CBSE Sample Papers for Class 11 English Set 2 with Solutions

Students must start practicing the questions from CBSE Sample Papers for Class 11 English with Solutions Set 2 are designed as per the revised syllabus.

CBSE Sample Papers for Class 11 English Set 2 with Solutions

Time : 3 hours
Maximum Marks : 80

General Instructions:

The Question paper is divided into three sections: Section A: Reading 26 marks, Section B: Writing Skills and Grammar 23 marks, Section C: Literature 31 marks.
All questions are compulsory.
You may attempt any section at a time.
Allquestions of that particular section must be attempted in the correct order.

Section-A
Reading (26 marks)

Question 1.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: (10 marks)
1. He, Mehmood the kite-maker, had in the prime of his life been well known throughout the city. Some of his more elaborate kites once sold for as much as three or four rupees each.

2. At the request of the Nawab, he had once made a very special kind of kite, unlike any that had been seen in the district. It consisted of a series of small, very light paper disks trailing on a thin bamboo frame. To the end of each disk he fixed a sprig of grass, forming a balance on both sides.

The surface of the foremost disk was slightly convex, and a fantastic face was painted on it, having two eyes made of small mirrors. The disks, decreasing in size from head to tail, assumed an undulatory form und gave the kite the appearance of a crawling serpent. It required great skill to raise this cumbersome device from the ground and only Mehmood could manage it.

3. Everyone had heard of the ‘Dragon Kite’ that Mehmood had built and word went round that it possessed supernatural powers. A large crowd assembled in the open to watch its first public launching in the presence of the Nawab.

4. At the first attempt, it refused to leave the ground. The disks made a plaintive, protesting sound and the sun was trapped in the little mirrors, making the kite a living, complaining creature. Then the wind came from the right direction and the Dragon Kite soared into the sky, wriggling its way higher and higher, the sun still glinting in its devil-eyes. And when it went very high, it pulled fiercely on the twine and Mehmood’s young sons had to help him with the reel.

Still the kite pulled, determined to be free, to break loose, to live a life of its own. And eventually it did so. The twine snapped, the kite leaped away toward the sun, sailing on heavenward until it was lost to view. It was never found again and Mehmood wondered afterwards if he made too vivid, too living a thing of the great kite. He did not make another like it. Instead he presented to the Nawab a musical kite, one that made a sound like a violin when it rose in the air.

5. Those were more leisurely, more spacious days. But the Nawab had died years ago and his descendants were almost as poor as Mehmood himself. Kite-makers, like poets, once had their patrons; but no one knew Mehmood, simply because there were too many people in the Gali and they could not be bothered with their neighbours.

6. When Mehmood was younger and had fallen sick, everyone in the neighbourhood had come to ask after his health; but now, when his days were drawing to a close, no one visited him. Most of his old friends were dead and his sons had grown up: one was working in a local garage and the other, who was in Pakistan at the time of the Partition, had not been able to rejoin his relatives.

7. The children who had bought kites from him ten years ago were now grown men, struggling for a living; they did not have time for the old man and his memories. They had grown up in a swiftly changing and competitive world and they looked at the old kite-maker and the banyan tree with the same indifference.

8. Both were taken for granted-permanent fixtures that were of no concern to the raucous, sweating mass of humanity that surrounded them. No longer did people gather under the banyan tree to discuss their problems and their plans; only in the summer months did a few seek shelter from the fierce sun.
A. On the basis of your reading of the passage, select the most appropriate answer from the given options : (1 x 6 = 6)
1.1. On whose request did Mehmood make the kite?
(A) the public
(B) the Nawab
(C) his sons
(D) his neighbours
Answer:
(B) the Nawab

1.2. What did the crowd believe the kite possessed?
(A) will of its own
(B) hundred parts
(C) long tail
(D) Supernatural powers
Answer:
(D) Supernatural powers

1.3. Later Mehmood presented the Nawab with a _________.
(A) musical kite
(B) colourful kite
(C) dragon kite
(D) sitar shaped kite
Answer:
(A) musical kite

1.4. Which of the following happened first?
(A) The death of Nawab
(B) The dragon kite flying away
(C) The sun’s rays falling on the mirrors on the dragon kite
(D) The musical kite presented to Nawab by Mehmood
Answer:
(C) The sun’s rays falling on the mirrors on the dragon kite

1.5. What prefix should be added to the word natural to make the meaning ‘attributed to some force beyond the laws of nature’
(A) unnatural
(B) supernatural
(C) in natural
(D) By natural
Answer:
(B) supernatural

1.6. The descendants of the Nawab were almost as poor as Mehmood himself means
(A) That Nawab’s relatives were poor like Mehmood.
(B) The Nawab’s relatives were poor like the Nawab.
(C) The Nawab’s relatives were poor like the people in the neighbourhood.
(D) The Nawab’s relatives were poor like the people working in the local garage.
Answer:
(A) That Nawab’s relatives were poor like Mehmood.

B. Answer the following questions as briefly as possible: (Do any 4) (1 x 4 = 4)
2.1. He _________, had in the prime of his life been well known throughout the city.
Answer:
Mehmood, the kite-maker

2.2. The surface of the foremost disk was slightly _________.
Answer:
Convex

2.3. Everyone had heard of the _________ that Mehmood had built and word went around that it possessed supernatural powers.
Answer:
‘Dragon kite’

2.4. Those were more _________, more spacious days.
Answer:
leisurely

2.5. Which word in the passage means ‘having a wavelike appearance or form’ (para 2)
Answer:
undulatory

2.6. Which word in the passage means ‘strong thread or string’ (para 4)
Answer:
twine

Question 2.
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. (1 x 8 = 8)
1. The revolution in information technology (IT), far from helping India to leapfrog to a post-industrial society, threatens to rupture the social fabric by enriching a few at the cost of many.

2. In a very short time and quite unexpectedly, India has risen to considerable eminence in the world of information technology. This year, software products are expected to account for $ 5.7 billion in exports and will account for a quarter of the growth in the economy, which is expected to grow nearly seven per cent.

Within eight years, predicts a recent study by McKinsey & Co. and the National Association of Software & Service Companies (Nasscom), India’s annual IT exports could hit $ 50 billion about 33 per cent of global software exports. Such a surge is expected to generate 2.2 million jobs-and push our growth rate near the double digits that many East Asian Tigers enjoyed before the 1997 crash.

3. For the rapidly growing middle class, which was desperate to make its presence felt but remained mired in the great Indian outback of the global economy and regretfully watched the industrial revolution pass it by, this is the moment they have been waiting for. When countries like Japan and Germany, the objects of Indian admiration, should come knocking on our doors to solicit our talent to invigorate their industry, it is indeed redemption of sorts. And IT is the cause of it all.

4. The big question is, will IT do an encore for India as a nation, and not just for a wafer thin percentage of IT- literate Indians, mostly the poster boys of the IITs?

5. IT has, as yet, failed to touch the lives of the average citizen and India is nowhere close to being a knowledge economy or society. As per the International Data Corporation (IDC), in a survey of 55 countries, India ranks 54th on its Information Society Index.

6. The fact is, it is a straightforward reflection of the deep inequality of our education system which breeds a few ‘geniuses’ at the cost of the entire nation. A study by former director of the National Centre for Software Technology, R. Narasimhan, points out that nowhere is the digital divide more glaring than in IT education.

The report warns that India’s ‘obsession’ with the software industry and its exports orientation is leading to the churning out of unemployable students on one hand and bright whiz-kids on the other. While the latter are lured away by overseas employers, the former remain unemployable.

Narasimhan cautions against the ‘hype’ associated with the phenomenal growth of India’s software industry defying rational explanations and built up into a ‘mystique of sort’ which breeds false hopes..

7. India’s software industry is a poor employment generator. In the mid-Nineties, some 20,000 people were actively employed in software export services. In contrast, there were three million registered unemployed graduates in the Nineties. While the ‘Narasimhan study doesn’t mention number of jobs lost due to computerisation, one could comfortably add a million to the number.

Answer the following questions choosing the appropriate option.
Question 1.
The revolution in IT threatens to break apart the social fabric because _________.
(A) the stocks of software companies have risen at BSE
(B) it has helped India to rise beyond the industrial society
(C) it is enriching a few at the cost of many
(D) it has created a gulf between the rural and urban sector
Answer:
(C) it is enriching a few at the cost of many
Explanation: The revolution in information technology (IT), far from helping India to leapfrog to a post-industrial society, threatens to rupture the social fabric by enriching a few at the cost of many.

Question 2.
Growth in export of Indian software products and national economy have been achieved because of _________.
(A) global recession
(B) liberalised economy
(C) public private cooperation
(D) eminence of Information Technology
Answer:
(D) eminence of Information Technology
Explanation: In a very short time and quite unexpectedly, India has risen to considerable eminence in the world of information technology.

Question 3.
It is a time of pride for the middle classes in India because _________.
(A) developed industrial nations will require Indian software professionals to invigorate their industry
(B) they are desperate to make their presence felt
(C) they have remained stuck in the mud of global economy
(D) they have regretfully watched the industrial revolution pass by them
Answer:
(A) developed industrial nations will require Indian software professionals to invigorate their industry
Explanation: For the rapidly growing middle class, this is the moment they have been waiting for. When countries like Japan and Germany, the objects of Indian admiration, should come knocking on our doors to solicit our talent to invigorate their industry, it is indeed redemption of sorts. And IT is the cause of it all.

Question 4.
The digital divide is clearly visible in IT revolution because _________.
(A) it has improved a lot of average Indian citizen
(B) it has benefitted only the products of IITs or some IT-literates
(C) it has made India a knowledge economy or society
(D) non-IT trained students run the IT institutes
Answer:
(B) it has benefitted only the products of IITs or some IT-literates
Explanation: The fact is, it is a straightforward reflection of the deep inequality of our education system which breeds a few ‘geniuses’ at the cost of the entire nation.

Question 5.
Narasimhan’s report cautions against ‘hype’ around IT software industry because _________.
(A) it is rational
(B) it breeds false hopes
(C) all look for foreign assignments
(D) it attracts even the dullards
Answer:
(B) it breeds false hopes
Explanation: The report warns that India’s ‘obsession’ with the software industry and its exports orientation is leading to the churning out of unemployable students on one hand and bright whiz-kids on the other. While the latter are lured away by overseas employers, the former remain unemployable.

Question 6.
The word ‘redemption’ in para 3 means _________.
(A) recoupment
(B) recumbent
(C) recovery
(D) redeeming
Answer:
(C) recovery

Question 7.
Find the words from the passage which are similar in meaning to ‘soft mud’ (para 3).
(A) redemption
(B) invigorate
(C) mire
(D) desperate
Answer:
(C) mire

Question 8.
Find the words from the passage which are similar in meaning to ‘very easily seen’ (para 6).
(A) glaring
(B) straightforward
(C) reflection
(D) obsession
Answer:
(A) glaring

Commonly Made Errors:

While answering questions related to Unseen Passages/Comprehensions, most students do not read the passages properly. Reading the passages properly is very essential.
Students need to keep in mind that the answers should be brief, relevant and be in their own words, while following the words in the passages carefully.
While answering, the students should verify the spellings of the difficult words from the passages themselves, i if they are not sure of them in the first place.
Before answering multiple-choice questions, students should read the questions thoroughly and then the given options. Some options can be tricky and need careful attention.
Lastly, before moving on to the next question and just before the final submission of the answer-script, revise the answers carefully. This will help you to find out and eliminate any errors that you have overlooked earlier.

Answering Tips

The passages should be read silently and with full concentration.
Grasping the context of the passages is important.
New or difficult words should be deciphered in the context of their use in the passages.
Answers should be in complete sentences.
All answers should be written sequentially.
If a student cannot answer a question, or a part of a question, then it is unwise to continue spending time on it. It is advisable to leave the question for the time being, answer the rest of the questions and then go back to the unanswered question.
All spellings and answers related to seen/unseen passages or comprehensions are found within the scope of the passages; so, it is important to concentrate in them.
While answering an unseen passage or comprehension, you might be aware of the source as you might have read it earlier. In that case, please do not get carried away in writing things beyond the scope of the passage. That will not fetch you extra marks. Please stick to the passage!
Lastly, there is no need to panic. Answering questions correctly is more important than answering all questions. So, adequate time should be given to answer each question properly.

Question 3.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (8)
1. A developing nation needs trained human resource and it is the human resource that higher education nurtures. In order to be a developed country and to keep pace with other progressive nations, our students need to be highly educated. I have seen that we have more faith in a professional who is highly educated than in one who is not academically bright. So, higher education is not only necessary but also vital in the modern context.

2. There is no doubt that higher education is a must for all students. It enhances one’s skills and adds that extra zing in the resume. It is definitely more advantageous to opt for higher education in the modern age. Higher education is the need of the hour. If you hold a master’s or a doctorate degree, you obviously have an upper hand over the rest. Higher education is gaining momentum, there is no denying to the fact that specialisation makes you more aware, knowledgeable and analytical, thereby enhancing your judgmental skills to overcome problematic situations.

3. Higher education also offers a better standard of living. Students who opt for higher education are better decision makers as their knowledge reservoir is denser than the rest. It has become important to remain updated these days and one cannot afford to remain blank on being questioned about any topic. Higher education broadens one’s horizons by opening a whole new world of immense information and growth. There is so much to learn. Also, vocational courses have been introduced which further help students to have a better standard of living.

4. Higher education does open a whole new world of opportunities for students. Higher education is definitely not a waste of time in today’s fast paced world. For students these days, vocational courses are important and they can be done simultaneously with higher education. Higher education is very important since it opens up new values for students. Along with higher education, students need to go in for skill-based professional courses too.

5. Higher education guarantees a better understanding and approach towards complex situations. Once you research and learn much more than others, you can offer better and quicker solutions. Investing in higher education is fruitful in the long run as you don’t stick to prescribed syllabus and gain a vantage point over others. One’s knowledge reservoir reaches a zenith by reading numerous books, especially during vocational or specialisation courses.

Teachers and Principals support higher education. It has become necessary for studt .is to start earning early in life however that should not be at the cost of higher education. It depends on the individuals too as how they can balance various other pursuits in tandem with the higher education. There is ample scope for students to excel in higher education in our educational scenario.

(a) On the basis of your reading the passage, make notes using recognisable abbreviations wherever necessary. Use a format you consider suitable, supply a suitable title. (5 marks)
Answer:
(a) Higher Education 1 Higher education is a must.

Develping nation needs trained human resource.
To keep pace with other progrsve nations.
Vital in the mod. Context.

2. Need for higher education.

Enhances one’s skills.
Makes one knowledgeable & analytcl.
Offers better std. of living.
Broadens one’s horizons.

3. Advantages of higher education.

Fruitful in the long run.
Knowledge reaches a zenith.
Helps students to start earning early.

Key to Abbreviations
S. No.	Abbreviation	Word
1	Develping	Developing
2	Progrsve	Progressive
3	Mod.	Modern
4	Analytcl	Analytical
5	&	And
6	Std.	Standard

(b) Make a short summary of the passage in about 80 words. (3 marks)
Answer:
Summary:
Higher education is a must in the modern scenario. A developing nation needs trained human resources which it can have only through higher education. It is vital in the modern context and is required to keep pace with other progressive nations. Higher education enhances one’s skills and makes one knowledgeable and analytical.

It offers better standard of living also as it broadens one’s horizons. Higher education is the need of the hour and it is fruitful in the long run. It helps students to start earning early and to excel in knowledge which reaches a zenith when a person gets higher education.

Commonly Made Errors:

The most commonly made mistakes include not reading the passage thoroughly and not paying attention to details. This leads to unclear understanding of the context.
The next big mistake is not noting the ‘key-words’ in the passage. Identification of key-words is important to decide the main thrust of the passage and bring out the summary.
While substituting words for phrases and clauses, the appropriate form of the word should be used. For example, if the substitution requires the adjectival form of a word, then using the noun or the verb form can be fatal.
Punctuations are very important in summarisation or precis-writing. They should be used prudently. Spellings and grammar should be checked for during the note-making stage so that no corrections need be implemented during the summary or precis writing.
While providing a Title for the summary/precis, students should relate it to the context of the passage. Too much emphasis on making it catchy might lead to making the blunder of it being not related to the context.

Answering Tips:

While answering questions related to Note-making and Summary (Precis Writing), it is important to read the passages properly and grasp their meanings. If need be, the passage should be read and re-read a number of times to ensure that every part of it is clear to the student.
Next, it is important to underline the important points in the passage. With practice, this can be done at the same time as the passage is being read.
The underlined portions should be summed up as separate bulleted points.
Thereafter, the students should read the bulleted points so that they are sure that those points are adequate in providing the gist of the passage. There should not be any ambiguity or lack of clarity in meaning anywhere. While summarizing the bullets, one should be mindful to shorten the sentences as much as possible by substituting clauses and phrases with words conveying similar meanings.
Beginners are also advised to calculate the average number of words written by them in each line and then to calculate the number of lines required to write the precis or summary based on the average words per line. The average word-limit per sentence should be between five to ten words.
Students are advised to draw columns with pencil such that the total number of cells in the table so formed exactly match the maximum permissible words in the summary. Then they should write one per cell to achieve the maximum word limit.
Lastly, students should ensure correctness of spellings, contextual use of substituting words and grammatical correctness.

Section – B
Writing Skills and Grammar (23 marks)

Question 4.
You are Milind of Delhi. You have lost your VIP briefcase while travelling in Metro from Azadpur to Punjabi Bagh.
Draft an advertisement to be inserted in the classified columns of the newspaper. (3 marks)
OR
You are Saran/Sarita Gupta. You wish to let out your flat that is situated in the hub of Bangalore. Draft an advertisement for a well circulated daily giving necessary details, (word limit, 50)
Answer:
VIP BRIEFCASE LOST:
Lost, a VIP briefcase, brown in colour, very sleek, contains important documents. Lost while travelling in a metro from Azadpur to Punjabi Bagh. Finder may return it to Milind, 348-A, Mayur Vihar, New Delhi. Finder will be suitably rewarded.
OR
TO-LET:
Available a 3 BHK flat on rent, fully furnished, in the hub of Bangalore, modular kitchen, east facing, 24 X 7 electricity and water facility, round the clock security, lift facility, rent negotiable. Interested persons may contact : Saran Gupta at 7346xxxxxx

Commonly Made Errors:

Spellings and grammar errors lead to communication of incorrect messages.
While trying to make the title catchy, students end up stitching together words used in the wrong context and thereby making up a meaningless title.
Also, spellings are tweaked sometimes to emphasise upon an idea or to attract the attention of the reader. However, often students fail to achieve the desired effect and end up simply making a spelling mistake!

Answering Tips:

While preparing an advertisement, it is important to keep in mind the requirement: whether the advertisement should be a Classified or a Display Advertisement. The message should be prepared accordingly
The word-limit of 50 should be strictly adhered to.
Next, it is important to design the advertisement properly. So, one needs to experiment with the font size, style and colour, as well as the layout.
The language and approach should be direct yet attract the attention of the targeted readers.
Lastly, students should ensure correctness of spellings, contextual use of substituting words and grammatical correctness. The Contact address as well as the email ids and phone numbers should be accurate.

Question 5.
Prepare a poster on behalf of an NGO to be placed in various parts of the city urging the people to save trees. (3 marks)
OR
Design a poster in not more than 50 words for your school library on the value of books and good reading habits. You may use slogans.
Answer:

Question 6.
Are celebs responsible for the products they endorse? Taking a cue from the headlines given below and using your own ideas, write a debate speech for or against the topic.
‘Amitabh Bachchan steps back from promoting Pepsi after a school girl questions the health impact of the drink.’ ‘Brief ban on Maggi noodles causes trouble for its celebrity brand ambassadors’.
‘M.S. Dhoni quits as Amrapali brand ambassador after Twitter furore’. (5 marks)
OR
Should schools promote coaching institutes? Taking a cue from the points given below and using your own ideas, write a debate speech for or against the topic in about 150-200 words.
Despite CBSE’s ban, coaching centers are running classes in schools.
Teachers from coaching institutes teach subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics whereas English and Physical Education continue to be taught by the school faculty.
Classes in separate sections from 8 am to 12 pm for the CBSE and competitive examinations.
Answer:
Are celebs responsible for the products they endorse?
Good morning everyone! I am Mansi and I am in favour of the motion ‘Celebs should be held responsible for products they endorse’.
Just because your favourite star endorses a product doesn’t mean you always need to buy it. This is a famous tactic used by the product manufacturers to lure the customers.

The main role played by a brand ambassador is to create awareness about the product among its potential customers. Many times people, mainly kids, buy a product because their favourite star has endorsed it. Therefore, it is also a responsibility of the ambassador to properly investigate about the product and then agree to endorse it. The consumer should not be given misleading information. Proper research should be done by the ambassador before endorsing a product.

Every brand ambassador signs a contract before endorsing a product. If a product fails to satisfy the consumers or falls into a controversy during the tenure of the contract, the brand ambassadors are equally responsible as the company. The manufacturers choose ambassadors based on their popularity among the people. The consumers buy a product because of the face value of the ambassador.

Hence, we can say that the ambassador has a moral responsibility towards his or her audience and should properly investigate about the background of the product before endorsing and not misuse their popularity.
Thank you
OR
Should schools promote coaching institutes?
Respected members of the jury, Principal, teachers and dear friends, a pleasant morning to you all. Today I, Sahil of XII C, have got the golden opportunity to express my views against the motion ‘Should Schools Promote Coaching Institutes?’

Promotion of the coaching institutes by the schools has become a recent trend. Teachers from coaching institutes visit the schools to teach the so called difficult subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics whereas English and Physical Education continue to be taught by the school faculty. Where are the schools driving to? Is that a hint that the school faculty cannot teach the subject and so they hire the services of coaching centers or some commercial mind setup is working behind it? CBSE has banned any such practice in schools, but some schools are still continuing with the practice.

This is putting an extra burden on the students as well as parents. The students cannot focus on the routine timetable of school and concentrate only on the exam-oriented schedule. They don’t study the regular course prescribed by the board, hence they are deprived of the basic knowledge which a child should get at this stage. These integrated courses also cut a hole in the pocket of parents who have to bear the brunt of financial burden as these coaching classes charge a high fees.

Therefore, it will be appreciable if the government looks into the matter and takes strict action against the schools running such courses. The parents should also take a step forward and refuse to let their children join these courses. They must avoid falling into the trap of such courses.
Thank you

Question 7.
The following are various headlines of articles on different wildlife creatures and sanctuaries.

Karnataka plans Indian Bus-tard Sanctuary
Rhino poaching on rise in Kaziranga
Time runs out for Siberian Cranes poisoned in China and shot in

Zaheer/Zaheera Ahmed of Bengaluru has come across these headlines which set him thinking about ‘the role of sanctuaries in preserving wildlife.’ On the occasion of World Wildlife Day, he/ she decides to make a speech on the above-mentioned subject discussing the benefits and pitfalls of sanctuaries and parks, problems of forest officials and suggestions to improve the situation. Write the speech for him/ her. (5 marks)
Answer:
Wild Life Sanctuaries=Their problems and Their Contribution
Good morning to one and all present. Today I, Zaheer Ahmed, have got the golden opportunity to express my views on the topic, ‘Wild Life Sanctuaries-their problems and their Contribution’.

Endangered by hunting and encroachments on their habitat, many species of wildlife are on the verge of extinction. Our sanctuaries are not always fully equipped to meet the increasing onslaught of poachers and hunters. But they have, to quite an extent, saved our many endangered species from extinction. The great Indian Bustard, one of the heaviest winged animals, is essentially a ground bird. It is an easy target for hunters.

The Karnataka Government has initiated a project to protect the birds at a wildlife sanctuary. Shortage of staff, weapons and equipment has hampered the anti-poaching operations. The rhino horn fetches a fabulous prize in the international market. Hence, it is a lucrative business for the villagers in the vicinity of Kaziranga National Park to guide a poacher to a rhino.

Loss of wintry habitat, and hunting of the migratory birds are posing tremendous threats to the Siberian Cranes. Urgent measures are needed to protect the species. Their number has been steadily decreasing at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. More or less we have the infrastructure and the intelligence to protect certain endangered species. We should tap new effective methods in conserving these species before they too are wiped out like many others.
Thank you

Question 8.
Choose the correct option and rearrange the following words or phrases to make meaningful sentences. (1 x 4 = 4)
(i) she / rather / surrender / would / than /die
(A) She would rather die than surrender.
(B) She rather would die than surrender.
(C) Rather she would die than surrender.
(D) She rather would surrender than die.
Answer:
(A) She would rather die than surrender.

(ii) has / taught / teacher / the / this / you / lesson
(A) This teacher has you taught the lesson.
(B) The lesson has taught you this teacher.
(C) You has taught this lesson the teacher.
(D) The teacher has taught you this lesson.
Answer:
(D) The teacher has taught you this lesson.

(iii) not / clear / you / about / to me / he says / what / is
(A) What is not clear to me about you he says.
(B) What he says is not clear to me about you.
(C) What about you he says is not clear to me.
(D) What he says about you is not clear to me.
Answer:
(D) What he says about you is not clear to me.

(iv) this / letter / has / been / your / grandfather / by / written?
(A) Has this letter been written by your grandfather?
(B) Your grandfather has been written this letter by you?
(C) By this letter, you grandfather has been written?
(D) Has been this letter written by your grandfather?
Answer:
(A) Has this letter been written by your grandfather?

Question 9.
Look at the newspaper headlines below and use the information to complete the sentences.
(a) Suspect arrested
Delhi Police reports that the suspect …………….. in Jaipur.
Answer:
has been arrested

(b) Minister to open hospital
The Health Minister will arrive in Lucknow next week. The new hospital …………….. by him
Answer:
will be opened

Section – C
Literature (31 marks)

Question 10.
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow (any two) (1 x 3 = 3)
And all that is in them without me were seeds only,
latent, unborn.
(a) What does’ them’ refer to?
(i) Plants
(ii) Human Beings
(iii) Seeds
(iv) Clouds
Answer:
(iii) Seeds

(b) Why were they unborn?
(i) Seeds cannot grow without water.
(ii) Seeds cannot be born without a plant.
(iii) Without water seeds would have remained buried under the earth.
(iv) All of the above
Answer:
(iv) All of the above

(c) Who is ‘me’ in the above lines?
Answer:
‘me’ in the poem is the rain.
OR
I cannot understand Myself,
why anger grows from grief.
We each put out an empty hand,
Longing for something to forgive.
(a) Who is ‘I’ in the given lines?
(i) Poet
(ii) Poet’s son
(iii) Poet’s grandson
(iv) Poet’s nephew
Answer:
(ii) Poet’s son

(b) What is the conclusion of the poem?
(i) Both father and son do not want to reconcile
(ii) Both father and son do not want to stay in the same house
(iii) Both father and son wants to forgive each other
(iv) Both father and son continue to be strangers
Answer:
(iii) Both father and son wants to forgive each other

Question 11.
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. (1 x 3 = 3)
A. 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 in to his car. “Ah, yes,” he declared, “drokba, sir.”
Question 1.
Where were ‘we’ heading to?
(A) Mount Kailash
(B) Mount Everest
(C) Mount Mandar
(D) Mount Kanchenjunga
Answer:
(A) Mount Kailash

Question 2.
Where did ‘they’ take the shortcut to?
(A) Ravu
(B) Kyang
(C) Tsetan
(D) Changtang
Answer:
(D) Changtang

Question 3.
What does ‘ducking back’ mean?
(A) Going wild
(B) Going inside
(C) Going near
(D) Going up
Answer:
(B) Going inside
OR
B. About 2 p.m., I went on deck and asked Larry to steer a course of 185 degrees. If we were lucky, I told him with a conviction I did not feel, he could expect to see the island at about 5 p.m. Then with a heavy heart, I went below, climbed on my bunk and amazingly, dozed off. When I woke it was 6 p.m., and growing dark. I knew we must have missed the island, and with the sail we had left, we couldn’t hope to beat back into the westerly winds.
Question 1.
Who is Larry?
(A) The narrator
(B) The narrator’s son
(C) The crewman
(D) The captain of the ship
Answer:
(C) The crewman

Question 2.
Which island were they expecting to reach?
(A) Amsterdam
(B) lie Amsterdam
(C) Cape of Good Hope
(D) Cape of Indiana
Answer:
(B) lie Amsterdam

Question 3.
What had happened in the next lines?
(A) They got caught in the winds
(B) They were attacked by whales
(C) They spotted an island
(D) Their ship got repaired magically
Answer:
(C) They spotted an island

Question 12.
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
A. I need some counsel. Bring to me
The wisest man in this country.’
The wisest man was found and brought,
Nay, carried, to the Royal court.
Question 1.
Who does ‘I’ refer to?
(A) The chief builder
(B) The King
(C) The masons
(D) The wisest man
Answer:
(B) The King

Question 2.
The wisest man was ‘carried’ to the Royal Court because _________.
(A) he could not walk
(B) he could not hear
(C) he could not see
(D) he could neither walk nor see
Answer:
(D) he could neither walk nor see

Question 3.
According to the wisest man, who was the real culprit?
(A) Masons
(B) King himself
(C) Arch
(D) Architect
Answer:
(C) Arch

Question 4.
The word ‘Counsel’ means _________.
(A) advice
(B) query
(C) doubt
(D) None of these
Answer:
(A) advice
OR
B. But graduaUy everything became more normal again. Bread was getting to be a lighter colour, there was a bed you could sleep in unthreatened, a room with a view you were more used to glancing at each day. And one day I noticed I was curious about all the possessions that must stiU be at that address.
Question 1.
What abnormal had happened in the past?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Flood
(C) War
(D) Drought
Answer:
(C) War

Question 2.
Which of these was included in ‘the possessions’?
(A) Cutlery
(B) Bicycle
(C) Cart
(D) Garage
Answer:
(A) Cutlery

Question 3.
How had the narrator got that ‘address’?
(A) From her house broker
(B) From her common friend
(C) From one of her relatives
(D) From her mother
Answer:
(B) From her common friend

Commonly Made Errors:

The most commonly made errors pertain to grammar and spellings
The second most commonly made errors pertain to the wrong perception and expression of the poetic devices. One must first explain what a poetic device is, such as simile, metaphor, allusion and so on, and then explain their usage in the context of the poem.

Answering Tips

Read the poem thoroughly0more than once, if necessary-to grasp the gist of each stanza
Do not rely on paraphrases
Note the use of words and expressions
Find out the context of the poem
Try to understand meanings of words in context. Remember, poetic meaning of a word may be different from the actual meaning. Also, sometimes certain words may undergo such poetic modifications for the sake of rhythm, which is not generally seen in prose.

Question 13.
Answer the following questions in 40-50 words each.
(a) How does the laburnum tree appear in September?
OR
And of the circumstance’ thus nothing to say at all. Its silence silences’ says the poetess’s in ‘A Photograph.’ What is she referring to?
(b) What was the impact of the torrent on the narrator and Wavewalker?
OR
What do you think made Rajendra realize that facts can be stranger than fantasies?
(c) What last warning did Mrs. Fitzgerald give to Mrs. Pearson?
OR
What disturbed Andrew out of his thoughts as he sat brooding by the kitchen fire?
Answer:
(a) In the afternoon of September sunlight, the laburnum top appears silent and quite still. A few leaves of the tree are turning yellow. All the seeds of the tree have fallen.
OR
‘The circumstance, refers to the situation that was captured in the photo years before when the poet s mother stood for a photograph.

(b) A tremendous explosion shook the deck. The narrator’s head struck the wheel and he flew over board and started sinking below the waves. Unexpectedly, his head came out of water. Wavewalker was almost capsizing. Its masts were almost horizontal.
OR
Professor Gaitonde presented two totally different written accounts of the Battle of Panipat as contained in Bhau-Sahebanchi Bakhar. The one he had come across in the other world described how Vishwas Rao narrowly missed the bullet. The account, which he had in the familiar world, described that Vishwas Rao was hit by the bullet.

(c) Mrs. Fitzgerald advises Mrs. Pearson not to go soft on them again. She must not start giving explanations for her bad behaviour or asking for apologies. She should keep firm. Now and then, she should give them a look or a tone of voice to suggest that she might be tough with them if she wanted to be.
OR
As Andrew sat brooding by the kitchen fire, he was disturbed out of his thoughts to hear the voice of the old woman. She was telling him that her daughter didn’t want to be given chloroform if it would harm the baby. Just then, he heard the nurse’s voice calling from the top landing.

Question 14.
Answer any one of the following questions in about 120-150 words : (6 marks)
The grandmother herself was not formally educated but was serious about the author’s education. How does the text support this?
OR
Discuss the reasons why people willingly undergo the travails of difficult journeys.
Answer:
The grandmother was quite serious about the author’s education. She woke him up in the morning and got him ready for school. She washed his wooden slate. She plastered it with yellow chalk. She tied his earthen ink-pot and red pen into a bundle. She took him to school. He studied in school and she waited for him. She read the scriptures.

In the city, the author went to an English school in a motor bus. When he came back, she would ask him what the teacher had taught him. She could not help him with his lessons. She did not believe in the things taught at the English school. She was distressed to learn that her grandson was being taught music. She considered it unfit for gentle folk.
OR
Many people willingly undergo the travails of difficult journeys. The people would over do it mainly for their love of adventure. In India such journeys are generally taken for some religious purpose. The desire to do something unusual makes many young men take these journeys across the globe. It has been so since time immemorial.

That was how many hidden parts of the earth were discovered. Again, that was how new routes from one country to the other were discovered. In India, some of the pilgrim centres are located at places where it is not easy to reach. Yet, people go to them in large numbers because doing so is considered as a religious act.

Question 15.
Answer the question in about 120-150 words: (6 marks)
How does the so called ‘just and placid’ King of Melon City land himself into a difficult situation?
OR
What impression do you form of Andrew Manson on the basis of the story, ‘Birth’?

Answer:
The King of Melon City proclaimed to construct an arch, spanning the main thoroughfare. Soon, the arch was constructed. One day the King was riding down the thoroughfare. His Crown struck against the arch and fell off. The King felt dishonoured and decided to hang the chief of builders. The chief of builders put the blame on the labourers. The King decided to hang all the labourers.

The labourers found fault with the size of the bricks. The King summoned the masons but they lay the blame on the architect. The King ordered to hang the architect. The architect reminded the King that he had made certain amendments to the plans when they were shown to him. The King found himself in a difficult situation as the architect held him responsible for the mishap. He was utterly confused. Being a just and placid King, he could not deny the charge.
OR
Andrew Manson is a young man who has recently qualified as a doctor and started his medical practice as an assistant to Dr. Edward Page in the small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly. He is in love with Christine and thinks of marriage as an idyllic state. He is filled with love. His steady mind and reason help him see the marriages of many persons as dismal failures.

Andrew is mature enough to keep his private and professional lives apart. Once confronted with his responsibility, he discharges his obligations to the utmost capacity. He is duty conscious. He believes in practical approach and is not afraid to try unique methods. He has a tender heart too. He is aware of the feeling of others. He knows how deeply Susan loved her upcoming baby. He has polite manners and re¬assuring tone. On the whole, Andrew is presented as a dedicated doctor.

Commonly Made Errors:

The most commonly made errors pertain to grammar and spellings
The second most commonly made errors pertain to the wrong interpretation of the plot-structure and the character sketches.
Mixing up the names of the different places, i.e., mentioning the wrong place in the context of the wrong event.

Answering Tips:

Read the poem thoroughly-more than once, if necessary-to grasp the gist.
Do not rely on paraphrases
Note the character traits of both the major and the minor characters
Find out the context of the story. This will help to understand the sub-themes
Focus on the narrative style of the story.