Session 2024-2025

ENGLISH CORE
CLASS – XI
Sample Paper

General Instructions:

1. The Question paper contains THREE sections-

Section A - Reading Skills: 26 Marks

Section B -Grammar and Creative Writing Skills: 23 Marks

Section C -Literature (Text Book + Supplementary Reader: 31 Marks

2.Attempt the questions based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION A: READING SKILLS (26 Marks)

Q1. Read the following text carefully. 10

Punctuality is a necessary habit in public affairs of a civilized society. Without it nothing

could ever be brought to a conclusion, everything would be in a state of chaos. Only in a
sparsely populated rural community is it possible to disregard it. In ordinary living there can
be some tolerance of unpunctuality. The intellectual, who is working on some abstruse
problem, has everything coordinated and organized for the matter in hand. He is therefore
forgiven, if late for the dinner party. But people are often reproached for unpunctuality when
their only fault is cutting fine.

It is hard for energetic, quick-minded people to waste time, so they are often tempted to
finish a job before setting out to keep an appointment. If no accidents occur on the way, like
punctured tires, diversion of traffic, sudden descent of fog, they will be on time. They are
often more industrious, useful citizens than those who are never late. The over-punctual can
as much be a trial to others as the unpunctual. The guest who arrives half an hour too soon is
the greatest nuisance. Some friends of my family had this irritating habit. The only thing to
do was to ask them to come half an hour later than the other guests. Then they arrived just
when we wanted them. If you are catching a train, it is always better to be comfortably early
than even a fraction of a minute too late.

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 Although being early may mean wasting a little time, this will be less than if you miss the
train and have to wait an hour or so for the next one. And you avoid the frustration of
arriving at the very moment when the train is drawing out of the station and being unable to
get on it. An even harder situation is to be on the platform in a good time for a train and still
to see it go off without you.

Such an experience befell a certain young girl the first time she was travelling alone. She
entered the station twenty minutes before the train was due since her parents had impressed
upon her that it would be unforgivable to miss it and cause the friends with whom she was
going to stay to meet her. She gave her luggage to a porter and showed him her ticket. To
her horror, he said that she was two hours too soon. She felt in her handbag, for the piece of
paper on which her father had written down all the details of the journey and gave it to the

porter. He agreed that a train did come into the station at the time on the paper and that it did
stop, but only to take on water, not passengers. The girl asked to see a timetable, feeling sure
that her father could not have made such a mistake. The porter went to fetch one and arrived
back with the station master, who produced it with a flourish and pointed out a microscope
‘o’ beside the time of the arrival of the train at his station. This little ‘o’ indicated that the
train only stopped for water. Just at that moment, the train came into the station. The girl,
tears streaming down her face, begged to be allowed to slip into the guard’s van. But the
station master was adamant: rules could not be broken. And she had to watch that train
disappear towards her destination while she was left behind.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option. 2

It is better to reach the platform before the train arrives because ________.

A. You will have time to relax at the station

B. It’s good to waste some time in life

C. It can help you avoid frustrations of work

D. It’s better than watching the train leave in front of your eyes

ii. Comment on the writer’s reference to the features of energetic and quick-minded people. 1

iii. List the two ways which can hinder a punctual person from reaching a place on 1

time. (Clue: Think about the obstruction one may face)

iv. Select the option that conveys a similar meaning of ‘inflexible’, in the passage. 1

A. Over-punctual

B. Energetic

C. Adamant

D. Abstruse

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 v. Find a word opposite in meaning to clear/obvious in the passage: 1

A. community

B. abstruse

C. diversion

D. industrious

vi. Reaching early may mean wasting a little time. Based on your understanding of the given 1
passage, justify how reaching early does not always mean wasting time.

vii. Why is it fair to say that punctuality is necessary in a civilized society? 1

viii. Complete the given sentence with an appropriate inference, with respect to the following: 1

Some friends of my family have this irritating habit of arriving half an hour too early. We
can deal with them by -------------------------------------------------.

ix. The over-punctual can be as much a trial to others as the unpunctual 1

A. He has everything coordinated and organized.

B. He believes that the early bird gets the worm.

C. He is wasting as much time as the unpunctual ones.

D. There is hardly any difference between the unpunctual and over punctual.

Q2. Read the following text carefully. 1x8=8

1. E-learning is the process of acquiring knowledge through electronic technologies and

resources. A rise in the number of internet users has increased the market demand for
sophisticated online learning courses. According to the Office for National Statistics, nearly
all adults in the age group of 10 to 44 years in the UK were recent internet users (99 %) in
2019. The availability of enhanced network connectivity coupled with the convenience
offered by on-demand courses, will drive the market size.

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 2. According to the World Economic Forum, around 1.2 billion children are out of
classrooms with schools shut down globally due to COVID-19 pandemic. Electronic
Learning Management Systems such as Google Classroom is helping classes to connect
distantly. communicate efficiently and stay organized. Large scale national efforts to
leverage technology to the market players in support of distance education, remote, and
online learning during the covid-19 pandemic are emerging and evolving rapidly.

3. The virtual classroom technology in the e-learning market is expected to grow at a CAGR
(Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 11% during the forecast timespan. A virtual classroom
is a digital environment that enables live interaction between a tutor and a learner. Video
conferencing and online white-board for real-time collaboration are the most common tools
used in a digital teaching space. Synchronous and collaborative virtual classes allow active
participation of students, reacting to an environment similar to a physical classroom.

4. The technique is gaining traction with an increasing number of corporate and academic
sectors deploying it for enhanced training sessions. Multilateral organizations and world
bodies, such as WHO and G 20, are also deploying e- learning modes to teach healthcare
professionals.

5. Content providers segment accounted for around 60% e-learning market share in 2019 E-
learning providers share content on a varied range of topics by collaborating with domain
experts that help them to develop the learning content. They focus on offering specific and
customized content as per the end - user requirements.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above

i. Select the option that is true for the two statements given below. 1

1. According to the World Economic Forum, around 1.2 billion children are out of

classrooms.

2. Schools are shot down due to COVID-19 pandemic.

A. (1) is the result of (2).

B. (1) is the reason for (2).

C. (1) is independent of (2).

D. (1) contradicts (2).

ii. Multilateral organizations and world bodies are ________ to teach healthcare professionals. 1

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 iii. Select the option that lists the INCORRECT statement from the ones given below. 1

(I) E-learning is the process of acquiring knowledge through electronic technologies and
resources.

(II) All adults in the age group of 16 to 14 years in the UK were recent internet users (99%)
in 2019.

(III) A rise in the number of internet users has increased the market share physical

classroom.

(IV) Content providers segment accounted for around 60% e-learning share in 2010.

A. (III)

B. (IV) and (II)

C. (II) and (I)

D. (l)

iv. State the common tool used in digital teaching space. 1

v. What is the process of acquiring knowledge, through electronic technology and resources? 1

vi. Select the appropriate option to fill in the blank. 1

________ is gaining attention in the academic sectors.

A. Paperback

B. Virtual classrooms

C. E-books

D. Offline classes

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 vii. Pick the option that gives the correct meaning of the following statement from the 1

options given below.

The online market of learning is supposed to be maximized by 2026.

(I) Nearly all adults in the age group of 16 to 44 years in the LK were recent

internet users (99 %) in 2018.

(II) A virtual classroom is a sophisticated environment that enables live interaction

(III) The E-Learning market size is expected to reach $357 billion by 2026.

(IV) Video conferencing and online whiteboard are the most common tools used in

the World Economic Forum.

A. (I)

B. (IV)

C. (II)

D. (III)

viii. E-commerce providers share content on a varied range of topics. (True/false). 1

Q3. Read the following text carefully. 8

Leadership does not exist without followership. A leader has to be accepted by the group
which the former is supposed to lead. To gain acceptability, the leader should cause an
emotive impact on the group members.

The strength of character exhibited by leaders makes them dear to their followers. A leader
is one who effectively inspires followers to achieve worthwhile things. What character of the
leader motivates the followers? It is not pomp and show, neither flattery nor sanctioning
more incentives. Pomp and show create a sense of awe and the leader is deified rather than
emulated. Flattery is unrealistic and cannot serve as a long term motivational tool. A leader's
style should be one that can be emulated by all irrespective of cadre, class and calibre.
Simplicity in one's day-to-day conduct is the only thing that can be adopted by all. When the
leader is simple, he is counted as one belonging to the group of which he is the leader. That's
enough to motivate the people. Motivation is the innate quality that enables an individual or
group to contribute unlimitedly with limited means. It is the proud prerogative of
enlightened human beings.

XI ENGLISH CORE Sample Paper Page 6

 A leader needs to assume the role of a guide; quintessential of fulfilling the role is
knowledgeability. Technical and administrative knowledge of the guide in balanced quantity
and of right kind are essential. Technical knowledge is too vast to be acquired by a leader. At
best he is either 'Jack of all' or 'Master of few'. But he has to master the human relations
aspect of administration in all detail. And when the leader is good at this, his guidance is
sought and accepted, then he fulfils the role of a guide. The leader is a negotiator within and
outside the organisation.The leader shapes people and moulds character. To achieve this the
leader should maintain equanimity. Equanimity is keeping oneself poised and balanced at all
times. A leader is simply great if he can mould his followers with his frame of mind. He
does this by his own example.

i. Make notes on the passage in a suitable format using recognisable abbreviations wherever 5
necessary. Give a suitable title to the passage.

ii. Write a summary of the passage in about 50 words based on the notes made. 3

SECTION B: GRAMMAR AND CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS (23 Marks)

Q4. Fill In the blanks:- 1x7=7

i. My mother _____ (cook) in the kitchen now. (Fill tense correctly)

ii. She worked ------------------ to complete the project on time.

A) hard

B) hardly

C) harder

D) hardest

iii. The students were excited to watch ------------- interesting documentary.

A) an

B) a

C) the

D) many

Q5. Rewrite the sentences as directed:

i. of /a /inspiration /travel /has /source /been /always

ii. reading /habit /good /a /is /important /a /developing /for /skill

iii. The athlete was so exhausted. He could not run anymore.(Combine the sentences using 'too')

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 iv. The artist is painting a beautiful portrait. (Rewrite the sentence starting with 'A delicious
meal')

Q6. Attempt ANY ONE of two, in about 50 words. 3

A Principal, Sunrise Global School, Agra requires a receptionist for her school. Draft a suitable
advertisement in about 50 words to be published in the classified columns of a national
newspaper giving all the necessary details of qualifications and experience required in the
receptionist.

OR

B Write an advertisement in not more than 50 words for the Lost and Found column of the
daily ‘National Herald’, Lucknow stating the loss of your wallet containing a DD for Rs
32500 and some cash, while travelling by bus from Hazratganj to Nirala Nagar in Lucknow.
You are Raman/Roopa, 22 A Hazratganj, Lucknow.

Q7. Attempt ANY ONE of two, in about 50 words. 3

A You are a member of the SPCA. Draft a poster in not more than 50 words to create
awareness on the need to prevent cruelty to animals. You are Suhas/Suhasini.

OR

B Publicly we proclaim that dowry is an evil. Privately we want our sons to fetch good
dowries. Right from our school days we should be taught that demanding and even giving
dowry is not only illegal but immoral too. Draw a poster in about 50 words highlighting
dowry as a curse. You are Vikram/Sonia.

Q8. Attempt ANY ONE of two, in about 120-150 words. 5

A Rising incomes of the middle class families are leading to obesity among their children.
Poring over books for hours coupled with the lure of TV and the internet has led to a
sedentary lifestyle. Addiction to junk food is another cause of obesity. Write a speech in
150-200 words on obesity, its causes and how to prevent it.

OR

B Arun Kumar is a resident of Kalkaji. He is an active member of the citizen's forum. He is

shocked to read the news that the Government has decided to increase the prices of
petroleum products with immediate effect. He wants to enlighten fellow citizens about the
impact of Government decisions on the common man. Draft Arun’s speech in about 150-
200 words highlighting the impact of the hike in prices of petroleum products on the life of
common man.

Q9. Attempt ANY ONE of two, in about 120-150 words. 5

A Write a debate either for or against the motion: Admission to top-notch institutes guarantees
a successful career. (150 – 200 words)

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 OR

B ‘The policy of reservation of seats for admission to the professional courses is good for the
deprived sections of society.’ Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against the
motion.

SECTION C: Literature (Textual): 31 Marks

Q10. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two. 3

A Father and son, we both must live

On the same globe and the same land,

He speaks: I cannot understand

Myself, why anger grows from grief.

We each put out an empty hand,

Longing for something to forgive.

i. Where do the father and the son live?

ii. What does the father mean when he says: “We both must live on the same

globe and the same land.”?

iii. What can’t the father understand?

OR

B For song, issuing from its birthplace, after fulfilment, wandering

Reck’d or unreck’d, duly with love returns.

i. How does a song have its fulfillment?

ii. Explain the words: ‘reck’d or unreck’d’.

iii. What returns with love? Where does it return?

Q11. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 3

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 A A Flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky in the morning we said our goodbyes.
Extended banks of cloud-like long French loaves glowed pink as the sun emerged to splash
the distant mountain tops with a rose-tinted blush. Now that we were leaving Ravu, Lhamo
said she wanted to give me a farewell present. One evening I’d told her through Daniel that
I was heading towards Mount Kailash to complete the kora, and she’d said that I ought to
get some warmer clothes. After ducking back into her tent, she emerged carrying one of the
long-sleeved sheepskin coats that all the men wore. Tsetan sized me up as we clambered into
his car. "Ah, yes," he declared, "drokba, sir." We took a short cut to get off the Changtang.
Tsetan knew a route that would take us south-west, almost directly towards Mount Kailash.
It involved crossing several fairly high mountain passes, he said. "But no problem, sir", he
assured us, "if there is no snow." What was the likelihood of that I asked. "Not knowing, sir,
until we get there."

i. What did the clouds in the morning sky resemble as the sun emerged?

ii. Explain any one possible inference that can be drawn from Lhamo's gesture of giving the
protagonist a long-sleeved sheepskin coat as a farewell present in the passage.

iii. Identify the line from the text that bears evidence of the fact that the protagonist's association
with Lhamo and Ravu is not a recent one.

OR

B When I went up to University, I was given a room of my own. The common link of friendship
was snapped. My grandmother accepted her seclusion with resignation. She rarely left her
spinning-wheel to talk to anyone. From sunrise to sunset she sat by her wheel spinning and
reciting prayers. Only in the afternoon she relaxed for a while to feed the sparrows. While
she sat in the verandah breaking the bread into little bits, hundreds of little birds collected
round her creating a veritable bedlam of chirrupings. Some came and perched on her legs,
others on her shoulders. Some even sat on her head. She smiled but never shooed them
away. It used to be the happiest half-hour of the day for her.

i. What was the significance of the afternoon ritual where the grandmother fed sparrows, and
why was it the happiest half-hour of the day for her?

ii. If the grandmother were writing in her diary about her seclusion, what might have she
expressed? Answer with reference to the text.

iii. Pick evidence from the passage that suggests the grandmother found solace and happiness in
her daily interactions with sparrows?

Q12. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 4

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 A Andrew, abruptly recalled from the contemplation of his own affairs, told Morgan to wait.
He went into the house for his bag, then together they set out for Number 12 Blaina Terrace.
The night air was cool and deep with quiet mystery. Usually so perceptive, Andrew now felt
dull and listless. He had no premonition that this night call would prove unusual, still less
that it would influence his whole future in Blaenelly.

The two men walked in silence until they reached the door of Number 12, then Joe drew up
short.

i. Complete the sentence appropriately.

The author’s purpose in creating a mysterious environment, is to_______________.

ii. In the given extract, which of the following emotions was not felt by Andrew?

a. Thoughtful

b. Embarrassment

c. Listless

d. Upset

iii. Which trait of Andrew is highlighted in the line " Usually so perceptive, Andrew now felt
dull and listless "?

iv. How is the line, "He had no premonition that this night call would prove unusual", an
example of contrast?

0R

B A lovely name, John Byro said, for a lovely horse. I could swear it is the horse that was
stolen from me many weeks ago.

May I look into his mouth?

Of course, Mourad said, the farmer looked into the mouth of the horse. Tooth for tooth, he
said, I would swear it is my horse if I didn’t know your parents. The fame of your family for
honesty is well known to me. Yet the horse is the twin of my horse. A suspicious man would
believe his eyes instead of his heart. Good day, my young friends.

i. What does the line, ' A suspicious man would believe his eyes instead of his heart' suggest?

ii. How was John Byro feeling over his missing horse?

A. he was sad

B. he was overwhelmed

C. he got enraged

D. he was excited

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 iii. John Byro didn't suspect the boys. This is because _____________________.

iv. How did John Byro examine the horse and what was his conclusion?

Q13. Answer ANY TWO of the following four questions, in about 40-50 words. 2X3=6

i. Give reason: The boy king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun?

ii. What do you think the goldfinch does in the thickness of the laburnum tree?

iii. What did the travellers do to save themselves? [We are Not Afraid to Die]

iv. What did the poet realize when he was twelve years? Answer in context of

Childhood.

Q14. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 40-50 words. 3

i. How did Mrs. Dorling behave when the narrator visited her address?

ii. Who was George? What did people say about him at the club?

Q15. Answer ANY ONE of the following questions , in about 120 - 150 words . 6

i. Describe Gangadharpant’s journey by train from Pune to Bombay.

ii. Its silence silences, writes Shirley Toulson. The loss of mother has silenced her. Do you
think that this attitude of the poet is the right attitude to live life?

Why/ Why not?

Q16. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. 6

i. Mob psychology is beyond any reason. Politicians use this in their favour. A good leader can
use the mob to achieve some useful purposes or goals. Elucidate. Answer in the context of
The Tale of Melon City.

ii. Comment on the ending of the play Mother’s Day.

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