Indraprastha INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Sector 10, Dwarka, New Delhi 110075

SESSION: 2016 17
HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION
ENGLISH
SET B

Class: XII Maximum Marks: 100

Date: 21.9.2016 Time allowed: 3 Hours

General Instructions
This question paper contains 13 questions and 7 printed pages.
All the questions are compulsory.
Marks for each question are indicated against it.

SECTION - A (READING)

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: 12

1. How often do we remember to treat others as you would like them to treat you? In
our quest to get more and more, we forget that the quality of our lives depends on
the kind of personalities we have cultivated for ourselves. Genes might play a role
when it comes to ones disposition, but the major portion of our attitudes and
behaviour is influenced by the choices we make. So in the beginning of every year
should you resolve to make more money, learn a new language, travel more
frequently then you must discontinue to be the same grumpy, impatient soul you
always were, should you then not seek to refine your character, focus more on
nuances like how you treat people, react to challenges and deal with stress? For
most people such a course would yield rich results.
2. According to Mary Thomas, usually our New Year resolutions remain unachieved
because we try to achieve the impossible or, sometimes, just add more goals that
we wish to accomplish to the list resolutions, but strangely, we do not remember
much about them during the course of the year as we do not seem to value them
enough to complete them. The better option would be to address something
fundamental to you, to who you really are, and go ahead with completing them
instead of making any drastic resolutions which you will never be able to fulfil.
You could resolve to be a better person by having a positive attitude towards
people you come across in life. This could involve being nice with the lady who
cleans the house, or your colleague who sits near you, but you never interact with.
Another trick is to acknowledge people for the value they add to your personal or
professional life. By extending basic courtesies to people around you, you add
value to your life and that pays off in the long run.
3. Sometimes, we know that there is room for improvement as far as our
personalities are concerned but we have little or no idea where to make the start.
An easy starting point could be to look for opportunities in ones immediate
surroundings. One positive starting point could be taking positive attitude towards
life and dispelling all negative thoughts. You could make a positive beginning by
being a better person at work. This means treating everyone with respect. You
should not only interact politely, but also value each persons ideas however far
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 removed these may be, to your own. After all, your friends ideas are an integral
part of the organisation to which both of you belong. Inculcating this habit of
making an effort to talk to the people you would normally not have to interact with
on a daily basis, would make you a better person at the workplace.
4. Also, you do not have to do something extraordinary to prove your good
intentions. Just greeting or smiling at your colleagues first thing in the morning
could always brighten someones day. These are simple things that we are taught
while growing but tend to forget as we move through life. So essentially, being
better is an exercise in learning to be nice, and you will see that playing nice will
get your work done better than scolding or frowning or passing orders.
5. A purposeful life should contain skills that lead to practical changes. After all, no
people are alike, so why should your ideas be the only right solution? A company,
where individual differences are nurtured, information is not suppressed, soon
becomes a workplace that adds value to its employees, rather than merely
extracting work out of them. It makes workers feel intrinsically rewarded. It is,
therefore, imperative that co workers and partners share a camaraderie that
transcends mere professional conduct and delivery. Thus, for a person who wishes
to remain happy and content, it is as valuable to spend time on nurturing qualities
like friendship and consideration as it is on acquiring skills and knowledge.

1.1 Choose the correct option: 4

(a) The quality of our life depends on________.

(i) the personalities we have cultivated for ourselves
(ii) the number of New Year resolutions we make
(iii) the challenges that people give us
(iv) None of the above

(b) Our New Year resolutions remain unfulfilled, according to Mary Thomas, because
we _______ .
(i) make too many resolutions
(ii) add more goals than what we can accomplish
(iii) get caught up with our studies
(iv) feel happy about them

(c) To add value to your life you _______ .

(i) must earn more money
(ii) become more hardworking
(iii) should be nice to the people in your immediate surroundings
(iv) only (i) and (iii)
(d) Workers feel intrinsically rewarded if _______ .
(i) they are given bonuses
(ii) their work is given recognition
(iii) their individual differences are acknowledged
(iv) none of the above

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1.2 Answer the following questions briefly: 6
(a) What kind of workplace adds value to its employees?
(b) What is the key to remaining happy and content?
(c) What are the advantages of being nice to people?
(d) What are the advantages of extending courtesies to people?
(e) Mention three resolutions that people usually make in the New Year.
(f) Why are New Year resolutions left unresolved?

1.3 A. Pick out the words from the passage that mean the same as: 2
(a) The natural qualities of a persons character (para 1)
(b) Basic (para 2)

2. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: 10
1. Zakir Hussain is Indias iconic tabla maestro. Long known for his capacity to
move crowds of listeners whenever he takes the stage. Off the stage, too, the
maestro is a man with far sighted patriotic views. He says that every Indian knows
how to live peacefully. According to him, we are a diverse country and in our
diversity we have found peace and compassion.

2. I am an Indian and am proud to be an Indian. My wife is an American and I can

get an American passport but I never went for it. There is a deep rooted connection
between me and the art of India that we are constantly aware of. We are peace
loving and we need to hold on to this harmony. We should not give anyone an
opportunity to pit against the other.

3. I am the quintessential Mumbai boy. I was brought up in Mahim. My father was

the best tabla player I knew. His discipline and dedication was very inspirational.
At home after my morning prayers and riyaaz I would go to a madrasa and pray.
From there Id to St. Michaels School before which I would go to the chapel and
say hymns and novenas. In the evening, I used to go to a temple and then come
home and learn tabla again. No one prevented me from doing what I did. I was
welcomed in every house of God and felt blessed in each place. I grew up with
this multi religious faith imbibed in me.

4. Harmony is within us. Only when we allow the outside world to disturb the inner
peace do we feel distanced from each other. Music is global. It has no boundaries
or religion or nation. Religion is a way of life. It is a way of life for me. Therefore,
it is my religion and this religion encompasses all religions of the world. My father
used to say: I am a worshipper of Maa Saraswati. I love her and she loves me.
He introduced me to Lord Ganeshas pakhawaj and to Lord Shivas dumroo.
Every religion preaches love thy neighbour. I believe if you are kind to the people
around, you have practised your religion.

5. On the artistic front the first challenge every artist has is to overcome, staleness in
art. The tabla is about spontaneity. Sometimes there is a creative block though,
which can be difficult to overcome. Being selfless on stage is another challenge as
the audience has flocked to hear your rendition. Also, it is equally important to
allow your fellow artist to perform his best. Another challenge for accomplished
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 artists is to know that you are not the best. I constantly strive to best myself.

6. I am the original heart throb of Indian classical music today. I wouldnt want any
young musician to be like me. They have to be better than me. I offered my best to
the audiences the world over. Today, I am sure there are many who can play better
than me. Indian music gives each one an opportunity to create their own identity.

2.1 Choose the correct option: 2

(a) Zakir Hussain is Indias ______ .

(i) iconic Indian dancer
(ii) iconic tabla maestro
(iii)film star playback singer
(iv) crowd pulling acrobat

(b) Zakir Hussain does not want any Indian to be like him because ______ .
(i) he wants to remain the best
(ii) he is unbeatable
(iii)he is a world class star
(iv) he wants them to be better than him

2.2 On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions 6
briefly:

(i) What is Zakir Hussains opinion about every Indian?

(ii) How can we guard our Indianness?
(iii) Where was Zakir Hussain brought up?
(iv) What are his views about music?
(v) What are the challenges of a performer?
(vi) How does he surmise his music education by his father?

2.3 Pick out the words from the passage which mean the same as the following: 2
(i) A state of peaceful existence (para 3)
(ii) Performance (para 5)

3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: 8

Hundreds of thousands of years ago giant mammoths still roamed the earth and the
surface of the earth was covered by dense forests. Men took shelter in caves and covered
their bodies with animal skins. At that time, dogs became mans best friend. At first they
followed man on his hunting trips and waited to get whatever scraps it could get, from the
kill its master made. Then the instinct for companionship made it adopt man as its leader.
Soon, man began to train dogs to help him during the hunt, to carry his burdens and to
give him companionship as he sat by the fire side in the evenings. These changes took
place much before recorded history came into practice.
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 These findings can only be confirmed by the study of the bones of primitive dogs which
lay beside the bones of primitive men in caves. As the history of the dog goes back to a
time when records were not maintained, it is impossible to be sure of these happenings.
Some scientists believe that dogs are the result of mating between wolves and jackals.
Other scientists say that some species of dogs descended from wolves while others
descended from jackals. Some even go on to say that dogs descended from coyotes and
from foxes. A widely held theory is that our modern dogs that we keep as pets descended
from a remote common ancestor.
This last substantiates the differences in size and appearance between various breeds of
dogs. Other evidence of the wild ancestry of dogs is the built of their bodies, which is
very distinctly adopted for speed and strength. Together with their keen sense of smell,
hearing qualities, it becomes obvious that they have wild hunters in their genes.
From the time when recorded history began, there have been references to dogs in them.
There are images of dogs on Egyptian tombs that are 5000 years old. The Egyptians
considered their dog as sacred and whole family would go into mourning if the dog in an
Egyptian home died. Today, the dog is an indispensible part of our lives. For hundreds of
young, healthy blind people, the dog is their seeing eye.
A seeing eye dog is usually a German shepherd dog. It takes three months to train a
guide dog. First come the obedience exercise repeated daily as setting up exercises.
Then a U shaped leather harness is buckled on and the dog learns to walk at the left of
the trainer. The dog is taught to stop and wait at the curb, watch traffic and let the cars
pass. Before the dog is passed on to a blind master, a final check is made. Then the blind
master and his dog train together for four weeks before they go home to work smoothly as
a team.

3.1 On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes using points only. Use 5
abbreviations wherever necessary (minimum five). Supply a suitable title.

3.2 Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words. 3

SECTION - B (ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS)

4. You are a member of the Special Group for Animal Protection. Draft a poster, in about 50 4
words, to create awareness on the need to prevent cruelty to animals. You are Suhas/
Suhasini.

5. You are Neeta/ Naveen of 43, Ram Nagar, Meerut, studying at a coaching centre in Laxmi
Nagar, Delhi. You need accommodation for yourself. Write a letter to the Manager of 6
Paying Guest Services, 15, Aditya Complex, Lakshmi Nagar, Delhi, inquiring about the
details such as type of accommodation, monthly charges, facilities, etc. (Word limit: 120-
150 words)

6. The Internet Cannot Replace a Classroom Teacher. Write a debate in about 150 200
words either for or against the motion. 10

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7. Write an article in about 150 200 words to be published in The Hindu, on how the
younger generation is crazy about fast food, little realizing the health hazards involved
with it. Also, suggest some concrete solutions. You are Jyoti/ Jagan. 10

SECTION C (LITERATURE & LONG READING TEXT)

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

Those who prepare green wars,

wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their
brothers.

i. Explain: wars with gas, wars with fire.

ii. Why does the poet call it a victory with no survivors?
iii. Who will put on clean clothes? What does the poet want to convey?
iv. What does the poet want these people to do?

OR

Aunt Jennifers fingers fluttering through her wool

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of uncles wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifers hand.

i. What do these lines tell us about the life of Aunt Jennifer?

ii. Explain the figures of speech in fingers fluttering.
iii. How do we know that the Aunt belonged to an affluent family?
iv. Describe the image in the massive weight of uncles wedding band.

9. Read the following questions and answer any four in about 30 40 words each: 12
(3x4=12)
i. What factors led Douglas to decide in favour of the YMCA pool?
ii. How were Shukla and Gandhi received at Rajendra Prasads house?
iii. How did the wooden tiger lead to the death of the Tiger King?
iv. Why does Jo insist that her father should tell the story with a different ending?
v. To whom does the poet in the poem An Elementary School Classroom in a
Slum make an appeal? What is his appeal?

10. Answer the following question in about 150 words: 6

What was Edla Willmanssons assessment of the peddler? What rationale did her father
give for the coarse ways of the peddler?

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11.
11.A Answer the following question in about 150 words: 6

The theme of the story Going Places is adolescent fantasy and hero worship. Every
teenager has some or the other hero in his/ her life. Based on your reading of the text,
write an article on the topic: Are Teenagers Justified in their Act of Hero Worship?

12. How did Griffin manage to rob the vicar despite the Buntings waking up and catching him 6
red handed? Write the answer in about 120- 150 words.

13. What is the true identity of the invisible man? He is a devil in the garb of a genius. 6
Discuss.

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