Marking Scheme SET-2

Pre-Board II (2023-24)
ENGLISH CORE (301)
CLASS-XII
Time Allowed : 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks:80

Important Instructions:

I The answers below are suggestive. Credit should be given for any relevant
point which is not included in the value points listed below.

II If a student has attempted an extra question, answer of the question more

deserving should be retained and the other answer scored out.

Section A: READING SKILLS (22 Marks)

Note – The objective of the Reading Section is to focus on testing candidate’s ability
to comprehend. No mark(s) should be deducted in Grammar spelling or word limit.

1. PASSAGE I
(i) Libraries are important because they act as knowledge base of the society
and guides people in diverse situations including economic development
and educational research (2)
(ii) (c ) The paper produced from wood pulp is still being produced. (1)
(iii) The two ways in which a book by Robert Frost could be saved from
deterioration are
(a) Eliminating acid from the paper of the book and inserting a buffer
compound that will provide further protection.
(b) Transferring the contents of existing book to another medium. (2)
(iv) Highlight that they need to use paper of archival quality so that books do
not disintegrate in libraries and the knowledge base of the society
sustains. (1)
(v) (b) arrested (1)
(vi) There was a need to produce mechanically ground pulp during the mid-
nineteenth century due to the growing demand for paper and the
commercial need for an economic method of production of paper. (1)
(vii) (d) widespread adoption of paper of archival quality (1)
(viii) The use of linen or cotton rags can be suggested considering they were
long-lasting. However, even they will disintegrate over long periods of
time. Hence I do not suggest going back to using them. I would prefer if we
find sustainable alternative of paper. (2)
(ix) (a) informed concern (1)
2. PASSAGE II
 (i) Adolescents use phone-based communication as an important way to
maintain their social relationship. Therefore, social media websites are
used by them and have become an integral part of their lives. This
makes them susceptible to social media overuse. (2)
(ii) (b) To access and compare the prevalence of social media in a
particular organisation. (1)
(iii) The launch of low cost data packages in 2016/’17 led to the rise of
active social media users in India. (1)
(iv) (b) non-academic (1)
(v) The given statement is untrue as the data revealed by the survey
indicates that despite higher social status and purchasing capacity of
private PU students, there is not much difference between Government
and Private PU college students as far as Social Media relevance is
concerned. (2)
(vi) Higher social status and purchasing capacity. (1)
(vii) (b) a scale based questionnaire. (1)
(viii) False (1)

SECTION B – CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS ( 18 Marks)

3. Notice 4 Marks

[Format 1 / Content 2/ Expression 1 (Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar)]

4. Formal / Informal Invitation & Reply. 4 Marks

[Format 1 / Content 2/ Expression 1 (Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar)]

5. Letter to Editor / Application for job with bio data or resume. 5 Marks

[(Format 1/ Organisation of ideas 1/ Content 2/ Expression 1( Accuracy of

spelling and Grammar )]

6. Article / Report writing. 5 Marks

Article - [(Format 1/ Organisation of ideas 1/ Content 2/ Expression 1
( Accuracy of spelling and Grammar )]
Report - [(Format 1/ Organisation of ideas 1/ Content 2/ Expression 1
( Accuracy of spelling and Grammar )]

Section C: Literature Textbook and

Supplementary Reading Text (40 Marks)
7. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two,
given. (6 Marks)
A. (i) (d) Both (a) and (b)
(ii) True
(iii) (b) Alliteration
(iv) Ideal and peaceful
 (v) Green wars refers to wars between nations causing
damage to the natural landscape.
(vi) The phrase “walk about with their brothers in the shade
doing nothing” suggests the given statement.

B. (i) (b) Harm caused to the natural scenery

(ii) The government promised to give a comfortable life to the

poor.

(iii) sympathetic

(iv) True

(v) The poor people made the roadside stand, away from the
city.

(vi) (b) The Broken Promise

8. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two,
given. (4 Marks)
A. (i) (b) uncertainty
(ii) ‘pristine’ in the extract is the synonym of perfect.
(iii) Antarctica holds importance because it tells us about the past, present
and future of Earth.
(iv) The deep concern of the narrator for the world and its environment.
B. (i) The given lines tell us that Mr. Lamb and Derry became friends as they
both were suffering from physical impairment.

(ii) (c) That there should be a place where all people like him could stay
together.

(iii) discriminatory

(iv) The given phrase indicates that negative mind set of an individual does
much more damage to a person than the physical injuries.

9. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two,
given. (6 Marks)
A. (i) (c) The landlords
(ii) The sharecropping arrangement was problematic for the peasants.
(iii) (2) is the reason for (1)
(iv) (a) manipulative and selfish.
(v) thugs
(vi) By the presence of German synthetic indigo, the British landlords
found a cheaper alternative to the Indian indigo which would get them
better financial returns.
 B. (i) policemen, sahukars and middlemen
(ii) Daring is not a part of ‘his’ growing up
(iii) (b) the job of bangle making
(iv) (d) Both (a) and (c)
(v) ‘But the garage is a long way from his home.’
(vi) The writer states that the boy accepts bangle making as naturally as
his father because the boy has no other option than doing so.

10. Answer ANY FIVE of the following six questions, in about 40-50 words.

(5x2=10 Marks)

(i) Grabage meant ‘gold’ to the poor ragpickers because some of it could
be sold for cash, thus becoming a means of wonder for the children of
Seemapuri and a means of survival for their parents. It provided them
daily bread and a roof above their heads.
(ii) Umberto Eco explained that we have a lot of empty spaces of time in
our lives which he calls ‘interstices’. For instance, if we are waiting to
meet someone, we are ‘free’. This is an interstice or an empty space.
He is able to be a prolific writer because he works during these empty
spaces.
(iii) The parting words of the poet and her smile at the airport are crucial to
understanding the poet’s emotions. The parting words of the poet are
used by her to reassure herself as well as her mother that they would
meet again. The poet uses her smile to hide her true feelings of fear of
losing her mother to old age and death.
(iv) A Strict Hierarchy was maintained in the make-up department so that
each make-up man was allotted his task according to designation. The
Chief make-up man attended the chief actors and actresses, his senior
assistant attended the second hero and heroine, the junior assistant
attended the main comedian and the office boy in the department did
the make up of actors who played the crowd.
(v) John Keats in the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’ uses the image of an
immortal fountain that constantly pours bounties on the Earth in the
form of an immortal drink from the heavens. The beauty of the Sun, the
Moon, the trees, the flowers, and clear rivers are the reflections of the
beautiful bounties God has blessed us with.
(vi) It’s true that they are pole apart. Sophie was a dreamer unable to come
in terms with the fact that she is year marked for the biscuit factory
after her high school. But the tragedy was that she carries her fantasies
too far when she started living in them, whereas her friend Jansie is
 practical and down-to-earth. She tries her level best to bring her friend
down to the realities.

Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words.
(2x2=4 Marks)
(i) The Maharaja had banned the killing of tigers in Pratibandapuram. So,
he refused to give permission to a British officer for hunting tigers
there. Because of this refusal, the king was in danger of losing his
throne and kingdom.
(ii) The author knows that she could never prevail against the authorities,
yet she struggles against the injustice. Her mother had told her that
only cowards had their hair shingled and she firmly believed that she
was not one. To prove her point as well as raise her voice against the
indignity, she struggles.
(iii) Louisa, like Charley’s friends, believed whatever explanations the
psychiatrist friend had given. But later a mail was received from Sam
himself from the old Galesburg, Louisa believed that Charley was true
to his claims and even began to search for the third level with him.

11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words.
(5 Marks)
A. Value points – Deep Water -------------story --------------determination
and perseverance------------ in spite of odds --------------- courage to fight
----------- success---------narrator-------------- phobia -----------decides to
overcome---------------adopts positive attitude---------------fights his fear---
--------------training with an instructor------------ long and slow --------------
learns patiently -----------courage perseverance and firm will------------
win over obstacles ------------------achieve impossible.

B. Value Points - ideal world--------- peace quiet around-------- world full of

disease -------- violence ------------peace appreciated----------- imagined
by Pablo Neruda ------------ in poem-------------- world devoid of violence-
---------moment of togetherness --------------- silence -------------self
introspection --------- meditation moment-----------end of destructive
activities------------- fisherman not killing ----------- whales -----------salt
gatherer ---------------time --------------- see injured hands-------------
warmongers-------------- think of brotherhood and cleansing souls---------
---- ideal world ------------ men out of self centered attitude ---------------
moral peace.

12. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words.
(5 Marks)
A. Value Points – Humanity ------------ biggest quality -------------world devoid --
-------- today ------------ Dr Sadao -----------protagonist------------ The Enemy--
------- rose above ------------- narrow prejudices ---------------- race and
country --------------- saving life of prisoner of war---------------American -------
------washed away ----------- beach ----------- Sadao’s door step----------
heavily injured ---------top priority ------------ saving a man’s life------------
ongoing war ------------America and Japan--------------duty saving a dying
man------------- but saving an enemy --------------- act of treachery-----------
did not hand him over to police -------------- even though planned ------------
- to do so-----------rose above narrow prejudices -----------------helped young
-------------soldier to escape ----------------- human goodness --------------
overpowers----------- Dr. Sadao----------------helps wounded soldier -----------
---- saving life --------------- arranging escape ---------------risking life-----------
his actions show----------------- humans not devoid of loyalty-------------need
to rise above ---------------- and retain humanity.
B. Value Points – Actual pain -------------- due to ---------------physical
deformity-----------less than ------------------- sense of alienation------------
creates feeling of loneliness----------------in physically disabled-----------
person with tin leg ------------- burnt face ----------------- ridiculed ----------
expect other --------------- respect them ----------- instead ---------------
continuously reminding them ----------- how different----------------Mr Lamb --
--------understands situation ---------------- copes successfully---------------
Derry not mature to --------------- cope with predicament---------------- likes
Mr Lamb ------------ after meeting ----------------- person ----------------physical
impairment ----------------expects normal behaviour-------------- wants
respect ---------------- instead of pity.

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