KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN, KOLKATA

SESSION ENDING EXAMINATION 2022-23

CLASS XI
ENGLISH
FOR PRACTICE
Time – 03 Hrs. Max. Marks- 80

General Instructions

Read the following instructions very carefully and answer the questions as instructed:
(i) This question paper is divided into three sections – Section A, B & C
(ii) All questions are compulsory
(iii) Marks allotted to each question is indicated.
(iv) Write the question numbers very carefully before attempting the answers to the
questions
(v) While answering the MCQs make sure that you not only write the option number but also
the option given against the option number you have chosen for answering.
(vi) Strictly adhere to the word limit specified.
(vi) Allotted reading time is 15 minutes.
SECTION A READING ( 26 MARKS)
A.1 Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
Dissipation of Interest In Learning
Falling away of interest among the learners is one of the major issues that demand immediate
attention and remediation. If it is not nipped in its bud, it may turn out to be a major impediment
in the process of learning and development. There are several factors which may result in
diminishing interest. Also, this handicap in motivation for learning may cause serious hurdles in
realisation of desired goals. Self-orientation and self-assessment of inclination may be exercised
to rectify the problem for elimination of this shortcoming.
Looking into the dire consequences of waning interest, especially among the learners at school
level, it becomes imperative for both the learner and the educator to address this issue with
utmost sincerity and seriousness. Decadence in interest may lead to several psychological and
behavioural problems like frustration, depression, irritable temper isolation, lowering of self-
esteem, strained relations, emotional outbursts and many more. It affects the process of learning
adversely and a learner may get demotivated and disoriented. Thus, the matter demands
immediate attention and concerted efforts to obliterate this problem. In this light, it is important
to trace the cause of this learning handicap.
Talking about diminishing interest in learning, it is important to delve deep into the roots of this
problem. Individualized diagnostic measures need to be taken to identify the real cause of this
hurdle. There may be several reasons like setting of unrealistic targets, putting oneself in a sort of
compulsion of completing a task within a time period which may be too much to achieve, difficulty
level of the task, lack of conceptual understanding, faulty approach and flawed process of learning,
peer pressure and parental pressure, deficient study material and ineffective pedagogical
techniques, resorting to rote learning, shifting of focus from learning and understanding to
retention and the lack of appropriate opportunities for self-assessment and progression. It is quite

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interesting to note that most of the children are attracted by the glossy aspect of the profession
and lifestyle without understanding what their real passion is. There may be several hereditary,
socio- cultural environmental and psychological factors responsible for gradual dwindling of
interest. That this problem has a solution is what we need to understand. Accordingly, we need
to accord importance to the recognition of the problem and to seek a solution to the same.
Going for what one likes to do is the best thing that can retain interest. Resorting to psychological
methods of learning and setting a realistic target without feeling the pressure one encumbers
himself or herself in. Facilitation of qualitative instructional content and psychologically sound
pedagogy will contribute a lot to the process of reorientation and motivation of learners.
Pathological support to the critical victims by the experts by means of counselling can go a long
way in addressing the problem. Identification of individual talents and co-relation of learning to
real life situation-- is a must for consolidation of learning and thereby ensuring scaffolding of
concepts in learning. Progressive learning with focus on understanding, application, analytical,
critical thinking and pragmatic skill-oriented learning can be instrumental in restoration and
retention of interest.

A.1.On the basis of your reading of the passage answer the questions that follow: (1 x 10=10)
A.1.1 Read the statements given below and choose the correct option.
Statement I: Dissipation in interest requires immediate attention.
Statement II: Going for what one likes to do is the best thing that one can do to
retain one’s interest.
A. Only I is true
B. Only II is true
C. Both I and II are true and II is the reason for I
D. Both I and II are true and II is not the correct reason for I
A.1.2 Which of the following points enumerated below is not correct?
A. Dissipation of interest leads to demotivation of learners.
B. Along with other corrective measures, psychological methods of learning can be
helpful in solving the problem.
C. Pathological treatment by the experts is the only way to address this problem.
D. It is important to go into the roots of this problem.
A.1.3 In the light of the statement cited below, which one is correct?
Statement: The factors responsible for gradual dissipation of interest may be ___________
.
(i) Heredity
(ii) Psychological
(iii) Socio-cultural environment

A. Only (i) and (ii) are correct

B. Only (ii) and (iii) are correct
C. Only (iii) is correct
D. All (i), (ii) and (iii) are correct

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A.1.4 Read the statement given below:
Statement: In the context of the passage, the words like dwindling, dissipation, fall away
and decline have similar meaning.
A. The statement is true.
B. The statement is not true.
C. The statement does not make any sense.
D. The statement is irrelevant and it cannot be justified.
A.1.5 The word which means opposite to the word ‘regressive’ in the paragraph 4 is _____ .
A. Encumber
B. Facilitation
C. Pedagogy
D. Progressive
A.1.6 What, according to the author of the passage, may turn out to be a major obstacle in
learning?
A.1.7 The solution that has been suggested in the passage to solve the problem is
________________ .
A.1.8 Why is it essential for both the learners and the educators to address the issue of
diminishing interest in learning?
A.1.9 How does the lack of interest affect the process of learning adversely?
A.1.10 Which word in paragraph 1 means the same as ‘remove’ or ‘removal’?
A.2 Read the passage given below:
(1) A survey was conducted on student preferences with respect to the most popular means of
communication among them. Surprisingly, the students didn’t seem much interested in
traditional means of communication. Only 7% were interested in writing letters to their friends
or kins as compared to those who preferred e-mails.

(2) However, the chief competition is between users of Instant Messenger and those of
Emails. The users of fax line as a medium of communication are only marginal. There are
supporters of text messaging also. Overall, the survey had a mixed response from the students.

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(3)The students later informed that out of the choices given in the survey questionnaire, they have
indicated the most preferred option. But, most of the students are of the view that video calling
needs to be mentioned in the questionnaire as it is the most effective and most popular means
of communication. Further, voice messages are the second most preferred means of
communication.
Based on your understanding of the above passage, answer the questions given below by
choosing the most appropriate option: (1 x 8= 08)
A.2.1. Which means of communication is liked by more than one-fourth of the students?
(A) Telephone
(B) Text message
(C) E-mail
(D) Fax
A.2.2. Which means of communication is liked by exactly one-tenth of the students?
(A) Letter
(B) Fax
(C) E-mail
(D) Text Message
A.2.3. Which figure given in the options below indicates the correct percentage of preference
of both telephones and text messages as medium of communication by the students?

(A) Option 1

(B) Option 2

(C) Option 3

(D) Option 4

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A.2.4. What is the overall response of the students to the survey?
(A) Biased
(B) Unbiased
(C) Mixed
(D) None of these
A.2.5. What is the correct order of the medium of communication in the decreasing order of
preference?
(A) Telephone, Text message, Email, Instant Messenger
(B) Text message, Instant Messenger, Voice message, Fax
(C) Instant Messenger, Fax, Voice message, Text message
(D) Text message, Instant Messenger, Fax, Voice message
A.2.6. Pick out the word or phrase from the passage which means the same as ‘study’ (used in
Para 1).
(A) Survey
(B) Popular
(C) Communication
(D) Kins
A.2.7. Pick out the word or phrase from the passage which means opposite to ‘gradual’ (used
in Para 2).
(A) Chief
(B) Instant
(C) Marginal
(D) Mixed
A.2.8. Choose the correct option for Competition : Compete.
(A) Competition - Noun / Compete - Adjective
(B) Competition - Adverb / Compete - Verb
(C) Competition - Noun / Compete - Verb
(D) Competition - Adverb / Compete – Noun
A.3 Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. We've all known that vitamin D is the "sunshine vitamin" the skin conjures up when exposed to
sunlight. And that Vitamin-D deficiency causes rickets, osteoporosis (weakened bones), heart
disease, diabetes, infections such as tuberculosis and cancers of colon, ovaries and prostate. And

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that you need as little as 30 minutes of sunshine a day to make enough to prevent disease and
stay healthy.
2. Still nine in 10 people have vitamin-D deficiency in India, and here's why.
3. To begin with, the skin needs to be uncovered for ultraviolet (UV)B radiation with a wavelength
of 290-320 nanometres to penetrate in the convert cutaneous 7-dehydrocholesterol to Vitamin
D, which is then stored in the liver and fat. Apart from clothes, several other factors stop the sun
from reaching the skin's surface.
4. As sunlight passes through the atmosphere, the ozone, water vapour, oxygen and carbon
dioxide in it absorbs all UV-C and almost 90% of UV-B radiation is less affected by atmospheric
gases, so most of the UV radiation reaching us is UV-A with a small UV-B component.
5. Then there is cloud cover, smog, dust and pollution that reduces UV energy by more than half.
UV-B radiation cannot penetrate glass, so exposure to sunshine indoors through a window does
nothing to boost the vitamin D stores in your body. You also lose out on the elusive vitamin
because UV-B radiation is highest in the early afternoon in the summer months, which is the
period when most of us look for reasons not to step out.
6. People who are overweight, obese or are older than 65 need more sunlight, as do people with
dark skin that is high in melanin the pigment that gives skin and hair its colour. That makes it
harder for the skin to absorb UV-B. Correctly applied sunscreen lowers UV-B absorb by 90%.
7. These factors are perhaps why researchers recommend 30 minutes of sun exposure between
10 am and 3 pm for white skinned people two to three times a week, but three to six times this
amount for people with dark skin, including south Asians.
8. Currently, there's scientific debate about how much vitamin D we need each day. For adults
with little exposure to sunlight, a daily supplementation of 400 International units, and 600 IU for
people over 65 years. If you have deficiency, you may need a separate vitamin D supplement,
more so if you don't like sunny weather all that much.
2.1. On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes in points only, using
abbreviations wherever necessary. Also suggest a suitable title to it. 5 marks
2.2. Write a summary of the above passage in about 80 words. 3 marks

SECTION B (WRITING AND GRAMMAR) (23 MARKS)

(GRAMMAR 07 Marks)
B.1 Fill in the blanks by selecting the correct option. (Attempt any two) 1 X 2 = 2 Marks
(i) It is high time we ____________ our work.
(a) finish (b) had finished (c) finished (d) finishes
(ii) Scarcely _____________ arrived when it began to rain.
(a) had he (b) he had (c) it had (d) he has

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(iii) If you ______ hard, you will score good marks
(a) works (b) will work (c) worked (d) work
B.2 Fill in the blanks with suitable subordinate conjunctions. 1 X 2 = 2 Marks
(i) Walk fast ________ you should miss the bus. (lest/if/but)
(ii) He talks ______ he were the king.(as/as if/like)
B.3 Rearrange the following to form meaningful sentences: 1 X 3 = 3 marks
(i) she/rather/surrender/would/than/die
(ii) campaigned/birds/he/caged/free/to
(iii). say/ beyond / understanding/ you/ what /is /my
(Advanced Writing Skill- 16 Marks)
B.4 You are Principal, Modern Public School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. You need a
receptionist for your school. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words for the post
of receptionist to be published in a popular daily. Mention qualifications, experience,
requirements for the post. 3 marks
OR
You are Sneha/Snehankur F-46, Sec.-9, Karol Bagh, New Delhi. You are well qualified in music
and dance forms (Classical). Draft an advertisement for seeking work/ job to be published in
local daily in about 50 words.

B.5 You are Vinayak / Vinny, the secretary of a society that undertakes awareness drive for the
people to sensitize them for conservation of water and prevent its wastage. Design a poster
in order to inspire people by highlighting a creative message on conservation of water and its
need. 3 Marks
OR
You are Bipul/ Binita, an enthusiast of an NGO which intends to fight against Drug Abuse
among the children. Draft a poster educating the children about the evil consequences of
drug abuse.
B.6 You are Lalit/Lata, a student of ABC School, Kolkata. One morning you were reading a
newspaper and came across a heart-rending picture about the sad state of the elders who are
deserted by their children in their old age. You feel saddened and decide to deliver a speech in
the morning assembly to sensitize the students to be kind to them. Now draft the speech in not
more than 120-150 words. (The picture is given below for your reference) 5 marks

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B.7 You are Sumita/Sumit. Based on the cartoon given below for your reference, prepare a debate
either for the motion or against the motion on the topic “There should be a total ban on Single
use Plastic.” (120-150 words) 5 Marks
OR
You are Rubi/ Rubal. You came across the cartoon given below. Now write a debate on the topic
“There is hardly anything social about Social media”. You may write the debate either for the
motion or against the motion. (120-150 words)

SECTION C (LITERATURE) – 31 MARKS

C.1 Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow: 1X3 = 3 Marks
Extract-1
All three stood still to smile through their hair
At the uncle with the camera. A sweet face
My mother’s, that was before I was born.
And the sea, which appears to have changed less,
Washed their terribly transient feet.

(i) Who all stood still to the camera?

a. The poet's mother and her two cousins
b. The poet's siblings
c. The poet's grandparents
d. The poet and her father

(ii) Who took the photograph?

a. The poet
b. The poet's mother’s uncle
c The poet's father
d. The poet's best friend
(iii)Which word in the stanza means temporary?
a. Still
b. Stood
c. Terrible
d. Transient

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 OR
Extract -2
Then sleek as a lizard, and alert, and abrupt,
She enters the thickness, and a machine starts up
Of chitterings, and a tremor of wings, and
trilling-The whole tree trembles and thrills.

(i) Who is ‘she’ in the second line? Where does she enter?

(a) She is the baby goldfinch who enters the thickness of the Laburnum tree
(b)‘She’ is a squirrel who enters the thickness of the Laburnum tree
(c) ‘She’ is a lizard who enters the thickness of the Laburnum tree
(d)‘She’ is the mother goldfinch who enters the thickness of the Laburnum tree

(ii) What does ‘machine’ refer to in the extract?

(a)If refers to the machine used to drill a hole in the tree

(b)It refers to the machine used to cut the tree
(c)It refers to the nest of the goldfinch where its young ones are staying
(d)It refers to the nest of the squirrel

(iii) Find a word from the extract which is the synonym of ‘entire’.

(a) Abrupt (b) Hole (c) Whole (d) Tremor

C.2 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: 1X3 = 3Marks
Extract-1
“It was only a bleak piece of volcanic rock, with little vegetation – the most beautiful island in
the world!”
(i)Which Island does the speaker refer to in the extract?
a. Mexico
b. Ile Amsterdam
c. Plymouth
d. Fiji
(ii) How did the narrator describe the vegetation of the island?
a. A little
b. Many
c. Few
d. No vegetation

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(iii). Name the author of the lesson.
a. Gordon Cook
b. Alan East
c. Walt Whitman
d. Both (a) and (b)
OR
Extract-2
“I didn’t sleep last night, not for a second,” he said. “I was so worried. But now I think I will go
and sleep.”
(i) Who is the speaker of the above extract?
a. King Tut
b. A.R.Williams
c. Zahi Hawass
d. Osiris
(ii) What was the cause of worry for the speaker?
a. Tutankhamun’s curse
b. Tut’s tomb
c. Archaeological excavations
d. Rush of the visitors

(iii) When did the speaker feel relieved?

a. When Tut’s mummy was taken out from his tomb
b. When Tut’s mummy was laid back to rest in his tomb
c. When Howard Carter discovered King Tut’s tomb
d. When visitors left the Vally of Kings
C.3 Read the extract and answer the questions that follow: 1X4=4
Extract-1
I need some counsel. Bring to me
The wisest man in this country.
The wisest man was found and brought,
Nay, carried, to the Royal court.

(i)Who does ‘I’ refer to?

(A) The chief builder (B) The king (C)The mason (D) The wisest man

(ii) The wisest man was carried to the Royal court, because
(A) he could not walk
(B) he could not hear
(C) he could not see
(D) he could neither walk nor see

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 (iii). According to the wisest man, who was the real culprit ?
(A) Masons
(B) King himself
(C) Arch
(D)Architect
(iv) The word ‘ Counsel’ means-----
(A) advice (B) query (C)doubt (D)none of these
OR
Extract-2
“Do you still know me ?” I asked.
The woman looked at me searchingly. She had opened the door a chink. I came closer and
stood on the step.
‘No, I don’t know you.’
‘ I’m Mrs. S’s daughter.’
(i). What is the name of the ‘woman’ ?
(A)Mrs. S (B) Mrs. Dorling ( C)Mrs. Draker (D) Mrs. Sen
(ii) Around whose address does the story revolve?
(A)The author (B) Mrs. Dorling (C)Mrs. Marconi (D)Mrs. Draker
(iii) What was the address of that woman?
( A)26 Marconi street
(B) 32,Dorling Street
(C) 46,Marconi Street
(D) 59, Dorling Street

(iv) Who is the author of these lines ?

(A)Marga Minco
(B)A J Cronin
(C) J B Priestley
(D)Patrick Pringle
C.4 Answer any two of the following questions in about 40 to 50 words: 2 X 3 = 6 Marks
(i) How does the rain describe herself in the poem ‘The Voice of the Rain’?
Or
The poet in the concluding line of the poem A photograph says, “Its silence silences”. Bring out
the meaning of the expression.

(ii) How does the story ‘We Are Not Afraid to Die..’ suggest that optimism helps to endure “the
direst stress”?
Or
Why is January 5, 2005 significant in Tutanhkhamun’s saga?

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C.5 Answer any one of the following questions in about 40-50 words: 1 X 3 = 3 Marks
“Don’t fret mother, I’ll not run away.”
Why do you think Andrew says so ?
OR
Why did the narrator go to number 46, Marconi street in the story “The Address” ?

C.6 Answer any one of the following questions in about 120-150 words: 6 Marks
“Religion was the dominant feature of her life.” Comment on this statement regarding
Khushwant Singh’s grandmother as depicted in ‘The Portrait of a Lady’.
Or
What impression do you form of the author Nick Middleton , on the basis of your reading of the
lesson “Silk Road”.
C.7 Answer any one of the following questions in about 120-150 words: 6 Marks
Justify the title of the poem “ The Tale of Melon City”.
Or
Pick out the instances that bring out the element of humour in the play ‘Mother’s Day'.

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