Class 12 PAPER 01

WORD AND STRUCTURE KNOWLEDGE

Directions (1-2): In these questions, out of the four

alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the meaning
of the word.

1. Predilection

(A) Favour (B) Prejudice (C) Preference (D) Whim

Ans. (C)

Explanation: Predilection- A special liking for something or

someone. Favour- approval or support for someone or
something. Prejudice- An opinion formed about someone or
something without proper thought or knowledge. Preference-
A special liking for something or someone. Whim- Sudden
often strange change of mind. Hence the correct option is (C).

2. Gumption

(A) sagacity (B) acumen (C) ingenuity (D)

stupidity

Ans. (D)

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Explanation: Gumption- Will or determination to do
something. Sagacity- Ability to make good judgements.
Acumen- Ability to perceive a situation well and making a
good judgement. Ingenuity- Quality of being clever or
resourceful. Stupidity- Ability of being stupid. Option (D) is
correct.

Directions (3-4): Fill in the blanks with an appropriate

determiner.

3. Roma didn’t stay for as __________ days as she intended.

(A) many (B) more (C) much (D) few

Ans. (A)

Explanation: Roma didn’t stay for as many days as she

intended.

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4. There weren’t __________ students in the lecture.

(A) Some (B) much (C) more (D) many

Ans. (D)

Explanation: There weren’t many students in the lecture.

Direction (5): Underline the sentence with correct form of

phrase.

5. The train stopped at Anand Vihar Terminal.

(A) Adjective phrase (B) Adverb phrase

(C) Noun phrase (D) None of these

Ans. (B)

Explanation: The train stopped at Anand Vihar Terminal.

(Adverb phrase – shows the place).

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Directions (6-7): Parallelism maintains a consistency in the
speech and expression of ideas. Complete the sentence by
using parallelism.

6. She likes dancing, reading and ______________.

(A) singing (B) sang

(C) to sing (D) sung

Ans. (A)

Explanation: [singing]. She likes dancing, reading and

singing.

7. After Anusha gets her salary, the amount goes to her

mutual fund account, chit fund and __________.

(A) paying her electricity bill (B) mobile balance

(C) towards her mobile balance (D) None of these

Ans. (B)

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Explanation: [mobile balance]. The sentence talks about the
components where her funds are divided and hence the option
carries the tone forward.

Directions (8-9): Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.

8. The bell rang while I __________ in the washroom.

(A) am (B) had (C) was (D) have been

Ans. (C)

Explanation: The bell rang while I was in the washroom.

9. You __________ him an idiot — it really upset him.

(A) should not call (B) should not have called

(C) would not have called (D) None of these

Ans. (B)

Explanation: You should not have called him an idiot — it

really upset him.

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Directions (10-11): Fill in the blanks with appropriate degree
modifiers.

10. I think you have made __________ a lot of mistakes.

(A) far (B) very (C) except (D) rather

Ans. (D)

Explanation: I think you have made rather a lot of mistakes.

11. _____ of philosophy is concerned with questions nobody

can answer.

(A) Many (B) Much (C) More (D) Most

Ans. (B)

Explanation: Much of philosophy is concerned with questions

nobody can answer.

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Directions (12-13): Convert the following active sentences
into passive sentences by supplying an appropriate passive
verb form.

12. They will hire some other person to do the easier

job./Some other person __________ to do the easier job.

(A) will be hiring (B) will have hired

(C) will be hired (D) None of these

Ans. (C)

Explanation: They will hire some other person to do the easier

job./Some other person will be hired to do the easier job.

13. Her snappy attitude shocked me./I _____ by her snappy

attitude.

(A) was shocked (B) had been shocked

(C) had shocked (D) None of these

Ans. (A)

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Explanation: Her snappy attitude shocked me./I was shocked
by her snappy attitude.

Directions (14-15): Test your understanding of indirect

speech.

14. The minister has announced that prices __________.

(A) will rise (B) would be raised

(C) will be raised (D) None of these

Ans. (C)

Explanation: The minister has announced that prices will be

raised.

15. Tanvi said that she __________ enough.

(A) has had (B) had had (C) have (D) had

Ans. (B)

Explanation: Tanvi said that she had had enough.

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READING

16. Read the following paragraph:

Naturally, no sensible and conscientious parent would like

such a future for his/her children, but would like to
consciously foster correct values among their children.

The word conscientious in the above paragraph means:

(A) Diligent (B) Punctilious

(C) Both (A) and (B) (D) None of these

Ans. (C)

Explanation: The word ‘conscientious’ means wishing to do

one’s work or duty well and thoroughly, Diligent and
Punctilious. Hence correct option is (C).

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17. Read the following lines:

And the penguins

strutting round the lake

can understand

remarks you make.

The word ‘strutting’ refers to:

(A) Having a stiff (B) Apparently arrogant

(C) Erect (D) All the above

Ans. (D)

Explanation: The word ‘strutting’ refers to “Having a stiff,

apparently arrogant and erect”.

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Directions (18-19): In these questions, four alternatives are
given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose
the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the
idiom/phrase given in underlined.

18. Your report of the matter is all moonshine.

(A) familiar (B) concocted (C) acceptable (D)

excellent

Ans. (B)

Explanation: ‘Moonshine’ basically is a sophisticated way of

saying that the work is nonsense. Since all the other options
are in positive connotations, the correct answer is concocted
which means made up.

19. His observations were beside the mark.

(A) irrelevant (B) valid (C) excellent (D) criticized

Ans. (A)

Explanation: The phrase ‘the mark’ means on point. Thus

beyond mark means beyond the focus; therefore irrelevant is
correct form.

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Directions (20–23): Read the following passage and give
answer the questions based on it.

Thomas Elva Edison was born in America in the year 1847.

He began his life as a newspaper seller in railway trains. One
day he saved a small child from being run over by a train. The
child’s father was very grateful to him. This Station Master
taught young Edison how to work on electric telegraph.
Edison was so clever that he soon found ways of improving
the telegraph system. That was one of over a thousand
inventions that he had made during his life. He also made one
of the first telephones. Many of his inventions had to do with
electricity and its uses.

20. What was the first scientific achievement of Edison?

(A) Telegraph (B) Telephone

(C) Tube light (D) Dynamite

Ans. (A)

Explanation: The first scientific achievement of Edison was

improvement of telegraph system.

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21. Why was the child’s father grateful to Edison?

(A) Because he saved his life from falling down.

(B) Because he had saved the life of his child.

(C) Because he rescued his life by admit them into a hospital.

(D) Because he protected the life of child by donating money.

Ans. (B)

Explanation: The child’s father was grateful to Edison

because he had saved the life of his child.

22. What was the profession of the child’s father?

(A) General manager (B) Scientist

(C) Station master (D) Engineer

Ans. (C)

Explanation: The child’s father was a station master by

profession.

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23. What did the child’s father teach Edison?

(A) The child’s father taught Edison how to work on electric

telegraph.

(B) The child’s father taught Edison how to study more about
the invention of dynamite.

(C) The child’s father taught Edison how to work peacefully

inside an office.

(D) The child’s father taught Edison how to manage the work
properly.

Ans. (A)

Explanation: The child’s father taught Edison how to work on

electric telegraph.

Direction (24): In each question, the word at the top is used

in four different ways, numbered (A) to (D). Choose the
option in which the usage of the word is INAPPROPRIATE.

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24. RAKE

(A) The taxi drivers rake tourists off all the time.

(B) Tim keeps raking off the rows we had last year.

(C) She’s raking in thousands a day.

(D) It's the only shop in the area and they're raking it in.

Ans. (B)

Explanation: ‘Rake off’ means to cheat someone; here the

sentence explains that Tim keeps talking about the rows the
speaker had last year. Here the phrase should be ‘raking over’
which means to talk, think, etc., about something negative in
the past. For example: Tim keeps raking over the rows we had
last year. The correct option is (B).

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Directions (25-28): Read the following statements about the
famous people and note the qualities that made them
trailblazers.

Madame Curie was born Maria Sklodowski in Warsaw,

Poland in 1867, the youngest of five children. When she was
born, Poland was controlled by Russia. Her parents were
teachers, and she learned at an early age, the importance of
education.

Marie studied physics and mathematics at the Sorbonne

University, Paris and quickly received her masters' degrees in
both subjects. She remained in Paris after graduation and
started research on magnetism.

Working together, it took Marie and Pierre four years to

isolate the radioactive source in the pitch-blend. Marie named
it radium which was the greatest discovery in the field of
science. During her work, Marie discovered radiation could
kill human cells.

On July 4, 1934, Marie Curie died in Paris, killed by her own

experiments. She died of radiation poisoning and may have
been the first person to do so.
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25. Which of the following statement is incorrectly described
the epitome of Marie Curie?

(A) Marie Curie had brought herself up from poverty,

struggling to get her education and succeeding brilliantly.

(B) For her struggles, she received two Nobel Prizes — the
first woman to win even one.

(C) During the First World War, Marie Curie went to work for
the French building and designing X-ray machines.

(D) All the statements are brief descriptions about Madam

Curie.

Ans. (D)

Explanation: Since all the statements are brief descriptions

about Madam Curie. No statement is incorrectly described.
Hence the option (D) can be taken as an answer.

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26. What was the greatest discovery in the field of science?

(A) Plutonium (B) Radium

(C) Human cells (D) Becquerel ray

Ans. (B)

Explanation: Working together, it took Marie and Pierre four

years to isolate the radioactive source in the pitch-blend.
Marie named it radium. Radium was the greatest discovery of
Marie and Pierre in the field of science.

27. What was the subject taken by Madam Curie for doing
research?

(A) Nuclear physics (B) Chemistry

(C) Magnetism (D) Mathematics

Ans. (C)

Explanation: The subject taken by Madam Curie for doing

research was magnetism.

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28. With whom Marie and Pierre shared the Nobel Prize?

(A) In 1906, Pierre Curie was offered the position of director

of the Physics Laboratory at the Sorbonne.

(B) After her husband died, Marie was offered and took the
position, the first woman to become director of a research
laboratory.

(C) For the discovery of radium, Marie and Pierre won a

Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903, which they shared with their
friend A. Henri Becquerel.

(D) Marie found that what she had discovered was not pure
radium, but she was able to isolate the element itself after
quite a struggle. For this work, she was given the Nobel Prize
for Chemistry in 1911.

Ans. (C)

Explanation: For the discovery of radium, Marie and Pierre

won a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903, which they shared with
their friend A. Henri Becquerel.

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Directions (29-30): Read the paragraph very carefully and
answer the following questions.

Robots are machines. They are machines that are controlled

by computers. Robots can, of course, work almost like human
beings. They can perform more than one action. In car
factories, for example, there are robots that look like cranes
and are used for welding and painting. Robots can go deep
underwater to search for sunken ships or look for minerals to
mine. Robots help explore Mars and other planets. They find
out what the planets look like and what they are made of.
Robot rovers that look like little wagons landed on the planet
Mars. They rolled around and examined the rocks and soil.

29. What is a robot?

(A) A machine that does work on its own

(B) A device that gathers information from the environment

(C) A machine capable of performing or extending human

tasks

(D) All the above

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Ans. (D)

Explanation: Robots are machines that are controlled by

computers. All the options correctly describe about the
activity of the robot. Hence option (D) is correct.

30. Robots cannot be like humans because they lack

(A) logic (B) strength (C) creativity (D) memory

Ans. (A)

Explanation: Robots cannot be like humans because they lack

logic.

SPOKEN AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

Directions (31-32): In the following questions, out of the four

alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the
given sentences.

31. Unwelcome aspect of a situation.

(A) flip side (B) flint lock

(C) flippant (D) flip-flop

Ans. (A)

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Explanation: Flip side- Unwelcome aspect of a situation. Flint
lock- A kind of fire arm that uses a flint striking ignition
system. Flippant- not showing a serious or respectful attitude.
Flip-flop- Slippers. Correct answer is Option (A).

32. To secure a boat by attaching it to an anchor.

(A) moor (B) moot (C) morose (D) moose

Ans. (B)

Explanation: Moor- a tract of open uncultivated upland.

Moot- To secure a boat by attaching it to an anchor. Morose-
sullen and ill-tempered. Moose-a kind of animal. Answer is
Option (D).

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Directions (33-35): Test your knowledge of idioms and
phrases by filling up the correct form.

33. Most of our politicians are __________ skinned.

(A) thick (B) thin (C) light (D) dark

Ans. (A)

Explanation: Most of our politicians are thick skinned. Thick

skinned means someone who is not very easily affected what
anyone says to him.

34. She might come across as a snobbish woman, but I’m sure
she has her __________ in the right place.

(A) mind (B) heart (C) head (D) body

Ans. (B)

Explanation: She might come across as a snobbish woman,

but I’m sure she has her heart in the right place. Heart in the
right place means good at heart.

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35. I put ___ on him but that did not help because he was
already broke.

(A) the plug (B) the nip (C) the bite (D) the
choice

Ans. (C)

Explanation: I put the bite on him but that did not help
because he was already broke. Put the bite on someone means
to borrow or extort money.

Directions (36-38): Read the following sentences carefully

and mark the parts in which there is an error. If there is no
error, the answer is (D).

36. She was not allowed for the teacher to speak in loud voice.

(A) She was not allowed (B) for the teacher to

(C) speak in loud voice (D) No error

Ans. (B)

Explanation: ‘by the teacher to’ should be used instead of ‘for

the teacher to’. The statement therefore should be: She was
not allowed by the teacher to speak in loud voice.

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37. What does agonise me most is not this criticism, but the
trivial reason behind it.

(A) I most agonised (B) most agonizing me

(C) Agonises me most (D) No error

Ans. (C)

Explanation: “What agonises me most is not this criticism, but

the trivial reason behind it” should be the statement instead of
the original “What agonizes me the most is not this criticism
but the trivial reason behind it”.

38. Water and soil pollutants find their entry into the body
through ingestion of contaminated water or food.

(A) digestion of contaminated (B) passage of

contaminated

(C) injection of contaminated (D) No error

Ans. (D)

Explanation: The sentence is free of errors.

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39. Fill in the blanks with the passive form of the given
words.

Three possible plays ________________ (select) and Mohan's

friends _____________ (divide) into groups.

(A) was selected, had been divided (B) were selected,

were divided

(C) had been selected, were divided (D) was selected,

were divided

Ans. (B)

Explanation: Three possible plays were selected and Mohan's

friends were divided into groups.

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Directions (40-41): Each part of the sentence is divided into
four parts. Arrange the parts so as to form a logical sentence.

40. Science merely reflects the social forces by which it is

surrounded and hence it is war and not science which is
considered as the enemy of mankind.

I. Our main problem, therefore, is not to curb science, but to

stop war, to substitute law for force and international
governments for anarchy in the relations between nations.

II. It is found that there is peace, science is constructive; when

there is war science is perverted to destructive ends.

III. Until now, they have brought us to the doorstep of doom.

IV. The weapon which science gives us do not necessarily

create war, these make war increasingly more terrible.

(A) I, IV, II, III (B) II, I, IV, III

(C) III, IV, I, II (D) II, IV, III, I

Ans. (D)

Explanation: Statement 1 introduces the main theme of the

passage which is that science is not the enemy of mankind,

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but war is. Statement II builds on the argument given in
statement 1 and is the next sentence. Statement IV gives
reason in support of the argument presented in Statement II.
Statement III talks about the fact that weapons being made by
science have made situation very difficult. The use of
‘therefore’ in Statement I shows that it is concluding the
passage. The correct order is II, IV, III, I.

41. One of the traditional arguments for a free market

economy is that it provides businesses with a tangible
incentive to offer goods and services that people want.

I. Such a system, they say, necessarily creates clear winners

and loser.

II. That is, firms that successfully respond to the needs of the
consumer get rewarded with higher profits.

III. This is because the means of production are in private

hands and those who own them not only accumulate a
disproportionate share of wealth but have the power to
suppress the rights of those they employ.

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IV. Nevertheless, some economists and political philosophers
have contended that the capitalist model is inherently flawed.

(A) II, IV, I, III (B) II, III, I, IV

(C) IV, III, I, II (D) IV, II, III, I

Ans. (A)

Explanation: Statement 1 talks about the advantages of a free

market economy. Statement II explains the advantages by
talking about the higher profits earned by firms. The word
'nevertheless' in Statement IV shows that a contradictory
statement is being stated and should follow Statement II.
Statement I follows Statement IV as it explains the capitalist
model introduced in Statement IV. Statement III gives the
reason for the capitalist model being faulty. Hence, the correct
answer is II, IV, I, III.

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Directions (42-43): Read the following sentences carefully
and mark the parts in which there is an error. If there is no
error, the answer is (E).

42. We suggested that Rachel should/stay here at night if

she/got late

(A) (B) (C)

but she does/not pay any attention to our suggestion./No

Error.

(D) (E)

Ans. (C)

Explanation: The term ‘did’ will be used in place of ‘does’.

43. Radhika came/to the meeting/much later/than I expect./No

Error

(A) (B) (C) (D)

(E)

Ans. (D)

Explanation: “I had expected” in place of “I expect” should be

used.
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Directions (44-45): Replace the underlined portion with the
answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise,
and meets the requirement of standard written English.

44. Passing by the waterfront, the ducks and swans floated

around as spectators strolled.

(A) spectators strolled as the ducks and swans floated around.

(B) the ducks and swans floated around as spectators strolled.

(C) the ducks and swans were floating around as spectators

strolled.

(D) spectators strolled but the ducks and swans floated

around.

Ans. (A)

Explanation: Spectators strolled as the ducks and geese

floated around.

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45. Alighting on the deck, the aircraft carrier shook from the
force of the plane.

(A) the aircraft carrier shakes from the force of the plane.

(B) the plane shaking the aircraft carrier's force.

(C) the plane shook the aircraft carrier with its force.

(D) the aircraft carrier shaking from the force of the plane.

Ans. (C)

Explanation: The plane shook the aircraft carrier with its

force. Aircraft carrier seems to be alighting which is actually
the plane which does so. Restructuring the sentence is
therefore needed.

ACHIEVERS SECTION

Direction (46): Read the following sentences carefully and

mark the parts in which there is an error. If there is no error,
the answer is (D).

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46. Your marks depend not only on how much you have
studied but how long you have read.

(A) but also how long (B) but also on how long

(C) but also on how much long (D) No error

Ans. (B)

Explanation: ’Your marks depend not only on how much you

have studied but also on how long you have read.’ is the
correct statement.

47. The apple never falls far from the tree.

(A) Children are in many regards like their parents.

(B) A newly-appointed person does work well.

(C) Foolish people can never retain their money.

(D) A patient seeker will be satisfied in due time.

Ans. (A)

Explanation: “Children are in many regards like their

parents.” is the best example of the proverb ‘The apple never
falls far from the tree’.

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Direction (48): Read the following passage and give the
answer based on it.

One day in the early 1960s, Nek Chand, a humble transport

official in the north Indian city of Chandigarh, began to clear
a little patch of jungle to make himself a small garden area.
He set stones around the little clearing and before long had
sculpted a few figures recycled from materials he found at
hand. Gradually Nek Chand's creation developed and grew;
before long it covered several acres and comprised of
hundreds of sculptures set in a series of interlinking
courtyards. Nek Chand's great work received immediate
recognition and was inaugurated as the Rock Garden of
Chandigarh.

48. What was the most beautiful creation of Nek Chand?

(A) The most spectacular part of the Rock Garden

(B) The creator of the Rock Garden of Chandigarh

(C) The creation of Chandigarh as a Capital city

(D) Dozens of swings that hang from huge concrete arches

Ans. (B)
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Explanation: The beautiful creation of Nek Chand is the Rock
Garden of Chandigarh.

49. A roundabout way of expression.

(A) Contretemps (B) Circumlocution

(C) Effeminate (D) Fastidious

Ans. (B)

Explanation: Contretemps - An unlucky event, an unexpected

set-back. Circumlocution - A roundabout way of expression.
Effeminate - A man who has the qualities of a woman.
Fastidious - One who cannot be easily pleased.

Direction (50): In each question, the word at the top is used

in four different ways, numbered (A) to (D). Choose the
option in which the usage of the word is INAPPROPRIATE.

50. LASH

(A) The rain was lashing down all day and the roads were
flooded.

(B) He lashed into them for messing things up.

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(C) He lashed out and broke the man’s nose.

(D) We lashed the tarpaulin down to stop the wind blowing it

away.

Ans. (C)

Explanation: The intended meaning of the sentence seems to

be that he became so angry that he broke the man’s nose. For
this purpose the correct phrase is ‘lash out’ which means “to
suddenly become violent”. Example: He lashed out and broke
the man's nose. Hence the correct option is (C).

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SPACE FOR ROUGH WORK

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