PRE-BOARD – I EXAMINATION (2024-2025)

ENGLISH CORE (CODE: 301)

CLASS XII
1. Read the following text. 12M
Since the inception of our nation ……… ………….catalysts for societal and economic progress.

Answer the following questions based on the passage above

1. How does the paradox of rising literacy rates and high unemployment rates challenge traditional
notions of educational success and societal progress? (Answer in forty words) [2]
The paradox of rising literacy rates and high unemployment challenges traditional educational
success by highlighting that increased knowledge does not necessarily equate to employability,
indicating a gap between academic learning and real-world job opportunities, thereby questioning
societal progress.
2. How does the disparity in success rates between MBBS and BBA/MBA graduates underscore the need
for reform in educational approaches? [1]
a) It highlights the inadequacy of traditional curriculum structures.
b) It emphasizes the importance of experiential learning.
c) It showcases the influence of societal perceptions on career choices.
d) It signifies the impact of government policies on employment opportunities
3. What impact does the difference in instructional faculty between MBBS and BBA/MBA programs
have on students' entrepreneurial aspirations and success? (Answer in forty words) [2]
The difference in instructional faculty, where MBBS students are taught by practitioners with real-
world experience, contrasts with BBA/MBA programs led by academics without practical business
exposure, leading to a gap in entrepreneurial skills and success among graduates.
4. How can the integration of practical skills like communication and digital literacy into the curriculum
solve the disconnect, between academic learning and real-world application? (Answer in forty words)
[2]
Integrating practical skills like communication and digital literacy into the curriculum ensures
students develop competencies relevant to the workforce, allowing them to apply academic
knowledge in real-world scenarios, enhancing employability and bridging the academic-practical
divide.
5. It is imperative to integrate mandatory sessions dedicated to entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and
societal change, in order to empower students to monetize their passions effectively. [1]
6. What role does the emphasis on rote memorization in the curriculum play in hindering entrepreneurial
ventures among graduates? [1]
a) It fosters creativity and innovation.
b) It encourages critical thinking and problem-solving.
c) It prioritizes theoretical knowledge over practical skills.
d) It facilitates adaptability and resilience.
7. Which of the following is not an outcome of practical sessions of entrepreneurship? [1]
a) It encourages critical thinking and problem-solving.
b) It facilitates mentorship opportunities with industry experts.
c) It provides hands-on experience in real-world business scenarios.
d) It enhances students' understanding of the history of commerce in our country.
8. According to the passage, what fundamental shift in educational paradigms is necessary to bridge the
gap between academic learning and real-world application? [1]
a) Prioritizing experiential learning over theoretical instruction.
b) Fostering interdisciplinary approaches to curriculum design.
c) Encouraging lifelong learning and skill development.
d) Emphasizing the cultivation of a growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit.
9. State whether the following statement is True or False according to the passage [1]
A failed businessperson can be a better mentor of MBA/BBA students than a PhD holder in Business
Management.
True. According to the passage, a failed businessperson with firsthand entrepreneurial experience can
provide more practical insights and guidance to MBA/BBA students than a PhD holder in Business
Management with theoretical knowledge but no real-world business experience.

2. Read the passage given below:

1. Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)…………………augmented by the growth in modern retail.

1. Does the following statement agree with the information given in para 1?
Food and beverages segment dominates the Global FMCG market and is expected to retain its
dominance.
Select from the following:
a. The statement agrees with the information
b. The statement contradicts the information
c. There is no information on this
d. The statement neither agrees nor disagrees with the information
2. What do you think gives opportunities to boost exports?
The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme gives companies major opportunities to boost
exports, as it supports food processing industries, allowing Indian brands to expand
internationally.
3. Select the option that displays the most likely reason for FMCG rural sector being on track.
a. FMCG sector has been unable to get investments from the Government.
b. PLI schemes do not reach the rural sector.
c. Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of the online grocery segment in India is expected to double in the
next five years.
d. There is a desire to buy branded products in the villages too.
4. Complete the sentence based on the following statement:
The Indian FMCG industry grew by 16% in 2021, a 9-year high, despite nationwide lockdowns because
of consumption-led growth and value expansion from higher product prices, particularly for
staples.
5. From the given pie chart, which segment of FMCG accounts for the maximum percentage of the
sector?
The household and personal care segment accounts for the maximum percentage of the FMCG
sector, with 50% of the share.
6. Complete the given sentence by selecting the most appropriate option:
The combination of increasing income and higher aspiration levels in the rural areas has led to.
a. the Government taking a direct interest
b. the demand for branded products
c. price increases across product categories
d. the fall of supply in urban areas
7. How is the Government trying to help Indian brands of food products in the international
markets?
The Government is helping Indian brands of food products in international markets through the
Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI), which aims to
boost exports and support the global expansion of Indian brands.
8. Complete the given sentence by selecting the most appropriate option:
The concluding paragraph of the passage makes a clear case __________________.
a. that the rural people also want branded products
b. that the FMCG industry will not focus on brand consciousness
c. for the role of data analytics in the FMCG industry
d. for the Government role by providing incentives
9. What will be the impact of increased level of brand consciousness?
The increased level of brand consciousness will lead to growth in the organized FMCG sector,
particularly in rural areas, as people demand branded products and modern retail expands.
10. Based on the reading of the passage, rewrite the sentence correctly.
The urban segment contributes to about 45% of the revenue share, while the rural segment accounts for
55%.
The urban segment contributes to about 55% of the revenue share, while the rural segment
accounts for 45%.

SECTION C: LITERATURE (40 Marks)

7. Attempt ANY ONE of the two questions with reference to the context. [6 M]
A. “It is in the news that all these pitiful kin
Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in
To live in villages, next to the theatre and the stone,
Where greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey
Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits
That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,
And by teaching them to sleep all day,
Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way”.
(A Roadside Stand)
i). It was in the news that ____________________. Complete the given statement appropriately. [1]
the poor rural people living by the roadside were to be relocated to villages, where their lives would
be controlled by so-called well-wishers promising benefits that ultimately disrupted their way of
living.
ii). Which word means the same as ‘beneficent’ used in the above lines? Choose the correct option: [1]
a) Maleficent b) Adamant c) Generous d) Autocrat
iii).Who is going to exploit the rural people and how? [1]
I. The rich and the powerful people by cheating them and making them work.
II. The politicians and the government by offering benefits that are supposed to solve their problems.
III. Their own people by grabbing their land and property on the pretext of helping them.
IV. The promise given to them to change their lives as shown in the movies.
a) I, III and IV b) Both I and IV
c) Only I and II d) Both III and IV
iv). How will the greedy good-doers soothe the rural poor out of their wits? [1]
The greedy good-doers will soothe the rural poor out of their wits by offering them "benefits" that
seem to promise improvement but are actually designed to pacify or control them. These benefits,
instead of addressing their real needs, will distract and numb them, making them lose their sense of
awareness and agency. The phrase "soothe them out of their wits" implies that the rural people
will be dulled or made passive by these superficial solutions, preventing them from recognizing the
exploitation or the negative impact on their traditional way of life.
v). Who is referred to as beasts of prey and why? [1]
The "beasts of prey" refer to the "greedy good-doers" mentioned in the poem. They are called
"beasts of prey" because, despite their outward appearance of being helpful or benevolent, their
true intention is to exploit the rural poor. Just like beasts of prey that hunt and consume their
victims, these so-called well-wishers are preying on the vulnerable people by offering false promises
of benefits and progress. They are portrayed as predators who manipulate the rural poor for their
own gain, disrupting their lives and taking advantage of their situation under the guise of
"helping" them.
vi). Complete the given analogy with the literary device: [1]
All I could do was smile, and smile, and smile: Repetition
Greedy good doers: Oxymoron
Explanation: The term "greedy good-doers" is an oxymoron, as it combines two contradictory
ideas—"greedy" (suggesting selfishness and exploitation) and "good-doers" (suggesting people
who act with kindness or for the benefit of others). This contradiction highlights the deceptive
nature of these individuals, who appear benevolent but are, in fact, exploiting the rural poor.

OR
B. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the Ivory needle hard to pull
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand
(Aunt Jennifer's Tigers)
i). How would you describe Aunt Jennifer based on the above extract? [1]
a). Oppressed and depressed b). Malnourished and weak
c). Aging and having ugly looks d). Diseased and sick
ii). Why are Aunt Jennifer’s hands fluttering through her wool? [1]
Aunt Jennifer's hands are fluttering through her wool because she is physically weak and frail. The
word "fluttering" suggests a lack of control or strength, indicating that Aunt Jennifer is struggling
with her task, possibly due to old age or emotional distress. This imagery conveys her fragile state,
both physically and mentally, highlighting the burden she carries in her life. The difficulty she
faces in completing even a simple task, like pulling the needle through the wool, reflects her overall
vulnerability and exhaustion.
iii). Complete the sentence appropriately [1]
Uncle’s wedding band sits heavily on Aunt Jennifer's hand suggests that_______
a). She feels burdened in her marriage b). The ring was very heavy in design
c).The ring carries the burden of uncle’s absence d). The ring symbolizes a deep responsibility
iv). State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE. [1]
‘Aunt Jennifer’s fingers flutter through her wool because it is a cold weather and she is not perfect in
embroidery.’ (F)
v). What do the symbol ‘tigers’, ‘fingers’ and ‘ring’ stand for in the poem? (Any 1) [1]
In the poem "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" by Adrienne Rich, the symbols of 'tigers,' 'fingers,' and 'ring'
hold significant meanings that reflect Aunt Jennifer's life, struggles, and emotions:
1. Tigers: The tigers in the poem represent freedom, strength, and courage. They contrast with
Aunt Jennifer's own life, symbolizing what she wishes for — a life of independence, vitality, and
fearlessness. The tigers are confident and free, unlike Aunt Jennifer, who is oppressed and
 burdened by her marriage and societal expectations. The tigers also stand for her unfulfilled
desires and aspirations.
2. Fingers: Aunt Jennifer's fluttering fingers represent her physical weakness and emotional
distress. The fluttering suggests a lack of control, frailty, and a struggle to perform even simple
tasks, highlighting how her life has drained her energy and spirit. It could also symbolize her
attempts to express herself or her art through embroidery, which she struggles with due to her
condition.
3. Ring: The wedding ring symbolizes marital oppression and subjugation. The "massive
weight" of the ring on Aunt Jennifer’s hand signifies the emotional and psychological burden of
her marriage to Uncle, who likely dominates and controls her. It also suggests that Aunt Jennifer
feels trapped by her marriage and the responsibilities it imposes on her, weighing down on her
sense of self.
Together, these symbols highlight the contrast between Aunt Jennifer's desires for freedom and the
oppressive reality of her life.
vi). Identify the figure of speech in “finger’s fluttering”. [1]
The figure of speech in "fingers fluttering" is personification.
Explanation: In this phrase, the fingers are described as "fluttering," which gives them a human-like
characteristic of fluttering or trembling, something typically associated with a bird's wings or a person in
distress. Fingers, being inanimate, cannot literally flutter on their own, so this is an example of
personification, where non-human things are given human qualities. It reflects Aunt Jennifer's physical
weakness and emotional turmoil.
The figure of speech in the phrase "fingers fluttering" is alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition
of the same letter or sound in closely connected words.
8. Attempt ANY ONE of the two questions with reference to the context. [4M]
I cried aloud, shaking my head all the while until I felt the cold blades of the scissors against my neck,
and heard them gnaw off one of my thick braids. Then I lost my spirit. Since the day I was taken from my
mother I had suffered extreme indignities. People had stared at me. I had been tossed about in the air like
a wooden puppet. And now my long hair was shingled like a coward’s! In my anguish I moaned for my
mother, but no one came to comfort me. Not a soul reasoned quietly with me, as my own mother used to
do; for now I was only one of many little animals driven by a herder. (Memories of Childhood)
1. ‘Then I lost my spirit’. Choose the option that DOES NOT refers to ‘spirit’. [1]
i. Resolve ii. Energy iii. Determination iv. Indifference
v. Enthusiasm vi. Will power
a). 1, 2 and 5 b). 2, 4 and 6 c). 1, 3 and 6 d). 3, 4 and 6
2. How would you describe the author’s tone when she says, “I was only one of many little animals
driven by a herder”? [1]
a) Austere b). Apathetic c). Dismal d). Resentful
Expressing frustration and a feeling of dehumanization, likening herself to an animal under control,
deprived of autonomy. This reflects her anger and bitterness about being treated as insignificant and
controlled, rather than as a person with dignity.
3. Choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below. [1]
Statement 1: The author had been subjected to humiliation when she was separated from her mother.
Statement 2: Nobody was able to ease her distress and empathize with her.
a). Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false.
b). Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true.
c). Both Statement 1 and Statement cannot be inferred from the passage
d). Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be inferred from the passage.
4. What cultural difference between Zitkala-Sa's background and the boarding school is highlighted in the
passage? [1]
a) Emphasis on education vs. manual labor b) Importance of hierarchy vs. equality
c) Value of individuality vs. conformity d) Focus on competition vs. cooperation

OR
B. Sometimes I think Grand Central is growing like a tree, pushing out new corridors and staircases like
roots. There’s probably a long tunnel that nobody knows about feeling its way under the city right now,
on its way to Times Square, and maybe another to Central Park. And maybe — because for so many
people through the years Grand Central has been an exit, a way of escape — maybe that’s how the
tunnel I got into... But I never told my psychiatrist friend about that idea. (The Third Level)
i) The above extract is NOT an example of ________. [1]
a) allegory b) analogy c) imagery d) metaphor
In the given extract, the description of Grand Central growing like a tree, with its corridors and
staircases like roots, is a metaphor and imagery, as it uses vivid language to create a visual image.
An analogy is also present, as the comparison between Grand Central’s growth and the spreading
of roots illustrates a deeper understanding. However, this passage is not an allegory, as it does not
involve a complete narrative or symbolic representation of abstract ideas, which is characteristic of
an allegory.
ii) Charley decided not to tell his psychiatrist friend about his idea. Choose the option that reflects the
reaction Charley anticipated from his friend. [1]
a) “That’s such a lovely comparison. Why don’t you become a writer, Charley?”
b) “Oh Charley. It is so sad to see your desperation to run away! So very sad.”
c) “Maybe that’s how you entered the third level. Who would have thought?!”
d) “You need help, my raving friend. You are way too invested in this crazy world.
iii) The idiom ‘feeling its way’ implies ______ movement. [1]
a) swift b) tentative c) circular d) disorganized
iv) The image of a tree to describe the Third Level lists some of the ways in which the symbolism of a
tree is employed. [1]
Which of the following would represent an example as used by Charley in the above extract?
a) ‘Stay grounded’ as the train station is underground.
b) ‘Connect with your roots’ as he desires to go back to his past.
c) ‘Enjoy the view’ as the station leads to all tourist sights of the city.
d) ‘Keep growing’ as the station keeps renovating and expanding.
9. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given. [6M]
A. Rudyard Kipling expressed an even more condemnatory attitude towards the interviewer. His wife,
Caroline, writes in her diary for 14 October, 1892 that their day was ‘wrecked by two reporters from
Boston.’ She reports her husband as saying to the reporters, ‘Why do I refuse to be interviewed? Because
it is immoral! It is a crime, just as much of a crime as an offence against my person, as an assault, and
just as much merits punishment. It is cowardly and vile. No respectable man would ask it, much less give
it.” Yet Kipling had himself perpetrated such an ‘assault’ on Mark Twain only a few years before. H.G.
Wells in an interview in 1894 referred to the ‘Interview ordeal’, but was a fairly frequent interviewee and
forty years later found himself interviewing Joseph Stalin. (The Interview)
i). Kipling viewed interviews with [1]
a). Compassion b). Condemnation c). Reconciliation d). Gratitude
ii). Why does Rudyard Kipling describe interview as ‘a crime’? [1]
Rudyard Kipling describes the interview as "a crime" because he viewed it as an invasion of
privacy and an assault on his personal integrity. He believed that being interviewed was a cowardly
and vile act, as it forced individuals to expose themselves to public scrutiny in a way that violated
their personal boundaries. According to Kipling, requesting or giving an interview was as harmful
as a physical assault, as it compromised one's dignity and personal space. His strong condemnation
reflected his belief that no respectable person would engage in such an act, considering it an
unethical violation of personal rights.
iii). Kipling assaulted ____________ with an interview. [1]
a). H.G. Wells b). Joseph Stalin c). T.S.Eliot d). Mark Twain
iv). The word ‘wrecked’ in the extract most nearly means [1]
a). Ravaged b). Broken c). Annihilated d). Ruined
v). Identify the writer who the above extract has been taken from [1]
a). Mukund Padmanabhan b). H.G.Wells
c). Christopher Silvester d).Umberto Eco
vi). H.G. Wells violated his own observation about interview on interviewing Joseph Stalin [1]
OR
B. I went to the pool when no one else was there. The place was quiet. The water was still and tiled
bottom was as white and clean as a bathtub. I was timid about going in alone, so I sat on the side of the
pool to wait for others. I had not been there long when came a big bruiser of a boy, probably eighteen
years old. He had thick hair on his chest. He was a beautiful physical specimen, with legs and arms that
showed rippling, muscles. He yelled. “Hi, Skinny! How’d you like to be ducked?” (Deep Water)
i).What is the purpose of the description of the bully? Present your views. [1]
The purpose of the description of the bully in "Deep Water" is to highlight his intimidating physical
presence and to set the stage for the conflict that will unfold in the story. The author uses vivid details
like "big bruiser," "thick hair on his chest," and "rippling muscles" to emphasize the bully’s strength and
dominant physicality. This contrast between the narrator’s timidity and the bully's confidence
accentuates the sense of vulnerability the narrator feels. The bully is portrayed as someone who is not
only physically imposing but also confrontational, as shown by his taunting words, “How’d you like to
be ducked?” This sets up the power dynamic between the two characters and the psychological tension
that will play a crucial role in the narrator’s personal growth and the larger theme of overcoming fear.
ii). Select the option that completes the given sentence appropriately. [1]
When the narrator went to the pool it was _____.
(a) Pleasant and lively (b) thrilling and attractive (c) dirty (d) still and clean
iii). What did the big bruiser of a boy do? [1]
The big bruiser of a boy taunted the narrator by yelling, "Hi, Skinny! How’d you like to be ducked?"
His words and the way he addressed the narrator as "Skinny" were meant to intimidate and provoke him.
The phrase "How’d you like to be ducked?" suggests that the boy was threatening to push the narrator
into the water, possibly as a form of bullying or dominance. The boy’s behavior sets up a confrontation,
highlighting his physical superiority and the narrator's vulnerability.
iv). Identify the textual clue that allows the reader to infer that the big boy was a bully? [1]
“Hi, Skinny! How’d you like to be ducked?”
v). Why did the narrator sit on the side of the pool? [1]
(a) To enjoy the beauty of the pool (b) He was afraid of venturing into the pool alone
(c) To wait for the coach (d) To prepare himself mentally to enter
vi). Complete the sentence with one word. [1]
The word ‘bruiser’ in the extract means bully.