ENGLISH CORE
(Code No. 301) CLASS-XII
Time allowed: 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks: 80
SECTION A : READING SKILLS (22 marks)
1. Read the following text. (12 m)
Arthur lay in his cabin, still trying to piece together the events of the last few hours. He had
watched his home planet of Earth be demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass, been
saved by his friend Ford, and then whisked away on a ship that was powered by an "infinite
improbability drive." It was all too much for him. Just then, Ford stuck his head around the
door. "Hey, Earthman," he said, "come and have a look at this." Arthur stumbled after him
down a corridor and into the ship's control room. He gazed in amazement at the banks of
controls and flashing lights. In the center of the room was a large console covered in buttons
and switches, and in the middle of the console was a small, white mouse. "What's that?"
asked Arthur. "That's the ship's computer," said Ford. Arthur stared at the mouse. "That's a
computer?" he said. "Yup," said Ford. "Five-dimensional, biologically-based, super intelligent,
and in the form of a white lab mouse. Pretty neat, huh?" "I don't know," said Arthur. "I don't
think I really understand anything anymore. Why is a mouse the ship's computer?"
"It's a long story," said Ford. "But the short version is that the mice built the Earth as a giant
computer to figure out the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Then
they ran out of money and had to destroy it to make way for a hyperspace bypass. So now
they're using the Heart of Gold to finish the calculation." Arthur was about to say something,
but at that moment the ship's intercom crackled to life. "Good evening, Heart of Gold," said
a smooth, computerized voice. "This is Eddie, your shipboard computer. I'm feeling a bit
depressed today. Would you like me to sing you a song?" "Oh, not again," groaned Ford.
"Eddie, would you mind shutting up?" said Arthur. 30 Arthur sighed and leaned back against
the console, trying to make sense of everything. But as he closed his eyes, he heard a voice
inside his head. "Hello?" it said. Arthur jumped, startled. "Who's there?" he said. "It's me,"
said the voice. "Marvin." "Marvin?" said Arthur. "Who's Marvin?" "The Paranoid Android,"
said the voice. Arthur looked around, but he didn't see anyone. "Where are you?" he said.
"I'm down here," said the voice. Arthur looked down and saw a small, metal figure shuffling
across the floor. It was about three feet tall, with a round head and a body that looked like it
had been cobbled together from spare parts. Its eyes were a dull red, and its voice was a
monotone. "I've been waiting for someone to talk to me for over two million years," said
Marvin
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
i Select the option that classifies Arthur's confusion about drastic events such as the
destruction of his home planet and the introduction of new technologies, correctly.
A. Routine and boredom
B. Adventure and excitement
C. Loss and change
D. Calm and relaxation
ii What is the significance of the white lab mouse in the control room of the Heart of Gold
spaceship?
A. It is the captain of the ship
B. It serves as the ship's computer
C. It is a pet of the crew D. It is used for scientific experiments
iii Share evidence from the text, in about 40 words to support the view that the writer’s
writing style is descriptive and humourous.
Iv Complete the sentence appropriately with a characteristic or its description. Based on the
information given in the excerpt, one can infer that the mice who built the Earth are
____________.
v Select the option that is similar in meaning to Ford’s expression , “Pretty neat, huh?".
A. Easy , isn’t it?
B. Could be worse, no?
C. Impressive, yes?
D. Too difficult for you?
vi Explain, in about 40 words, why the name "The Paranoid Android" is considered ironic.
vii In the line, “…a body that looked like it had been cobbled together from spare parts…”,
what comparison does the word “cobbled” refer to?
viii How does the following, impact the reader, even though they know Marvin is just an
android? "I've been waiting for someone to talk to me for over two million years," said
Marvin. Answer in about 40 words.
ix Read the five headlines (a) -(e), given below:
a) HUMANITY'S JOURNEY WITNESSED BY A DEPRESSED ROBOT
(b) HITCHHIKING THROUGH SPACE: A COMICAL TAKE ON THE END OF THE WORLD
(c) NEW STUDY FINDS ALIENS LIVING AMONG US
(d) GROUNDBREAKING TECHNOLOGY WILL SOON ENABLE TIME TRAVEL
(e) INTERGALACTIC TRAVEL VIA NEW INFINITE IMPROBABILITY DRIVE
Identify the option that displays the headline/s that DOES/ DO NOT correspond with
occurrences in the passage.
A. Only (a)
B. (b) (c) and (d)
C. Only (e)
D. (a) and (e)
2. Read the following text. 10 m
(1) In recent years, there has been a surge in both group and solo travel among young adults
in India. A survey conducted among young adults aged 18-25 aimed to explore the reasons
behind their travel preferences and recorded the percentage variation for 10 common points
that influence travel choices.
2) Among those who prefer solo travel, the most common reason cited was the desire for
independence and freedom (58%), followed closely by the opportunity for introspection and
self-discovery (52%). Additionally, solo travellers appreciated the ability to customize their
itinerary to their preferences (44%) and the chance to meet new people on their own terms
(36%).
(3) On the other hand, those who prefer group travel often cited the desire for socializing
and making new friends (61%) as their primary reason. Group travel also provided a sense of
security and safety in unfamiliar places (52%) and allowed for shared experiences and
memories with others (48%). Additionally, group travellers enjoyed the convenience of
having pre-planned itineraries and organized transportation (38%).
(4) Interestingly, both groups had similar levels of interest in exploring new cultures and
trying new experiences (40% for solo travellers, 36% for group travellers). Similarly, both
groups valued the opportunity to relax and escape from the stresses of everyday life (36% for
solo travellers, 32% for group travellers).
(5) However, there were also some notable differences between the two groups. For
example, solo travellers placed a higher priority on budget-friendly travel options (38%)
compared to group travellers (24%). Conversely, group travellers were more likely to
prioritize luxury and comfort during their travels (28%) compared to solo travellers (12%).
(6) Overall, the survey results suggest that both group and solo travel have their own unique
advantages and appeal to different individuals, based on their preferences and priorities.
Answer the following questions, based on given passage.
i Infer two possible ways that the survey , mentioned in paragraph (1) could be beneficial.
Answer in about 40 words.
ii Which travel choice point of the survey would influence tour operators to incorporate
group dinners, social events, and shared accommodations in their itinerary?
A. Freedom to customise itinerary
B. Luxury and comfort
C. Security and safety
D. Desire for making new friends
iii What do the top choices in the survey, for traveling solo and in a group suggest about
young adults?
iv Identify the solo traveller from the following three travellers:
(a) Reshma- I don’t want to keep hunting for rickshaws or taxis. A pre-booked vehicle is
perfect.
(b) Nawaz-I’m happy sharing a room in a hostel. I don’t need hotel accommodation.
(c) Deepak-I’m not worried about my well-being , even while exploring remote areas.
v Which of the following is an example of an opportunity for self-discovery, as mentioned in
paragraph 2?
A. Trying new cuisine
B. Hiring a tour guide
C. Purchasing local artifacts
D. Advance booking travel tickets
vi How might the differences in budget priorities between solo and group travellers impact
the types of accommodations and activities offered by the travel industry in India?
vii Complete the sentence appropriately. The similarities in the percentage of both solo and
group travellers who are interested in exploring new cultures and trying new experiences
may be due to ________.
viii State TRUE or FALSE.
The title, "Wanderlust: The Solo Travel Trend Among Young Adults in India", is appropriate
for this passage.
SECTION B : CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS (18 marks)
3 Attempt ANY ONE of two , in about 50 words.
A )Bali High Public School has recently created CureGreen, a dedicated area for local
medicinal herbs and shrubs, adjacent to the flower garden, on campus. As Rachel Tiwari,
Captain of the Eco-Club , draft a notice for the school notice board, informing students of
classes XI-XII, about a guided walk through CureGreen , post assembly, on Friday, 10 July.
Invite care-giver applications, for CureGreen.
OR
B) You are the Secretary of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme , Jastinapur, Sector D-3
Society. Draft a notice for the Society notice board, informing residents about the change of
personnel, Head Security, Gate 2 and share necessary details. Also, include the news of
installation of the much awaited security camera, on the Eastern periphery of the Society.
4 Attempt ANY ONE of two , in about 50 words.
A )You are the Student Head, Cultural Affairs, at M.K. Sr. Sec. School. Your school is
organising a 2-day Yoga camp over the weekend, for parents of the school students. Create
an invitation, inviting the school parents for this Yoga camp. Share information about the
camp organisers and include other necessary details.
OR
B Smt. Leelavati Khatri, your grandmother, has received an invitation from her childhood
friend , residing at a distance in the same city. The invite is for the blessing ceremony and
celebratory dinner, marking the birth of her granddaughter. Your grandmother wishes to
attend the event but would need to be accompanied by a family member to assist her with
her wheelchair. Create an appropriate reply, accepting this invitation, on behalf of your
grandmother.
5 Attempt ANY ONE of two , in about 120-150 words.
A ) You are Damanjit Singh, a fresh graduate of film-making (BFA), from JTTI, Chandigarh. You
saw the given advertisement in the newspaper and wish to apply for the position advertised.
Write a letter to Mili Johar Arts, along with your bio-data, expressing your interest in the
advertised post.
B Despite being an essential component of road safety infrastructure, many people do not
respect zebra crossings and fail to follow traffic rules, which results in hazardous situations
on the roads. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily, sharing your concern, and
examining the reasons for such behaviour. Provide suggestions for spreading awareness of
rules and etiquettes involved, and ways to ensure adherence. Use the given cues along with
your own ideas to compose this letter. You are Soma Baruah, a concerned city resident.
6 )You are Sohail Hassan of class XII-B. Write an article for your school magazine , sharing the
importance of young adults , as volunteers in one’s local community , the need to do so and
the benefits involved. Use the given cues along with your own ideas to compose this article
in about 120-150 words.
SECTION C : LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING TEXT (40 marks)
7. Read the given extracts and answer the question.
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read:
An endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink. (A Thing of
Beauty)
i ) Which of the following themes is best represented in the given extract?
A. The beauty of nature
B. The power of imagination
C. The immortality of art and literature
D. The inevitability of death
ii) State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE, with reference to the extract. By
referring to the dead as "mighty", the poet emphasizes their importance and the power they
exerted on the people.
iii ) Complete the sentence appropriately. The "endless fountain of immortal drink" is an apt
analogy for the tales of the mighty dead because ____________________________.
iv) The use of the word "brink" in the extract suggests that the immortality that is being
poured onto us is on the verge of overflowing. This creates a powerful image of
___________.
V) Based on the poem rhyme scheme, evident in lines 2-5, of the given extract, which word
would rhyme with line 1?
Said ,Think, Tomb
vi Select the option that is NOT true about the lack of punctuation at the end of line 1 in the
extract.
A. Creates a sense of continuity and flow that connects the line with the second line.
B. Encourages the reader to continue reading seamlessly without any pause.
C. Creates a sense of anticipation and expectation for the reader.
D. Encourages a revisit to the ideas in the preceding lines
8. Read the given extracts and answer the question.
Climate change is one of the most hotly contested environmental debates of our time. Will
the West Antarctic ice sheet melt entirely? Will the Gulf Stream ocean current be disrupted?
Will it be the end of the world as we know it? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, Antarctica is a
crucial element in this debate — not just because it’s the only place in the world, which has
never sustained a human population and therefore remains relatively ‘pristine’ in this
respect; but more importantly, because it holds in its ice-cores half-million-year-old carbon
records trapped in its layers of ice. (Journey to the End of the Earth)
i) How does the absence of a human population in Antarctica make it significant in the
climate change debate?
ii )Why is "climate change" described as a "hotly contested" issue in the extract provided?
This is so, because there _____.
A. is universal agreement on the causes and implications of climate change
B. is a planned path ahead about how to address climate change
C. are differing views on the causes and implications of climate change
D. are minimal reports of fresh threats to climate change
iii) The analogy of a time machine is an appropriate analogy for the role of carbon records in
the study of climate change because ________________________.
iv Give one reason why the writing style of the extract can be called factual and informative.
9. Read the given extracts and answer the questions
Unaware of what his name represents, he roams the streets with his friends, an army of
barefoot boys who appear like the morning birds and disappear at noon. Over the months, I
have come to recognise each of them. “Why aren’t you wearing chappals?” I ask one. “My
mother did not bring them down from the shelf,” he answers simply. “Even if she did, he will
throw them off,” adds another who is wearing shoes that do not match. When I comment on
it, he shuffles his feet and says nothing. “I want shoes,” says a third boy who has never
owned a pair all his life. Travelling across the country I have seen children walking barefoot,
in cities, on village roads. It is not lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot, is one
explanation. (Lost Spring)
i What is the writer’s purpose in allowing the boys to speak for themselves via dialogue, as
opposed to only a writer’s commentary ?
ii The line, "It is not lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot" can be best classified as:
A. A fact
B. An opinion
C. A theme
D. A plot point
iii Explain any one possible inference that can be drawn from the line, "an army of barefoot
boys who appear like the morning birds and disappear at noon”.
iv Identify the line from the text that bears evidence to the fact that the writer's association
with the boys is not a recent one.
v Based on the context provided in the extract, select the most likely comment that the
writer would have made, based on the boy's reaction to the mismatched shoes.
A. "Why are your shoes mismatched? That's not a good look."
B. "Don't worry about your shoes, you can wear a matching pair later."
C. "I like your shoes. What matters is that they protect your feet."
D. "Have you chosen to mismatch your shoes?
vi Complete the sentence with ONE word. The phrase "he answers simply", suggests that the
boy's response to the writer's question
10 Answer ANY FIVE of the following six questions, in about 40-50 words.
5x2=10
i What can be inferred from Rajendra Prasad’s recorded upshot of the lawyer consultations,
at Motihari ?
ii Douglas uses sensory details to create a vivid image of the unfortunate experience in the
pool. What might be the impact on the reader if the narration were more informative than
sensory?
iii How does the setting of the remote forest location in 'The Rattrap' contribute to the
overall tone and mood of the story?
iv How might the message of the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ be different, if the following
last four lines were omitted?
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
v Umberto Eco, with reference to "The Name of the Rose" says, “I think if I had written The
Name of the Rose ten years earlier or ten years later, it wouldn’t have been the same.” What
could he have meant? (The Interview)
vi What does the story of Subbu's success in the film industry reveal about the importance
of loyalty, creativity, and versatility in this field? (Poets and Pancakes)
11 Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words. 2x2=4
i How can we say that the vadai packet incident reveals that the writer lacked the cognitive
and emotional maturity required to understand the implications of untouchability?
ii What does the play ‘On the Face of It’ suggest about the importance of empathy in
overcoming prejudice and stereotypes?
iii Answer the question in the context of the following lines from ‘The Enemy’. “Stupid Yumi,”
she muttered fiercely. “Is this anything but a man? And a wounded helpless man!” In the
conviction of her own superiority she bent impulsively and untied the knotted rugs that kept
the white man covered. Explain the superiority Hana is convinced about
12 Answer the following two question, in about 120-150 words.
A Imagine you are Pablo Neruda , the poet of Keeping Quiet. What advice might you offer to
Robert Frost, the poet of A Roadside Stand, in the context of his conflicted emotions, as
displayed in the given lines
The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,
Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,
I can’t help owning the great relief it would be
To put these people at one stroke out of their pain
. Pen down your advice , in a letter to Frost. You may begin this way:
Dear Robert I recently read your poem, "A Roadside Stand," and... You may end this way: I
hope this advice is helpful to you. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to
support you. Warmly, Pablo Neruda
13) When did Bama experience untouchability? Describe the
experience Bama had on her way back home which made her feel
sad.
