KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN

BHUBANESWAR REGION
HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION SESSION 2023-24
CLASS-XI M.M- 80
SUB- English Core (301) Time Allowed -3 Hours
SET-2
(SECTIONS –A READING 26 MARKS)
Q1.One mark is to be awarded for each correct answer (10 ×1=10 Marks)
a-(II) Darkness
b-(III) Joy of sound
c-(IV) in the wood
d-(I) by mere touch
e-(II) Her teacher
f- (III) shaven
g-(II) Loathing
h-(I) The touch of a bud would give the speaker the first sign of awakening nature after her
winter's sleep.
i- She says so, so that darkness would make one more appreciative of sight and silence would
teach one the joys of sound.
(j) Helen found hundreds of things through the sense of touch e.g. the delicate symmetry of a
leaf, the smooth skin of a silver birch, the rough, shaggy bark of a pine etc.
Q2.One mark is to be awarded for each correct answer: (8 ×1=8 Marks)
(A) (IV) all the above
(B) (IV) Both II & III
(C) (III) Tilpath Biodiversity Park
(D) (II) Aravalli Biodiversity Park
(E ((IV) occasionally
(F) (III) extend
(G) The Yamuna floods also disrupted the breeding as shallow marshes turned into deep water
bodies and the two biodiversity parks along the river—Yamuna and Kalindi—recorded a drop in
the overall species count
(H) habitat restoration, which included building wetlands, has provided more habitats for the
insects to breed locally
Q3 Note making and summary: (8 Marks)
(a) Title - -01 mark
(b) Notes in phrases (no complete sentence) and Indentation – 3 marks
(c)Use of proper abbreviation -01 mark
(d) Expansion of notes into a paragraph of 50 words-3 marks
(SECTION –B WRITING & GRAMMAR -23 MARKS)
Q4-Qualification and experience Age and Gender Nature of job sought • Minimum salary
acceptable Contact address and phone number (3 Marks)
OR
Destination and Duration / Dates. Details of Package - food / boarding / lodging / sightseeing,
etc. Cost and special discounts Name of the travel agency, contact address and phone number
Q5. Poster (50 words ) (3 Marks)
Format – 1 Mark, Content- 1 Mark Expression- 1 Mark
Q6 Speech Writing 120-150 words (5 Marks)
Format – 1 Mark, Content- 2 Mark Expression- 2 Mark
Value Points
a) people have become addicted and unproductive.
b) adverse effects on human minds and their functioning.
c) Outdoor activities reduced significantly.
d) social media directly displaces meaningful interaction with close relational partners,
Or
a) Plastic poses environmental, social, economic and health risks to people by contributing
to the climate crisis, ecosystem degradation and resource use.
b) The last one year of implementation of the single-use plastics ban showcased the
involvement of all stakeholders,
c) The introduction and use of alternatives to banned items led to the creation of new
employment opportunities in sustainable green ventures.
d) Behavioural change and availability of eco-alternatives are key to the success of the
ban, as is moving away from a use-and-throw culture
Q7- Debate writing- ( 120-150 words)(5 Marks)
Everyone Should Become Vegetarian. Write a debate either for or against the motion.
Format 1 Mark Content 2 Marks Expression (grammatical accuracy spelling) 2 Mark
For The Motion
a) Vegetarian diets are more healthful than the average non –vegetarian diet
b) vegetarian diet reduces weight
c) Vegetarian diet makes us live longer.
d) Vegetarianism is environment friendly.
Against The Motion
a) Non veg food excellent source of the high quality protein, healthy fat, vitamins and minerals
including all the essential amino acids
b) Animal protein assimilate fast Unlike Plant protein
c) non-veg nourishments are additionally wealthy in minerals like Zinc, Selenium and B
nutrients
OR
For The Motion
a) Hindi- the most spoken language in India,
b) India’ has set its mission to globalize Hindi ,
c) Hindi is the third most spoken language in the world with 60 crore speakers.
d) Only English with 113.2 crore and Mandarin with 111.7 crore speakers are ahead of
Hindi.
e) Hindi is the medium to explore the rich cultural heritage of India
Against the motion
a) People are comfortable with their mother tongue in their daily communication.
b) They don't need any other language which will hardly help you
c) Learning additional language is very tough. Our curriculum is already teaching us 2
language- one mother tongue and second English. Learning 3rd language will be
additional burden.
d) Hindi is not the lingua franca of south India nor connected to the Dravidian language
Q8. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of verb given within bracket (Any Four) (4×1=4
marks)
(A) had done (B) ruled C) was writing (D) have seen (E)have been knocking
Q9. Transform the following sentences as per the instruction given and by choosing the correct
option. (Answer Any Three) (3×1=3 marks)
(I) (b)He paid off the debts which his father had contracted.
(II) (b)We need not disbelieve his word.
(III)(c) No other sea port in India is so good as Kandla
(IV) None but the brave deserve the fair
SECTION–C LITERATURE TEXT BOOK & SUPPLEMENTARY READING – 31 MARKS
Q10. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow (3×1=3 marks)
a) (I)Twelve years b)(II) The poet `s mother c) (III) Alliteration
OR
i) b) Noise made by the younger ones of goldfinch ii) a) Metaphor iii) (a) Face marked with
stripes
Q11. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow (3×1=3 marks)
I. b) The funerary treasure found in Tut’s tomb
II. d) To ensure that Tut is able to take a rebirth
III. c) Articles of old times and of great historical importance
OR
(a) (III) Bombay (b (I) He was in a city ruled by East India Company even after 1857
(c) (II) He had to meet Mr. Vinay Gaitonde, his son to ascertain the world he is familiar with
Q12. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow. (4×1=4 marks)
(I) C. By shouting at them
(II). A. Because they were conscience stricken
(III). C. Stronger & better-tempered
(IV) C. Uncle Khosrove OR
(I) (A)Her precious belongings were with Mrs. Dorling.
(II) (C)She was frightened that her precious belongings would remind her deceased mother
(III) (C)She was an old acquaintance poet’s mother
(IV) Speaker`s mother had given Mrs. Dorling to save them in case they had to leave due to
Nazi attack
Q13. Attempt ANY TWO of the following questions within 40-50 words each. (2×3=6 mark)
(a) This shows that she was very courageous. The speaker of these lines is the little girl, Sue.
She is just 7 years old. After the gigantic wave hit the ship, she was also hurt. Her head was
swollen when the narrator saw her in the cabin. However, she never mentioned the deep cut in
her arm because she didn’t want her father to worry about her when he was trying to save
everybody else.
(b)The poet addressed the rain. The rain being an inanimate object, the poet does not seem to
expect an answer from rain. But the rain responds. So the poet is surprised.
(c)The poet likens the sudden bustle of the young ones to the noise made by a steam engine
when it is started up. The bird as if stokes the fire of the furnace and makes her youngones
chirp together
(d)The mummy of king tut had earned worldwide fame for the riches it was buried with.
Moreover, there was a great controversy about the manner of his death and his age at the time
of death. Keeping in view this controversy, king tut `s body was ordered to be scanned to
examine the delayed medical mysteries about his life and death.
Q14. Attempt ANY ONE of the following questions within 40-50 words each. (1×3=3mark)
(a)The narrator found her in the midst of things she was familiar with and which she did not want
to see again. However, she found these things in a strange atmosphere where everything was
lying in a tasteless manner. The ugly furniture and the muggy smell created the feeling as if, she
did not know the room.
(b)Mrs. Pearson is extremely humble, weak willed, submissive and nervous. She admits before
Mrs. Fitzgerald that adopting a strict, aggressive approach for her family members is not liking
to her personality & taste. Everyone would resent her approach and would not pay
any attention to her instruction
Q15. Attempt ANY ONE from the following within 120-150 words each. (6 ×1= 6 mark)
(a)Grandmother of Khuswant Singh had unwavering love for her grandson. Her bafflement for
his learning of western science , distress for the music lesson and separate room after his
joining university did not have any impact on the intensity her love for the grandson . It is sheer
love of a nonagenarian grandmother to cover the distance to the railway station to see him off to
the abroad and made her stay composed even when he was going their five years.
The next evidence of unwavering is found when we find the unexpecting & surprised grandson
to be received by his grandmother at the railway station without any visible change in her
appearance after a gap of five years.
The grandmother violated her own principle to celebrate the home coming of her grandson with
song and beating drums. Lastly, it appears her love kept herself alive to receive her grandson
after five years and have a peaceful death just the next day.
(b)The narrator along with his wife, children, and two crewmen overcame the worst situations
and defeated death by fighting the adverse situations which cropped up during their voyage.
When the big wave hit the boat, it was severely damaged, and the narrator was badly injured.
However, he did not pay attention to it and held on to the wheel. Both Larry and Herb kept
pumping out water and did not stop. Moreover, when the hand pumps stopped working and the
electric pump short-circuited, he did not lose confidence and used electric pump to drive out
water from the boat. Even the children had confidence in their father, and they hoped to survive.
They also: showed great courage. Jon said that they were not afraid to die if they are all
together. Sue made a card to thank her parents. It was a great example of unity and trust that
they had on each other. Thus, it can be concluded that by staying optimistic like the children and
making the best use of your potential like the narrator, one can fight adversities and be a
winner.
Thus, it can be concluded that by staying optimistic like the children and making the best use of
your potential like the narrator, one can fight adversities and be a winner.
Q16. Attempt ANY ONE from the following within 120-150 words each. (1 ×6=6 mark)
(a)John Byro, is the horse’s real owner & he confirms that Mourad and Aram have stolen his
missing white horse when he comes across the two boys as they are stabling the creature after
their morning ride. Rather than acting out of vengeance and seeking punishment for the thieves,
Byro asserts, "A suspicious man would believe his eyes instead of his heart."
He doesn’t force them to return it by taking the case up with their parents and instead gives
them an opportunity to make the decision themselves. He believes in the goodness of the
human spirit and sees the best in others. Byro seems to implicitly understand that the boys must
have a good reason for taking his property away from him; surely one would not steal unless out
of genuine need. This gentle approach to catching the boys "in the act" results in his horse
being returned the very next morning.
(b)Mrs. Fitzgerald is an aggressive and authoritative woman. She loves justice being delivered
to the victim to needy. Moved to see the plight of the oppressed people like Mrs. Pearson.
Rather than just helping them she wakes them up and asks them to draw on their own strength
and claim her due rights. Still if she feels a helping hand is required, she readily extends it.
Mrs. Pearson, on the other hand, is extremely humble, weak willed, submissive and nervous.
She lacks confidence. She frankly admits before Mrs. Fitzgerald that adopting a tough,
aggressive approach for her family members is not to her ability and taste. She fears that
everyone would resent her approach and would not pay any attention to her instruction.
Being fully aware of the misery Mrs. Pearson had to undergo everyday as a mother and wife,
she advises her to be firm, assertive and control her family. I think the approach Mrs. Fitzgerald
follows are more appropriate and relevant in the 21st Century India.
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