CLASS XII

HOLIDAY HOMEWORK
(SESSION 2025-26)
SUBJECT: ENGLISH CORE

LITERATURE
NAME:___________________________ ROLL NO: ___________________
CLASS & SEC:____________________ BRANCH: ___________________

EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS:

1. "...Driving from my parent’s
home to Cochin last Friday morning,
I saw my mother, beside me,
doze, open-mouthed, her face
ashen like that of a corpse…"
i. What does the simile “ashen like that of a corpse” suggest?
A. The mother is joyful
B. The mother is tired but healthy
C. The mother is lifeless and fragile
D. The mother is pretending to sleep
ii. What is the meaning of “ashen” in the given context?
A. Energetic C. Wrinkled
B. Grey and lifeless D. Healthy and pink
iii. Which line most vividly shows the poet’s fear of death?
Ans: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
iv. Why is the setting of the car journey significant in the poem? Provide inference.
Ans: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
v. Complete the following suitably:
The mother's sleeping posture suggests about her condition that _______________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. “Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth,
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for a second, and not move our arms so much.”
i. What is the primary purpose of counting to twelve in the poem?
A. To make time pass quickly
B. To encourage mindfulness and stillness
C. To engage in a game
D. To prepare for an event
ii. The poet’s tone in this extract is best described as:
 A. Urgent and demanding C. Sad and nostalgic
B. Peaceful and contemplative D. Critical and satirical
iii. Pick the phrase that best reflects the poet’s call for global pause and unity.
Ans: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
iv. What does the phrase “without engines” primarily represent?
Ans: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
v. Complete the following suitably:
The phrase “sudden strangeness” refers to the unfamiliar experience of ______________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. “When I passed the town hall there was a crowd in front of the bulletin-board. For the last two
years all our bad news had come from there — the lost battles, the draft, the orders of the
commanding officer — and I thought to myself, without stopping, ‘What can be the matter now?”
i. The bulletin-board had become a symbol of:
A. Joyful announcements C. Daily routines
B. French victories D. Constant bad news and fear
ii. The tone of the narrator in this extract is:
A. Indifferent and casual C. Tense and foreboding
B. Cheerful and excited D. Humorous and ironic
iii. Pick the phrase that best conveys a sense of anxious anticipation.
Ans: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
iv. What does the phrase “lost battles, the draft” imply in the context of the story?
A. Administrative orders from the school
B. Notices for regional celebrations
C. Evidence of France’s declining power during the war
D. Routine public announcements
v. Complete the following suitably:
The crowd gathering in front of the bulletin-board reflects ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. “Does he like the job? I ask. His face, I see, has lost the carefree look. The steel canister seems
heavier than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his shoulder. The bag was his. The
canister belongs to the man who owns the tea shop. Saheb is no longer his own master!”
i. Complete the following:
The narrator’s observation about Saheb’s face and the canister suggests about ________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ii. Complete the following analogy.
The plastic bag is to freedom as the steel canister is to ______________________.
iii. What does the comparison between the plastic bag and steel canister symbolise?
A. Saheb’s strength
B. Contrast between poverty and wealth
C. Burden of responsibilities and loss of autonomy
D. Change in physical habits
iv. Identify and explain the literary device in “The bag was his. The canister belongs to the
man.”
Ans: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
v. Which line indicates that Saheb has lost his independence?
Ans: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. “Then all effort ceased. I relaxed. Even my legs felt limp; and a blackness swept over my brain. It
wiped out fear; it wiped out terror. There was no more panic. It was quiet and peaceful. Nothing to
be afraid of. This is nice... to be drowsy... to go to sleep... no need to jump... too tired to jump... it’s
nice to be carried gently... to float along in space... tender arms around me... tender arms like
Mother’s... now I must go to sleep...”
i. What emotion dominates this part of the passage?
A. Eagerness C. Anger
B. Helplessness mixed with comfort D. Excitement
ii. Complete the following:
The comparison to “tender arms like Mother’s” reveals the narrator’s longing for _____________.
iii. Choose the correct meaning of “limp” in the context of the extract:
A. Lifeless or weak C. Rigid
B. Enthusiastic D. Flexible
iv. Identify the literary device used in “tender arms like Mother’s.” What does it convey?
Ans: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
v. What does the narrator mean by “it’s nice… to float along in space”?
A. He is physically flying.
B. He imagines drowning as drifting peacefully.
C. He feels sleepy and content.
D. He wants to travel in space.

6. “The clerk figured the fare — he glanced at my fancy hatband, but he figured the fare — and I had
enough for two coach tickets, one way. But when I counted out the money and looked up, the clerk
was staring at me. He nodded at the bills. ‘That ain’t money, mister,’ he said, ‘and if you’re trying to
skin me, you won’t get very far,’ and he glanced at the cash drawer beside him."
i. Why did the clerk react with suspicion toward the narrator?
A. The narrator was trying to buy more than two tickets
B. The narrator was using outdated money
C. The narrator was dressed in a suspicious way
D. The narrator offered unfamiliar currency that didn’t match the time period
ii. Complete the following suitably:
The extract shows a conflict arising when the narrator attempts to ___________
iii. Select the suitable option to complete the following:
The expression “trying to skin me” most likely suggests the clerk believed the narrator was ___
A. joking with him C. giving fake compliments
B. attempting to cheat him D. stealing from the shop
iv. How does the narrator’s perception differ from the clerk’s?
Ans: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
v. What tone does the clerk’s dialogue reflect?
A. Calm and welcoming C. Curious and polite
B. Aggressive and suspicious D. Disinterested and cold

7. “The Maharaja’s tiger hunts continued to be highly successful. Within ten years he was able to kill
seventy tigers. And then, an unforeseen hurdle brought his mission to a standstill. The tiger
population became extinct in the forests of Pratibandapuram.”
i. The Maharaja’s hunt leading to the extinction of tigers is most similar to:
A. Planting trees in a desert B. Saving money for the future
 C. Overfishing until a lake dries up D. Collecting coins as a hobby
ii. Complete the following suitably:
The Maharaja’s mission was interrupted due to ______________________.
iii. Select the suitable option to complete the following:
The use of the term “extinct” in this context emphasizes the ____________ of the King’s actions.
A. Glory C. ignorance of rules
B. finality and destruction D. respect for nature
iv. What does the phrase “unforeseen hurdle” imply about the Maharaja’s planning and
obsession?
Ans: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
v. Which of the following best describes the tone of the extract?
A. Humorous and admiring C. Melancholic and nostalgic
B. Critical and ironic D. Objective and scientific

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS:

1. What does M. Hamel’s insistence on French being taught symbolize?
A. Patriotism and cultural preservation C. His last attempt at redemption
B. Dislike for German control D. Change in curriculum rules
2. The villagers attending the class signified:
A. Disobedience to the German rule
B. Their love for M. Hamel
C. A silent resistance and realization of loss
D. A random gathering out of curiosity
3. What theme is explored through the bangle-makers of Firozabad?
A. Disinterest in education
B. Exploitation and entrapment in traditions
C. Government apathy
D. Fashion industry problems
4. Which of this best reflects the condition of children in Seemapuri?
A. Well-fed and educated C. Living on the edge of survival
B. Enjoying childhood freely D. Voluntarily homeless
5. What lesson does the author learn from overcoming his fear?
A. Importance of self-defence C. Physical strength is key
B. Mind's power over fear D. One must always swim with others
6. What helped the author finally overcome his fear?
A. Determination and daily practice C. Learning from books
B. Friends’ support D. Avoiding water entirely
7. Why does the poet hide her emotions in the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six?
A. She doesn’t want to make her mother sad
B. She feels ashamed
C. She doesn’t like emotional farewells
D. She is in denial
8. “Fishermen not harming whales” implies:
A. Pause in exploitation C. Increase in fish stocks
B. Temporary ban D. Nature’s recovery on its own
9. What does the third level symbolize?
A. Lack of space in New York B. Desire to escape modern chaos
 C. A literal train station floor D. Urban development
10. Why did the king ban tiger hunting for others?
A. To ensure tiger population
B. To maintain hunting rights exclusively
C. To scare people
D. To preserve ecology

ASSERTION-REASON BASED:

1. Assertion (A): M. Hamel blamed the villagers and parents for neglecting the French
language.
Reason (R): The parents preferred sending children to work on the farms instead of to
school.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
2. Assertion (A): Mukesh's desire to become a mechanic reflects his rebellion.
Reason (R): He blindly follows his family's footsteps.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
3. Assertion (A): William Douglas feared water because of a childhood accident.
Reason (R): A bully pushed him into the deep end of the YMCA pool.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
4. Assertion (A): The author ultimately learned to swim through persistence.
Reason (R): He depended completely on his trainer and made no individual effort.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
5. Assertion (A): The poet turns her face away from her mother at the airport.
Reason (R): She saw the young trees sprinting indicating the rapid passage of time.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
6. Assertion (A): The poem promotes inactivity as a permanent way of life.
Reason (R): Silence and idleness are signs of wisdom.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
7. Assertion (A): Charley believes the third level is a real escape from modern life.
Reason (R): He finds physical evidence, like old-style currency and Sam’s letter.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
8. Assertion (A): The astrologer’s prediction proved ironically true.
Reason (R): The King’s obsession with avoiding his fate ultimately led to it.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
9. Assertion (A): The poet advocates complete stillness to create unity and peace.
Reason (R): Stillness can’t help us reflect on our actions and reconnect with others.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
10. Assertion (A): The bangle-makers of Firozabad remain trapped in poverty across
generations.
Reason (R): They are bound by societal norms and lack collective resistance.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.

NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES
1. What are the major narrative techniques employed by Jack Finney in The Third Level?
List them in bullet points without elaboration.

2. Identify the key narrative techniques used by Kalki in the satirical story The Tiger King.
Mention the techniques as bullet points only, without explanations.

CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS

1. As Head Girl/Head Boy of your school, draft a notice in about 50 words, informing students
about a Digital Detox Workshop being organized in collaboration with a tech-wellness NGO.
Encourage participation with a catchy tagline.

2. You are Riya/Ronit, a student of Class XII. You are concerned about how physical libraries
are being replaced by search engines and quick digital access to information.
Write an article in about 120-150 words for your school magazine on the topic "Libraries vs.
Search Engines: What Are We Really Losing?"

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