Sample Paper2

CBSE Class XII English Core

General Instructions:

This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C. All the Sections are compulsory.

Answers should be to the point. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit.

Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary.

Read these instructions carefully and follow them.

Section –A (Marks: 20)

Reading

1. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow: (12 marks)

1. Which world famous monument is situated on Marsuki Miyazaki Marg? Taj Mahal,

answers an enthusiastic participant on Kunal Savarkar s quiz show. Well, this was an

easy guess as there was tell-tale clue in the question. Marg is an Indian tem and Taj Mahal

is the monument that people across the world identify India wih, explains Savarkar.

2. Director of Xpress Minds Edutainment and Quiz Craft, Savarkar believes that every quiz contest should have some interesting take-always for the participants. This can be as simple as learning about a new technique or filtering wrong options in a multiple choice question or learning about a completely unknown fact about one a city or immediate environment, he elaborates.

3. Sharing some tips, the quiz-master adds, The participants and audience should be able toidentify with the questions. So it makes sense to have a few questions that are specific to the country or city in which the quiz is being conducted. And these questions become interesting if they go beyond obvious facts. For instance, one of the questions in a quiz that I conducted to mark the 375th Anniversary of Madras city was: Who is missing in thislist of siblings- Chandrika Tandon,………………. and Narayan Krishnamurthy? I asked theaudience to fill in the blank with the name of a famous daughter or the city. The answer, cracked by most members of the diverse audience, was Indira Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi Co!

4. The choice of words in a question can make it interesting or boring. For instance: Which evergreen actor is first film was the 1946 release Hum Ek Hain? is a typical example of an interesting question. The answer is easy of those who spotted the word evergreen – who else but Dev Anand!

5. A visionary in his own right, Savarkar feels that participating in a quiz contest sharpens ones analytical skills and the ability to make logical deductions and inferences. Savarkar conducts quiz workshops which coach people on critical decision-making skills. In today’s world all are facing an overwhelming load of information. The challenge is to filter this everyday maze of information into clear categories like permanent (landmark) and temporary (transient) or relevant and irrelevant. My workshops help people overcome this challenge.

6. Savarkar has hosted some of India s leading quiz shows including the Indian National

Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage quiz and Sawal Dilli Ka. He is now conducting the

prestigious ten-city Sweden India Nobel Memorial Quiz series for college students,

organized by the Embassy of Sweden Savarkar, who has conducted over a thousand

quizzes in the course of the last fifteen years, is the only quiz-master to have conducted a quiz show at the National Defence Academy (NDA). –from Hindustan Times

I. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each:

a. When do the participants and audience in a quiz show identify themselves with the

questions? (1)

b. What makes Savarkar been conducting quiz –master? (1)

c. How long has Savarkar been conducting quiz shows? (1)

d. My workshops help people overcome this challenge (para 5) What does this refer to? (1)

e. What makes the question Which world……………….Miyazaki Marg? (Para1) an easy

question? (1)

f. According to Savarkar, what is an important ingredient of a quiz show? (1)

II. Answer the following questions by selecting the most appropriate option from the given ones:

a. The …………… makes a question interesting for the participants and audience of a quiz show. (1)

i. Active participation of Savarkar

ii. Choice of words

iii. Ability of draw inferences

iv. Ability to make logical deductions

b. …………… makes it easy to answer a question. (1)

i. Tell-tale clue

ii. Sharing some tips

iii. Filtering wrong options

iv. Learning about a completely unknown fact

c. Participation in a quiz contest sharpens the …………… (1)

i. Ability to frame good questions

ii. Vision of a person

iii. Ability to make logical deduction

iv. Interesting abilities

III. Find the word/phrase in the passage which means the same as: (2)

a. Brothers or sisters

b. Saw or noticed a fact

2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: (8 marks)

1. It is hard to think of an Indain snack that is not fried. However, we need to be aware of what happens to oil when it is heated. When oil begins to smoke, it is a good indicator

that it has been heated too much. At this temperature, chemical changes begin to take

place, which have many health risks. Of course, this tricky. It the oil is not hot enough,

then more of it is absorbed, and the resultant product is quite soggy and unfit to eat.

2. Further, prolonged heating of oil at high temperature, i.e. at its smoking point, leads to it degradation. A substance called acrolien is formed which can irritate the stomach

linning. Oil that has decomposed to acrolien to dark ans viscous. Normally this does not

happen when food is fried at home. But as oil is expensive we are not willing to put it

down the drain after having used it only once. The common tendency is to set aside any

oil that is left over to use another time. And repeated use of the same oil guarantees the

formation of acrolien with all its undesirable effects.

3. In fact, some experts suggest that oil should not be held at its smoking temperature for more than 15 minutes at a time. This time span, as everyone knows, is hardly sufficient to prepare poor is for even a small family of four. Sadly, olive and corn oils are not widely available in our markets. Both these oils can be heated to higher temperatures before they start smoking.

4. Even heart-friendly oils, like those made from sunflower are also not spared from these effects. Another problem arises when oil is stored under less than satisfactory conditions.

If the oil is not stored in an airtight container which, additionally, allows light to pass

through, then it will deteriorate further because of the effect of oxygen and light on oil.

5. By and large, these undesirable effects result when food is deep fried. So, eat deep fried food occasionally. This does not mean we can no longer enjoy the flavour and palatability of fried foods. Some food like tikkis land themselves to both deep and shallow frying. Since every batch of frying requires fresh oil, there is no problem of left over oil.

6. The practice of heating small amounts of mustard, black grams chillies and the like in a little oil, before they are added to vegetables and curries, is called tempering. Tempering is not meant solely for flavour but has a nutritional benefit as well.

a. On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes on it. Supply an

appropriate little to it. (4)

b. Write a summary of the above passage in not more than 80 words using the notes made. (4)

Section–B (30 Marks)

Advanced Writing Skills

4. You are Zeent/Rehan living at 17, Kamlesh Market, Shimla. You plan to sell some

household furniture as you shifting to a far off place. Draft an advertisement in 50 words for

the classified columns of a newspaper. Give necessary details of the furniture. (4)

OR

On the occasion of the World Reading Day, your school is organizing a talk on advantages of

reading by a well-known educationist. Write a notice for the school notice-board inviting the

student to participate. You are Amita/Amit, the Secretary of the School Reading Club.

5. You are Librarian of Vasudha Public School, Golden Enclave, Delhi. Your School plans to buy books for the school library. Write a letter of enquiry to M/s Rama Publications, Hargovind Road, Delhi, asking for the latest catalogue, price list and details of discount on bulk purchase. (6)

OR

Inpite of 24 x 7 police security and well lit roads, women in metro cities do not feel safe.

Several factores like mindset of people, disregard for the law of the land etc. are responsible for the ulncivil-situation. Write a letter of the Editor of the Hindustan Times expressing your concern and suggesting how cities can be made safe for women.

6. Craze for carry I-pods or chatting on smart phones is catching on. Youngsters keep

themselves hooked to various devices even while walking or riding bikes. Sometimes this

practice proves fatal for them or other road users. Write an article in 150-200 words to

spread awareness on this dangerous trend. You are Mukt/Mukta of XII B. (10)

OR

Science and technology has given man immense power. Intoxicated by this power, man hasstated a war on nature—exploiting the natural resources, bringing rivers under his control. Consequently nature is also reacting with droughts, changed climatic patterns, floods etc. All this could put survival of man on earth in danger. For your school magazine write an article in 150-200 words on the topic Respect Nature—Live Safe.

7. Elections are a part and parcel of democracy. Many, especially the youth, do not show much interested when it is election time and avoid casting their vote. Write a speech in 150-200 words on the topic Caste you vote urging the youth to actively participate in elections. (10)

OR

Your are Tarun/Taruna of Shivaji House of your school. Your School is organizing an Inter House Debate Competition and the topic of the debate is: Reality Shows: A Boon for Children.You feel that children participation in reality shows is another form of child labour and causes harm to participating children. You decide to participate in the debate and oppose the motion. Draft your debate in not more than 200 words.

Section-C (30 marks)

Literature and Long-Reading Text

8. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions the follow: (1x4=4 marks)

A. Aunt Jennifer s fingers fluttering through her wood

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.

The massive weight of Uncle s wedding band

Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer s hand

a. The Uncle s wedding band is described as being heavy. Why? (1)

b. Why do Aunt s hands flutter through her wool? (1)

c. What is Aunt Jennifer doing? (1)

d. Name the poem and poet. (1)

B.What I want should not be confused

With total inactivity

Life is what it is about

I want no truck with death.

a. What does the narrator want? (1)

b. Explain: Life is what is a about (1)

c. Mention one act on the part of narrator that support that he want no association with

death. (1)

d. Who could confuse narrator s suggestion with total inactivity? (1)

9. Answer the following in 30-40 words each: (2 x 5 = 10)

a. What does the poet with for the slum children?

b. Why was the peddler in story The Rattrap surprised when he knocked at door of the old crofter s cottage?

c. Why did the big bully throw Douglas into the pool?

d. What indignities did Zitkala-so suffer after she was separated from her mother?

e. Why is Mukesh s dream of becoming a motor mechanic significant?

10. What conflict of duties does Dr. Sadao face? How does he resolve it? (120-150 words) (6)

OR

How did the misadventure in YMCA pool affect Douglas? What efforts did he make to

conquer his childhood fear?

11. Where peasants are so crushed and fear stricken law courts are useless, the real relief for them is to be free from fear. -Gandhi Take clue from Gandhiji s statement and write an article in 120-150 words on Fear is Mans worst enemy. (6 Marks)