Model Question : 2023-24

Class : XII
Subject: English
Time : 3 Hours 15 Minutes Total Marks : 80
(The figures in the margin indicate full marks.)

Section – A (Reading Skills)

1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Many of us believe that 'small' means 'insignificant'. We believe that small
actions and choices do not have much impact on our lives. We think that it is only the
big things, the big actions and the big decisions that really count. But when you look
at the lives of all great people, you will see that they built their character though
small decisions, small choices and small actions that they performed every day. They
transformed their lives through step-by-step or day-by-day approach. They nurtured
and nourished their good habits and chipped away their bad habits, one by one. It
was their small day- to-day decisions that added up to make tremendous difference
in the long run. Indeed, in matters of personal growth and character building, there is
no such thing as an overnight success.

Growth always occurs through a sequential series of stages. There is an organic

process to growth. When we look at children growing up, we can see this process at
work: the child learns to crawl, then to stand and walk and then finally to run. The
same is true in the natural world. The soil must first be tilled and then the seed must
be sown. Next, it must be nurtured with enough water and sunlight and only then will
it grow into trees laden with ripe fruits.

Gandhi understood this organic process and used this universal law of nature
to his benefit. GANDHI GREW IN SMALL WAYS, in his day -to- day affairs. He did not
wake up one day and find himself to be the 'Mahatma'. In fact, there was nothing
much in his early life that showed signs of greatness. But from his mid-twenties
onwards, he deliberately and consistently attempted to change himself, reform
himself and grow in some small every day. Day by day, hour by hour, he risked failure,
experimented and learnt from mistakes. In small as well as large situations, he took
up the responsibility rather than avoiding it.
This is a common factor in the lives of all great people: they exercise their
freedoms and choices in small ways that make great impact on their Iives and their
environment. Each of their small decisions and actions, add up to have a profound
impact in the long run. By understanding this principle, we can move forward, with
confidence, in the direction of our dreams. Often when our ‘ideal goal' looks too far
from us, we become easily discouraged, disheartened and pessimistic. However when
we choose to grow in small ways, by taking small steps one at a time, our
achievements become easy.

Answer each of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate
option:- 1x5=5
(1) Lives of great people were built
(a) on big decisions (b) on right choices
(c) one day approach (d) every day actions

(2) Pick out the word /phrase which is similar meaning to purposely-
(a) Intentionally (b) deliberately
(c) Consistently (d) easily

(3) Gandhi became 'Mahatma' by-

(a) risking failures (b)learning from mistakes
(c) taking up responsibilities (d) all of the above

(4) The word pessimistic in the passage means-

(a) lost (b) low
 (c) negative (d)failed

(5) What according to the writer is the universal law of nature?

(a) Everything takes time to grow (b) nothing can change in one day
(c) both a and b (d) neither a or b

1.2 Answer the following questions in 10 to 15 words:- 1x5=5

(i) How does growth occurs?
(ii) What is done by great people to transform their lives?
(iii) Who is the Mahatma in the passage?
(iv) What is the common factor in the lives of all great people?
(V) How can we can we grow in small ways?
2. Read the passage below and answer the questions given below: 1x5=5
Have you ever failed at something so miserably that the thought of attempting
to do it again was the last thing on your mind?
If your answer is yes, then you should understand that you are not a robot.
Unlike robots, we human beings have feelings, emotions, and dreams. We all are
meant to grow despite our circumstances and limitations. Flourishing and trying to
make our dreams come true feels great when life goes our way. But what happens
when you fail despite all your hard work? Do you stay down and accept defeat or do
you get up again? If you tend to persevere and keep going, you have what experts call
'grit’.
Falling down or failing is one of the most agonising, embarrassing and scary
human experiences. But it is also one of the most educational, empowering, and
essential parts of living a successful and fulfilling life. Did you know that perseverance
(grit) is one of the seven qualities that have been described as the key to personal
success and betterment in society? The other six are curiosity, gratitude, optimism,
self-control, social intelligence and zest. Thomas Edison is an example of grit for
trying more than 1,000 times to invent the light bulb. If you are reading this with
lights on in your room, you will realize the importance of his success. When asked
why he kept going despite hundreds of failures, he merely stated that they had not
been failures; they were hundreds of attempts toward creating the light bulb. This
statement not only revealed his grit but also his optimism for looking at the bright
side.
Grit can be learnt to help you become more successful. One of the techniques
that help is mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice that makes an individual stay at the
moment by bringing awareness of his or her experience without judgement. This
practice has been used to quieten the noise of fears and doubts. Through this simple
practice of mindfulness, individuals have the ability to stop the self-sabotaging
downward spiral of hopelessness, despair and frustration.

2. 1.: The reason why you are not a robot is that- 1x5=5
(a) you fail miserably at tasks (b) failure and success can affect your emotions
(c) you work hard (d) you have limitations
2. ......was created after many attempts.
(a) electricity (b) light bub
(c) current (d) tube light
3. To develop perseverance one must:
(a) become more aware (b) work hard
(c)seek guidance (d) be in the moment and be aware without
judgement
4. Choose the option that correctly states the meaning of 'social intelligence' as
implied in the passage
(a) Knowing others (b) Knowing oneself and others
(c) Knowing oneself (d) Knowing one's own surroundings
5. What is the message conveyed in the last paragraph of the passage?
(a)Always aim for the best (b)Live life king size
(c) through mindfulness we can overcome the negative impact of failure
 (d) social intelligence is crucial for a successful life

2.2 Answer the following questions in 10 to 15 words:- 1x7=7

(a) How are human beings different from robots?
(b)What is the scariest human experience?
(c) What was Thomas Edison's statement when asked about his failures?
(d) How does mindfulness helps?
(e) Find out the word from the passage that means 'dedication'.
(f) What kind of ability do the individuals have through simple practise of
mindfulness?
(g) What is the moral of the passage?

Section – B (Writing Skills)

1. As the cultural secretary of the school draft a notice in about 50 words informing
all the students about Speech Competition on AzadiKa Amrit Mahatsob. 4
Or
You are Priya/Pritam, Health Ambassador of your school. You have decided to
organise a Workshop to raise awareness of the importance of washing hands. This
workshop will be conducted by the school counsellor. Write a notice in about 50
words, informing the students of Class VI–VIII. 4

2. Write an advertisement in Lost & Found column of the local daily stating the loss of
your file cover containing important documents while travelling from Sabroom to
Agartala in local train in not more than 50 words. 4
Or
You are the Principal of a computer academy. Write an advertisement for publication
in the newspaper for admission to various courses in your academy.
3. You are Anand/Arti of 14, Model Town, Delhi. You have seen an advertisement in
The Hindu for the post of Chief Chef in a 5-Star Hotel. Apply for the job with complete
biodata. Write in 120-150 words. 5
Or
You are Manish Kumar, president of the NGO JYOTI. Write a letter to the editor of a
national daily highlighting the issue of your neighborhood being dirty for a long time
and even after complaining to the Municipality they didn't take any action. Write in
120-150 words.

4. Write an article in 120-150 words on the good and bad sides of Online Learning.5
Or
You are Dipti/Dipak of ABC School in Agartala. Your school has taken the
responsibility of special coaching for the underprivileged students of your school.
Write a report for your school magazine on this in 120-150 words.

SECTION-C (Literature)

l. Read the given extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:- 1x6=6
"Fishermen in the cold sea
Would not harm whales
And the man gathering salt
Would look at his hurt hands"
i) Where do these lines occur?
ii) Name the poet.
iii) When would fishermen cease harming the whales?
iv) Why do the salt gatherer's hands hurt?
v) What do these activities mentioned in these lines signify?
vi) How can the quiet moments initiate non-violence?
 Or
"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 and realised with pain
that she was as old as she looked.. "

i) What is the name of the poem?

ii) Name of the poet.
iii) Where was the poet driving to?
iv) Who was sitting beside her?
v) What has the mother's face been compared to?
vi) Find word from the passage which means-
a) sleep lightly b) dead body c) felt

2. Read the given extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:- 1x4=4
The child will grow upto become the warrior of warriors, hero of heroes,
champion of champions. But.... they bit their lips and swallowed hard. When
compelled to continue, the astrologers came out with it. This is a secret which should
not be revealed at all. And we are forced to speak out. The child born under this star
will one day have to meet its death,."
i) Name the chapter.
ii) Who is the author of this chapter?
iii) Who has been referred to as Child' in this extract?
iv) What does the narrator mean by the phrase" They bit their lips"?
Or
DERRY: You think..... Here's a boy'. You look at me.... and then you see my face and
you think. That's bad. That's a terrible thing. That's the ugliest thing I ever saw.' 'You
think, 'Poor boy'. But l'm not. Not poor. Underneath, you are afraid. Anybody would
be, Il am. When I look into the mirror, and see it, I'm afraid of mine.
i) Why does Derry not want to be called 'Poor'?
ii) Name the chapter.
iii) Why is everyone afraid of Derry according to him?
iv) Who is the author of this chapter?

3. Read the given extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:- 1x6=6
The old man was just as generous with his confidences as with his porridge and
Tobacco. The guest was informed at once that in his days of prosperity his host had
been a crofter at Ramajo Ironworks and had worked on the land. Now that he was no
longer able to do day labour, it was his cow which supported him. Yes, that bossy was
extraordinary. She could give milk for the creamery every day, and last month, he had
received all of thirty comor in payment.
i) Name the chapter.
ii) Who is the author of this chapter?
iii) What did the old man offer to the paddler?
iv) What was old man's profession?
vi) What payment did he receive last month?
v) Who supported the old man?
Or
The news of Gandhi's advent and of the nature of his mission spread quickly through
Muzzafarpur and to Champaran. Sharecroppers from Champaran began arriving on
foot and by conveyance to see their Champion. Muzzafarpur lawyers called on
Gandhi to brief him; they frequently represented peasant groups in court; they told
him about their cases and reported the size of their fee.
i)What was the news at Muzzafarpur ?
ii) How did the sharecroppers reach Muzzafarpur ?
iii) Why did they reach from Champaran?
iv) What was the role of Muzzafarpur's lawyers?
v) Name the chapter.
vi) Name the writer.

4. Answer the following Questions (40-50) words:- (Any five) 2x5=10

i) How was Saheb's life at tea stall?
ii) The peasants were themselves the most crucial agents in the success of
Champaran Civil Disobedience. Expand
iii) "All we have to fear is fear itself" When did Douglas learn this lesson?
iv) What symbol from nature does the poet use to prove that 'Keeping Quiet" is not a
total inactivity?
v) How does Keats define a thing of beauty?
vi) What does the poet's smile in the poem 'My mother at Sixty Six show?

5. Answer the following Questions (40-50) words:- (Any two) 2x2=4

i) When did the Tiger King decide to get married?
ii) Who was common between Derry and Mr. Lamb?
iii) What is the theme of 'Memories of Childhood'?

6. Answer the question below in (120-150) words:- (Any one) 5x1=5

i) Who was Edla? How did she bring about a change in the pedlar?
ii) Write in your own words the substance of the poem, A thing of beauty.

7. Answer the question below in (120-150) words:- (Any one) 5x1=5

i) What impression do you get of the tiger king from the story The Tiger King'?
ii) How is Mr. Lamb responsible behind the transformation?

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