AS SECOND PUC MID-TERM EXAMINATION OCTOBER 2025

Sub: ENGLISH (02)

Total no. of questions : 36
Time: 3 Hrs Total Marks: 80
Instructions
a. Answer the questions in all sections.
b. Follow the prescribed limit while answering the questions.
[Link] the correct questions number as it appears on the questions paper.
d. For multiple choice questions, choose the correct answer and re-write it.
Answers to question number 30A (a- i)or 30B (a - i) should be in sequence and atone place.
1. For question numbers 30, 31, 32 and 36, internal choices are there.
Hence, answer either 'A' or 'B'.
8. For Part -'A'questions, only the frst written answers will be considered for evaluation.
PART - A
I.1 Answer the following questions by choosing the right option. 10 x 1= 10
According to Juliet, after her death, Romeo should be
(a) hung upon the cheek of night (b) sent on a raven's back
(c) cut out into little stars (d) trooped with crows
2. ldentify the right sequence of events in Too Dear" after the death penalty was abolished:
(a) The King ordered life imprisonment - The criminal was kept in prison - The king noticed a
new expenditure He thought it was too dear.
(b) The king noticed a new expenditure- The criminal was kept in prison - The King ordered life
imprisonment - He thought it was too dear.
(C) The criminal was kept in prison - He thought it was too dear - The king noticed a new
expenditure - The King ordered life imprisonment.
(d) The King ordered life imprisonment - The king noticed a new expenditure He thought it
was too dear - The criminal was kept in prison.
3 Match Column 'A' with Column 'B' with reference to the poem 'On Children' and choose the
correct option.
A
A Living arrows parents
B Bows children
CArcher [Link] God
(a) A - i, B - ii, C ii (b) A-i, B - ii, C-i
(c) A - i, B - i, C- ii (d) A- ii, B-ii, C- i
4 Which farm was founded by Vandana Shiva to promote biodiversity conservation?
(a) Dead earth (b) Navdanya (c) Earth Democracy (d) Earth University
5 Complete the analogy with reference to the play A Sunny Morning;"
Dona Laura : Silver Maiden :: Don Gonzalo :
(a) Gallant Horseman (b) Campoamor (c) Ferdinand (d) Isabella
6. Laura's parents wanted her to marry to
(a) Zorrilla (b) Becquer (c) Columbus (d) a merchant
7. Which one of the following is not mentioned in the poem "When YouAre Old"?
(a) Grey and full of sleep (b) dream of the soft look
(c) moments of glad grace (a) young and beautiful
Read the following with reference to the story The Gardener' and choose the correct option
Statement: A few days after Tammanna left his village, Basavaiah passed away.
Reason: Basavaiah bad no more reason to live
(a) Both statement and reason are correct (b) Neither statement nor reason is correct
(c) Only statement is correct (d) Only reason is correct
9. According to the old man in The lesson The Gardener' man lives for some kind
of
(a) humiliation (b)reputation (c) unbeatable vengefulness (d) felicitation
10. The petaled toes gradually take the shape of after getting defeated in the poem To the
Fool From its Child' by Neruda.
(a) butterfly (b) eyeless reptiles (c) appie (d) stones
L. Fill in the blanks with the passive form of the verb given in the brackets. 3 x 1 =3
Basavaiah started filling his life with all kinds of material wealth. A palatial mansion
(built) by him. A number of people (appoint) just to praise him. Many scholars, poets
and musicians (invite) to his place.
12. Fillin the blanks by choosing the appropriate expressions given in the brackets.
(well versed, vanish into, shied away) 2 x 1=2
 Tendulkar is called the Greatest of AI| Times' cricket playcr. Hc never from practice as a
young cricketer. Duc to his regular practicc, he becamc in the game.
13. Read the following paragraph and mateh the pronouns in side 'A' with the nouns I noun
phrases in side 'B' they refer to. 5 x1=5
English workshop was held in the seminar hall where (a) the lccturcrs werc scated. It (b) was
attended by many lecturerS who (c) were very cnthusiastic to update themsclvcs. A few workshects
which (d) were given hclpcd themto understand the concepts better. The Deputy Director was the
gucst of honor. He (e) told all the lccturers to work hard to get 100% results.
B
Pronouns Nouns / Noun Phrases
(a) where (i) Deputy Director
(b) It (ii) worksheets
(C) who (ii)) seminar hall
(d) which (iv) concepts
(e) He (v) Lecturers
(vi) English workshop
PART -B
II. Answer any THREE of the following questions in One or Two sentences each. 3x2 =6
14. Why did the King of Monaco alter the death penalty to life imprisonment in Too Dear!?
15. Where did The Silver Maiden' spend several seasons and what was it called in A Sunny
Morning"?
16. Name the two nations which helped the old man to conceive the story of Tammanna and
Basavaiah in the lesson The Gardener'.
17. What would the child's foot like to be in the poem To the Foot from its Child'?
III. Answer any FOUR of the following questions in about 60 words each. 4 x 3= 12
18. How does Shakespeare highlight Juliet's beauty in 'Romeo and Juliet'?
19. Describe the criminal's life after his release from the prison in Too Dear'?
20. Why does the prophet say that the parents should not try to live their dreams through their
children in the poem On Children'?
21. Write a brief note on Tagore's Tapovan in 'Everything Ineed to Know I Learned in the Forest. "
22. How is the poet's love different from that of other men in the poem 'When You Are Old"?
23. What were the changes noticed by the owner's wife in her husband's lifestyle after the arrival of
the old man in the lesson The Gardener'?
3 x 4 = 12
IV. Answer any THREE of the following questions in about 60words each.
24. "You can't earn stone palaces by honest labour." What actions of the king of Monaco justify this
statement in the lesson Too Dear?
25. Why does Kahlil Gibran emphasize on the individuality and freedom of children in 'On
Children '?
26. Earth Democracy translates into respecting the freedom of all species of life to evolve and live
together. How does Vandana Shiva justify this in her essay 'Everything Ineed to Know ILeamed
in the Forest"?
27. How did Laura and Gouzalo cleverly hide their true identities while recalling their past in the
play 'A Sunny Morning"?
28. Describe the circumstances that led Tammanna to become a non-entity and avenge himself in the
lesson The Gardener'.
29. Trace the journey of the foot from birth to death as explained by Pablo Neruda in the poem "To
the Foot from its Child'?
PART -C
30. Read the following passage and answer the questions set on it. 9x1=9
A Banu Mushtag, bornon April 3, 1948, in Hassan, Karnataka, is a distinguished writer, lawyer
and social activist whose literary contributions have garnered international acclaim. Raised in a large
Muslim family,
schooling.
Banu's early education was ablend of traditional religious teachings and modem
At the age of eight, she was enrolled in a Kannada-medium missionary school in
Shivamogga, where she not only mastered the language but began writing shortly thereafter - a feat
that challenged expectations and set the stage for her literary career.
Banu's academic pursuits were unconventional for women of her time. She attended university
and married for love at 26, challenging societal norms and expectations. Her professional life as a
reporter for Lankesh Patrike and a brief tenure at All India Radio in Bengaluru further improved her
nárrative skils and deepened her understanding of societal issues. Her activism, particularly in the
1980s, focused on combating fundamentalism and social injustices in Karnataka, often placing her at
odds with conservative elements of her community.
In 2000, Banu faced a three-month social boycott and an assassination attempt due to her
advocacy for Muslim women's rights, highlighting her courage and commitment to her cause. Her
 literary work, deeply influcnccd by her activism and legal background, is rooted in the Bandaya
Sahitya (protest lterature) movement, This movement critiques caste, class and religious oppression,
themes that infuse her writing, Over thrce decades. Banu craftcd Hcart Lamp: Sclectcd Stories, a
collection oftwelve short storics originally writen in Kannada between 1990 and 2023. The anthology
digs into the lives of Muslim women in southern India, cxploring themes of patriarchy, gender
inequality and resilience.
In 2025, Heart Lamp was translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi and won the prestigious
international Booker Prize, marking several historic firsts: it was the first short fiction collection and
the first work originally published in Kannada to receive the honor. The award, which includes a
£50,000 (50,000 pounds) prize shared cqually between Banu and Deepa,was announced at a ceremony
at London's Tate Modern. The judging panel praised the collection for its emotional depth and the
innovative, textured translation. Banu's accentance sneech emphasized the collective achievement for
Kannada literature, highlighting the significance of regional vo ices in global literary discourse.
Banu's work continues to inspire and chalenge, offering a window into the complexities of
identity, faith and gender incontemporary [Link] journey from the bullock carts of rural Karnataka
to the global literary stage is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring spirit of
resistance.
a. Banu Mushtaq was born in
b. Where did Banu Mushtag study?
c. How did Mushtaq challenge societal norms during her youth?
d. Where did Banu Mushtaq work as a reporter?
e. Why did Banu Mushtaq face social boycott in 2000?
f. Name any two social issues which Bandaya Sahitya criticized?
g. What is the central theme of Heart Lamp: Selected Stories?
h. Who translated Heart Lamp into English?
i. Add a suitable prefix to the word 'legal' tomake its antonym.
OR
9x1=9
B. Read the following poemn and answer the questions set on it:
«The Crtches" Bertolt Brecht
Seven years 1 could not walk a step.
When I to the great physician came
He demanded: Why the crutches?
And Itold him: I am lame.

He replied: That's not surprising.

Be so good and try once more.
If you're lame, it's these contraptions.
Fall then! Crawl across the floor!

And he took my lovely crutches

Laughing with a fiend's grimace
Broke them both across my back and
Threw them in the fireplace.
Well. I'm cured now: I can walk.
Cured by nothing more than laughter.
Sometimes, though, when Isee sticks
I walk worse for some hours after.
walk?
a. How long was the speaker unable to
b. Whom did the speaker go to?
C. What did the physician demand?
the Physician?
d. Name any two suggestions given bycrutches?
e. Where did the physician throw the
f. How was the speaker cured?
sees sticks afterwards?
g. What happens to the speaker when he crutches?
h. What did the physician do with the lovely
1. Write the antonym of the word 'good'. PART -D
VI31. A. Re-write as directed. 4 x1=4
(i) The children were excited about the trip summer. (Use appropriate preposition)
(ii) quickly /the boy/ solved / puzzle / a/ difficult (Rearrange the above segments into a meaningful
sentence)
(ii) Neither the teacher nor the students (was /werc) rcady for the surprisc.
(Use appropriate verb that agrees with the subjcct)
(iv) A stitch in time (save) nine. (Fill in the blank with appropriate form of thc verb given)
OR
B. Fill in the blank with the right linker. 4 x I= 4
(so, because, and, but)
The Silver Maiden waited for the gallant horseman she loved him. he did not turn up,
she left the house went to the beach where her beloved had risked his life.
32. A. Re-write as directed: 2 x 1 =2
(i) She your classmate, ? (Add a suitable question tag)
(i) In 2010 India launched its first Mars Orbiter Mission. (Frame a 'wh' question so as to get the
underlined word as answer)
OR
B. Rectify the errors in the following sentences and rewrite them. 2x 1= 2
() A man built a biggest building in the town.
(ii) He don't like to eat spicy food.
33. Read the following passage and make notes by filling the boxes given below. 4 x ½= 2
The Eiffel Tower, located in Paris, was completed in 1889. It was built as the entrance arch to the
World's Fair held that year. Initially criticized by many artists, it later became one of the most famous
landmarks in the world. The Eifel Tower is made of wrought iron and stands at a height of 324
meters. It attracts millions of visitors every year and considered a symbol of France.
The Eiffel Tower

Completed in (1) Built as (2) Completed in (3)

Height of (4)

34. Report the following conversation. 5x 1=5

Don Gonzalo Iam fond of good verses. I even composed some my youth.
Dona Laura Good ones?
Don Goazalo Of all kinds. 1was a great friend of Esproneeda, Zorilla, Becquer and others.
1first met Zorrilla in America.
35. Complete the following dialogue. 3x 1 =3
Sandhya (Greetins)How are you?
Krishnaveni Hello Sandhya, I am fine.
Sandhya Could you please tell me the date of the debate competition?
Krishnaveni (Giving information)
Sandhya (Expressing gratitude)
PART - E
VII 36. A. Write a letter of application in response to the following advertisement which
th
appeared in "The Deccan Herald" dated: 10" October 2025. [Write XXX for your name and
YYY for your address) 1x5=5
Imperial Institute of Technology
Required Assistant Professor (Computer Science)
Qualification: [Link] (CS/IT) is compulsory. Candidates with NET/SET qualification and at least 3years
of teaching experience will be given preference. Should possess good communication and presentation
skills.
Apply within 15 days to:
The Principal,
Imperial Institute of Technology, Bengaluru.
OR
B. Imagine you are the Cultural Secretary of your college. On the occasion of the Annual Day
function, you are given the responsibility to welcome and introduce the Chief Guest Dr. Kavita
Rao. Prepare a speech in about 120 words using the following information: 1x5=5
Native of Huballi
Education Ph.D., in English Literature from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
Achievements
(a) Renowned author of three novels and several short stories
(b) Recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award
(c) Visiting Professor at Oxford University
(d) Active social worker and motivational speaker
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