CLASS XI - ENGLISH I (LANGUAGE)
TIME: 3 Hrs. MM: 80
Attempt all four questions.
Question 01 [2 0]
Write a composition (in approximately 400-450 words) on any one of the following subjects. (You are
reminded that you will be rewarded for orderly and coherent presentation of the matter , use of
appropriate style and general accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar. )
i. Your class visited a nearby slum to distribute old books and to perform a street play promoting
literacy. Narrate the experience.
ii. What are major social problems associated with poverty? Describe how the economically
poorer section of the society is treated across the world.
iii. Materialism
iv. " Politicians charged with corruption should be disqualified for life from seeking an electoral
office ." Argue either for or against the topic.
v. Reading begets ideas and ideas govern the world. Present your reflections on the given topic.
vi. Write an original short story having the title , " The Gift ".
Question 02
(a) A flood has ravaged a coastal area in your country and you have been sent by your newspaper to
cover the news of the disaster. Write a report titled ‘FLOOD RAVAGES COASTAL AREAS.
Base your report on the following guidelines: [15]
How you reached that place – difficulty in getting there – description of scenes in the flood-ravaged area
– houses, roads, people, animals, past incidents of flood in that area – advance warning given to the
people – rescue work undertaken – relief being rushed – plans for managing natural calamities in future
(You may also include other relevant details)
(b) As the Head Boy / Head Girl of your school, you have been given the responsibility of establishing a
Gardening Club in your school. Write a proposal (in about 150 words) stating the steps you would
take to successfully establish the club . 10]
Question 3
Answer sections (a), (b) and (c)
(a) In each of the following items, sentence A is complete, but sentence B is not. Complete sentence B,
making it as similar in meaning to sentence A. Write down sentence B complete in each case. [5]
1. A. Only members of the club are eligible for the gift.
B. None..................................................................................................................
2. A. Unless we hurry , we will miss the bus.
B. If ......................................................................................................
3 A. They had no news of his whereabouts until Friday.
B. It was not..........................................................................................................
4. A. Both the suggestions made by him were not accepted.
B. Neither................................................................................................................
5. A. Promises should be kept.
B. One……………………………
(b) In the following sentences , replace the INCORRECT underlined words to make the sentences
meaningful and gramatically correct. (Do not copy the sentences) [5]
1. The old man has nothing to fall back forth in his old age.
2. The scheme fell down for want of funds.
3. The thief could not get out with the necklace.
4. He will soon get across the difficulties.
5. Do not go behind external appearance.
6. She went through the case for a week before giving her opinion.
7. How did you come into this rare book?
8. The result will come about soon.
9. The proposal was ruled over for being too expensive.
10. He once ruled upon a vast empire.
(c) Fill in the blanks in the passage given below with the appropriate form of the verb given in the
brackets. Do not rewrite the passage but write down the verbs in the correct order: [5]
Once there lived a priest who.....................(1) (be) very fond of milk. He lived on the bank of a river and
a milkmaid used to supply him milk from the other bank. However, the milk usually reached him late
since the milkmaid.....................(2) (wait) a long time for the boatman to ferry her across. One day when
the milkmaid was late, the priest reminded her that the devotees of God crossed the ocean of life
by.....................(3) (utter) the name of God. The milkmaid.....................(4) (be) happy to have a solution
to her problem. After this, the milkmaid always.....................(5) (supply) the priest with milk on time.
Curious to know how this was possible, the priest asked her the reason. The milkmaid answered that
this was possible because she crossed the river, uttering the name of the God, and had no
need.....................(6) (wait) for a boatman. The priest asked her to show him how she did this. As the
woman walked on the water, the priest, who also tried to do so, started.................(7) (sink) behind her.
The simple milkmaid .....................(8) (surprise) and told him that he.....................(9) (utter) the name of
God, while at the same time trying to save his clothes from getting wet. She told him that this showed he
did not.....................(10) (rely) on God completely.
Question 4
Read carefully the passage given below and answer the questions (a), (b) and (c) that follow: [20]
Karl Marx was no gentle dreamer; he was a fighter. As he examined the relation between the capitalists
and labourers of the world, his belief became clearer and sharper, until at last he was sure he was
dealing with a new science – the science of the means of production. He was sure that his ideas were
not dreams but solid scientific facts, and he, therefore, referred to himself as a scientific socialist.
Das Kapital is one the most important books ever written. In it Marx expressed some astonishing radical
ideas. According to his economic theory, all the wealth in the world is produced by human labour. This is
true of not only the goods turned out by factories themselves, which were also built by human toil, and
therefore, represent a type of frozen and stored up labour. It is the workers, said Marx, rather than the
capitalists, who have supplied this labour, and therefore, the wealth should belong to them. They do not
receive it, but are paid instead only a small fee for their efforts. The great difference between what the
workers produce and what they are paid is surplus wealth, which goes to the owners of the factory,
when it should go to the workers. Hence, the workers are being exploited or robbed, and the capitalists
are growing wealthy.
Das Kapital also included Marx’s philosophy of history. According to this philosophy, in every age the
social class that controls the source of wealth also controls the government and has the power over the
people. There is, however, a considerable overlapping. As the source of wealth change, the old group in
power tends to hang on to its control of the government. For example, the nobles of the Middle Ages
owned the land which was the key source of wealth at that time, they controlled the government. Then
the main factors of production changed but the nobles retained their control of the various governments
of Europe for many years. Finally, the businessmen, or capitalists, who controlled the new source of
wealth gained control of the government. They still control it, said Marx, but it is an unfair situation, and
will not continue. As wealth piles up, the factories and other means of production will fall into fewer and
fewer hands as the poor grow steadily poorer until at last a point will reached when everybody will be
living in misery to support a few fabulously wealthy individuals. This situation will be so intolerable and
so ridiculous that great masses of the workers will rise up, take industry away from its owners, and run it
for the benefit of the workers.
The ideas of Karl Marx have had a strong appeal for many people and had a profound effect on the
history of the world. Communism, one of the greatest forces in the 20th century, had its origins in the
writings of Karl Marx.
A. i. Given below are three words or phrases. Find the words which have a similar meaning in
the passage: [3]
1. revolutionary
2. to continue to keep possession of something
3. unbearable
For each of the words given below choose the sentence that uses the same word unchanged in
spelling, but with a different meaning form that which it carries in the passage:
[3]
1. means :
a) This word means the opposite of that .
b) The telephone is a means of communication.
c) As a result of this conflict , he lost both his home and his means of livelihood.
d) She is deprived of the means of supporting her life.
2. land:
a) Land sales are at an all- time high.
b) He bought 200 acres of land for commercial use.
c) Their home is on their ancestral land.
d) When will the flight land ?
3. still :
a) Do you still believe in the existence of spirits ?
b) She remained still for a while after hearing the news.
c) I was late still I was given entry.
d) We are still waiting for our new sofa set to be delivered.
B. Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:
i. Explain the economic theory put forward by Marx. [2]
ii. How is surplus wealth created? [2]
iii. How are the workers robbed by the capitalists? [2]
C. In not more than 100 words, summarise Marx’ philosophy of history. Failure to keep
within the word limit will be penalised. [8]
