PERBOARD EXAMINATION English Core (301) Class - XII Time: 90 Minutes Max. Marks 40 General Instructions: 1. The Question Paper contains THREE sections. 2, Section A-READING has 18 questions. Attempt a total of 14 questions, as per ‘specific instructions for each question. 3. Section B-WRITING SKILLS has 12 questions. Attempt a total of 10 questions, as. per specific instructions for each question. 4, Section G-LITERATURE has 30 questions. Attempt 26 questions, as per specific instructions for each question. 5. All questions carry equal marks. 6. There is no negative marking READING 1. Read the passage given below. (1) One of the greatest sailing adventures of the past 25 years was the conquest of the Northwest Passage, powered by sail, human muscle, and determination. In 100 days, over three summers (1986-88), Canadians Jeff MacInnis and Mike Beedell accomplished the first wind-powered crossing of the Northwest Passage. (2) In Jeff Mactnnis's words...Our third season. We weave our way through the labyrinth of ice, and in the distance we hear an unmistakable sound. A mighty bowhead whale is nearby, and its rhythmic breaths fill us with awe. Finally we see it relaxed on the surface, its blowhole quivering like a volcanic cone, but it senses our presence and quickly sounds. We are very disappointed. We had only good intentions - to revel in its beautiful immensity and to feel its power. Mike thinks how foolish it would be for this mighty beast to put any faith in us. After all, we are members of the species that had almost sent the bowhead into extinction with our greed for whale oil and bone. It is estimated that as many as 38,000 bowheads were killed off eastern Baffin Island in the 1800s; today there are about 200 left. (3) The fascinating and sometimes terrifying wildlife keeps us entertained during our explorations. Bearded harp and ring seals greet us daily. The profusion of bird life is awesome; at times we see and smell hundreds of thousands of thick-billed murres clinging to their cliff side nests. Our charts show we are on the edge of a huge shoal where the frigid ocean currents ups well and mix nutrients that provide a feast for the food chain. At times these animals scare the living daylights out of us. They have a knack of sneaking up behind us and then shooting out of the water and belly flopping for maximum noise and splash. A horrendous splash coming from behind has a heart-stopping effect in polar bear country. (4) We have many encounters with the “Lords of the Arctic,” but we are always cautious, observant, and ever so respectful that we are in their domain. In some regions the land is totally devoid of life, while in others the pulse of life takes our breath away. Such is the paradox of the Arctic; It's wastelands flow into oasis’ that are found nowhere else on theface of the earth. Many times agus) 8 we find ancient signs of Inui fi ala A the land. We feel great respect for thei this sane ane: a Inge ai (6) We face a 35 mile open water passa i Saeed Beret oi uilimata coal - Pond oe across nce: Regent Inlet on Baffin Island that Sere earning into the hulls a fe ee Baffin Bay. The breakers look huge from the aries rcurthe gravel beach ss ikea ee at the starting gate, we push as hard have plunged waist deep, then drag ties ey i tet ie cooks pusiung ee every ounce of effort. Inch by agonizing inch, Pe ae, Ignace sa weierain Parte Yr Sur bodies. Ahead of us, looming Bratt ecoantion moves offshore. Sweat pours off riding the current like the ghost of a battleshi The Pe cs fe oe the boat and shat mon Be es Sine ne i on rae rince Regent Inlet now lo: it ith wi 5 igi Speers Eee ie tecsand peas oe ean wind and waves. The frigid ocean hits us (6) We were on ie ne see pee the Arctic had taught us over the last 90 days “itwe went al at ne er pth oat ict wuld not get the Suddenly the wind Speed plummeted to zero as quickly as it had hat area ners being pushed by the convulsing waves toward sheer 2,000 foot cliffs. Two paddles were our only power. Sailing past glacier capped mountains, we approached the end of our journey: At 05:08 in the morning of our hundredth day, speeding into Baffin Bay, the spray from our twin hulls makes rainbows in the sun as we complete the first sail powered voyage through the Northwest Passage. (7) We have journeyed through these waters on their terms, moved by the wind, waves and current. The environment has always been in control of our destiny; we have only tried to respond in the best possible way. We've been awake for nearly 23 hours, but we cannot sleep. The joy and excitement are too great. Our Hobie Cat rests on the rocky beach, the wind whistling in her rigging, her bright yellow hulls radiant in the morning sunlight. She embodies the watchword for survival in the ‘Arctic - adaptability. Based on your understanding of the passage answer any eight out of the ten uestions by choosing the correct option. |@.A The passage |S about the 5 (a) author's Salling adventure throush #! (p) flora and fauna of the Arctic — (©) survival skills needed while sailing (d) saving the Arctic the Arctic,” (Para 4) © was now being tes' momentous crossing... | he Northwest passage efers to a2 “Lords of (a) Wind breakers (b) Bearded seals (c) Polar Bears (d) bowhead whales ne fine edge’ refers 0 (b) the ominous sail a3 ‘We were on a ince Regent Inle alee (d) their expedition (c) the frigid ocean ————Q4 ——— &mbodies the watchword for survival in the Arctic- adaptability. ieaitte t (6) Destiny eee Q5 The enieees (d) None of these n adventure enthusiast who loves : (@) nature (b) domestic animals (©) Wildlife (4) both ‘a’ and ‘c’ Q.6 According to the passage ‘labyrinth’ here means 1. web 2, maze 3. order 4. tine (a) 1 and 2 (b) 3 and 4 (©) 1 and3 (@) 2and4 Q.7 Pick out the option that best describes MacInnis's thoughts about the bowhead whales. (a) The whales should trust human beings. (b) Human beings have never killed a bowhead whale, (©) Bowhead whales are foolish to trust a human. (4) Only 200 bowhead whales are left today. Q.8 As given in paragraph 4, Inuit people are (2) the migrants of America (©) those who live in jungles (©) the hunters of sea animals in the Arctic (d) the indigenous people of the Arctic Q.9 With reference to the passage we find the author is by the wildlife (@) disgusted (b) terrified (©) fascinated (@) scared Q.10 According to the passage, the skills that helped the author and his partner survive the adventure are (1) their team work (2) their strength to adapt the things (3) their positive spirit (4) their knowledge of using technologies (5) their way of sailing the slip (a) 1,2, and 3 (b) 2, 4, and 5 (c) 1, 3, and 4 (d)3,4, ands Il Read the passage given below. (1) We sit in the last row, bumped about but free of stares. The bus rolls out of the dull crossroads of the city, and we are soon in open countryside, with fields of sunflowers as far as the eye can see, their heads all facing us. Where there is no water, the land reverts to desert. While still on level ground we see in the distance the tall range of the Mount Bogda, abrupt like a shining prism laid horizontally on the desert surface, it is over 5,000 metershigh, and the peaks are under permanent snow, in powerful contrast to the flat desert all around. Heaven Lake lies part of the way up this range, about 2,000 metres above sea- level, at the foot of one of the higher snow-peaks. (2) As the bus climbs, the sky, brilliant before, grows overcast. | have brought nothing warm to wear: it is all down at the hotel in Urumgi. Rain begins to fall. The man behind me is eating overpoweringly smelly goat's cheese. The bus window leaks inhospitably but reveals a beautiful view. We have passed quickly from desert through arable land to pasture, and the ground is now green with grass, the slopes dark with pine. A few cattle drink at a clear stream flowing past moss-covered stones; it is a Constable landscape. The stream changes into a white torrent, and as we climb higher | wish more and more that | had brought with me something warmer than the pair of shorts that have served me so well in the desert. The ‘Stream (which, we are told, rises in Heaven Lake) disappears, and we continue our slow ‘ascent. About noon, we arrive at Heaven Lake, and look for a place to stay at the foot, which is the resort area. We get a room in a small cottage, and | am happy to note that there are thick quilts on the beds. (8) Standing outside the cottage we survey our surroundings. Heaven Lake is long, Sardine-shaped and fed by snowmelt from a stream at its head. The lake is an intense blue, surrounded on all sides by green mountain walls, dotted with distant sheep. At the head of the lake, beyond the delta of the inflowing stream, is a massive snow-capped peak which dominates the vista; it is part of a series of peak that culminate, a little out of view, in Mount Bogda itself. (4) For those who live in the resort there is a small mess-hall by the shore. We eat here sometimes, and sometimes buy food from the vendors outside, who sell kabab and naan until the last buses leave. The kababs, cooked on skewers over charcoal braziers, are particularly good; highly spiced and well-done. Horse's milk is available too from the local Kazakh herdsmen, but | decline this. | am so affected by the cold that Mr. Cao, the relaxed young man who runs the mess, lends me a spare pair of trousers, several sizes too large but more than comfortable. Once | am warm again, | feel a pre-dinner spurt of energy — dinner will be long in coming ~ and | ask him whether the lake is good for swimming in, (5) “Swimming?” Mr. Cao says. “You aren't thinking of swimming, are you?” (6) “I thought I might,” | confess. “What's the water like?” (7) He doesn't answer me immediately, turning instead to examine some receipts with exaggerated interest. Mr, Cao, with great off-handedness, addresses the air “People are often drowned here,” he says. After a pause, he continues. "When was the last one?" iis question is directed at the cook, who is preparing a tray of mantou (squat white steamed bread rolls), and who now appears, wiping his doughy hand across his forehead. “Was it the Beijing athlete?” asks Mr. Cao Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eigh questions by choosing the correct option. Q.11 According to the narrator, the advantage of sitting in the last row of the bus is that (a) he can enjoy the beautiful scenes outside. (b) he can also lie down on the seat if he wants.(c) he can enjoy the bumps. (d) he can be free of stares. Q.12 What did the narrator see soon after reaching the countryside? (a) Fields of sunflower (b) A shining prism (c) Tall range of Mount Bogda (d) Green pastures Q.13 The word ‘brilliant’ as given in paragraph 2 means 4, dazzling 2. talented 3, ingenious 4, shining 5, virtuous: (a) 1 and 2 (c) 1and4 Q.14 Pick out the options tha 4. The ground filled with green grass 2 The rising fullmoon. 3. The slopes dark with pine. 4. The flowing Heaven lake in the middle of the landscape. 5 A few cattle drinking at a clear stream flowing past mass-covered stones. (a) 1,3, and 5 (b) Both 2 and 4 (d) 2,4 and 5 (c) only 5 Q.15 What did the narrator wish for as the bus climb higher? (a) That he must not be travelling alone. (b) That he had brought some eatables with him (c) He was scared and thought that he should not have come to (d) That he had brought some warm clothes with him 16 The pair of trousers that Mr Cao sent for the narrator was (a) fitted nicely to him (b) very comfortable {c) too short for him (d) too large but more than comfortable for him Q.17 The correct anonym of the word ‘arable’ is (a) tillable (b) sterile (c) fertile (d) sodden Q.18 Mr, Cao warned the narrator against swimming in the lake because (a) the water is very salty. (b) the lake was too wide and deep. (e) the water is dirty. (d) many people have been drowned in it WRITING (b)3 and 4 (d)2 and § xxplain how the scene looked like a constable landscape? this trip.Ill. Answer any four out of the five questions given, with reference to the context below. Available a flat, Number 12 /7 Adarsh Nagar, Raipur, ground floor with 2 bedrooms having attached bathroom, car parking available, park facing best location, low maintenance charges and reasonable price. Q19. This is a kind of classified advertisement for (a). Situation vacant (©). for purchase (d). accommodation wanted Q 20. Which of the following is a characteristic of a classified advertisement? @. Being too vague or wording 'b. use the same descriptive characteristics for each advertisement c. make full sentences Q 21. What is the correct order for the following sale of property i. Advertisement il. Available 1st floor DA flat at Ashok Nagar 2 bedrooms with attached bathrooms modular kitchen drawing extra ili. Interested parties contact MLA Ramesh phone 044-2727521 iv. Located near main market metro station at walking distance options a), ili, i, iv, v b) ii, |, i, v, iv o) ili, 1, v, i, iv Q.22. Which aspect of a product is a customer not recuired to know in an advertisement a, About the product C. advantages of the product d. value for money Q 23. Situation wanted advertisement is written by a. An employer ‘©. a candidate looking for a place for accommodation 4. a person looking for tenants for his or her property WV. Answer any six of the seven questions given, with reference to the context below. You are Amit / Amita staying at Sunrise apartments, Gymkhana road, Pune. The main road leading to this colony has three open manholes causing frequent accidents at night. The street light is also not available. Complete this letter to the Editor of The Times of India expressing your concern about the part of the authorities towards this situation. Also suggest ways to mobilize city dwellers, with the help of school children for the cause of safety roads. C4 Sunrise apartmentGymkhana road Pune June 13 2021 The Editor The Times of India Mumbai ‘Sub: Sir, Through the columns of your ‘esteemed newspaper | wish to draw the kind attention of the relevant authorities towards the (Q.25) ii) . | would like to draw the attention of the relevant authorities towards the issue of three open manholes on the main road leading to the colony. These open man holes are turning into death traps for the residents who have demanded that the authorities concerned take steps to cover them. Moreover , our colony has no street lights since the last 2 months . There are no street lights even on the main roads leading to a colony. With the open manholes and lack of street lights (Q. 26) ii, «the road gets dark even after 7 in the evening. People fear going out not only to qvoid accidents but also to avoid being prey to unscrupulous elements. The open manholes not only (Q.27) iv). but are also a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Motorist, elders and children are the main Vietims of these manholes and many times accidents have been reported due to these manholes. Whenever torrential rains hit the areas they cause even more problems. (Q.28) v) for the cause of safe roads, we plan to organise student rally from (2.29) vi) to Mr Rehan, the current MP's house and hope this letter will ‘licit a suitable response from our elected (2.30) vii) Thanking you Yours faithfully Amita Sethi Choose the most appropriate option (2.24) i lobilization of city dwellers. 01) enn ¢) Road safety in the colony. d) Concern about night accidents. (2.25) i. a) Pitiable condition of local residents. b) Miserable condi d) Frequent accidents occur during at night. (2.26) iii. a) Accidents happen.c) There are racing accidents. d) Most accidents occur. (Q.27) iv. (a) Emit bad smell and cause pollution. b) create and lead to accidents. ¢) Create a pollution. d) Create worst situation (Q.28) v. a) To avoid the danger. b) To provide safety to passengers. c) To protect the passes by. (Q.29) vi. Sm rarienis mai gate! b) M.P’s house c) Bombay d) supreme court (Q.30) vii. a) servant Girepesentative ¢c) principal d) editor LITERATURE This section has sub-sections: V, VI, Vil, Vill, IX. There are a total of 30 questions in the section. Attempt any 26 questions from the sub-sections V to IX. V. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow On the roof the pigeons cooed very low, and | thought to myself, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” whenever | looked up from my writing, | saw M. Hamel sitting motionless in his chair and gazing first at one thing, then at another, as if he wanted to fix in his mind just how everything looked in that little school-room. Fancy! For forty years he had been there in the same place, with his garden outside the window and his class in front of him, just like that (Q. 31) Franz thinks - “Will they make them sing in German- even the pigeons?" What could this mean? a) German would use brutal force over everyone b) harsh orders will be passed d) the Germans will rob France of its language (Q. 32) What does M. Hamel's motionless posture reflect? a) The school is dismissed foreverb) Sense of finality ¢) Changing order of life (Q. 33) What made Franz forget about M. Hame''s ruler and crankiness? a) Strange quietness b) Encroachment of Prussian soldiers drilling and marching ) He di i jously (Q. 34) Whats the tone of the speaker in the first line? a) Full of pleasure ¢) Full of happiness d) Full of contentment (Q. 35) Name the author of the lesson b) Anees Jung ¢) Selma Lagerlof d) Stephen Spendor VL.Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow: The belt went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. He held on to the end of the ope, and we went back and forth, back and forth across the pool, hour after hour, day after day, week after week. On each trip across the pool a bit of the panic seized me. Each time the instructor relaxed his hold on the rope and | went under, some of the old terror returned and my legs froze. It was three months before the tension began to slack. (Q. 36) “A 'pulley’ that ran on an overhead cable”. What light does the given line throw a) A apparatus with a wheel b) A apparatus with a rope c) A apparatus without wheel (Q. 37) _The statement “Back and forth, across the pool” shows that b) Virtuous and sinful ¢) Sophisticated and decisiveness d) Ascending and soaring (Q. 38) ‘Tension began to slack’ this implies that a) Stress unfolded ebbing b) Stress unfolded increasing d) Stress started intensifying (Q. 39) ‘Panic seized me' refers to a) Emancipating with joy(b) fear clutched him >) c) was confused d) Jocose allusion (Q. 40) How long did it take for him to feel tension free a) 12 months (b)3 months ) ¢) 6 months d) 18 months Vil. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow: 1. 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 in the shade doing nothing. (Q. 41) _What types of War the poet is talking about? b) technological warfare ¢) Environmental war d) Nuclear war (Q. 42) What does ‘victory with no survivors! mean? b) survivors only victorious ¢) All victorious people celebrate d) All the people are victorious (Q. 43) What does the poet mean by'' clean clothes' 7 Sir armatinde ) proving that they only can be victorious c) have clean clothes to wear d) had got the clothes cleaned after dirt (Q. 44) Why does the poet mention ‘in the shade, doing nothing’? a) The people who had been responsible for the war b) The people are left alone to celebrate the victory 0) halpeopelre qua nd are not dling i destruction) d) Alll of the above (Q. 45) Name the poem a) My Mother at Sixty Six 3 An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum d) Keeping Quite Vill. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow: The master ought not to heal the wound of this white man," he said bluntly to Hana. "The white man ought to die. First he was shot. Then the sea caught him and wounded him with her rocks. If the master heals what the gun did and what the sea did, they will take revenge onus." (@. 46) Who said not to heal the wound?b) Yumi c) Servant d) Hana (Q. 47) The ‘sea caught! means: b) The sea has become friendly c) The sea has called him d) The sea had arrested (Q. 48) The speaker believed that: b) The sea would EERE im c) The sea will shoot him d) All of the above (Q. 49) What had the sea done to the white man? a) It has eae the white man c) Ithas shot the white man with a gun d) All of the above (Q. 50) Who does the master refer to? a) General b) Captain c) Soldier IX. Attempt the following. (@. 51). Lost Spring raises voice against a. brutal religious rules b. useless education system c. environment pollution (Q. 52). In the poem An Element hool Classroom in a Slum area , ‘The stunted unlucky heir of twisted bones means ‘ The boy a. is full of stunts ¢, must = ‘soon d. was short and bony (Q. 53). All we have to fear is fear itself.” Because | had experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that fear of it can produce, the will to live somehow grew in intensity. The quoted words are from: a, LincoIn —d. Douglas the poet's childhood fear as in My Mother at Sixty six? b)Losing her youth ¢)Running into monsters 4)Losing her home ' : ' (Q. 55). What makes the working conditions of the children worst in the glass industry? a) Dark dingy cells without light and air b) Dazzling and sparkin: 19 Of welding fight ©) High temperature (Q. 58). What do the words ‘From fog to endless night ‘ mean? a) bright light outside b) bright future (Q. 57). What does the ‘third level" signify? 8) A third level of dream that is fulfilled 5) A third gate on Grand Central Station eA third wish that is going to be accom lished & 58). The modern = full of rer fear, ae Soames that: 8) the world is full of chaos but at the same tim Bae’ © happiness also for the narrator. © raator wanted to explore more about the modern world 9) the narrator enjoys the feeling of pain and insecurit lana wash the woun, ervants (Q. 59). Why did H: a) Because of her s, b) ies in his life ded man herself? d) None (Q. 60). Sometimes | think Grand Central i: ing til and tveasns ne ant ra Contr 2 2°O™ING lke a treo, Pushing out new corridors a bus stop : b. an anti d. writers office