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Roll No.

LITTLE FLOWER HOUSE CL

SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (AFFILIATED TO CBSE) VARANASI

PRE-BOARD EXAMINATION 2024-25

PRE
TIME: 3 Hrs. M.M: 80
CLASS XII : ENGLISH
SOLUTION
SECTION-A
READING SKILLS
1. Read the following text.
text [12]
(i) The narrator likens the books to 'new money from the mint,'
standing on the shelf in red and gold, promising to reveal the
secrets of banking and investment securities.
(ii) The narrator felt the conviction that life was beginning over
again with the summer.
summer Just as summer symbolises warmth,
growth and vitality similarly with
with a new beginning the author
intended to become a well rounded man by reading many
books and bringing literary pursuits back into his life.
(iii) unusual geographical formations
form
(iv) Midas
(v) (b) Books on finance and investment
(vi) (b) solemn
(vii) The speaker's determination to make a change is evidenced by
his purchase of books on finance and investment indicating a
desire for intellectual growth. He is inspired by the
t prospect of
renewal and the possibility symbolised by the arrival of
summer.
(viii) (b) Longing
(ix) (a) Reflective
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(x) The line suggests the speaker's perception of Tom's longing for
past excitement is akin to the intensity of a football game. It
reflects a sense of nostalgia and a belief that Tom may
endlessly pursue moments of exhilaration while being unable
to recapture them
2. Read the following text. [10]
(i) (i) 81
(ii) (c) 80%.
(iii) The Karnataka State Government has initiated projects like the
Cauvery Water Supply Scheme Stage V to augment water supply
and efforts to rejuvenate lakes and promote rainwater harvesting.
However, progress remains slow due to implementation
challenges and inadequate infrastructure.
(iv) Groundwater over-extraction reduces long-term water availability
and risks land subsidence, causing the ground to sink. It also
lowers water quality, making it unsuitable for consumption,
threatening the city's water security.
(v) (a) I, III, IV and V
(vi) Rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment are two critical
components for addressing Bangalore's water crisis.
(vii)Factors like rapid urbanisation, population growth and inefficient
water management strain Bangalore's water resources. For
instance, the shortfall in water supply from the Cauvery River
leads to over extraction of groundwater, causing depletion and
posing risks of land subsidence and water quality degradation.
(viii) (b) 1-1.5 meters
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SECTION-B
CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS
Note: All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessment purpose.
3. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 50 words. [4]
A.
St. Mark's School, Janakpuri, New Delhi
NOTICE
12th August, 20XX
Session on 'Study Skills'
This is to inform all the students from Classes IX to XII that the
eminent psychologist Dr. Samir Parikh will visit our school on 15th
October, 20XX. He will conduct a session on "Study Skills' at 9:00
am in the school auditorium. Students are requested to assemble in the
auditorium before 8:50 am positively.
Anil/Amira
(Coordinator)
OR
B.
Residents' Welfare Association, Lotus Society, Noida Sector 16
NOTICE
12th April, 20XX
Flood Relief Team
This is to inform all residents of the society that the members of our
organisation have decided to visit the flood affected families in
Rishikesh on the coming 20th April, 20XX. We are looking for
volunteers to set up a team that can provide necessary relief to the
flood victims. Interested members are requested to contact the
undersigned at the latest by 15th April, 20XX.

Ankita/Arnav
President, RWA
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4. Attempt ANY ONE of the two (A) or (B) in about 50 words. [4]
A.

The Principal, Staff and Students

of St. Joseph School, Dehradun solicit the pleasure of
your company in the celebration of

WORLD DISABILITY DAY

in their school campus at

11 am on Saturday, 3rd December, 20XX

Dr. Sudha Menon, the Minister of Social Welfare will
grace the occasion as the Chief Guest

RSVP
Principal
St. Joseph School, Dehradun
Contact No. 9845679211

OR
B. M-114, Fort Road
Chennai-600009
16th March, 20XX
Dear Shivam
It was a great pleasure to receive the invitation to attend your
sister Soniya's wedding. I would have loved to attend the
wedding but my Pre-board exams are going on and I have maths
exam on that day. Thus, I will not be able to attend the wedding.
Wishing the soon-to-be married couple a very happy and
prosperous life ahead.
Yours sincerely
Pooja/Poonam Vij
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5. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 120-150 words. [5]

A. 16, Shivpuri
Modinagar-201204
18th June, 20XX

The Editor
Amar Ujala
Meerut

Subject: Problems due to long power cuts

Sir/Ma'am
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to
highlight the grave issue of frequent and prolonged power cuts in
Shivpuri locality in Modinagar. These power outages have
disrupted the daily lives of the residents, causing immense
inconvenience.
The power cuts, often lasting for hours, have severely impacted
working professionals who rely on electricity to meet deadlines.
Students find their study schedules disrupted, especially during
examination periods. Additionally, electrical appliances remain
unused, resulting in further distress. The heat and humidity
exacerbate the situation, leading to health problems like heat
strokes among the elderly and children.
I urge the concerned authorities to address this issue promptly by
ensuring an uninterrupted power supply and upgrading the
infrastructure. Your support in bringing this matter to light will be
greatly appreciated.
Thanking you,
Yours truly
Manish/Manisha Rastogi
OR
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B. 29-D, Shanti Park

Bengaluru
11th June, 20XX
The Managing Director
St. Darwin Convent Library
Bengaluru

Subject : Application for the Post of Assistant Librarian

Sir/Ma'am
With reference to your advertisement in 'The Times of India'
dated 10th August, 20XX for the post of Librarian, I wish to
submit my candidature.
I possess requisite qualifications and experience. I have a
Master's degree in Library Science from Delhi University with
first class division. I am currently working with a convent school
as a Librarian for the past 3 years and have earned respect from
my seniors for my work. I am enclosing my bio-data for your
kind consideration. I shall be available for interview on any day
at your convenience. If selected, I assure you that I will work to
the best of my ability with dedication and sincerity.
Thanking you
Yours truly
Rita Arora
Encl: Bio-data

Bio-Data

Name Rita/Rajesh Arora

Father's Name Jai Arora
Mother's Name Priya Arora
Address 29–D, Shanti Park, Bengaluru
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Date of Birth 14th March, 1996

Sex Male/Female
Language known Hindi, English, Punjabi
Marital Status Unmarried
Nationality Indian
Educational Qualification
Exam Passed Board/University Year Division Percentage

High School C.B.S.E. 2012 First 68%

Intermediate C.B.S.E. 2014 Second 55.8%

Bachelor's in Delhi University 2017 First 73%

Library Science

Master's in Delhi University 2019 Second 54%

Library Science

Work Experience
Currently working with St.

Anslem School, Delhi for the past
2 years
Expected Salary 50,000 – 60,000
References
Shri CK Gupta, Head Librarian,
St. Anslem School, Delhi
Phone 956212XXXX
E-mail [email protected]
6. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 120-150 words. [5]
A. The Role of Media in Influencing Today’s Youth
By Binod Trivedi, Class XII-A
In today’s digital age, the media plays a significant role in
shaping the thoughts and behaviour of young people. With
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constant access to news, social media, and entertainment

platforms, the youth are bombarded with information from all
directions. Unfortunately, some of this content is misleading,
promoting unhealthy trends and behaviours.
One major issue is the attraction toward Western culture
propagated through various media outlets. The portrayal of flashy
lifestyles, anti-social activities, and distorted information often
leads the youth to adopt unrealistic aspirations and deviate from
their cultural values. Fake news and misinformation, spread
widely through media channels, further add to their confusion,
affecting their decision-making and perspectives.
It is essential to address these challenges responsibly. Media
platforms should ensure authenticity and promote positive,
educational content. Parents, educators, and society must guide
the youth in consuming media critically and responsibly. By
doing so, we can empower young minds to differentiate between
right and wrong and make informed choices for a better future.
OR
B. Road Rage: Denied Right of Way While Driving, Man
Opens Fire
By Lalit/Lalita, Staff Correspondent, The Times of India

Bengaluru, 29th December, 20XX: An unfortunate case of road

rage unfolded near the city’s bustling MG Road yesterday. A
heated altercation between a truck driver and a motorist escalated
into a violent incident, leaving bystanders shocked.
The chaos began when a man, visibly enraged, fired a shot at the
truck driver following a minor accident. Thankfully, the shot
missed its target, avoiding a potential tragedy. The driver
managed to escape harm, and the police were alerted
immediately. Swift action led to the arrest of the assailant, who
now faces charges of attempted murder.
This incident highlights the growing menace of aggressive
driving and impulsive behaviour on roads. Authorities must
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implement stricter traffic rules and public awareness campaigns

to curb such incidents. Citizens must also exercise patience to
ensure safer roads for everyone.

SECTION-C
LITERATURE
7. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of
the two given. [6]
A. (i) 'enforcing benefits'.
(ii) (a) Coordinated help
(iii) the traditional and longstanding sleeping patterns and
night time rituals that have been part of the rural
community's lifestyle for generations
(iv) Irony
(v) (d) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
(vi) The cautionary advice my address to the rural poor is
most likely to include the following words. Be
careful/wary of involvements by outsiders that might
appear benevolent. In the long run, they take away your
freedom/autonomy and dull your critical thinking
abilities.
OR
B. (i) The phrase is : 'without rush, without engines'.
(ii) (b) To invite readers as part of the poem's larger call to
humanity
(iii) a moment which is unfamiliar and has never existed on this
earth
(iv) that such a moment has never been lived before
(v) (a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the
Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion
(vi) The word 'arms' suggests the use of weapons in wars and the
use of arms of human beings to create chaos.
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8. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE
of the two given. [4]
A. (i) to walk slowly
(ii) Bama took a lot of time to reach home because she seemed
to stop at all the stalls, shops and entertainment between her
school and home.
(iii) (d) All of these
(iv) From the given extract, we can infer that Bama was a curious
girl who enjoyed the various experiences of life.
B. (i) of the prediction that he would be killed by the hundredth
tiger
(ii) sarcastic.
(iii) (b) Wilful and arrogant
(iv) No one dared to disobey the Maharaja because they were
scared due to the proclamation/because of the King's egoistic
temperament.
9. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE
of the two, given. [6]
A. (i) The young men echo the lament of their elders' means the
elders failed to achieve anything and now even the young
men of their community are in a similar state.
(ii) to continue something
(iii) ability to dream and take initiative
(iv) False
(v) (c) though she is married, her eyes are devoid of happiness
(vi) (b) pessimistic
OR
B. (i) The word 'prodigy' in the extract refers to a young person
with exceptional qualities and abilities.
(ii) To see Danny Casey momentarily hovering on the ball
(iii) the arcade
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(iv) We can relate the football match and idol worship with
reference to Sophie through the star athlete Danny Casey.
Sophie as a teenager worships Danny Casey, who is her idol.
She likes him so much that she goes to see the match he is
playing along with her family.
(v) (a) the children were delighted to meet their new teacher.
(vi) (d) Both (a) and (b)
10. Answer ANY FIVE of the following six questions in about 40-50
words. [5×2=10]
(i) The author's writing style in 'The Interview' deeply affects the
reader's understanding of the story. In the story, the author often
blends a conversational tone with introspective moments. The
use of direct dialogues with reflective commentary not only
makes the interactions more dynamic and engaging but enhances
the reader's insight into the complexities of personalities and
themes being explored.
(ii) The pain of separation in 'My Mother at Sixty-Six' is one of
physical separation since the poet was leaving her mother in
Cochin while catching her flight. The metaphorical separation is
one that the poet fears. She fears an eternal separation from her
mother because of her death.
(iii) Stephen Spender was an anti-communist similar to the people at
Gemini Studios. He had been invited by the Boss who had no
knowledge of Spender's background to talk about his journey
into Communism and his return after being disillusioned with
Communism.
(iv) 'Grandeur' is associated with the 'mighty dead' because of the
grand deeds and achievements of our ancestors. Their
achievements made their lives extraordinary. Therefore, the
grandeur of the mighty dead is a thing of beauty that is a source
of inspiration for all.
(v) Edla's kindness, empathy, and trust in the peddler's inherent
goodness deeply moved him. Unlike the crofter's transactional
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hospitality, Edla treated him with dignity, even after discovering

his deceit. Her genuine care and belief in his potential to reform
inspired him to embrace honesty and redemption.
(vi) Gandhi's acceptance of the 25% refund was a strategic move. It
was not about the amount but about asserting the peasants' rights
and breaking the planters' moral authority. This partial victory
symbolized their empowerment and set a precedent for justice,
making it a wise decision.
11. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions in about
40-50 words. [2×2=4]
(i) It is true that, on hearing the conversation of the two women at
the bus stop, Derry was affected deeply and upset. They were
talking about his burned face which, according to them, was
terrible. They further added that only a mother could love such
a face. For Derry, it was a cruel thing to say.
(ii) Antarctica is important in the study of history of Earth because
it holds in its ice-cores half a million year old to go. Its vast
white landscape and blue horizon give scientists a perfect
platform to understand the planet's past, present and future.
(iii) Yes, like Sadao and Hana in 'The Enemy', we all need a moral
compass. The moral compass would help us in judging what is
right and wrong, and would direct us ethically. This is all the
more important in the modern world wherein humans have
become selfish and self-centered. With a moral compass, we
would retain all those ethics and values that make us good.
12. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 120-
150 words. [5]
(i) In the world we live, we find that inequalities are common place.
There are communities which bear the brunt of these inequalities.
Two of such communities are presented in the poems "The
Roadside Stand" and "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers".
"A Roadside Stand' focuses on the economic disparities between
rural and urban areas as well as lifestyles. It depicts the struggles
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of rural individuals facing economic inequality and explores the

loss of traditional ways of life due to modernisation and
industrialisation. In doing so, It points out how the rural
communities are exploited by those in power. As a result, they
are struggling to make ends meet, leading to feelings of
frustration and helplessness.
'Aunt Jennifer Tigers' delves into the gender-based inequalities
within marriage and society. It illustrates the oppression faced by
Aunt Jennifer within her marriage Through Aunt Jennifer, it
reflects on the expectations and restrictions placed on women and
explores the theme of domestic suppression and its impact on
women's autonomy.
As such, both the poems presents people or bearers who face the
psychological and emotional toll of their respective inequalities,
resulting in a longing for freedom face the psychological They
are suppressed and are not free to do what they wish. However,
despite their challenges, the bearers in both poems demonstrate a
desire to assert themselves through small acts of defiance or
dreams of liberation.
(ii) Hello everyone!
You all know that I love reading and this passion of mine made
me read the short story 'The Last Lesson' by Alphonse Daudet
and I am moved! It presents the reality of our life. We often do
not pay attention to the small things in our life for example- our
language Hindi. We often postpone things with the view that we
will get much more time later. We keep on postponing things and
only when it is lost to us do we regret it. This is what exactly
happened in the short story.
People of Alsace and Lorraine along with Franz do not respect
their language. They don't pay much importance to the native
language and postpone learning it. Franz keeps on postponing his
learning for tomorrow. He is not serious about learning his own
mother tongue as he says, "Bah, I've got plenty of time. I'll learn
it tomorrow." Unfortunately that 'tomorrow' never comes.
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The day Franz comes to know that his French teacher was leaving
the village forever and there will be no teaching of French from
now, he was shocked and surprised. He felt guilty that he has not
bothered to learn French, his mother tongue when M Hamel was
trying to teach.
Many of us do the same thing and keep postponing our learning
or action for some another day. But everyone must remember that
it should be now or never. If we are reluctant to learn something
new, we will continue our reluctance and one day the opportunity
to do something or learn something will be no more.
13. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about
120-150 words. [5]
(A) In the story, 'The Third Level', Jack Finney masterfully uses
narrative techniques like blending fantasy with reality, vivid
descriptions, and a nostalgic tone to convey the themes of
escapism and nostalgia. The protagonist, Charley, discovers a
mysterious "Third Level" at Grand Central Station, which acts as
a gateway to the peaceful 1890s. This imagined place symbolizes
Charley's desire to escape from the harsh realities of his modern,
stressful life.
Finney uses detailed imagery to make the third level feel real.
Charley describes the scene vividly, mentioning dim gaslights,
brass spittoons, and people dressed in 19th-century attire, such as
derby hats and pocket watches. These descriptions evoke a sense
of longing for a simpler, slower-paced era.
The theme of escapism is further highlighted when Charley tries
to buy tickets to Galesburg, Illinois, a serene town from the past.
Galesburg represents an ideal world free from the anxieties of
war and industrialization. Moreover, the letter from Sam,
Charley's psychiatrist, written on old stationery from 1894, adds a
fascinating twist. It blurs the line between reality and fantasy,
reinforcing the idea that this longing for the past is universal and
timeless.
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Through these techniques, Finney effectively portrays how

people yearn for an idealized past to find solace in times of
distress. This narrative resonates deeply with readers,
encouraging them to reflect on their own nostalgic tendencies.
OR
(B) Good morning to one and all present here. Today, I am going to
talk about the very sensitive issue of loneliness among the
physically disabled.
Before that, however, think about how you would feel if you are
shunned from the society and forced to live a lonely life. The
answer is clear, you would be devastated. Then, why do we make
our physically challenged peers feel the same way. We all see
that people with some physical disability or impairment are often
pitied and ridiculed by others. This makes them develop a sense
of inferiority. They form a shell around themselves and begin to
lead a life of seclusion. We all see this loneliness in the central
characters of the story 'On the Face of It'. In the case of Mr.
Lamb, he expresses his feelings of pain at his loneliness at many
instances throughout the play. He lives alone in his house and
spends much time watching, listening and thinking which shows
that he lacks company. When Derry asks him to name some
friends, he is unable to do so.
Derry was himself an introvert. Because of his disfigured face,
nobody wanted to talk to him. As a result, he is bitter and has a
negative view of life. His coming back to meet Mr. Lamb again
shows his craving for companionship.