they let her be in for naps and when she
was sick) had at last arranged herself, and from the
way her fat face deep in the pillow shone in the
sunlight sifting through the drawn shades, it did not
seem fantastic that some magic would occur, and
she would take her nap like an infant of two. Her
brother, Bobby, was two, and already asleep with
his bottle. Jack asked, “Who shall the story be
about today?”
(i) Explain ‘Working his way through this scheme’.
(ii) Why does Jack say that the ‘rite seems futile’?
(iii) What is the purpose of the parenthesis in the given
lines?
(iv) Why does Jack ask Jo ‘Who shall the story be about
today’?
(v) Do you think Jo would have an answer to the
question asked by Jack?
Ans. (i) The phrase ‘Working his way through his scheme’
refers to the storytelling custom of Jack to make his
daughter Jo fall asleep in the evenings and for
Saturday naps.
(ii) Jack says that the ‘rite seems futile’ because Jo had
grown up and did not easily fall asleep now.
(iii) The parenthesis used in the given lines explains the
statement that the little girl had grown up now. It
gives a vivid description to prove that she had
physically grown taller.
(iv) Jack asks Jo this question because after 2 years of
narrating a story everyday to his daughter, he was
out of ideas. Thus, to get a new idea, he asked Jo this
question.
(v) Yes, I think Jo would have an answer for the
questions asked by Jack as she was a school going
nursery child. This indicates that she was taught
about different things in school including animals.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
2. Read the given extracts to attempt the questions
that follow.
She thought the story was all over. Jack didn’t like
women when they took anything for granted; he
liked them apprehensive, hanging on his words.
“Now, Jo, are you listening?”
“Yes.”
“Because this is very interesting. Roger Skunk’s
mommy said, ‘What’s that awful smell?’
“Wha-at?”
“And, Roger Skunk said, ‘It’s me, Mommy. I smell
like roses.’ And she said, ‘Who made you smell
like that?’ And he said, ‘The wizard,’ and she
said, ‘Well, of all the nerve. You come with me
and we’re going right back to that very awful
wizard.
(i) Why did she think that the story was over?
(ii) What do the given lines reflect about Jack?
(iii) How does Jack know that Jo felt that the story was
over?
(iv) Do you think Roger Skunk’s mother liked the new
smell on her son?
(v) How will you explain Mother Skunk’s reaction?
Ans.
(i) She thought that the story was over because
generally her father Jack’s, stories ended with
Roger solving the problem with the help of the
wizard and being happy.
(ii) The given lines reflect that Jack was a dominating
male who wanted all females to be yielding to
him. He hated it when they did not pay attention
to him.
(iii) The given lines are taken from a part wherein Jo
was looking out of the window and was fussing.
She was distracted and showed no interest to the
story anymore. All these things lead Jack to
believe that Jo felt that the story was over.
(iv) No, I don’t think that Roger Skunk’s mother liked
the new smell on her son. In fact, she got angry at
the new smell of her son.
(v) Mother Skunk was not at all happy with the new
smell of her son as she felt that her son’s identity
as a skunk was lost. She wanted her son to smell
like a skunk only.
3. Read the given extracts to attempt the questions that
follow.
“Then did the other little animals run away?”
“No, because eventually they got used to the way he
was and did not mind it at all.”
“What’s evenshiladee?”
“In a little while.”
“That was a stupid mommy.”
“It was not,” he said with rare emphasis, and
believed, from her expression, that she realised he
was defending his own mother to her, or something as
odd. “Now I want you to put your big heavy head in
the pillow and have a good long nap.” He adjusted the
shade so not even a crack of day showed, and tiptoed
to the door, in the pretense that she was already
asleep.
(i) For what reason and from whom would other animals
run away?
(ii) Why does Jo call Mother Skunk ‘stupid Mommy’?
(iii) Do you think Jo understood that Jack was defending
her own mother or that something was odd?
(iv) Explain the significance of ‘rare emphasis’ that Jack put
in negating Jo’s beliefs.
(v) What do the given lines tell us about Jo?
Ans. (i) Other animals would run away from Roger skunk
because of his bad smell.
(ii) Jo calls Mother Skunk as ‘stupid mommy’ because she
cannot understand why mother skunk would change
the new smell of roses, because of which her son had
friends and was happy, back to the old bad smell.
(iii) No, I do not think that Jo understood that Jack was
defending her own mother as she did not know that the
Roger Skunk story had a biographical element of her
father’s childhood.
(iv) Jack has used a rare emphasis in negating Jo’s belief
because unlike the previous stories that were
completely imaginative, this story related to his
childhood. In this light, Mother Skunk represented his
own mother.
(v) The given lines tells us that Jo was smart, quick and an
intelligent girl. She has a mind of her own and sticks to
it. She is also an inquisitive learner who is learning new
things including words.
CBSE NEW Pattern English Language & Literature 12th (Term-II)
147
CHAPTER 02
On the Face
of It
—Susan Hill
In this Chapter...
Chapter Sketch
‘On the Face of It’ is a play featuring
an old man and a small boy meeting in
the former’s garden. Both suffer from
physical impairment, but Mr Lamb, the
old man, takes life as it comes to him
while the young boy Derry (short for
Derek) is very withdrawn and defiant.
The meeting turns out to be a boon for
Derry. Mr Lamb is able to give him
hope and the ability to see the bright
side of life.
l
Chapter Summary
l
Word Meaning
l
Chapter Practice
Chapter Summary
The Meeting in the Garden
The first scene of the play begins in Mr Lamb’s garden. Derry, a young boy of
fourteen, climbs over the garden wall and enters the garden. He slowly and cautiously
walks in thinking nobody is there and gets startled when he hears Mr Lamb’s voice.
The old man tells Derry to not trip upon the crab apples which have fallen from the
tree. Derry tries to explain to him that he didn’t want to sneak in. He had presumed
that the house was empty, and he didn’t expect anybody there. Mr Lamb tries to calm
the scared boy and tells him that the house is no doubt empty, as he is in the garden.
But Derry gets panicked and wants to leave. Mr. Lamb tells him that he does not have
to leave as the garden is always open and everyone is welcome to come in. He also
adds that he saw Derry while he was sitting there and clarifies that Derry is not so
young to steal the apples. Derry is now calm but still wants to leave which makes Mr.
Lamb think that Derry is afraid.
Derry Appears to be Apprehensive
Sensing Derry’s fear, Mr. Lamb assures him that there is nothing to be afraid of. Derry
tells him that he is not afraid but people are afraid of him. When Mr. Lamb shows his
confusion, Derry tells him that he can see and understand what people think of him.
He furiously adds that people including Mr. Lamb pity him as a ‘poor boy’ and are
afraid of him internally. He also asserts that he is not a poor boy.
Mr. Lamb, after hearing Derry, tells him that he is not afraid and changes the subject.
He tells Derry that he would pull down the crab apple and make jelly from it. He also
adds that Derry could help him. Derry is enraged at the change of subject. He tells
Mr. Lamb that he is also pretending that he does not have a burnt face and had not
asked about it because he is also afraid of it.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Mr Lamb’s Philosophy
The Positive Side of Life
Sensing Derry’s hostility, Mr. Lamb asks Derry about it,
and states he feels that Derry got burned in a fire. Derry
clarifies that acid fell on the side of his face and now it will
remain like it. Mr. Lamb’s indifference to Derry’s face
surprises him. Confused Derry asks him why he isn’t
interested. Mr. Lamb tells him that Derry is like
everything or everyone else that God had created. He
takes Derry’s focus on weeds and tells him that he grows
weeds along with flowers, trees, herbs etc. He adds that for
him weeds and flowers are same, it is just a matter of
perspective. He follows a philosophy wherein he
celebrates life in all form.
Derry asks Mr. Lamb what he does all day. Mr. Lamb informs
him that he sits in the sun and reads books. He adds that his
house is full of books and other things. Derry notices that there
are no curtains on the windows of Mr Lamb’s house. Mr Lamb
tells him that he is not fond of curtains because they shut things
out and he likes to observe things.
Derry says that he likes to hear the rain falling on the roof. Mr.
Lamb senses some change in Derry.
Derry tells Mr Lamb that even his family pities him. They think
about his future and are worried about him. Mr Lamb shows
him that he is normal and that he can live his life easily like
others.
Derry asks Mr Lamb if he has any friends. Mr Lamb tells him
that everyone including Derry is his friend. Derry is confused
and asks him how they are friends when Mr Lamb doesn’t even
know his name. Mr Lamb explains that names don’t signify
anything. To him, being friends doesn’t mean that you should
know all the details about a person.
Derry tells him that his name is Derek, but he hates being
called that. He wants to be called ‘Derry’ only. He asks Mr.
Lamb that of he does not come back, he will not be a friend. Mr.
Lamb clarifies that he would still be a friend and that one always
has a relationship with people.
Mr Lamb Reveals his Impairment
Derry remains unsatisfied. So, Mr Lamb reveals that they
are the same as he has a tin leg. Upon enquiry, Mr Lamb tells
Derry that one of his legs got blown off in a war. When he
goes out, some kids call him ‘Lamey-Lamb’. This doesn’t
bother him. Derry tells Mr Lamb that he could cover his tin
leg with his trousers, but Derry cannot cover his face and thus
people stare at him.
Mr. Lamb tells Derry that everything is a matter of
perspective like Beauty and the beast. But Derry remains
unconvinced. He believes that he won’t change and
everyone including his own mother is afraid of him. She
only kisses the other side of his face and just like her no
other female would kiss him all throughout his life.
Mr. Lamb tells Derry that the world out there is beautiful
to look out and tries to fill Derry with optimism. But Derry
doesn’t reconcile. He states that people pity him for going
through the pain bravely. He adds that people also tell him
to compare his condition with others who are blind, deaf or
live in a wheelchair. His pessimism does not leave him.
Derry Calls Mr Lamb Peculiar
Derry then narrates an incident which happened at the bus
stop. He heard two women talk about his face. Their
comments hurt him. Listening to this, Mr Lamb advises
Derry not to believe everything that he hears. Derry calls
Mr Lamb ‘peculiar’ and his talks as well as questions
confuse him. Mr. Lamb clarifies that he likes being social
and goes on to talk about how he likes to hear the bees
sing.
Derry tells Mr. Lamb that he liked the garden and if he
knew Mr. Lamb was there he wouldn’t have entered as he
doesn’t like being near people.
Mr Lamb tells him a story about a man who was afraid to
die. He feared each and every thing and locked himself in
a room. Unfortunately, he died because a picture fell off
the wall on his head. This makes Derry laugh.
‘Watching, Listening, Thinking’
Derry tells Mr Lamb that he hates some people. Mr Lamb says
that hatred is more dangerous than the acid that burned his
face. Derry narrates another incident about the time when he
returned home after the accident.
He heard someone say that Derry would have been better in
the hospital with others ‘like him’. Mr Lamb contradicts it.
Derry is amazed and asks how he understands all these things.
Mr Lamb replies, ‘Watching, listening, thinking’. Derry tells
Mr. Lamb that he would like to have a place this with no
curtains and a garden.
Mr Lamb tells Derry that he can come and go in his house as he
wishes. Whatever belongs to him belongs to everybody. Derry
tells Mr Lamb that his friends would run away at seeing Derry’s
face. But Mr. Lamb stands by his decision and reaffirms that
Derry should come.
Derry Offers his Help
Derry asks Mr Lamb how he is going to get the apples down,
since his leg is blown off. Mr Lamb assures him that over the
years he has learned to deal with his handicap. Derry then
offers his help, but states his mother won’t allow him to come
out once he gets home.
Mr Lamb tells Derry that it is not Derry’s mother but Derry’s
bitterness and hesitation that won’t let him go out. He adds that
149
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
he is a young boy and he could do anything if he chooses to.
Mr Lamb excites Derry who is getting infuriated. Derry asks
Mr. Lamb about his friends to mock him, but Mrs Lamb does
not pay any attention to him. He goes to his bees and
indicates that he doesn’t believe Derry would come back.
react. She simply tells him that he is bound to say such awful
things because of his face. Derry strongly replies that he
doesn’t care about his face anymore. He realises that if he
doesn’t go now, he won’t go anywhere in the world which he
wants to enjoy.
Derry Chooses for Himself
Derry is a Changed Person
The second scene begins in Derry’s house. He is fighting with
his mother because he wants to return to Mr Lamb, and his
mother is not allowing him to go. She says that she has been
warned by many people that Mr Lamb appears to be an
eccentric. But Derry insists that he wants to go. For the first
time in his life, someone has shown him the right way. He
wants to talk to Mr Lamb about things which matter to him. He
wants to sit there and listen to things. His mother tells him to
stay, but Derry tells her that he hates it. His mother doesn’t
The final scene shifts to the garden again. Derry reaches
there out of breath. He finds Mr Lamb lying on the ground.
He has been trying to pick the apples off the tree when the
ladder has slipped and he, alongwith it, had fallen on the
ground.
Derry tries to awaken him, but Mr Lamb is unmoving. He is
probably dead. Derry has lost his only friend and begins to
cry. Mr Lamb was able to do what he has been trying; he has
taught Derry how to live.
Word Meanings
The given page numbers correspond to the pages in the NCERT textbook.
Page 56
windfalls
—
fruits blown down from a tree or bush
by the wind
Page 57
scrump
—
steal (fruit) from an orchard or garden
Pages 58-59
give (me) a hand
blown off
—
—
help, assist
separated
—
frightening
—
—
—
crazy, foolish
to let saliva drip from the mouth
strange or unusual
filing box
—
a box for keeping documents or files in
order
make (all that) out
—
understand
thumping
—
falling down with a loud, dull sound
swishes
—
moves with a hissing sound
Pages 63-64
Pages 60-61
monstrous
daft
dribble
peculiar
Pages 67-68
150
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Chapter
Practice
PART 1
Objective Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following complex is visible in Derry?
(a) Inferiority
(b) Superiority
(c) Appearance
(d) Social phobia
not indicate ……… .
(i) stage direction
(iii) narrator’s note
(v) a musical trope
(a) (iii) and (v)
(c) (iii) and (iv)
(ii) expression
(iv) change of voice
(b) (i) and (ii)
(d) (ii) and (v)
Ans. (a) The use of brackets in the play indicates stage directions,
expression of the speakers, and the change of voice.
6. “You could give me a hand.” Pick the idiom which
suits the given line.
Ans. (a) Derry suffers from an inferiority complex
because of his burnt face.
2. Select the suitable option for the given statements,
based on your reading of ‘On the Face of it’.
I. Mr. Lamb is a very keen and immaculate gardener.
II. Mr. Lamb asks Derry to be careful of falling down
and crushing the apples.
(a) I is true, but II is false.
(b) I is false, but II is true.
(c) Both I and II can be inferred.
(d) Both I and II cannot be inferred.
Ans. (c) The fact that Mr. Lamb’s garden is full of trees and
flowers shows that he is great gardener. Further, he asks
Derry to be careful when he sees him because he fears
that Derry would slip on the crabapples.
3. ‘Derry : What? Who’s that? Who’s there?’ which of
the following options reflect what Derry felt in the
given line?
(a) Frustration
(c) Perplexed
5. The use of brackets at various place in the play does
(b) Terrified
(d) Disdain
Ans. (c) When Derry suddenly hears a voice in a garden that
he thought was empty, he gets surprised and perplexed.
4. How would you describe Derry’s tone when she
says, “I thought it was empty … an empty house”?
(a) Hesitant
(b) Scared
(b) Distraught
(d) Perplexed
Ans. (a) Derry is hesitant in talking to Mr. Lamb.
(a) Hang in there
(c) Hang on
(b) Back me up
(d) Stay the course
Ans. (b) The given phrase means to help. From the options,
back me up also means to help.
7. ‘Aren’t you interested?
‘You’re a boy who came into the garden. Plenty do.
I’m interested in anybody. Anything. There’s
nothing God made that doesn’t interest me. Look
over there … over beside the far wall. What can
you see?
‘Aren’t you interested?’ This line has been stated in
the context of ………… .
(a) Derry’s behaviour
(c) Derry’s negativity
(b) Derry’s burnt face
(d) Derry’s dilemma
Ans. (b)
8. What was the purpose of Mr. Lamb asking Derry to
look at the far wall?
(a) To make him admire the beauty of his garden.
(b) To show him the positive outlook of life.
(c) To make Derry understand the absurdity of his
behaviour.
(d) To get Derry’s help in making jam.
Ans. (c) Mr. Lamb asks Derry to look at the far wall because he
wants Derry to understand the absurdity in his talks and
his negative behaviour.
9. “It’s all relative. Beauty and the beast.”
The given lines by Mr. Lamb talks about ………
(a) objectivity of thoughts
(c) factual nature of life
(b) subjectivity of thoughts
(d) evolutionary nature of life
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Ans. (b) The reference to ‘relative and beauty and the beast’
15. “Everything’s the same, but everything is
has been used to indicate that everything is a matter of
perspective or subjectivity of thought.
different.” Choose the option stating the
significance of this statement depending on the
textual context.
10. Classify (i) to (iv) as Fact (F) or Opinion (O) based
on your reading of ‘On the Face of It’.
(i) Mr. Lamb wants Derry to focus his shift from what
other people think of him to what he thinks of the
world.
(ii) Derry disdain for the people around his including his
mother is quite obvious.
(iii) Derry as such won’t be able to change his mindset
very easily.
(iv) The manner in which Mr. Lamb is handling Derry
indicates that Derry would undergo a change soon.
(a) Fact - (i) and (iv); Opinion - (ii) and (iii)
(b) Fact - (ii) and (iii); Opinion - (i) and (iv)
(c) Fact - (i) and (ii); Opinion - (iii) and (iv)
(d) Fact - (ii) and (iv); Opinion - (i) and (iii)
Ans. (a)
11. “Ah, but do you care if you never kiss them.” What
does Mr. Lamb aim to do with such a statement?
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(a) Empower Derry to take charge.
(b) Inspire Derry to have dreams.
(c) Comfort Derry by distracting him.
(d) Question Derry about his desires
Ans. (a) When Mr. Lamb asks Derry about if he wants to kiss
the girls, he wants Derry to understand that it is his
perspective that matters. He also wants Derry to
understand that he has to take charge of his life.
12. It’d have been trespassing.
Ah. That’s not why
“That’s not why.” This statement indicates that
(a) Mr. Lamb is suspicious of Derry.
(b) Mr. Lamb doesn’t like Derry.
(c) Mr. Lamb doesn’t believe in Derry.
(d) Mr. Lamb knows that Derry is negative
Ans. (c)
13. The moral of the story about the man who locked
himself in the house by Mr. Lamb is
(a) poeple have different views
(b) you cannot please everyone
(c) you cannot live your life with fear
(d) isolatin is not a solution
Ans. (c) The story stated by Mr. Lamb states that any individual
cannot live his life in fear.
14. “So you’re not lost, are you? Not altogether? You do
hear things. You listen.”
In the given lines, Me. Lamb ………… Derry.
(a) starts to understand
(c) sees the vulnerability in
Ans. (b)
(b) finds a ray of positivity in
(d) brings a change in
(a) Every one finds different meanings in different things
according to their cultures.
(b) While essentially things are similar in nature, they are
different for different people.
(c) What matters is how an individual looks at things.
(d) One’s perception is central to the understanding of one’s
psychology.
Ans. (b) The given lines states the subjectivity of thoughts.
Accordingly while things may be similar in nature, the
perspective with which they are seen may be different.
l
Extract Based MCQs
1. Read the extract to attempt questions that follow.
Mr Lamb Look, boy, look.... what do you see?
Derry Just....grass and stuff. Weeds.
Mr Lamb Some call them weeds. If you like,
then.... a weed garden, that. There’s fruit and there
are flowers, and trees and herbs. All sorts. But over
there.... weeds. I grow weeds there. Why is one
green, growing plant called a weed and another
‘flower’? Where’s the difference. It’s all life....
growing. Same as you and me.
Derry We’re not the same.
Mr Lamb I’m old. You’re young. You’ve got a
burned face, I’ve got a tin leg. Not important.
You’re standing there.... I’m sitting here. Where’s
the difference?
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(i) Like the play, the given extract is a study in
contrasts. What does Mr. Lamb seek to do by
bringing up distinctions?
(a) To explain that weeds are important and should be
valued and cared for as much as flowers.
(b) To emphasize that distinctions are made by man to serve
specific purposes and uses.
(c) To highlight that labels are arbitrary and essentially
reflect a common life experience.
(d) To remind Derry that the only difference that matters is
that of attitude and experience.
Ans. (c) By bringing up distinctions, Mr. Lamb wants to tell
Derry that things are similar in nature and all the labels
are of no consequence.
(ii) How would you describe Derry’s tone when he
says–“We’re not the same”?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Angry
Perplexed
Gloomy
Practical
Ans. (c) Derry is dejected and gloomy because the world have
not been kind to him. Such a gloomy persists throughout
his words in the play.
152
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iii) Look at the given images of books. In which of the
following are you NOT likely to find Mr. Lamb’s
words as given in the extract?
(i) What does ‘you can burn yourself away inside’ mean?
(a) Fire can kill a person.
(b) One can die because of negative feelings.
(c) Pessimism can destroy a person’s life.
(d) Negative thoughts can become dangerous.
Ans. (b) The given phrase highlights how negative feelings can
destroy an individual.
(i)
(ii)
(ii) What does the given lines tell about the
relationship between Mr Lamb and Derry?
(iii)
(a) They both are sympathetic to each other.
(b) The both become friends.
(c) they share a relationship as that of a teacher and student.
(d) All of the above
Ans. (a) The given lines show that both Mr. Lamb and Derry
(iv)
can relate to each other as they both feel sympathetic to
their conditions.
(v)
(a) Options (i) and (iii)
(b) Options (i) and (iv)
(c) Options (ii) and (iv)
(d) Options (ii) and (iii)
(iii) What does the stranger say for Derry?
(a) That no one would love him.
(b) That he would not live for long.
(c) That there should be a place where all people like him
could stay together.
(d) That he should stop being a burden.
Ans. (b)
(iv) Which of the following represents Mr. Lamb’s
analysis of flowers and weeds?
(a) Comparison is an act of violence against the self.
(b) If you have a garden in your library, everything will be
complete.
(c) One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist.
(d) The cosmos is within us. We are made star-stuff.
Ans. (c)
(iv) The attitude of ‘she’ in the extract is
1. Compassionate
3. Indifferent
5. Disdainful
(a) 1 and 2
(c) 1 and 5
Ans. (c) The matter of perspectives in clearly given in option
(c). Accordingly essentially every one is a human but
because of how the world sees people, one becomes a
freedom fighter and one becomes a terrorist.
(b) 3 and 4
(d) 5 and 6
Ans. (b) When she says that Derry should be kept with other
people like him she comes out as indifferent and
discriminatory against Derry.
(v) The character of Derry as ………… Mr. Lamb.
(v) By saying ‘what kind of a world would that be’, Mr.
Lamb is ……… Derry’s statement.
(a) a distraction from the pain for
(b) the bridge between loneliness and
(c) like a divine assurance for
(d) in sharp contrast to
Ans. (d) Derry is a pessimist which is a sharp contrast to the
2. Positive
4. Discriminatory
6. Disgusted
(a) negating
(c) clarifying
(b) questioning
(d) reaffirming
Ans. (a)
character of Mr. Lamb as he is an optimist.
2. Read the extract to attempt questions that follow.
Mr Lamb Like a bomb only blew up my leg.
There’s worse things can happen. Your can burn
yourself away inside.
Derry After I’d come home, one person said, “He’d
have been better off stopping in there. In the
hospital. He’d be better off with other like himself.”
She thinks blind people only ought to be with other
blind people and idiot boys with idiot boys.
Mr Lamb And people with no legs altogether?
Derry That’s right.
Mr Lamb What kind of a world would that be?
PART 2
Subjective Questions
l
Short Answer Type Questions
1. What kind of garden does Mr Lamb have ? Why
does he like it ?
[CBSE 2017]
Ans. Mr Lamb’s garden has flowers, fruit trees as well as a
place for rearing bees.
He likes the garden because it keeps him busy. He spends
his entire day looking after the plants, breaking the crab
apples from the trees and making jam out of them.
153
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
2. Why does Mr Lamb leave the gate of his house
always open?
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. Mr Lamb always keeps his gate open because he always
wants visitors to come to his house. Mr Lamb resided
alone in a big house and liked to meet and talk to people.
He was warm and welcoming. He had a positive outlook
towards life and believed that everything that belonged to
him, belonged to everyone.
3. How has Mr. Lamb kept himself open to everyone?
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. Mr Lamb kept himself open to everyone by keeping his
gates always open and having no curtains on the
windows. He likes to meet people who come in his
garden and so does not want to shut out the world. He is
always open to making friends and offers apples, pears
and toffees to visitors.
4. Why does Mr. Lamb say to Derry, ‘‘So you are not
lost, are you ? Not altogether ?’’
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. Mr. Lamb makes this remark when Derry mentions that
he too enjoys the sound of falling rain. He makes the
remark to change Derry’s negative approach towards life.
The lines boost Derry’s self-confidence and fill him with
positivity.
5. Do you think Mr. Lamb’s words will change Derry’s
attitude towards Mr Lamb?
Ans. Derry’s attitude towards life itself will entirely change
with Mr. Lambe words. Mr Lamb was able to show him
the bright side of life.
His words and his own condition made Derry understand
that he is too important. As a consequence of Mr. Lamb
and his philosophy, Derry is completely transformed and
he becomes a optimist.
6. Why did Mr Lamb help Derry?
[Compartment 2014]
Ans. Mr Lamb perhaps identified himself with Derry. Though
he had conquered his physical disability, he could well
understand Derry’s pscyhe, having himself gone through
a similar phase in life. He probably did not want Derry to
be a victim of the same and thus dicided to help him.
7. Mr. Lamb and Derry were both suffering from
similar problems. Comment.
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. It is true that Mr. Lamb and Derry were both suffering
from similar problems. They both were physically
impaired by the virtue of which they both were alienated
from the society. However, they both react differently to
their conditions. While Mr. Lamb accepts it, Derry
becomes a pessimist.
8. What qualities of Mr Lamb attracted Derry to him?
[All India 2009]
Ans. The quality that attracted Derry most to Mr Lamb was
his tremendous patience as he listened to him. He talked
to him about things which mattered; things nobody else
had ever said to him.
9. How does Mr Lamb try to remove the baseless
fears of Derry?
[All India 2008]
Ans. Mr. Lamb tried to remove the baseless fears of Derry by
pointing out the nature and its wonders. He tells Derry
about how his negative thoughts destroyed him and will
continue to destroy him. He highlights the importance of
perspectives and optimism. All of these bring a change into
Derry.
10. How is the Derry we meet at the beginning
different from the Derry at the end ?
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. Derry in the beginning of the play ‘On the Face of it’ is a
withdrawn and a defiant person. He is filled with negativity
and is miserable as well as pitiable. But by the end we find
a positive change in Derry. The meeting with Mr. Lamb
has given him a direction and purpose of life. He is now
free from his old complexes.
11. In what sense is the friendship between Mr Lamb
and Derry fruitful?
[Compartment 2014]
Ans. The friendship between Mr Lamb and Derry was fruitful
as it helped the latter get over his baseless fears. Derry
was inspired by Mr Lamb’s positive attitude towards life.
The old man’s optimism instilled in Derry the confidence
to come out of his shell and face the world. In return, Mr
Lamb is benefited from Derry’s company, and is able to
shed his loneliness.
12. Why did Derry insist that he would go back to Mr.
Lamb ?
[CBSE 2015]
Ans. Derry insisted that he would go back to Mr. Lamb as he
found comfort and happiness in his company. Mr. Lamb
opened a new world of thought and wisdom for Derry
wherein he completely forgot about his handicap. He felt
that he too could live an independent life.
13. Do you think Derry’s mother is protective of him?
Justify your opinion with textual evidence.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Though Derry’s mother is given little characterisation in
the play, in the little she exists, she comes out as
simultaneously overprotective and not understanding of
her son. She knows that the world would not be kind to
her son and is worried for him. Her protectiveness only
becomes visible when she forbids him from returning to
Mr. Lamb’s house, for all the bad things she had heard of
him. But at the same time she herself contributes to his
isolation by keeping him home. She treats him like a
helpless victim with a sense of pity that robs him of
dignity and adds to her son’s pessimism.
14. Why did Derry go back to Mr. Lamb’s garden even
after opposition?
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Derry decided to go back to Mr. Lamb’s garden even after
opposition from his mother because for the first time
someone had not judged him for his injured face. Instead,
Mr. Lamb had inspired Derry to overcome his disability
by adopting an optimistic outlook on life.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
The teachings and advices given by Mr. Lamb impacted
Derry to tread the path showed by him, and thus he
returned to Mr. Lamb.
15. ‘‘It is not merely age but experience that counts.’’
With reference to any one example from the text,
comment on how Derry found Mr. Lamb different
from other adults he had encountered?
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Derry is a pessimist. His negative attitude towards the
world is a result of the negative outlook of people towards
him. People around him have always made him feel inferior
and ugly. Even his parents reflect a similar attitude. In
middle of such experience, Mr. Lamb provides him a new
approach to things because he himself had experienced
such behaviours in his life.
Based on his experience, he tells Derry that it is the
perception of an individual that matters. He teaches him
the importance of being positive and also about now he
needs to believe in his own self. He tells him that should
not hate others and that hatred is worse than acid because
it burns the inside.
16. Imagine that Mr. Lamb had not fallen off the ladder
at the end. Recalling his conversation with the bees,
do you think Derry’s return might have changed him
as much as he had changed Derry? Elaborate.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Yes, I think that Derry’s return would have changed Mr.
Lamb if he had not fallen off the ladder at the end. Derry is
so impacted by Mr. Lamb’s words that he decides to visit
Mr. Lamb again. This would have taken the old man from
loneliness to a happy companionship. Mr. Lamb liked
company which he did not enjoy but with Derry he would
have someone to talk to, tell his experiences to, share his
joys with and enjoy his life. Most importantly, the old man
will have a purpose to hand over his philosophy of life to
Derry and inspire him to find out what he wants to be.
l
Long Answer Type Questions
1. Discuss the relevance of the title ‘On the Face of It’.
Ans. The title of the play ‘On the Face of It’, seems somewhat
odd and awkward at first.
However, it is related to the central thematic concern that
sometimes people may be quite different from what they
appear to be at first. Mr Lamb appears to be a secretive,
mysterious, lonely, lame old man who lives all alone. But in
the story, he appears to be a gentle, kind, generous and
considerate person who helps Derry in overcoming his
fears, obstacles, complexes and inhibitions.
In a similar way, Derry seems to be a complex-ridden boy
who hates people because of his own ugly face. He is
withdrawn and defiant.
However, as the story move on, one finds out the Derry
is not completely pessimistic and his pessimism results
from the way the world has treated him.
Both Mr. Lamb and Derry undergo a transformation
Mr. Lamb gets a companion in Derry and Derry find a
mentor and guide in Mr. Lamb. On the face, it may
seem that thin age might hinder their companion.
However, their circumstances bring them closer.
2. Both Derry and Lamb are physically impaired and
lonely. It is the responsibility of society to
understand and support people with infirmities so
that they do not suffer from a sense of alienation.
As a responsible citizen, write in 120-150 words
what you would do to bring about a change in the
lives of such people.
All India 2014
Ans. People with some physical disability or impairment are
often pitied and ridiculed by others. This makes them
develop a sense of inferiority. They form a shell around
themselves and begin to lead a life of seclusion.
As responsible citizens, it is our duty to treat such
people with love and affection, and not make them a
subject of our pity or ridicule. We should try to
understand their infirmity and empathise with them.
We must give them due respect, and thus motivate
them to feel at par with the others in society, so that
they do not suffer from a sense of isolation or alienation
and are able to live a normal life. We must make them
aware of the innumerable opportunities available to
them and bring a ray of hope in their lives.
3. What is it that draws Derry towards Mr Lamb in
spite of himself?
[NCERT]
Ans. Derry finds Mr Lamb quite different from the other
people he has come across till now. He is impressed by
the old man’s talk about beauty and the beast, pretty
girls and the plain talk about how the world will change
its attitude towards Derry. Mr Lamb’s concept of the
world, friendship, not believing everything one hears,
the story about the timid man who locked himself in,
and the like, sound peculiar to Derry, but interest him.
He understands the underlying message that Mr Lamb
has given him.
He is encouraged by Mr Lamb’s word. Gradually, Derry
is able to shed his inhibitions, insecurities, fears and
complexes. The talk with Mr Lamb is the beginning of
his transformation.
Another reason that aids Derry’s metamorphosis to
optimism is the similar situations both Mr. Lamb and
Derry had faced. They both suffered from physical
impairment and consequently alienation. This similarity
brings them closer and Derry undergoes
transformation.
155
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
4. The play ‘On the Face of It’ depicts the
6. Derry mentions two kinds of responses people often have
unusual behaviour of the people towards the
physically disabled which makes them feel
lonely. Comment.
[CBSE 2020]
to justify misfortune, one “Look at all those people who
are in pain and brave and never cry and never complain
and don’t feel sorry for themselves”; and secondly, “think
of all those people worse off than you.” Far from
comforting him, these empty words only agitate him.
In both cases, one’s sense of self is derived from others
and how they live their lives.
Ans. It is true that the play ‘On the Face of It’ depicts
the unusual behaviour of the people towards the
physically disabled. In the story, Mr Lamb and
Derry both suffer from physical impairment.
Mr Lamb has a tin leg as his real leg has been
blown off in a war. Derry’s face got burned, as acid
fell on it. Derry, due to his burnt face, tries to keep
away from people. He hates it when people have
pity on him. He thinks that people are scared of
him.
Even his mother doesn’t kiss him on the burnt side.
Such incidents have filled Derry with negativity
and bitter feelings. So, he prefers to live in
seclusion and looks for places that are isolated.
Mr Lamb is also somewhat lonely, though he doesn’t
show it. He himself says that people always promise
to return to him, but they never do. He is often
misjudged by the other people. Derry’s mother
considers him to be crazy.
Thus, the lesson is an apt depiction of the
loneliness and sense of alienation experienced by
people on account of a disability.
5. Mr. Lamb died just as soon as Derry was
beginning to feel positive about life. Do you
think that this would bring about a setback in
his life ? Give reasons for your answer.
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. I don’t think that Mr. Lamb’s death would bring a
setback in Derry’s life. Mr. Lamb plays an
instrumental role in changing Derry’s attitude to
life. Suffering from a physical impairment, Derry
had become a pessimist.
But after he met Mr. Lamb, he gradually began to
see the bright side of life. He realised that, in the
form of Mr. Lamb, he had found a true friend who
has shown him the right approach towards life. A
brief association with Mr. Lamb boosted Derry’s
self-confidence and made him respect himself as he
was.
This new self-esteem brought about a major
change in Derry and he told his mother that his
looks do not matter. A change has certainly come
about in Derry’s attitude towards himself and
towards life in general.
It is unlikely that he will revert to his past secluded
life, even with Mr. Lamb’s probable death at the
end of the story. In fact, he will now lead a more
active life with the positive thoughts given to him
by Mr. Lamb, because Mr. Lamb was the person
who taught him the correct approach to life.
(i) How far might looking at others itself be the cause of
suffering?
(ii) In what way can people, especially children, be
empowered to face their challenges without the spectre of
comparison?
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. (i) Looking at others can easily become the cause of suffering
simple because of the comparison we make with others.
Others suffering and even betterment can make one feel
dejected and alienated. This is exactly what happens with
Derry. While some people feel sorry for Derry because of
his burned face, other alienate him for being different from
other people. Due to such comparisons one becomes prone
to a pessimistic attitude, low self-esteem, lack of
confidence, desolation and withdrawal.
(ii) People, especially children can be easily empowered to
face their challenges without any spectre of comparison by
simply considering all of them as equals irrespective of
their genders, disabilities etc. With right opportunities,
genuine concern and no differentiation everyone should be
given a chance to prove themselves. A person with any
physical impairment can live life with respect and honour,
if he is not ridiculed. He/she expects empathy rather than
sympathy. The feeling of sympathy and pity is just a
constant reminder of the disability which should be
avoided as it only alienates or takes them into a secluded
world of their own.
In the play, both Derry and Mr. Lamb are in a similar situation.
Mr. Lamb, as an adult, is able to cope with such problems, but
Derry falls into the pit of seclusion and pessimism. It is only
when he finds an equal optimistic approach without judgement
that he undergoes a change.
l
Extract Based Questions
1. Read the extract to attempt questions that follow:
Mr. Lamb Real one got blown off, years back.
Lamey-Lamb, some kids say. Haven’t you heard them? You
will. Lamey-Lamb. It fits. Doesn’t trouble me.
Derry But you can put on trousers and cover it up and
no one sees, they don’t have to notice and stare.
Mr. Lamb Some do. Some don’t. They get tired of it, in
the end. There’s plenty of other things to stare at.
Derry Like my face
(i) Why did children call Mr. Lamb Lamey Lamb?
(ii) Why would people stare at Derry’s face?
(iii) What other things do Mr. Lamb refer to?
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(iv) How the meeting With Mr. Lamb became a turning
point for Derry?
(v) What can be said about Derry from the given lines?
Ans.
(i) The children called Mr. Lamb Lamey Lamb because
his leg got blown off in a bomb explosion.
(ii) People would stare at Derry’s face because one side
of his face was covered in burn scars and made him
look ugly.
(iii) The other things referred to by Mr. Lamb includes
the wonders of the nature and the world around him.
(iv) Meeting Mr. Lamb became a turning point in
Derry’s life because he encouraged Derry to be
friends with everyone and not to be bothered by
their comments.
(v) From the given lines it can be inferred that Derry is
a pessimist who has no self-regard and feels rejected
by the society.
2. Read the extract to attempt questions that follow:
Mr. Lamb It’s all relative. Beauty and the beast.
Derry What’s that supposed to mean?
Mr. Lamb You tell me.
Derry You needn’t think they haven’t all told me
that fairy story before. ‘It’s not what you look like,
it’s what you are inside. Handsome is as handsome
does. Beauty loved the monstrous beast for himself
and when she kissed him he changed into a
handsome prince.’ Only he wouldn’t, he’d have
stayed a monstrous beast. I won’t change.
Mr. Lamb In that way? No, you won’t.
(i) It’s all relative Beauty and the Beast. What does
Mr. Lamb mean by this statement?
(ii) ‘I won’t change’ With reference to the lines, describe
how did Derry’s handicap affect his life?
(iii) Derry dislikes people but in the given extract he is
talking to Mr. Lamb. Explain.
(iv) What is the significance of the given lines?
(v) Do you think Derry understood Mr. Lamb?
Ans. (i) By this statement, Mr. Lamb means to say that
different people have different view-points to look at
the same thing. Some find one thing beautiful, others
find it ugly. It all depends on ones outlook and attitude.
(ii) Derry’ handicap affected him adversely. He was
afraid of meeting people and lived a lonely life. He
even hated himself and thought negatively about
himself.
(iii) Derry dislikes people but in the given extract he
talks to Mr. Lamb because he finds a similarly
between himself and Mr. Lamb. They both are
physically impaired. This disability, makes both of
them isolated and lonely.
(iv) The given lines are significant because it states
Mr. Lamb’s philosophy of life and his attempt at
filling Derry with optimism.
(v) Derry understood Mr. Lamb but it did take some
time for him to start becoming optimistic.
3. Read the extract to attempt questions that follow.
You can’t help the things you say. I forgive you. It’s
bound to make you feel bad things....and say them.
I don’t blame you.
It’s got nothing to do with my face and what I look
like. I don’t care about that and it isn’t important.
It’s what I think and feel and what I want to see
and find out and hear. And I’m going back there.
Only to help him with the crab apples. Only to look
at things and listen. But I’m going.
(i) Explain the reference to the given lines?
(ii) With reference to the given lines do you think that
the friendship between Mr. Lamb and Derry is
fruitful?
(iii) How has Derry changed?
(iv) Do you think Derry’s mother is also responsible for
his pessimistic nature?
(v) What do you make out of Derry’s mother from the
given lines?
Ans. (i) The given lines are taken from scene 2 of the play. In
these lines, Derry is telling his mother about how
Mr. Lamb has changed his opinion about himself and
others.
(ii) I think that the friendship that flourished between
Mr. Lamb and Derry was fruitful. Mr. Lamb’s
unending enthusiasm and zeal to live life despite all
odds helped Derry change his outlook towards life.
(iii) Derry has now become an optimist. He has realised
that he himself and his perspective matters.
(iv) Yes, I think that Derry’s mother is also responsible
for his pessimistic nature as even though she is
protective of him, she pities his condition and
constantly reminds him of his handicap.
(v) From the given lines, we can say that Derry’s mother
is ignorant of how her and other’s behaviour is
affecting Derry.
CBSE NEW Pattern English Language & Literature 12th (Term-II)
157
CHAPTER 03
Evans Tries
an O-Level
—by Colin Dexter
In this Chapter...
l
Chapter Summary
l
Word Meaning
l
Chapter Practice
Summary Chapter
Chapter Sketch
James Roderick Evans is a young
prisoner in Oxford Jail. He is appearing
for an O-Level German Examination.
He is not interested in the language.
His appearing in the examination is
actually his plan to escape from the
prison. The story is very gripping. The
prison officials take every possible
precaution, but still Evans escapes
right under their noses.
Evans’ Request for O-Level Exam
It is early March when the story opens. The Governor of Oxford Prison telephones the
Secretary of the Examination Board with an unusual request. One of the inmates, James
Roderick Evans, wishes to appear for the O-Level German Examination. The Secretary
asks if the inmate is violent. The Governor informs him that there is no record of
violence against him. He is actually a pleasant and fun-loving person, and an expert at
imitation. He was just a kleptomaniac.
After getting reasured, the Secretary asked the Governor for a room. The Governor
told him that if he had no objections, the exam could take place in Evan’s cell and they
could ask for an invigilator from St. Mary Mags. The Secretary agreed.
Evans the Break
Evans is known as ‘Evans the Break’ among the prison officials because he has escaped
from the prison three times. The Governor feared that he is again planning his escape,
but thinks that there may be a very slight possibility that Evans is genuinely interested
in O-Level German. On 7th June at 8:30 pm, his German tutor wishes him good luck
for the exam that would take place the following day. He expresses his concern for
Evans passing the exam but Evans seems confident.
Precautions of the Prison Officials
At 8:30 am on 8th June, two prison officers, senior prison officer Jackson and a new
recruit officer Stephens, visit Evans. Jackson dislikes Evans and mocks him by calling
him Einstein. Evan’s is looking wild with his unshaven face so he is given time to
smarten up. Jackson then tells Stephens to take away the razor after Evans has shaved.
158
Upon being asked, Jackson also tells him that he had taken
his nail scissors and nail file away on the order of the
Governor. He also rudely asks Evans take off his ugly
bobble hat. But Evans insists that the hat is his good luck
charm and he is going to need it for the exam.
Reverend Stuart McLeery
At 8:45 the same morning, the invigilator appointed for the
examination, Reverend Stuart McLeery, started for the
prison. He was carrying a small brown suitcase which
contained all the items needed for the examination, a sealed
question paper envelope, a yellow invigilation form, a
special authentication card from the Examinations Board,
a paper knife, a Bible and a current copy of The Church
Times.
The two-hour examination was scheduled to start at 9:15
am. Evans is getting ready when Stephens comes in with
two small square tables and sets them opposite each other.
He also brings in two chairs. Jackson comes in and warns
Evans to remove the pinups and to behave properly.
Evans asks him why is he being bugged in his cell. Jackson
tells him that the Governor doesn’t trust him at all and
would be listening to each and everything going on in
his cell.
The Examination Begins at 9:25 am
Reverend McLeery, makes his entry into the prison and is
taken to Evans’ cell, where Evans is concentrating hard on a
book of elementary German Grammar.
At 9:10 am, the Governor switches on the receiver.
Suddenly, the Governor realises that McLerry could carry
something that could help Evans escape. So, he asks
Jackson to search McLerry for any potential weapon.
McLerry is frisked and then his suitcase is searched.
Everything was fine except the presence of a small
semi-inflated rubber ring which surprises the officers, but
they are courteously informed that McLeery is suffering
from piles and the rubber ring helps him in sitting in a
particular position for a long time. The officers feel satisfied
and the invigilator is allowed to go into the cell. McLeery
gives necessary instructions to the candidate regarding
writing down the paper’s name 021-1, index number 313
and the centre number 271.
Stephens is in the cell so the Governor asks Jackson to call
him out. Finally, the examination begins at 9:25 am.
The Correction Ship
At 9:40 am, the Assistant Secretary for Modern Languages
informs the Governor over the phone about the correction
slip not being put in the examination package. The
Governor feels suspicious and calls the Examination Board
but in vain. Soon, Evans is told about the corrections on
page three line fifteen by the invigilator.
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
The phone now rang the second time. The Magistrates Court
required a prison van and some prison officers for a remand
case. This also fills the Governor with suspicion but he feels
that he is over-thinking.
For the first quarter of an hour, Stephens had dutifully checked
on Evans through the peep-hole. He saw Evans, with his pen
between his lips, staring at the door. At 10:50 am. Evans
requested for a blanket.
When Stephens peeped in next, he was surprised to find a
blanket around Evans. He thought that perhaps the prison cells
got cold in that wing. So he didn’t report the slight irregularity.
Evans Escapes from the Prison
Three minutes before the examination was to get over, Jackson
calls Stephens, telling him that the Governor wants to speak to
him. The Governor instructs Stephens to accompany McLeery
personally to the main gate.
After the examination as both of them head towards the main
gate, Stephens thinks that the invigilator had suddenly grown
thinner. His Scottish accent also seemed more noticeable than
before.
Then, he thinks that he must have one last look at Evans. In
the cell, Stephens sees a man sprawled back in Evans’ chair
with the blanket slipping from his shoulders. His closely
cropped hair was splattered with blood. Stephens and
Jackson think that it is McLeery who had been hit by Evans.
Evans has, thus, escaped.
The wounded man in Evans’ cell, whom everybody thought to
be McLeery, tells the prison authorities not to worry about
him. He desperately and restlessly tells the Governor about the
photocopied sheet that had been superimposed over the last
page of the question paper, where a few words were written in
German.
It instructed Evans to adhere to the plan strictly and not to hit
McLeery too hard. It said that the three minutes before the
examination were very important. He was also instructed not to
overdo the Scottish accent. Detective Superintendent Carter
swings into action. McLeery is, however, very agitated and
tells them that Evans has gone towards Elsfield Way. The
Governor asks Carter to take McLeery with him because he is
the only one who knows what has really happened.
The Governor Gets Furious
with his Officers
The Governor now scolds his officers for behaving foolishly
because he had not made any call at 11:22 am. At that time, the
Governor was trying to get in touch with the Examinations
Board.
Jackson is taken to task because of his negligence. He had not
searched the cell thoroughly the previous evening. This
resulted in Evans concealing the clerical paraphernalia.
Thereafter, the Governor looks at the photocopied slip and
decodes the last line written in German as Newbury.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
He orders the driver to take Jackson and Stephens to St
Aldates Police Station to meet Chief Inspector Bell. The
Governor thinks about Evans and appreciates his ingenuity.
He considers leaving the question paper behind a mistake,
because it is this that is going to lead him to Evans.
Meanwhile Carter informs him that McLeery had seen Evans
driving off along Elsfield Way. He was given a chase but they
somehow missed him. The Governor tells him that he
believes that Evans is heading towards Newbury and gives
reasons for his belief. When the Governor asks Carter about
McLeery, he tells him that the parson was left at Radcliffe
Hospital. When the Governor rings up the hospital, he finds
that when the ambulance reached Elsfield to pick him up,
Mcleery was not there.
At this point in the story, the Governor is sure that something
is terribly wrong. A quarter of an hour later they find the real
McLeery bound and gagged in his own study. He has been
there since 8:15 am. Eventually, everybody comes to know
that Evans impersonating McLeery had not walked out, but
had actually stayed in the prison itself.
The Final Escape
The scene shifts to ‘The Golden Lion’ in the centre of Chipping
Norton. Evans is still wearing the parson’s clothes and is happy
with his successful escape. But he regrets cutting his long hair.
However, he had been fortunate as he was not asked to take off
his hat. As he goes into his room, he finds the Governor sitting
on the bed.
The Governor tells him how the correction slip provided the
clue about the hotel’s name. The index number 313 and
centre number 271 referred to the area where Evans could
be. It was the Golden Lion of Chipping Norton. Evans,
similarly, tells him about getting the blood to splatter on the
head.
The Governor then enquires how Evans could plan out
everything when he had no visitors. A delighted Evans tells
him that he has a lot of friends and the German teacher was
one of them.
Finally, Evans is brought out of his hotel room. He is
handcuffed by a prison officer called by the Governor and the
two of them get into the back seat of the prison van. The
Governor tells Evans that he will see him soon, but it appears
that Evans has some other plans in store.
He asks the Governor if his knowledge of other modern
languages was as good as German. When the Governor asks
him the reason behind the question, Evans smilingly says that
next September, some O-level Italian classes were being
planned. The Governor says that Evans might not be with
them next September. The latter agrees, and so it is.
The moment the Governor is out of sight, the prison officer
(actually a friend of Evans) unlocks the handcuffs and asks the
driver to drive fast. Evans tells him to turn to Newbury. Thus,
the Governor and his officers are completely outwitted by the
clever Evans who manages to engineer an escape even after
being caught!
Word Meanings
The given page numbers correspond to the pages in the
NCERT textbook.
Page 71
dead keen
packet
card
congenital
kleptomaniac
parsons
incommunicado
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Page 72
gracing
—
grubby
—
burly-surly looking —
Carrtly
bobble hat
bust in
Page 73
scraping
mug
ramrod
smouldered
leered
smarten
yourself up
—
—
—
—
absolutely
glowed with anger
looked unpleasantly
make neat or smart
—
—
—
covered with splashes
covering with foam or lather
a broad strip
—
plant or hide an electronic listening device in
somebody’s room to hear or record the
person’s conversation
chisel
—
jack-knife
thumb-flicked
—
—
a long bladed hand-tool with a cutting edge,
used for cutting stone, wood or metal
a large knife with a folding blade
opened with the thumb
—
—
turned over quickly and casually
hastily and not very attentively
absolutely eager
large sum of money
a witty, entertaining person
from birth
someone with an irrational desire to steal
members of the clergy
without being able to communicate with
others
Page 74
spattered
lathering
swath
indicating presence
worn-out
heavily built
Page 76
—
—
—
in an abrupt and discourteous manner
a knitted hat with a tufted woollen ball on top
entered suddenly
—
—
shaving
face
Page 75
bug
Page 77
riffled
cursorily
160
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Pages 78-79
Page 83
dredging
crescendo
—
—
uncovering
a gradual increase in the volume or intensity
of sound
Page 84
blithering
dog collar
paraphernalia
—
—
—
talking foolishly
a stiff white collar worn by priests
equipment or articles used in a particular
activity
staccato
—
bleeps
—
remand
—
run riot
askew
amateurishly
pebble lenses
crackled
—
—
—
—
—
with each sound or note sharply separated
from others
short high-pitched sounds made by an
electronic device
the act of sending an accused into legal
custody
act or behave in an uncontrolled way
towards one side
unprofessionally
lenses that are very thick and convex
showed signs of life or energy
—
disagreeably cold or chilly
Page 86
pinched
—
taken away
cherished, encouraged
Pages 87-88
gorgon
blonde
ruefully
—
—
—
an ugly or terrifying woman
a person with light golden-coloured hair
with sorrow or regret
Page 80
parky
Page 81
fostered
—
Page 82
tufted
awash
squelchy
wodge
—
—
—
—
growing close together in a short cluster
covered
producing a splashing sound
a thick or large piece
streaked
—
marked with lines
caked
—
covered with a thick layer
Page 85
rapped out
—
good-for-a-giggle —
spoke suddenly or sharply
something meant for entertainment or
amusement
Pages 89-91
throw (a few) spanners in
the works
— be a source of impediment and annoyance
pints
— small liquid measure
clambered
— climbed with difficulty
161
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Chapter
Practice
PART 1
Objective Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. “Would have cost him a packet if he’d been
outside”. The given line contains an idiomatic
expression. Pick out another idiomatic expression
that can replace the given one.
(a) Exorbitant
(c) Daylight robbery
(b) Cost an arm and leg
(d) White elephant
Ans. (b) The given phrase means to be very expensive. From
the given options, ‘cost an arm and leg’ means the same.
2. Select the suitable option for the given statements
based on your reading of ‘Evans tries an O-Level’.
I. The Governor would have been a great friend to
Evans, had he not been a prisoner.
II. The Governor feared that Evans would do something
in the facade of the exam.
(a) I is true but II is false.
(b) I is false but II is true.
(c) Both I and II cannot be inferred.
(d) Both I and II can be inferred.
Ans. (b) The Governor took all the precautions to make sure
that Evans does not do something in the façade of the
exam. He like Evans but not to the point of making
friends with him.
3. Why Evan is known as ‘Evan’s the Break’?
(a) Because he always keeps hat on his head.
(b) Because he tried to escape prison thrice.
(c) Because he tried to offend other prisoners.
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) Evans was known as ‘Evans the break’ as he had tried
to escape from the prison three times.
4. ‘And besides, there was just a possibility that Evans
was genuinely interested in O-level German. Just a
slight possibility. Just a slight possibility.
The repetition of ‘just a light possibility’ serves the
purpose of
(a) emphasizing on the fact
(b) comforting oneself with the fact
(c) typing to accept the fact
(d) showing distrust in the fact
Ans. (b) By repeating the statement, the Governor is trying to
comfort himself of Evans genuine-ness in giving the
exam.
5. “You haven’t a cat in hell’s chance of getting
through, of course, but …………”
“I may surprise everybody,” said Evans.
Which of the following can be said for the given
lines?
(a) Evans was not at all interested in learning German.
(b) Evans and the German teacher knew the reality behind
the exam.
(c) Evans knew that he would pass the German exam.
(d) Evans wanted to prove his German teacher wrong.
Ans. (b) The given lines indicate that both the teacher and
Evans knew the reality behind giving the O-level German
exam.
6. Pick out the literary device used in the given lines.
Jackson was the senior prison officer of D Wing,
and he and Evans had already become warm
enemies.
(a) Repetition
(c) Oxymoron
(b) Imagery
(d) Irony
Ans. (c) The phrase ‘Warm enemies’ comprises of opposite
words, hence, it is a use of oxymoron.
7. Classify (1) to (4) as Fact (F) or Opinion (O), based
on your reading of ‘Evans tries O level?
(i) Jackson did not even like talking to Evans and wanted
him gone.
(ii) Jackson used to get irritated with the very sarcastic
words of Evans.
(iii) Jackson did everything in his power to exasperate Evans
to do something wrong.
(iv) Jackson bought Stephens with him as a witness to
Evans behaviour.
(a) Fact - (i) and (iv) ; Opinion - (ii) and (iii)
(b) Fact - (ii) and (iii) ; Opinion - (i) and (iv)
(c) Fact - (i) and (ii) ; Opinion - (iii) and (iv)
(d) Fact - (ii) and (iv) ; Opinion - (i) and (iii)
Ans. (a)
8. “Why did they ave to bug me in this cell?”
‘Bugging’ is generally a trope of ………… genre of
literature.
(a) mystery
(b) Sci-fi
(c) Horror
(d) Humour
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Ans. (a) Bugging means to hide a microphone. It is generally
Ans. (d) Stephen was a new police officer and so was
used in thrillers as a trope of mystery.
under-confident. It is also true that if he had not gone to
check on Evans after the exam, the discovery of Evans
escape would not have been made.
9. “If he was so anxious to make another break, why in
heaven’s name hadn’t he tried it from the
Recreational Block? Much easier.”
The given lines highlights the irony present in the
situation as
(a) The Governor’s precautionary measures were vain as
nothing happened.
(b) Even with so much precautions Evans made his escape.
(c) An outsider entered the prison to help Evans.
(d) The prison officers made a basic mistake.
13. How did McLerry react when Stephen asked him
about the rubber ring?
(a) Flustered
(c) Angry
Ans. (c) When Stephens asked McLeery about his rubber ring,
the latter gets irritated at him.
14. On the basis of this passage, pick the option that
enumerates the characteristics of the Governor.
Ans. (b) The irony of the situation is that even though the
1. short-tempered
3. rational
5. gullible
governor has taken all the necessary precautions to
prevent any mishap, Evans did make his escape.
10. Pick the option that best describes the word
‘demeanour’ as used in the given lines.
“McLeery’s hitherto amiable demeanour was
slightly ruffled by this tasteless little pleasantry, and
he answered Jackson somewhat sourly.”
1. Personality
3. Conduct
5. Cast
man.
15. “God Almighty! There's far more going on than I
(___)”
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
“Always will be, sir."
What can be collected from the aforesaid
conversation between the Governor and Evans?
(a) The Governor realised that he was likely to lose his job
very soon.
(b) Evans proved that criminals are always one step ahead of
the police,·
(c) There were always schemes afoot unknown to prison
authorities.
(d) The Governor’s confidence in- his control over the prison
stood shattered.
Ans. (b) The word ‘demeanour’ indicates an individual’s
manner, conduct and attitude.
11. The Governor reached for the phone. “Jackson? Ah,
(a) Come back to bite you
(b) Throw caution to the wind
(c) Barking up the wrong tree
(d) So far so good
Ans. (c) By asking Stephens to come out of the cell, the
Governor has taken a wrong course of action. Such a
situation is aptly described by ‘barking up the wrong tree’
which means to be misguided in a decision.
12. Select the correct option for the given statements
based on your reading of ‘Evans tries an O-level’.
I. Stephen was an under-confident police officer.
II. If Stephen had not gone to check on Evans after the
exam, the discovery of Evans escape would have
been late.
(a) I is true but II is false.
(b) I is false but II is true.
(c) Both I and II cannot be inferred.
(d) Both I and II can be inferred.
(b) 2 and 3
(d) Only 6
Ans. (c) The Governor was a gullible and a short-tempered
(b) 2, 3, 4
(d) 4, 5, 6
good. Get Stephens out of that cell, will you? I
think we’re perhaps overdoing things.”
In context of the lesson, which of the following
idioms would suit the given lines?
2. practical
4. over-cautious
6. over-confident
(a) Only 1
(c) 1 and 5
2. Manner
4. Attitude
6. Appearance
(a) 1, 2, 3
(c) 3, 4, 5
(b) Irritated
(d) Doubtful
Ans. (c)
l
Extract Based MCQs
1. Read the extract to attempt question that follows.
“They’re not — they don’t honestly think I’m goin’
to try to — ”
“They’re taking no chances, Evans. Nobody in his
senses would take any chance with you.”
“Who’s goin’ to listen in?”
“I’ll tell you who’s going to listen in, laddy. It’s the
Governor himself, see? He don’t trust you a bloody
inch—and nor do I. I’ll be watching you like a
hawk, Evans, so keep your nose clean. Clear?”
He walked towards the door. Evans nodded. He’d
already thought of that, and Number Two
Handkerchief was lying ready on the bunk—a neatly
folded square of off-white linen.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
“Just one more thing, Einstein.”
“Ya? Wha’s ‘at?”
“Good luck, old son.”
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
(i) Which of the following qualities of Jackson does
NOT come through in the given extract?
(a) Soft-hearted
(c) Skeptical
(b) Gullible
(d) Authoritative
(i) Why did the Governor reach for the phone?
(a) To call the Examination board
(b) To call the prison
(c) To check on McLeery
(d) To call Jackson
Ans. (b) From the given extract it seems that the governor
reached for the phone to call the prison.
(ii) Choose the option that correctly lists who the
examinee and the invigilator are
Ans. (b) From the given extract, it can be said that Jackson was
a soft-hearted and an authoritative police officer who was
skeptical of Evans.
(a) Jackson and McLeery
(b) Evans and McLeery
(c) Evans and the Secretary of the Examination board
(d) Evans and his teacher
(ii) “Nobody in his senses would take any chance with
you.” Why not?
(a) Jackson did not like Evans and was keen to get rid of him.
(b) Evans had quite a reputation for escaping from prisons.
(c) Evans had been transferred to Oxford prison and needed
care.
(d) The Governor was uneasy about Evans’ German O-Level
exams.
Ans. (b)
(iii) The Governor’s worry was that
(a) Evans was hiding something in his hat
(b) that the cell must be checked again
(c) that McLeery could have carried a potential weapon
(d) that Evans must be aware of his cell being bugged
Ans. (b) The given lines highlights that the Governor and the
prison official do not trust Evans as he had tried to run
away from the prison three times.
Ans. (c) The Governor was worried that without any intention,
McLeery could have carried a potential weapon that
Evans could use.
(iii) In the given extract, ‘Einstein’ is meant as a
(a) compliment
(c) taunt
(b) misconception
(d) provocation
(iv) Which of the following is true for the given extract?
(a) The Governor had ordered for Stephens to stay inside the
cell.
(b) McLeery was a parson associated with the church
(c) Jackson was Stephens boss.
(d) All of the above
Ans. (c)
(iv) The above extract employs several idiomatic
expressions. Which of the following is not an
idiom?
(a) To not trust an inch
(c) To keep nose clean
Ans. (d)
(b) To watch like a hawk
(d) To be ready on the bunk
(v) ‘Frisked lightly’ indicates
(a) searched without any discomfort
(b) searched for the sake of it
(c) searched carefully
(d) searched with respect.
Ans. (d)
(v) ‘Watching you like a hawk’ means
(a) watching in regular intervals
(b) watching with suspicion
(c) watching angrily
(d) watching continuously
Ans. (d) Watching you like a hawk means watching
continuously and attentively.
2. Read the given extract to attempt questions that
follow.
The Governor reached for the phone. It was 9.12
a.m. The examinee and the invigilator had already
been introduced by Stephens when Jackson came
back and shouted to McLeery through the cell door.
“Can you come outside a minute, sir? You too,
Stephens.”
Jackson quickly explained the Governor’s worries,
and McLeery patiently held out his arms at
shoulder level whilst Jackson lightly frisked his
clothes.
Ans. (a) Frisked lightly means to search without causing any
discomfort.
PART 2
Subjective Questions
l
Short Answer Type Questions
1. What kind of a person was Evans?
[NCERT, All India 2019]
Ans. Evans was a young prisoner at the Oxford Prison. He was
known as ‘Evans the Break’ because thrice he had
escaped from the jail. Actually, he was a kleptomaniac, i.e.
a habitual thief. However, he had no record of ever having
indulged in violence. He was actually a pleasant person,
but was very clever and cunning.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
2. Why is Evans called ‘Evans the break’?
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. Evans was called ‘Evans the break’ by the prison officers
because he had escaped from prison three times. His
shrewd and clever nature has led to such a name.
3. Why did Evans not take off his hat when Jackson
ordered him to do so ?
[CBSE 2019]
Ans. Evans did not take off his hat when Jackson ordered him
to do so because he knew that the duplicate McLeery, who
was invigilating during the O-level German examination,
had short hair. So, he cropped his hair to pass off as
McLeery later. The ‘bobble hat’ was an important part of
the plan to conceal Evans cropped hair.
4. Will the exam go on as scheduled?
[NCERT]
Ans. No, the exam didn’t go on as scheduled. First, there was a
delay in conducting the exam, which was scheduled to
start at 9:15 am. The Governor asked Jackson to frisk the
invigilator at 9:12 am. After the invigilator gave Evans
some general instructions, the latter objected to Stephens’
presence in the cell. The exam finally began at 9:25 am.
5. Which important call did the governor receive when
the examination was going on?
[CBSE 2015]
Ans. The governor received two phone calls when the
examination was going on. The first call was from the
university regarding a correction slip which was not sent
with the question paper and the second call was
supposedly from the magistrate’s office requesting for a
van and two prison officers.
6. How does McLeery explain the presence of a small
semi-inflated rubber ring? What did it actually
contain?
[All India 2010]
Ans. McLeery
tells Jackson that he is suffering from
haemorrhoids (piles) and the ring helps him when he has to
sit for a long time. In reality, the ring contained pig blood,
which Evans, impersonating as the injured McLeery, would
splatter on his head and escape from the prison.
7. Were the Governor and his staff finally heave a sigh
of relief?
[NCERT]
Ans. Initially, everybody believed that the examination was
over without any hiccups. But when Stephens went back
to check up on Evans, he was shocked. He found
McLeery badly injured. Everyone thought that Evans had
wounded McLeery and himself escaped in the disguise of
the parson. Thus the Governor and his staff had no relief.
8. Was the injured McLeery be able to help the prison
officers track Evans?
[NCERT]
Ans. The injured McLeery told the Governor that he knew
where Evans had gone. The Governor sent McLeery with
Detective Carter. McLeery told Carter that he had spotted
Evans driving off along Elsfield Way. They even went to
Elsfield Way, but lost him. But all these clues were not
true, as it was Evans himself impersonating McLeery. He
was trying to misguide the police.
9. Will the clues, left behind on the question paper,
put Evans back in prison again?
[NCERT]
Ans. Evans escaped from the prison using an infallible plan.
Certain clues were left behind by Evans, which was a
‘careless act’ according to the Governor. There was a
superimposed correction slip giving directions about the
plans. However, it was soon evident that this was all fake
and only put there to misguide the prison officials.
However, with the little German that the Governor knew,
he was still able to track down Evans at the Golden Lion
Hotel in Chipping Norton.
10. What could the Governor have done to securely
bring Evans back to the prison from the ‘Golden
Lion’?
[CBSE 2015]
Ans. The Governor could have either taken Evans to the
prison himself or called some officials from the prison
whom he knew and trusted to take Evans back to the
prison. He should have also checked the credentials of
the officials escorting him to the prison.
11. What precautions were taken for the smooth
conduct of Evans’ O-Level examination?[CBSE 2015]
Ans. The prison staff and the Governor took all the
necessary precautions to ensure a smooth conduct of
Evan’s examination. The Governor personally
supervised all the security arrangements. Evan’s cell
was thoroughly checked by Jackson to ward off the
possibility of any incriminating material. Evans’ nailscissors, nail file and razor were taken away.
A police officer Stephens was posted to keep a constant
vigil on his activities and a parson a Mr. McLeery, was to
invigilate. The invigilator too was frisked to make sure
that he carried no objectionable material with him.
12. Which article in McLeery’s suitcase played
perhaps the most significant role in Evans’ escape
and how?
[Delhi 2018]
Ans. It was the blood that McLeery brought in a rubber tube
that perhaps played the most important role in the
escape of Evans. It was this blood that helped Evans to
make himself up as a parson just before his escape. He
offered to help the detective.
There was no point of suspecting a dying parson who is
willing to pledge his own life that Evans’ (the bleeding
parson’s) offer to guide detective Carter was accepted
without any objection.
13. How did the question paper and the correction slip
help the prisoner and the Governor?
[Delhi 2010]
Ans. The purpose of the cleverly superimposed photocopied
sheet on the question paper and the correction slip was
to finalise the details of the plan of escape. This
information had to reach Evans. It was also meant to
make the authorities believe that the wounded man was
McLeery himself.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
The question paper and correction slip helped the
Governor to locate the place where Evans was hiding.
Thus, the two clues helped both the prisoner and the
Governor.
surrounding him doesn’t make room for any female
character. And even their absence is not felt as the turn of
the events in the story keeps the reader interested.
18. It was important that the recaptured Evans keep up
14. Would you say that kindness is a weakness in a law
enforcement officer? Support your opinion based
on your reading of the story ‘Evans Tries an
O-Level’.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
the façade till the very last moment of his interaction
with the Governor. Support this statement with a
rationale.
Ans. Evans had spent a long time planning his escape from the
Ans. It is true that kindness is a weakness in a law
enforcement officer. It is kindness that leads Evans to
plan an escape right under the nose of the prison
officials in spite of strict precautions being maintained.
The prison officials as well as the Governor looked at
Evans as a human being and not as a mere criminal.
They started noticing and appreciating his mental
capabilities and allowed him to study German without
making any enquiries themselves. Eventually, Evans
took advantage of their kindness and escaped from the
prison for the fourth time.
15. The story is a statement against rehabilitation of
criminals. Do you agree? Justify your stance.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. The concept of rehabilitation of criminals focuses on
giving a chance or two to improve their ways of life.
Sometimes, within the concept of rehabilitation we
forget the basic criminal nature of the prisoners and start
empathising with them. The result of such empathy and
the resultant kindness is that the criminals finds a
chance to escape or take things for granted just like
Evans had done. The process of rehabilitation by taking
German classes and giving its exam becomes the perfect
ploy for Evans to plan his escape. This, however, does
not mean that rehabilitation is wrong. Rehabilitation
must be essential but certain precautions must be
maintained in its process.
16. Would you call Evans the hero of the story? Justify
your stance.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. Yes, we can call Evans the hero of the story as from the
very beginning of the story he is not depicted as an evil
or a scheming criminal even though we are told that he
has tried to run away thrice. Throughout the story Evans
appears to be likeable and good humoured. He appears
to be an underdog and the readers sympathise with him.
Further, it is him who brings the major turn of
interesting events in the story with his master escape
plan. His excellent plan deserved to win as too many
mistakes were made by the authorities. Admiration goes
out for one man making the authorities look foolish and
when caught, he took his defeat sportingly.
17. Comment on the general absence of women
characters in the story.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. The story revolves around Evans, a congenital
kleptomaniac, but a non-violent person. His presence in
the jail along with police authorities or his friends
Oxford Prison. His plan was planned deeply to an extent
that no one could suspect it prior to his escape. He had
expected that the Governor would get to know about his
location soon. So, even the police officer and the police van
driver were his accomplices. To avoid any suspicion and
risk discovery, he had to keep up the facade that the
authorities had the upper hand.
l
Long Answer Type Questions
1. Evans managed to escape from the prison, yet the
Governor succeeded in arresting him. Even then,
Evans had the last laugh. Comment.
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. When Evans escaped from the prison by impersonating
McLeery, he thought that he could outsmart the Governor.
But that was not the case. The Governor deciphered the
clue regarding Evans escape and caught him without any
resistance. The Governor thought Evans’ luck had run out
and thus got Evans handcuffed and pushed into the prison
van. But the Governor made yet another mistake.
The Governor knew that Evans was a smart person; even
then, he did not take proper precautions to avoid his
escape. He became dependent on the other two police
officials. When the Governor had arrested Evans at the
Golden Lion Hotel, he did not take precautions for
ensuring that Evans was securely sent back to jail. But this
did not happen.
The prison officer whom he had called was actually a
friend of Evans. As soon as the Governor left, Evans’
handcuffs were unlocked and Evans was free. With his
successful escape Evans definitely had a well earned last
laugh.
2. Give a character sketch of the Governor of Oxford
Prison based on your understanding of the story,
‘Evans Tries an O-level’.
[All India 2013]
Ans. The Governor of the HM Prison, Oxford appears to be a
considerate and kind-hearted fellow at the start as he
arranges for an O-level language exam for a prisoner
notorious for his ability to escape from the prison.
However, he is quite skeptical of Evans and makes every
arrangement to make sure that Evans doesn’t escape. He is
also rather proud and self-conscious. He didn’t want Evans
to disgrace him by escaping from his prison.
The Governor has presence of mind which is clear from
the fact that he cross-examines every call that was made to
the prison that day. He is intelligent enough to realise that
he has been duped but could not judge the extent of the
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
deception. He gets a little over-confident when he tells
himself that Evans had no chance of escaping. He is
short-tempered and gets infuriated with his officers
when Evans runs away. At last, he proves to be just
another good-for-a-giggle gullible Governor when Evans
tricks him again and makes a final escape. His
overconfidence and self-praise let him down.
3. ‘‘It had not been Evans, impersonating McLeery
who had walked out, it had been Evans,
impersonating McLeery, who had stayed in”.
Explain with reference to the story ‘‘Evans Tries
An O-Level.”
Ans. When Stephens saw McLeery bleeding, he jumped to
the conclusion that McLeery had been hit by Evans, and
that Evans had escaped in the disguise of McLeery.
However, it was not so. ‘McLeery’ was wearing two
black fronts and two collars. Throughout Stephens’
one-minute intervals of peeping to look at him, Evans
had been fiddling about under the blanket with the black
front and the stud at the back of the collar.
The officers never realised in panic how there could be
two parsons, one who had been escorted and the other in
the cell.
The real McLeery had been gagged and bound since
8:15 am in his flat. The person who came in as McLeery
was actually one of Evans’ friends. He left as the exam
got over. The injured McLeery was Evans himself and he
escaped while an ambulance was being asked to take him
to the hospital. Thus, it had not been Evans,
impersonating McLeery, who had walked out, but it had
been Evans, impersonating McLeery, who had stayed in.
4. While we condemn the crime, we are sympathetic
to the criminal. Is this the reason why prison staff
often develop a soft corner for those in custody?
Ans. Yes, it is a fact that although we hate crime, we have a
soft corner for the criminal. This is the case with Evans
also. Although the Governor is conversant with his past
record and escapades, he does not want to deprive Evans
of an opportunity to learn something. Similarly, the
author describes the relationship between Evans and
Jackson as that of ‘warm enemies’. Jackson is
kind-hearted and that’s the reason why he allows Evans
to wear his hat during the exam, when the latter says that
it is his good luck charm.
Evans’ tender heart and his affectionate side is seen and
appreciated by the staff. He is an active participant in
Christmas plays, is good at imitating people and is not
known to be violent. Even the Governor does not like to
believe that Evans is planning to escape once again.
From Evans’ example, it is seen that even the prison
authorities do not like to treat prisoners harshly. With
time, even they develop a liking to and a rapport with
the prisoners.
5. “The bungling of the prison staff is more responsible
for Evans’ escape than his own smartness”. Explain.
Ans. The bungling and silly mistakes made by the prison staff,
rather than Evans’ smartness, were actually responsible for
Evans’ escape from the prison. Evans was very well aware
of the weaknesses of the staff in the prison. He knew that
Jackson, an experienced prison officer, had a soft corner
for him, for all his show of boldness. So, he was able to
bully him. This allowed Evans to wear his ‘lucky’ hat
during the exam and hide his cropped hair. Also no one in
prison takes precautions in verifying the invigilator’s
identity.
Further, a new prison officer Stephens was on duty. He
was not aware of Evans’ smartness of escaping from jail
and thus makes mistake in not verifying the Governor’s
phone call. He is not very observant and does not pay
attention to slim looking Mcleery while he was going out
of jail. Even the Governor makes certain mistakes like the
appointment of a new inexperienced prison officer to
guard Evans even with the knowledge of the prisoners
smartness. He also let Evans know that the cell room was
bugged. All these mistakes committed by prison staff and
the Governor help Evans to escape from the prison
successfully.
6. “The story glosses over the dark and violent side of
prison life and the escape.” Comment on the given
statement with reference to your reading of the
story.
[CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. It is true that the story glosses over the dark and violent
side of prison life and the escape. Even though the entire
story takes place in the prison, we do not get to the
manipulative, violent and simply the condescending side
of the prison. Generally, when we see or hear about prison
scenes or an escape, we think of gun shots and whole lot of
violence but herein nothing of the sort happens.
In the story, the central character itself is not evil. Evans is
described as a pleasant sort of a fellow who did not harm
anyone but is only a Kleptomaniac. Even when Evan plans
the escape, we do not get to see him talking to violent or
evil people. The police and the prison officials themselves
are jolly natured people who are more concerned about
Governor’s orders rather than the prisoner. Finally when
the escape is made, we don’t see the rush or hear the
chaotic situation that should have taken place in the
prison. Everything remains calm and graceful throughout
the story.
Jackson goes back to his office and sits down to calculate
his own role in Evans’ escape. He berates himself,
“Stephens is new to this, but I should have known
better…” And at the same time, he tries to be kind to
himself, “But what more could I have done?” Jackson feels
caught between the two voices in his head - the tough
prison officer on one hand, and a compassionate person on
the other.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
l
(i) Why was Evans looking at Jackson dangerously?
(ii) For what reason did Evans get sad when asked to
remove his hat?
(iii) What does the given lines tell us about Jackson?
(iv) Why do you think Jackson disliked Evans?
(v) Do you think Evans sad reaction had any effect on
Jackson?
Extract Based Questions
1. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow.
“Not that Evans was a real burden: just a persistent,
nagging presence. He’d be all right in Oxford,
though: the Governor would see to that — would see
to it personally. And besides, there was just a
possibility that Evans was genuinely interested in
O-level German. Just a slight possibility. Just a very
slight possibility. At 8.30 p.m. on Monday 7th June,
Evans’s German teacher shook him by the hand in
the heavily guarded Recreational Block, just across
from D Wing.
“Guten Gluck, Herr Evans.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, “Good luck”. Good luck for tomorrow.”
(i) For what reason would the Governor look into the
situation of Evans?
(ii) Why did Evans want to sit for the O-level German
examination?
(iii) Evans is called a nagging presence. Explain.
(iv) Does the German teacher think that Evans would pass
the exam?
(v) What can be said of the Governor’s decision to allow
Evans to sit for O-level German?
Ans.
Ans.
3. Read the given extract to attempt questions that
follow.
“It was me, sir,” stammered Stephens. “Just like
you told me, sir. I could have sworn — ”
“What? Just like I told you, you say? What the
hell — ?”
“When you rang, sir, and told me to — ”
“When was that?” The Governor’s voice was a
whiplash now.
“You know, sir. About twenty past eleven just
before –”
“You blithering idiot, man! It wasn’t me who rang
you. Don’t you realise — ”
(i) The Governor looked into the situation of Evans because
he did not want Evans to disgrace him by attempting to
run away again.
(ii) Evans desired to sit for the O-level German examination
to culminate his plot to hoodwink the authorities and
escape from the prison.
(iii) Evans is called a nagging presence because inspite of not
being violent or criminal in nature, he had been there at
the prison for trying to escape it.
(iv) No, Evans teacher does not think that Evans would pass
the exam as he could not understand even a simple
sentence in it.
(v) The Governor’s decision to allow Evans to sit for O-level
German indicates that he believed in providing
rehabilitation opportunities to his prisoners.
2. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow.
“Look!’ For a moment Evans’s eyes smoldered
dangerously, but Jackson was ready for him.
“Orders of the Governor, Evans.” He leaned forward
and leered, his voice dropping to a harsh,
contemptuous whisper. “You want to complain?”
Evans shrugged his shoulders lightly. The crisis was
over.
“You’ve got half an hour to smarten yourself up,
Evans— and take that bloody hat off!”
“Me ’at? Huh!” Evans put his right hand lovingly on
top of the filthy woolen, and smiled sadly.
(i) Evans looked at Jackson dangerously because
Jackson had his nail clipper and nail file removed.
(ii) Evans got sad when asked to remove his bobble hat
because he believed that it was his lucky charm and it
would help him in his exam.
(iii) The given lines show us that Jackson was an
authoritative police officer who hated Evans.
(iv) Jackson disliked Evans because he had disgraced the
prison thrice by escaping it even under strict
protective measures.
(v) Yes, Evans sad reaction did have an effect on Jackson
who out of kindness allowed him to wear it.
(i) Why did Stephens Stammer?
(ii) What can be made out of the Governor’s reaction
to Stephen’s claim?
(iii) Who had actually rang Stephens?
(iv) What was the reason for the anger shown by
Governor?
(v) Do you think the Governor was right in scolding
Stephens?
Ans.
(i) Stephen’s stammered because he knew the Governor
would shout at him and punish him for escorting
Evans out of the prison building.
(ii) The Governor was surprised to know that he had
called the prison to tell Stephens to escort McLeery
out while he in reality had not done so.
(iii) Instead of the Governor it was actually Evans friends
who had called the prison to help Evans escape from it.
(iv) The Governor was angry because in spite of taking so
many precautions, Evans had escape one again from
the prison.
(v) No, I don’t think the Governor was right in scolding
Stephens because everyone involved in Evan’s case
was responsible for Evans’ success.
English Core
Class 12th ( Term II )
Practice Paper 1
*
(Unsolved)
General Instructions
1. The question paper contains three sections A, B and C.
2. Section A Reading section has 18 questions. Attempt questions as per specific
instructions for each passage.
3. Section B Writing section has 2 questions. Attempt questions as per specific instructions for each.
4. Section C Literature section has extract based questions, short answer type questions and long answer
type questions. Internal choice is given for individual questions.
5. Marks are mentioned against each questions.
Time : 2 Hours
Max. Marks : 40
* As exact Blue-print and Pattern for CBSE Term II exams is not released yet. So the pattern of this
paper is designed by the author on the basis of trend of past CBSE Papers. Students are advised
not to consider the pattern of this paper as official. It is just for practice purpose.
Section A Reading
I. Read the passage given below.
1. In the year 1947, when our country became independent it adopted secular ideas in so far as religion is
concerned. It is a fact that every citizen in India is free to choose and practice his own religion. This very
right flows from article 25 of the Constitution of India. Article 25 of Constitution of India is reproduced as
under: Article 25 of the constitution of India says “all persons are equally entitled to freedom of
conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion subject to public order,
morality and health.” Further, Article 26 says that all denominations can manage their own affairs in
matters of religion.”
2. It follows that a citizen of India can enjoy freedom of conscience, freedom to practice religion and can
manage his own affairs in matters of religion, provided the same is not objectionable to public order,
morality and health. It is good that everybody is granted the right to choose and practice his own faith
and religion. Since ages we have witnessed that in the name of religion, the world has witnessed
massacre, war, superstition, battle etc. Be it Hinduism, Jews, Muslim or Christianity, Sikhism etc. there
has been constant war amongst the followers. In the name of religion lots of ill practices are flourishing.
3. Religion has been a great factor behind the initiation of war by one Nation against another one.
Superstition, blind faith etc. are major drawbacks, which curtails the objective thinking of the human
mind. Besides this, in the name of religion, people develop hatred for other people. It is said that only a
God realized Soul starts a new religion. But the problem lies with their followers. Religion is a matter of
faith.
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Practice Paper 1
4. When there are different kinds of faith, struggle is bound to happen. Followers follow their religion blindly.
Though one religion never teaches to be intolerant to another one. But reality is contrary. Having seen the
nuances caused in the name of religion, there are many persons who like to search the truth not by faith, but
open eyes. They apply their mind, their objectivity to reach the conclusion, in so-far a faith is a concern. They
want to taste the truth themselves. Only because something has been mentioned in a particular book, they do
not like to obey blindly.
5. Problems lie when one is forced to be associated with a particular religion by birth. When a child takes birth,
a particular religion is imposed upon him blindly. He has to follow it, whether he likes it or not?
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight questions out of the ten questions by choosing the
correct option.
8 ´1 = 8
(i) Which quote can best summarise the writer’s feelings about religion as given in the passage?
(a) “Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful”.
(b) “This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart
is our temple; the philosophy is kindness”.
(c) “Religion is essentially the art and the theory of the remaking of man. Man is not a finished creation”.
(d) “Religion is an organised collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence”.
(ii) As mentioned in the passage, the Article 25 of the constitution of India guarantees(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Equality, morality and health.
Freedom of religion to all persons in India.
Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.
Religion as a matter of personal beliefs and values.
(iii) Select the option that states the meaning behind the statement- “Superstition, blind faith etc. are major
drawbacks, which curtails the objective thinking of the human mind.”
(a) Superstition refers to any belief or practice that is caused by supernatural causality, and which contradicts modern science.
(b) Superstitious beliefs and practices often vary from one person to another or from one culture to another.
(c) Superstitions allow people to explain events that otherwise seem random or inexplicable and to feel they have a measure of
control over outcomes that would otherwise seem out of their hands.
(d) A superstitious person blocks his/her mind with blind faith that sometimes becomes irrational and harmful for his rational
thinking.
(iv) Pick the option that is not true in the context of the passage?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Religion has been a great factor behind the initiation of conflicts between people and nations.
A Child’s religion is based on the religion of the family he is born in.
Religion is a not matter of faith but a spiritual movement.
Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs have always been on a constant war against each other.
(v) Pick the word that is similar to the meaning of the word ‘denominations’ as given in the sentence “Further,
Article 26 says that all denominations can manage their own affairs in matters of religion”.
(a) Ideology
(c) Disbelief
(b) Atheist
(d) Communities
(vi) Select the option that suitably completes the given dialogue as per the context in paragraph V.
Father You are born in a Hindu family.
Young Child Oh! So, my name is Ram? (1) ………………………………………….
Father Hindus are persons who regard themselves as culturally, ethnically, or religiously adhering to aspects
of Hinduism.
Young Child (2)................................................... As he is born in a Muslim family.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1) I need to follow the Hindu religion. (2) His name is Krishna.
(1) But my friend is not a Hindu. (2) His name is Rahim.
(1) But my friend does not believe in religion. (2) His name is David.
(1) I’m sure, I would be able to recite Shlokas soon. (2) His name is Christopher.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(vii) The writer mentions that ‘Having seen the nuances caused in the name of religion, there are many persons
who like to search the truth not by faith, but open eyes.’ Pick the word that means opposite to the word
‘nuances’ as mentioned in the passage.
(a) Shades
(c) Distinctions
(b) Unimportant
(d) Significance
(viii) What does the writer mean by the statement “When there are different kinds of faith, struggle is bound to
happen”?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Different religions and the faith of the people causes clashes for deciding which is the best religion to follow.
Multiple religions always welcome difference in faith and beliefs causing rift.
Religion can have a significant impact on the way a person lives and experiences life.
Many people find their religious faith to be a source of comfort and solace.
(ix) “Though one religion never teaches to be intolerant to another one” the statement from the passage
emphasizes on which aspect of religion?
(a) Communalism
(c) Secularism
(b) Theism
(d) Stoicism
(x) Pick the words that correctly define the Article 25 of the Constitution of India as mentioned in the passage.
(a) Liberation and Prerogative
(c) Secularism and Subjection
(b) Freedom of religion to all persons in India.
(d) Freedom and Autonomy.
II. Read the passage given below.
Global greenhouse gas emissions can also be broken down by the economic activities that lead to their
production.
Electricity and Heat Production (25% of 2010 global greenhouse gas emissions): The burning of coal, natural gas, and
oil for electricity and heat is the largest single source of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Industry (21% of 2010 global greenhouse gas emissions): Greenhouse gas emissions from industry primarily involve
fossil fuels burned on site at facilities for energy. This sector also includes emissions from chemical, metallurgical,
and mineral transformation processes not associated with energy consumption and emissions from waste
management activities. (Note: Emissions from industrial electricity use are excluded and are instead covered in the
Electricity and Heat Production sector.)
Agricultre, Forestry, and Other Land Use (24% of 2010 global greenhouse gas emissions): Greenhouse gas
emissions from this sector come mostly from agriculture (cultivation of crops and livestock) and deforestation. This
estimate does not include the CO2 that ecosystems remove from the atmosphere by sequestering carbon in biomass,
dead organic matter, and soils, which offset approximately 20% of emissions from this sector.
l
l
l
Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions
by Economic Sector
gy
Other Ener
10%
Industry
21%
n
Buildin
gs
6%
tio
orta
nsp
Tra 14%
l
l
Electricity and
heat Production
25%
Agriculture Forestry
and Other Land
use 25%
Transportation (14% of 2010 global greenhouse gas emissions): Greenhouse gas emissions from this sector primarily
involve fossil fuels burned for road, rail, air, and marine transportation. Almost all (95%) of the world’s transportation
energy comes from petroleum-based fuels, largely gasoline and diesel.
Buildings (6% of 2010 global greenhouse gas emissions): Greenhouse gas emissions from this sector arise from onsite
energy generation and burning fuels for heat in buildings or cooking in homes. (Note: Emissions from electricity use
in buildings are excluded and are instead covered in the Electricity and Heat Production sector.)
171
Practice Paper 1
l
Other Energy (10% of 2010 global greenhouse gas emissions): This source of greenhouse gas emissions refers to all
emissions from the Energy sector which are not directly associated with electricity or heat production, such as fuel
extraction, refining, processing, and transportation.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct
option.
6 ´1 = 6
(i) Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to Fig 1.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The Global Greenhouse Gas emissions comes maximum from agriculture and deforestation.
The Global Greenhouse Gas emissions comes maximum from transportation industry.
The Global Greenhouse Gas emissions comes maximum from electricity and heat production.
The Global Greenhouse Gas emissions comes maximum from the construction of buildings.
(ii) As mentioned in the passage, the term ‘sequestering’ refers to
(a) Distribution
(c) Loss
(b) Isolating
(d) Concord
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
1. Greenhouse gas emissions from industry primarily involve fossil fuels burned on site at facilities for energy.
2. This sector also includes emissions from chemical, metallurgical, and mineral transformation processes.
(a) (1) is the problem and (2) is the solution for (1).
(c) (1) summarizes (2).
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1).
(d) (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1).
(iv) Select the correct inference with reference to the following.
‘The burning of coal, natural gas, and oil for electricity and heat is the largest single source of global
greenhouse gas emissions.’
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The global greenhouse emission is caused the maximum by burning of coal for electricity.
The global greenhouse emission is caused the maximum by burning of fuels and oil for electricity.
The largest single source that emits greenhouse gas is the burning of fossil fuels.
The global greenhouse gas emissions produce more heat and pollution that is harmful for health.
(v) Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship (as per the passage)
Options
Cause
Effect
(a)
I am working in coal mine factory.
It produces 9% of 2010 global greenhouse gas
emissions.
(b)
I am a housewife and I cook food on gas. It produces 6% of 2010 global greenhouse gas
emissions.
(c)
I am a bus conductor and I ride a bus.
It produces 16% of 2010 global greenhouse gas
emissions.
(d)
I am a student and I use night lamp to
study.
It produces 24% of 2010 global greenhouse gas
emissions.
(vi) ‘Greenhouse gas emissions from this sector come mostly from agriculture and deforestation.’ Explain the
meaning of the term ‘deforestation’ in this statement as mentioned in the passage.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
An increase in the number of the forest areas.
The thinning of the flora and greenery of an area.
The plantation of new saplings and trees.
The permanent and intentional clearing of forested land by humans.
(vii) ‘Greenhouse gas emissions from industry primarily involve fossil fuels burned on site at facilities for energy’.
Which industry is being mentioned here in the context of the passage?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The Automobile Industry
The Transportation Industry
The Industry that includes emissions from Agriculture.
The Industry that includes emissions from chemical, metallurgical, and mineral transformation processes.
172
CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(viii) Based on your reading of passage, select the appropriate counter- argument to the given argument.
Argument Almost all of the world’s transportation energy comes from petroleum-based fuels, largely gasoline
and diesel.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Fossil fuels, Wood-burning and Campfire also release transportation energy.
Gasoline and diesel are the main sources of transportation energy.
Petroleum-based fuels are the main sources of transportation energy.
The transportation energy is mainly released by the burning of coal, petroleum and gasoline.
Section B Writing
III. Sunrise Global School, Agra is going to organise a one-act play competition in the school auditorium. You have
decided to invite noted stage artist, Nalini, to grace the occasion. Draft a formal invitation for her. You are
Karuna/ Karan, Cultural Secretary.
3 Marks
Or
You are Chandra Mohan Singh of Rajendra Nagar, Delhi. Draft an invitation for your daughter Shradha’s
marriage.
IV. You are Anand/ Arti of 14, Model Town, Delhi. You have seen an advertisement in ‘The Hindu’ for the post of
Chief Chef in a 5-Star Hotel. Apply for the job with complete bio-data.
5 Marks
Or
Recetly, you were a judge at a dance-based reality show on TV. You noticed that the dances, as shown on TV,
seemed to be mix of gymnastics and PT exercises. Write a report on the event along with your comments. You
are Govind/Geeta.
Section C Literature
V. Attempt any one of the following.
‘Yes, that was a fine fellow you let into the house,’’ said her father. ‘‘I only wonder how many silver spoons are
left in the cupboard by this time.’’
The wagon had hardly stopped at the front steps when the ironmaster asked the valet whether the stranger was
still there. He added that he had heard at church that the man was a thief. The valet answered that the fellow
had gone and that he had not taken anything with him at all. On the contrary, he had left behind a little package
which Miss Willmansson was to be kind enough to accept as a Christmas present
3 Marks
(i) What is the tone of the father present in the given lines?
(ii) Why do you think to ironmaster had asked about the whereabouts of the stranger?
(iii) What were the contents of the package left by the peddler as a Christmas gift for Edla Willmansson?
Or
Gandhi never contented himself with large political or economic solutions. He saw the cultural and social
backwardness in the Champaran villages and wanted to do something about it immediately.
He appealed for teachers. Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh, two young men who had just joined Gandhi as
disciples and their, wives, volunteered for the work. Several more came from Bombay, Poona and other distant
parts of the land. Devadas, Gandhi’s youngest son, arrived from the ashram and so did Mrs. Gandhi. Primary
schools were opened in six village. Kasturbai taught the ashram rules on personal cleanliness and community
sanitation.
(i) Explain the ‘political or economic solutions’ in reference to the lesson ‘Indigo’.
(ii) What kinds of ‘cultural and social backwardness’ did the Champaran villagers face?
(iii) What steps did Gandhiji take to remove the cultural and social backwardness in the rural areas of
Champaran?
173
Practice Paper 1
VI. Attempt any one of the following.
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.
(i) Which two things of beauty are mentioned in these lines?
(ii) Why are the ‘lovely tales’ called an endless fountain?
(iii) Explain: ‘grandeur of the dooms’.
Or Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
(i) Why does she find it difficult to pull her ivory needle?
(ii) What does ‘wedding band’ stand for?
(iii) Describe the irony in the third line.
3 Marks
VII. Attempt any one of the following.
‘‘As for you, Jackson! How long have you been pretending you’ve got a brain, eh? Well, I’ll tell you something,
Jackson. Your skull’s empty. Absolutely empty!’’ It was Jackson who had spent two hours in Evans’s cell the
previous evening and it was Jackson who had confidently reported that there was nothing hidden away there
nothing at all. And yet Evans had some how managed to conceal not only a false beard, a pair of spectacles, a
dog-collar and all the rest of his clerical paraphernalia, but also some sort of weapon with which he’d given
McLeery such a terrible blow across the head. Aurrgh!
3 Marks
(i) Why is Jackson being scolded by the Governor?
(ii) Do you think Jackson was really at fault in the situation?
(iii) The paraphernalia mentioned in the given lines is extremely crucial for Evans. Comment.
Or ‘‘Tomorrow, I want you to tell me the story that that wizard took that magic wand and hit that mommy’’ –her
plump arms chopped forcefully– ‘right over the head’.
“No. That’s not the story. The point is that the little skunk loved his mommy more than he loved all the other
little animals and she knew what was right.’’
(i) In their endings to the story, both Jo and Jack reflect two different worlds. Comment
(ii) Do you think that while referring to little skunk, Jack refers to himself?
(iii) Why is Jo so bent on changing the ending of the skunk’s story? .
VIII. The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How does this serve in lightening the
seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him to us?
5 Marks
Or Feminism refers to a collection of movements and ideologies that advocate women’s rights and seeks to establish
equal opportunities for women in all sheres. Discuss with reference to Aunt Jennifers lack of creative, physical
and mental freedom …… .
IX. How does Jo want, the story to end? Why? What light does it throw on Joe’s character in the lesson ‘Should
Wizard Hit Mommy’?
4 Marks
Or Mr Lamb calls Derek his friend while Derek refuses his affirmation. Would you consider their relationship ‘with
each other as friendship? Support your answer with reference to the instances from the text.
Answers
1.
(i) (d)
(ii) (c)
(iii) (d)
(iv) (c)
(v) (a)
(vi) (b)
(vii) (b)
(viii) (b)
2.
(i) (c)
(ii) (b)
(iii) (c)
(iv) (a)
(v) (b)
(vi) (b)
(vii) (d)
(viii) (a)
(ix) (c)
(x) (a)
English Core
Class 12th ( Term II )
Practice Paper 2
*
(Unsolved)
General Instructions
1. The question paper contains three sections A, B and C.
2. Section A Reading section has 18 questions. Attempt questions as per specific
instructions for each passage.
3. Section B Writing section has 2 questions. Attempt questions as per specific instructions for each.
4. Section C Literature section has extract based questions, short answer type questions and long answer
type questions. Internal choice is given for individual questions.
5. Marks are mentioned against each questions.
Time : 2 Hours
Max. Marks : 40
* As exact Blue-print and Pattern for CBSE Term II exams is not released yet. So the pattern of this
paper is designed by the author on the basis of trend of past CBSE Papers. Students are advised
not to consider the pattern of this paper as official. It is just for practice purpose.
Section A Reading
I. Read the passage given below.
1. There are many international agreements and national laws that prohibit child marriage. Still, the
Prevalence of Child Marriage in the name of Custom is seen to be practiced in most parts of the world for
a long time. Child Marriage is explained as the marriage between two people who have not attained the
age of majority or below the age of 18 years.
2. In India, it is considered a part of people’s customary and religious beliefs. Most of the girls are forced by
their parents to tie up the knot with a boy during the early stage of their life, just to bring some money
earning to their family. Girls are being sold to obtain some huge amount of money in the form of dowry
from the boy she barely knows and who is too young to marry. In those families, girls are treated just like
property who can bring money that can help them for their livelihood. They think the younger the girl
will be the higher her “value” will be as the chastity of young brides are remains preserved during an
earlier stage.
3. In many communities, it is said that the girls must reproduce at an early age of their lives considering that
the child born from them will be a helping hand for the work of their family. If the child is a boy they are
treated as an asset to the family and if the child is a girl they are treated as a liability, till she got married.
In their family girls are not allowed to marry by themselves and even if they do, they are being killed by
their family members. They believe by killing them they will protect their “honor” and “reputation” of the
family name. Choosing a Life Partner by themselves is considered a black spot for their family.
4. The prevalence of Child marriage is more prominently seen in northern India particularly in the State of
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Gujarat. It is found that Child
marriage has been practiced mostly in rural areas rather than in other parts of the world. The main reason
behind it is lack of education, poverty, constant patriarchy that encourage gender inequality, and cultural
perspective.
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Practice Paper 2
5. Declining the sex ratio also contributes to Child Marriage. To protect it, many clinics have restrained the
parents to determine sex before the birth of a child. In the rural part of Northern India mostly in Rajasthan,
the declining sex ratio has allowed them to practice a ritual called “Atta Satta” where the daughter has been
exchanged with daughter in law irrespective of their age.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight questions out of the ten questions by choosing
the correct option.
8 ´1 = 8
(i) Which of the following statement/statements is TRUE in the context of the passage?
A. “Atta Satta” is a ritual prevalent in Rajasthan.
B. Most of the Indian families believe in an egalitarian concept and hence do not show any discrimination
between a boy and a girl.
C. The prevalence of Child marriage is more prominently seen in the State of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, and Gujarat.
D. Child marriage has been completely prohibited in all states of India.
(a) Only A
(b) Both A and B
(c) Both A and C
(d) Only D
(ii) Which image represents the reason behind the prevalence of Child marriage more prominently seen in
northern India as mentioned in the passage?
(a) Image 1
Lack of
awareness
Egalitarian
Concept
Lack of
Education
Orthodox
rituals
Images 1
Images 2
Images 3
Images 4
(b) Image 2
(c) Image 3
(s) Image 4
(iii) In some communities, if any girl marries as per her wishes and choice, then
(a) The family members accept them whole heartedly.
(b) The family members kill her in the names of honor and reputation.
(c) The girl is banished from the society.
(d) The newly wed girl and her husband are punished in front of the Panchayat.
(iv) Pick the word from the options given that closely gives the meaning of the word ‘liability’ as mentioned in the
sentence ‘If the child is a boy they are treated as an asset to the family and if the child is a girl they are treated
as a liability, till she got married.’
(a) Disadvantage
(b) Profit
(b) Lead
(b) Pride
(v) “Declining the sex ratio also contributes to Child Marriage” means that
(a) A greater number of girls child birth leads to increase in the child marriage.
(b) A greater number of males child birth leads to increase in the child marriage.
(c) The girls are killed even before their birth.
(d) A greater number of girls are forced to get married above the age of 18.
(vi) Select the option that states the reason behind the statement- “It is found that Child marriage has been
practiced mostly in rural areas rather than in other parts of the world”
(a) The people in the rural areas are more educated and open-minded.
(b) The people in the rural areas are poor, narrow-minded and uneducated.
(c) The natives of the rural areas do not believe in the gender inequality.
(d) The girl child is given equal rights as compared to the male child in the family.
(vii) As mentioned in the passage, choose the option that lists the correct sequence of the explanations in the passage.
1. A girl is killed in the name of family honor if she marries on her own.
2. Girls are being sold to obtain some huge amount of money in the form of dowry.
3. In India, it is considered a part of people’s customary and religious beliefs.
4. The Prevalence of Child Marriage in the name of Custom is still seen to be practiced in most parts of the
world.
(a) 4,3,2,1
(b) 3,4,2,1
(c) 1,2,3,4
(d) 2,3,1,4
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(viii) Which quote summarises the writer’s feelings about the Child marriage as described in the passage?
(a) “Marriage creates one world for your child. For that alone, two old friends can try to see a peaceful world through the
eyes of their angels.”
(b) “To bear a child or to get married is not the primary goal for a lady who wants to become successful in life.”
(c) “To stop the abuse of a young girl child, stop gender biasness.”
(d) “A child needs education not marriage to lead a prosperous life.”
(ix) Select the option that lists what we can conclude from the passage.
(a) Child marriage has been an issue in India for a long time. Because of its root in traditional, cultural and religious
practises it has been a hard battle to fight.
(b) Individuals from different walks of life are now associating with the government to work as volunteers to end child
marriage.
(c) A patriarchal mind-set is one of the main reasons for most child marriages in India: young girls, and women in general
are perceived to be natural homemakers.
(d) Infants born to mothers under the age of 18 are 60% more likely to die in their first year than to mothers over the age of 19.
(x) The writer mentions that ‘Choosing a Life Partner by themselves is considered a black spot for their family’.
Pick the option that closely gives the meaning of the statement.
(a) In many communities, girls are forcibly married to an elder boy as per the rituals of the family.
(b) In many communities, the girl’s choice of her life partner becomes a severe concern for the family.
(c) The birth and marriage of the girl child is still a severe concern in some communities in India.
(d) Both (a) and (c)
II. Read the passage given below.
1. Hiring in India has been on a steady recovery, largely driven by people switching jobs rather than new
entrants into the workforce, according to the latest Labour Market Update by LinkedIn.
2. Compared to the pre-Covid levels in 2019, hiring in July was around 65 per cent higher. As per the report,
hiring witnessed a deepening dip in April 2021, corresponding to a second wave of Covid-19 cases in India.
Since then, it has been recovering steadily. Compared to pre-Covid levels in 2019, it was 35 per cent higher
at the end of May 2021 and 42 per cent higher at the end of June 2021.
3. This is partly due to the shift in the hiring cycle in 2021 which was accumulated in July because of the lull in
April. “As large sectors such as IT, manufacturing, and hardware begin to ramp up hiring after a year of hiring
freezes, we are hopeful that hiring will continue to grow,” the report said. According to the latest data, much
of the recent labour market activity is being driven by people switching jobs and ‘reshuffling’ around, rather
than new entrants into the workforce.
4. “We examined LinkedIn profiles for all members in the country and looked at what percentage of them were
switching jobs since February 2019,” it explained.
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Practice Paper 2
A huge drop in this activity was recorded when Covid hit, with the share of members changing jobs falling
nearly 48 per cent in April 2020 when compared to the same time one year prior (which ties into the idea that
people were “sheltering in job” during the pandemic).
5. This has been recovering since then, and reached 61 per cent more job transitions in March 2021 compared
to the same time period in 2019. It has stabilised over the past four months, and as of July 2021 the share of
India members changing jobs is nearly 59 per cent higher than the same period pre-Covid. “Transitions from
non-emerging to emerging roles are more common than one would expect,” it further added.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct
option.
6 ´1 = 6
(i) Select the quote that can best display the information with reference to the given figure.
(a) If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur.
(b) Acquiring the right talent is the most important key to growth. Hiring was – and still is – the most important thing we do.
(c) If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
(d) Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.
(ii) As mentioned in the passage, the term ‘entrants’ refers to
(a) One that enters a contest
(b) A person or group that enters a new business.
(c) A person who is taking part in a competition.
(d) An intern who joins an organization to gain some experience.
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
1. As large sectors such as IT, manufacturing, and hardware begin to ramp up hiring after a year of hiring
freezes, we are hopeful that hiring will continue to grow," the report said.
2. This is partly due to the shift in the hiring cycle in 2021 which was accumulated in July because of the lull
in April.
(a)(1) is the problem and (2) is the solution for (1).
(c)(1) summarizes (2).
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1).
(d) (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1).
(iv) Select the correct inference with reference to the following.
‘Transitions from non-emerging to emerging roles are more common than one would expect.’
(a) During the pandemic, people were more attracted towards the technical and online jobs.
(b) More and more people are shifting to skill-based jobs after the pandemic.
(c) Unskilled people are still unemployed after the pandemic due to lack of skills.
(d) The shift from offline to the virtual mode of work has attracted the people towards more skill development.
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph preceding paragraph III.
(a) During the second wave of COVID 19, major number of people got new offline job opportunities.
(b) The recession in the finance industry created more unemployment during the pandemic.
(c) The unemployment was at its peak during the second wave of COVID 19 and became steady till June 2020.
(d) The pandemic has given more employment opportunities from work-from-home option.
(vi) ‘We examined LinkedIn profiles for all members in the country and looked at what percentage of them were
switching jobs since February 2019’ focuses to scrutinize
(a) The attrition rate and the reason for switching jobs by the people after the pandemic.
(b) The jobs’ switching patterns of the people pre and post COVID 19.
(c) The preferences of the jobs chosen by the people after COVID 19.
(d) The reason behind the increase in the attrition rate before COVID 19.
(vii) Which of the following statement is NOT TRUE in the context of the passage?
(a) Hiring in India has been on a steady recovery, largely driven by people who are changing jobs.
(b) In 2019, the hiring for the jobs went down due to the pandemic effect.
(c) After the third wave, the hiring process of most of the companies has become steady now.
(d) The data shows that there were around 61 per cent more job transitions in March 2021.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(viii) Based on your reading of paragraphs II-III, select the appropriate counter- argument to the given argument.
Argument I keep updating my skills as per the new changes of time and technology.
(a) I have more chances of getting a lucrative job and a good increment in the coming days.
(b) I would never face any case of losing my job ever in any condition.
(b) I am planning to switch my job from the technical to non-technical field.
(d) I lost my job during the first wave of COVID 19.
Section B Writing
III. You are Sachin Bansal, the Head Boy of Springdales public School Gurugram. On the occasion of Van Mahotsav
function in your school. Draft an invitation to invite a renowned environmentalist for a tree plantation drive in
your school.
3 Marks
Or You are Akshay/Aakriti. You have been invited to participate in a seminar on Fundamental Rights of Children
organised by the Lion’s Club of your district. Respond to the invitaiton by writing a letter to the secretary of the
club.
IV. Read the advertisement given below and write a letter applying for the job. given your detailed resume to be
sent along with the letter. You are Praveen Kumar of 95, Sector-7, Rohini, New Delhi-110085.
5 Marks
Situation Vacant
Wanted Post Graduate Teacher in English to teach Senior Secondary Classes in a reputed shcool
in Bengaluru. Candidates should have a minimum of three years of teaching experience. Apply to
Box No. 178, C/0 The Deccan Herald’, New Delhi.
Or On your way to school, right in front of the school gate, you saw a verbal dispute leading to a physical fight
between an auto rickshaw driver and his passenger. A teacher of your school intervened, found out the cause of
the quarrel and amicably resolved the issue (problem).
Write a report on the incident. You are Balbir/Bimla.
Section C Literature
V. Attempt any one of the following.
‘‘It was late in December, darkness was already descending over the forest. This increased the danger and
increased also his gloom and despair. Finally he saw no way out and he sank down on the ground, tired to death,
thinking that his last movement had come.
But just as he laid his head on the ground, he heard a sound, a hard regular thumping. There was no doubt as to
what that was. He raised himself. ‘‘Those are the hammer strokes from an iron mill’’, he thought.
3 Marks
(i) Why was ‘he’ in the forest?
(ii) What can you say about the mood of the peddler? Justify.
(iii) Did he feel comfortable on hearing the thumping sound ? Why?
Or The officials felt powerless without Gandhi’s cooperation.
He helped them regulate the crowd. He was polite and friendly. He was giving them concrete proof that their might,
hitherto dreaded and unquestioned, could be challenged by Indians. The government was baffled. The prosecutor
requested the judge to postponed the trial. Apparently, the authorities wished to consult their superiors.
(i) Briefly explain ‘the Trial’ referred to in the given extract.
(ii) What is the significance of the given lines?
(iii) How would you translate the line ‘‘Apparently, the authorities wished to consult their superiors’’.
VI. Attempt any one of the following.
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: yes, in spite of all, Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
Practice Paper 2
From our dark spirits.
179
3 Marks
(i) What characteristic(s) of human life is this extract talking about?
(ii) “Some shape of beauty moves away the pall.” Explain.
(iii) Why are our spirits called Dark
Or Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They of not fear the men beneath the tree,
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
(i) Why are the tigers called ‘Aunt Jennifer’s tigers’?
(ii) How are the tigers different from their creator?
(iii) Why are the tigers not afraid of the men beneath the trees?
VII. Attempt any one of the following.
Derry What do you do all day?
Mr Lamb Sit in the Sun. Read books. Ah, you thought it was an empty house, but inside, it’s full. Books and
other things. Full.
Derry But there aren’t any curtains at the windows.
Mr Lamb I’m not fond of curtains. Shutting things out, shutting things in. I like the light and the darkness and
the windows open, to hear the wind.
Derry Yes, I like that. When it’s raining, I like to hear it on the roof.
Mr Lamb So you’re not lost, are you? Not altogether? You do hear things. You listen.
Derry They talk about me. Downstairs,
When I’m not there.
3 Marks
(i) ‘So you’re not lost, are you’’? Comment on the given dialogue.
(ii) How will you characterise Mr. Lamb on the basis of the given lines?
(iii) Who would you blame for Derry’s behaviour?
Or ‘‘We must get you to hospital immediately. I just don’t’’
‘‘Ye’ve called the police’’
‘‘ Yes, yes. They’re on their way. But–’’
‘‘I’m a’ right. I’m a’ right. Look! Look here’’
Awkwardly he opened the German question paper and thrust it before the Governor’ face.
‘‘It’s there! D’ yes see what mean?’’ The Governor looked down and realised what McLeery was trying to tell
him.
(i) Did the person really needed to go to hospital? Justify your answer.
(ii) What was Mcleery trying to tell the Governor?
(iii) Would you say that Mcleery’s hint at the question paper was helpful? Give answer on the basis of your reading of the
lesson.
VIII. “Freedom from fear is more important than legal justice for the poor.” Do you think that the poor of India are
free from fear after Independence?
5 Marks
Or How, according to the poet, John Keats, does Beauty make a permanent impression on our mind.
IX. When Stephens comes back to the cell he jumps to a conclusion and whole machinery blindly goes by his
assumption without even checking the identity of the injured ‘McLeery’. Does the show how hasty conjectures
can prevent one from seeing the obvious? How is the criminal able to predict negligence?
4 Marks
Or With respect to the events in the story, ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy’, Who would you support. Wizard or
Mommy? Justify your choice.
English Core
Class 12th ( Term II )
Practice Paper 3
*
(Unsolved)
General Instructions
1. The question paper contains three sections A, B and C.
2. Section A Reading section has 18 questions. Attempt questions as per specific
instructions for each passage.
3. Section B Writing section has 2 questions. Attempt questions as per specific instructions for each.
4. Section C Literature section has extract based questions, short answer type questions and long answer
type questions. Internal choice is given for individual questions.
5. Marks are mentioned against each questions.
Time : 2 Hours
Max. Marks : 40
* As exact Blue-print and Pattern for CBSE Term II exams is not released yet. So the pattern of this
paper is designed by the author on the basis of trend of past CBSE Papers. Students are advised
not to consider the pattern of this paper as official. It is just for practice purpose.
Section A Reading
I. Read the passage given below.
1. Let me come clean: at first, I failed to find myself positively charmed by the prospect of visiting the Taj
Mahal for the first time. Packed-like-sardines would be an understatement to what our vengeful travel
selves had done to the marble mausoleum—which suffices for India on most calendars and
brochures—with the pandemic still at large. That coupled with the last surviving shreds of pioneerism
and an elitist aversion for crowd favourites almost made me go, ‘Gah—Taj?’ But then I woke up one
morning and left for Agra on a fogless December morning. And that was it.
2. Akbarabad, as it went by a few hundred years ago, was the city of the Shayar Mir Taqi Mir (some bad
students of history are hell-bent on having it renamed Agarwala). First referred to as Agra by the Greek
polymath Ptolemy, this city was a Mughal capital for close to a century. It was here that Akbar desired to
erect palaces of copper and it was here that the marble mausoleums of Itimad-ud-Daulah and Taj Mahal
were later raised.
3. It’s one of three vertices of the hallowed Golden Triangle. Every year, thousands of foreign tourists pack
their bags and set off for a trip to India for Agra alone, bravely ignoring every stereotype that you have
sold and bought about travelling in this country.
4. But as we drove through the dusty roads depositing you into its unassuming tier-II environs, none of that
crossed my mind. Wherever I threw my somnolent gaze, shop after shop selling more authentic Panchhi
petha than the last slapped my field of view with the persistence of the tangawalas of Meena Bazaar.
Thankfully, before long, our hosts at Ekaa Villa intervened, telling us that there were just two original
Panchhi Petha outlets in the city—the original ones could always be identified by their distinctly green
branding and a woman toting a carry bag.
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Practice Paper 3
5. Initially, choosing to not visit the Taj Mahal was without reason and probably too dramatic and self-important,
but I realized Agra had much to see after our first evening experiencing high tea at a tila-top. We drove through
a veritable dust bowl of the Taj Reserve Forest and got down just before the access to the said perch. Our hosts,
a couple of enterprising gentlemen assiduously carving out a new dawn, a ninth life for Agra in a pandemicked
world, along with a staff member, had a table laid out at the edge of what is a rather low precipice. Was this the
same Agra whose heat and dust Babur had complained about in his memoirs?
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight questions out of the ten questions by choosing
the correct option.
8 ´1 = 8
(i) Choose the word that gives the meaning of the word ‘vengeful’ as given in the following lines of the passage
‘Packed-like-sardines would be an understatement to what our vengeful travel selves had done to the marble
mausoleum’.
(a) Unforgiving
(b) Benevolent
(c) Merciful
(d) Obsessive
(ii) Select the option that suitably completes the given dialogue as per the context in paragraph IV.
Writer From where could we buy the best pethas in Agra ?
Host Do you really like Pethas? (1) ………………………………………….
Writer We have heard a lot about the Panchhi Petha of Agra?
Host (2)............................................................. They give you the best taste here.
(a) (1) Quite surprising! (2) We export these sweets.
(b) (1) I do not like eating pethas at all. (2) Try some Laddus and Barfi.
(c) (1) We had thought that only we Indians are fond of it. (2) There are two original outlets here.
(d) (1) We also love its taste. (2) Please buy two packets for us also.
(iii) Select the central idea of the paragraph II of the passage?
(a) Agra was renamed as Akbarabad by the Mughals.
(b) Akbarabad was renamed as Agra by the Mughals.
(c) Agra is only famous for its tombs.
(d) Agra was renamed by the Irish polymath Ptolemy
(iv) Which word means the opposite to the word ‘assiduously’ in the statement, ‘Our hosts, a couple of
enterprising gentlemen assiduously carving out a new dawn, a ninth life for Agra’ as given in the passage?
(a) Actively
(c) Dormant
(b) Diligently
(d) Engaged
(v) Pick the words that correctly list the feelings of the writer with reference to the description of Taj Mahal as
mentioned in the passage.
(a) Concerned and interested
(c) Unimpressed and spiritless
(b) Concerned and interested
(d) Captivated and attracted
(vi) Which of the following statement is TRUE in the context of the passage?
(a) The writer was keen to visit Taj Mahal at Agra.
(b) The writer was keen to buy some authentic sweets from Agra to take back to his home place.
(c) The writer visited Agra during the month of December.
(d) The writer stayed at a five-star hotel at Agra near the Taj Mahal.
(vii) What is the relationship between (1) and (2)?
1. ….. . Initially, choosing to not visit the Taj Mahal was without reason.
2. …… We drove through a veritable dust bowl of the Taj Reserve Forest.
(a) (1) is the reason for (2).
(b) (2) elaborates the problem described in (1).
(c) (1) gives the motive behind (2).
(d) (2) is the reason for (1).
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(viii) Select the quote that can best describe the Taj Mahal and the writers’ feelings about it as mentioned in the
passage.
(a) “Taj Mahal is not just a monument, but a symbol of love.”
(b) “We entered the Taj Mahal, the most romantic place on the planet, and possibly the most beautiful building on earth.”
(c) “The Taj Mahal rises above the banks of the river like a solitary tear suspended on the cheek of time.”
(d) “I found the Taj Mahal as the most appropriate example of artistically expressed love.”
(ix) ‘We drove through a veritable dust bowl of the Taj Reserve Forest’ means that(a) The writer visited the beautiful premises of the Taj Reserve Forest.
(b) The writer visited the premises of the Taj Reserve Forest that were full of dust.
(c) The writer drove himself to the Taj Reserve Forest to see its beauty.
(d) The writer with his friend went to see the Taj Reserve Forest as they had heard a lot about its pollution-free
environment.
(x) The phrase ‘somnolent gaze’ means(a) A sleepy, drowsy look
(c) To look with bewilderment
(b) An astonishing look
(d) To move with lot of enthusiasm to show happiness.
II. Read the passage given below.
1. Easy access to adequate sanitation and sufficient amounts of safe water for drinking and hygiene at home,
schools and health care facilities is essential to human health and well-being and should be a prerequisite for
a decent life in the 21st century.
2. In the WHO European Region, more than 63 million people gained access to drinking-water services and 84
million people to sanitation services between 2000 and 2017. Nevertheless, over 16 million people still lack
access to basic drinking-water and more than 31 million people need basic sanitation. Significant inequalities
persist between rural and urban areas, and between rich and poor people, with rural dwellers and the poorest
being the most disadvantaged.
3. He region continues to experience water-related infectious disease outbreaks, impairing health, well-being
and productivity of people and communities. Diseases related to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene
(WASH) include diarrhoea, but also other disease outcomes, such as hepatitis A, legionellosis and
soil-transmitted helminth infections. In the Region, 14 diarrhoea deaths a day can be attributed to inadequate
WASH. Infants and children under 5 years of age are particularly vulnerable to diarrhoea as a leading cause
of malnutrition and death.
Access to Water and Sanitation
More people have access to safe drinking water and sanitation than ten years ago but population has eclipsed
these accomplishments. One sixth (1.1 billion) of the world population lacks access to improved water supply,
two-fifth (2.4 billion) have no improved sanitation. Most of these people live in Asia and Africa. Rural services
lag far behind urban services
Water Supply
Distribution of unserved population
2% 7%
Sanitation
Distribution of unserved population
2% 5%
26%
83%
Total unserved 1.1 billion
Europe
Latin America/Caribbean
13%
88%
Total unserved 2.4 billion
Africa
Asia
Practice Paper 3
183
4. Microbial contamination of water used for drinking, hygiene and recreation is of prime concern throughout
the Region. Chemical pollution is often localized but may also have a significant impact on health. Priority
chemicals in drinking-water that can cause non-infectious disease include arsenic, fluoride, lead and nitrate.
5. To tackle the prevailing challenges and to close the gap in attaining equitable and sustainable access to safely
managed drinking-water and sanitation services for all people in the Region, WHO/Europe:
supports the implementation of the Protocol on Water and Health – a legally binding multilateral policy
instrument in the WHO European Region;
provides evidence-based guidance and tools for strengthening the capacity of national health systems and the
water sector to ensure water quality and to prevent, control and reduce water-related disease;
promotes risk-based management and surveillance approaches in policy and practice, including water safety plans
and sanitation safety plans;
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct
option.
6 ´1 = 6
l
l
l
(i) Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to Fig 1.
(a) Europe is still lagging behind in the water supply and sanitization distribution services.
(b) Most of the African and Asian people in rural areas still face scarcity of water supply.
(c) Most of the African and Asian people in urban areas still face scarcity of water supply.
(d) The highest number of people who have access to good resources of sanitization and water supply services live in India.
(ii) The term ‘vulnerable’ refers to the
(a) In need of good meditation and care.
(b) Quality of showing good health and immunity towards diseases.
(c) Liable to have good immunity.
(d) Quality of exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed.
(iii) Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
1. Priority chemicals in drinking-water that can cause non-infectious disease include arsenic, fluoride, lead
and nitrate.
2. Microbial contamination of water used for drinking, hygiene and recreation is of prime concern throughout
the Region.
(a) (2) is the reason for (1)
(b) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1).
(c) (1) and (2) are independent statements.
(d) (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1).
(iv) Select the correct inference with reference to the following:
‘Significant inequalities persist between rural and urban areas, and between rich and poor people, with rural
dwellers and the poorest being the most disadvantaged.’
(a) Poor people are denied access to water and sanitization and they suffer the maximum diseases.
(b) The gap between the rich and the poor in some countries is affecting the mortality rate.
(c) The people living in some rural areas do not have access to pure water and clean toilets.
(d) The rich people living in urban areas are able to afford the expensive water and sanitization resources so they live longer.
(v) Select the central idea of the paragraph preceding paragraph IV.
(a) The WHO European Region continues to experience scarcity of water impairing health, well-being and productivity of
people and communities.
(b) The WHO European Region continues to experience water-borne diseases impairing health, well-being and
productivity of people and communities.
(c) India and Africa have a greater number of casualties due to water-borne diseases.
(d) Most of the children in the world are suffering from malnutrition and death rate is increasing day by day.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
(vi) Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship (as per the passage)
Options Cause
Effect
(a)
I am a poor resident of Africa.
I do not have any access to good job.
(b)
14 diarrhoea deaths happened in WHO
European region.
It occurred due to lack of water and sanitization
resources.
(c)
Lack of pure drinking water.
Increase in the cases of Diarrhoea and Hepatitis A.
(d)
Good immunization services.
I am at a lower risk of getting infected by the
water-borne diseases.
(vii) The data shown for the access to water and sanitization suggests that(a) One sixth of the world population still lacks access to potable water supply.
(b) Two seventh of the world population still lacks sanitization.
(c) 30% of Africans still lack access to water supply.
(d) 45% of the Asians still do not have proper sanitization resources.
(viii) As mentioned in the passage, the term ‘surveillance approach’ means
(a) The navigation guidance that helps in close observation of the radar.
(b) An approach that is based on close scrutiny in the policy and practice implementation.
(c) An instrument approach in which a radar controller provides the navigational guidance.
(d) An instrument approach conducted according to directions issued by a controller using information which appears on
the surveillance radar display.
Section B Writing
III. You are Arun/Aruna. You have been invited to attend the birthday party of your friend’s sister during summer
vacation. Respond to the invitation regretting your inability to attend it due to being away on vacation. 3 Marks
Or
Your school is organising the Annual Day next month in one of the prestigious auditoriums of your city. Draft an
invitation in not more than 50 words giving all essential details. Do not forget to include necessary instructions
against bringing mobile phones and cameras.
IV. You are Prem/Parul of 16, TT Nagar, Bhopal. You would like to apply for the post of Marketing Manager in a
reputed firm in Mumbai. Write a letter to the Public Relations Officer, Chantac Enterprises, Mumbai, applying
for the job. Write the letter giving your bio-data.
5 Marks
Or
You are a newspaper reporter. You have come to know about the leakage of chlorine gas from one of the plants in
a factory just outside your city. Write a report on the incident, its cause and the loss incurred.
Section C Literature
V. Attempt any one of the following.
Since you have been so nice to me all day long, as if I was a captain, I want to be nice to you, in return, as if I
was a real captain - For I do not want you to be embarassed at this christmas season by a thief; but you can give
back the money to the old man on the road side, who has the money pouch hanging on the window frame as a
bart for poor wanderes.
The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in this world’s rattrap if he had not
been raised to captains, because in the way he got power to clear himself. ‘‘Written with friendship and high
regard, Captain non-stahle.’’
3 Marks
(i) Why do you think the peddler gave a rattrap as a Christmas present to Edla?
(ii) what qualities of a captain does the peddler show through the extract?
(iii) Do you think Edla would be resentful of harbouring the peddler after she read the letter?
185
Practice Paper 3
Or
Several days later, Gandhi received a written communication from the magistrate informing him that the
Lieutenant Governor of the province had ordered the case to be dropped.
Civil disobedience had triumphed, the first time in modern India.
Gandhi and the lawyers now proceeded to conduct a far-flung inquiry into the grievances of the farmers.
Depositions by about ten thousand peasants were written down and notes made on other evidence. Documents
were collected . The whole are throbbed with the activity of the investigators and the vehement protests of the
landlords.
(i) “Civil disobedience has triumphed, the first time in modern India.” Comment.
(ii) Why do you the author uses ‘Modern India’ instead of just India?
(iii) What was the result of ‘a far-flung inquiry’ and ‘deposition’ collected as evidence.
VI. Attempt any one of the following.
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 quite breathing.
3 Marks
(i) Explain ‘pass into nothingness’.
(ii) What can be categorised it?
(iii) Why do we need sweet dreams, health and quiet breathing in our lives?
Or
When Aunt is dead, her terified hands will lie
Still riged with orders she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
(i) Who is the aunt afraid of?
(ii) What do the tigers represent here?
(iii) How has Mrs. Jennifer failed in her aim?
VII. Attempt any one of the following.
Jo was starting to fuss with her hands and look out of the window, at the crack of day that showed under the
shade. She thought the story was all over. Jack didn’t like women when they took anything for granted; he liked
them apprehensive, hanging on his words.
‘‘Now, Jo, are you listening?’’ ‘‘Yes’’. ‘‘Because this is very interesting. Roger Skunk’s mommy said, ‘What’s that
awful smell?’ “What at?”
‘‘And, Roger Skunk said, ‘It’s me, Mommy. I smell like roses’. And she said, ‘Who made you smell ike that?’ And
he said, ‘ The wizard’ and she said, ‘Well, of all the nerve. You come with me and we’re going right back to that
very awful wizard.’’
3 Marks
(i) What does the given lines tell us about Jack?
(ii) Mommy says, ‘well, of all the nerve’. Comment.
(iii) Why did Jo think that the story was all over?
Or
Derry It won’t make my face change. Do you know, one day woman went by me in the street-I was at a bus stop
she was with another woman and she looked at me and she said ..... at that, that’s a terrible thing. That’s a face
only a mother could love.
Mr. Lamb So you believe everything you hear, then?
Derry It was cruel.
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CBSE Term II English Core Class 12th
Mr. Lamb Maybe not meant as such. Just something said between them.
Derry: Only I heard it. I heard.
(i) On the basis of the given lines, what can we say about Derry?
(ii) How would you translate Mr. Lamb’s reaction to the incident Derry had narrated to him?
(iii) ‘‘That’s a face only a mother could love.’’ With reference to the given line, comment on Derry’s mother?
VIII. The Rattrap is a story which shows that basic human goodness can be brought out by understanding and love.
Do you think this is practical in approach ? Why / Why not?
5 Marks
Or
Aunt Jennifer symbolises women who are exploited and oppressed at the hands of the male dominated world.
Comment.
IX. ‘‘I am interested in anybody, anything. There is nothing that God made that does’t interest me’’. Explain the
statement in reference to Mr Lamb’s character.
4 Marks
Or
Do you agree that, between crime and punishment, it is mainly a battle of wits?