1 | Page ALL SENIORS CBSE BOARD ENGLISH SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER – 21.02.2023 Time: 3 HOURS M. M. 80 CLASS – XII No. of Q.: 8 No. of Pages : 11 SUBJECT: ENGLISH Name Roll No. General Instructions : 1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading. 2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections-READING, WRITING and LITERATURE. 3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part. Write the correct question number in your answer sheet to indicate the option/s being attempted. Section A: READING SKILLS (20 marks) I Read the passage given below. 1. The art of living is learnt easily by those who are positive and optimistic. From humble and simple people to great leaders in history, science or literature, we can learn a lot about the art of living, by having a peep into their lives. The daily routines of these great men and women not only reveal their different, may be unique lifestyles but also help us learn certain habits and practices they followed. Here are some; read, enjoy and follow in their footsteps as it suits you. 2. A private workplace always helps. Jane Austen asked that a certain squeaky hinge should never be oiled so that she always had a warning whenever someone was approaching the room where she wrote. William Faulkner, lacking a lock on his study door, detached the doorknob and brought it into the room with him. Mark Twain’s family knew better than to breach his study door-they would blow a horn to draw him out. Graham Green went even further, renting a secret office; only his wife knew the address and the telephone number. After all, every one of us needs a workplace where we can work on our creation uninterruptedly. Equally we need our private space too! 3. A daily walk has always been a source of inspiration. For many artists, a regular stroll was essentially a creative inspiration. Charles Dickens famously took three hour walks every afternoon, and what he observed on th em fed directly into his writing. Tchaikovsky could make do with a two-hour jaunt but wouldn’t return a moment early; convinced that doing so would make him ill. Ludwig van Beethoven took lengthy strolls after lunch, carrying a pencil and paper with him in case inspiration struck. Nineteenth century composer Erik Satie did the same on his long hikes from Paris to the working-class suburb where he lived, stopping under street lamps to jot down ideas that came on his journey; it’s rumoured that when those lamps were turned off during the war years, his music declined too. Many great people had limited social life too. One of Simone de Beauvoir’s close friends puts it this way. ‘‘There were no receptions, parties. It was an uncluttered kind of life, a simplicity deliberately constructed so that she could do her work.” To Pablo the idea of Sunday was an ‘at home day’. 4. The routines of these thinkers are difficult. Perhaps it is because they are so unattainable. The very idea that you can organise your time as you like is out of reach for most of us, so I’ll close with a toast to all those who worked with difficulties. Like Francine Prose, who began writing when the school bus picked up her children and stopped when it brought them back; or T.S. Eliot, who found it much easier to write once he had a day job in a bank than he had as a starving poet and even F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose early books were written in his strict schedule as a young military officer. Those [10] 2 | Page days were not as interesting as the nights in Paris that came later, but they were much more productive–and no doubt easier on his liver. 5. Being forced to follow someone else’s routine may irritate, but it makes it easier to stay on the path. Whenever we break that trail ourselves or take an easy path of least resistance, perhaps what’s most important is that we keep walking. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the question. 1x10 i If the writers were forced to follow someone else’s routine, they would feel ______. A furious B. annoyed C. humoured D indifferent 1 ii Why did Jane Austen believe that a certain squeaky hinge should never be oiled? 1 iii Select the option that suitably completes the given dialogue as per the context of the passage. X. I don’t think I can ever be a great writer like William Faulkner. Y. Why do you think like this? ________________(1) X. No, I don’t have weird habits and quirks like him. Y________________(2) you just have to give it a try. A (1) Of course, you can be a good writer like him (2) That is true. But what can you do? B (1) You can be better than him (2) Yeah, he was a special one. C (1) But, I can see that you are right (2) Yeah, you don’t have any special mannerism. D (1) Sure, you can be a great writer like him. (2) That doesn’t really matter. 1 iv According to the passage, why did Erik Satie’s music decline? 1 v During which time did Fitzgerald write the most productively? 1 vi What is the relationship between (1) and (2)? ( 1) The people who are hopeful and have a positive outlook in life can easily learn the art of living (2) A lot can be learnt about a person by looking into their lives. A (2) is the cause for (1) B (1) and (2) are independent C (2) elaborates the problem described in (1) D (2) sets the stage for (1) 1 vii According to the passage, why did some artists resort to walking? A It is an exercise B It was a creative inspiration C It is essential for improving their health D It was helpful in interaction with others [1] viii Graham Greene rented a secret office because------- [1] ix Which quote best summarizes the writer’s feelings toward the artists mentioned in the passage? A. Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one – Stella Adler B There is no must in art because art is free–Wassily Kandinsky C Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life – Pablo Picasso D None of the above [1] x Select the options that lists what we can conclude from the text. 1. All the artists have already learnt the art of living. 2. If one is hopeful and sanguine, one can learn the art of living. 3. One should never follow in anyone else’s footsteps. 4. By going on frequent walks, one can become a great artist. 5. Forcing a person to follow someone else’s routine can be irritating. 1 3 | Page A. 2, 3 and 5 B 2 and 5 C 1, 2 and 4 D 1, 3 and 5 II Read the passage given below 1. Virat Kohli’s innings against Pakistan raised the question: Was this someone out of form playing a good innings or one in form playing a patchy one? The important thing is that it doesn’t matter. And this is where T20 is crucially different from the other formats. There are three aspects of T20 that merit discussion here: the philosophy, usually unstated, that drives the game, the actual playing of it, and team selection. To begin with the philosophy, T20 is not a shorter version of the 50- over game, and the aim is not (necessarily) to play attractively or score centuries. Averages don’t count, strike rates do. All judgements are made purely on the basis of figures in the scorecard 2. The long format places emphasis on style and character, on the how and why rather than merely the what. T20 has no such pretensions. Ugly and effective is far more useful than attractive and useless, batting or bowling. An inside edge that narrowly misses the stumps and trickles away for four is more valuable than a classic cover drive that fetches just a single. T20 is cricket without the airs. 3. Kohli might have been dropped in the first over, and inner-edged dangerous ly a few times. His strike rate was unimpressive (35 off 34 balls), and he threw it away just when India seemed to be recovering from the first- ball dismissal of K.L. Rahul. But he and Rohit Sharma added 50 — in T20 terms that is a lot, especially when cha sing 147. Short, quick partnerships can turn a match. Hardik Pandya showed this when making an unbeaten 33 in 17 (nearly twice as fast as Kohli’s innings). The concept of rotating strike, a cliché in the game, does not apply to T20. Rotating strike means s coring a single, meaning three or five more runs that could have been scored off that delivery were not. 4. Bowlers, although they have only 24 legal deliveries at their disposal, can still plan and alternate between short-term and long-term strategy, but batsmen need to be single - minded, repeating to themselves, “Four or six, four or six.” In the team as a whole, everyone is a designated hitter. Some carry the licence to throw their bats at everything regardless of the state of the game. If there are eight i n a team who can be expected to score significantly, and half that number might fail, the remainder striking consistently is still good enough to win a match. The four who ‘fail’ keep changing, and it is up to the team management to ensure that they are not discouraged from hitting the next time around. 5. In the Pakistan match, thanks to two genuine all- rounders, Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja, India could afford an off- day for a bowler or even play an extra batsman (Rishabh Pant, the obvious choice). The all-rounder in T20 is nothing like the all- rounder in red ball cricket who can hold down a place either on his batting or his bowling alone. Here the all - rounder is someone who can bowl between two and four overs and is capable of scoring 25 runs in 15 balls. 4 | Page 6. And so to team selection. In his book, the Tyranny of Merit, the American philosopher Michael Sandel says, “Meritocratic hubris reflects the tendency of winners to inhale too deeply of their success. It is the smug conviction of those who land on t op that they deserve their fate, and that those at the bottom deserve theirs too.” Change the winners to ‘seniors’, and you have the situation in Indian cricket selection for long. 7. For years, selection operated on the principle of divine right. Some sen ior players felt they had a divine right to be selected regardless of form, fitness or age. The selectors played into this for political reasons. In recent years, however, divine right has been jettisoned by the selectors who are now paid a salary and expe cted to behave as professionally as the players. Yet vestiges still remain. Form and performance ought to be the keys to T20 selection — although sometimes a performance has to be judged on intent too. The format demands a here-and- now approach both as a s trategy to score runs or take wickets as well as while selecting teams. If the top batsmen are not delivering, move them around to see where they fit or drop them. Nothing is permanent – neither the selection, nor the dropping. 8. It is becoming increasing ly clear that T20 is a young man’s game. The mixture of arrogance and fearlessness that wins matches belongs to youth. The much- experienced are more aware of the pitfalls. Theories of the game keep changing from season to season, even match to match. The c oach has to adapt and rejig constantly. T20, however, is focused only on winning. How you play the game, another sporting cliché, doesn’t matter. 5 | Page Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. 1*10 i Does the following statement agree with the information given in paragraph 1? In T20 cricket, batting strike rates are given more importance and limelight than batting averages. Select from the following: True - the statement agrees with the information False - the statement contradicts the information Not Given - there is no information on this [1] ii Which one of the following players had the highest strike rate in the recent India- Pakistan Asia Cup match? A. R. Jadeja B V. Kohli C H. Pandya D S. Yadav [1] iii Complete the sentence based on the following statement. ‘ T20 is cricket without the airs’ We can say this because ________________________ [1] iv Identify the line / phrase that suggest the following meaning- ‘Conviction by those who land on top that their success is their own doing’ [1] v Why , do you think, was H. Pandya awarded the Player of the Match trophy in the match discussed in the above passage? [1] vi Complete the sentence appropriately with one/ two words from para 7 - Some bicyclist apparently think they have a ______ to ride wherever they want. [1] vii Based on the text choose the option which is NOT CORRECT- A Format is one of the key factors for selection B Top batsman should be given preference in the team C Form, fitness and age should be considered for selection D ‘Here-and- now approach should be the strategy [1] viii Based on the reading of the text, complete the given statement. India could afford an off-day for a bowler because __ [1] ix ix Why was Kohli’s innings important as per the passage? A. He played flawlessly B. He added fifty runs with Rohit Sharma C. His strike rate was impressive. D. He threw it away just when India seemed to be recovering. [1] x Why do bowlers have more options than batsmen in T20? A. The bowlers have 24 legal deliveries at their disposal. B. The bowlers can plan and alternate between various strategies. C. The batsmen can vary their batting strategies. D. The bowlers can bowl fast, slow, & also spin the ball [1] III SECTION B – CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS [20] 1 Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below 5 A You are the President of your Resident Welfare Association. Write a notice to be circulated to all the residents that on 10 th and 11 th December 2022, the police will hold a ‘Verification Camp’ for the domestic help and drivers and other help in the colony. You are Umesh/ Uma Sharma. W ord limit -50 6 | Page OR B You are Manav /Manvi working as the Students’ Representative of the School Development Committee is going to meet next week to prepare a calendar of activities for the school for the year 2023-24. To ensure that you perform your role effectively at the proposed meeting, you h ave decided to invite the students’ suggestions on the subject. Write a notice to this effect in not more than 50 word giving necessary details. 2 Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5 A You are the Principal of Zodiac Senior Secondary School, Ooty. The school has completed 25 years of its meritorious services to the society. The Silver Jubilee Celebrations are to be held on Sunday, the 20 th December, 2022. Mrs M. Kamath , the founder Principal will preside . Draft a suitable invitation to be sent to important dignitaries of the city and the parents of students OR B You as Mr. Vohra write a reply of refusal , regretting your inability to attend the celebrations of 25 th anniversary of Mrs. and Mr. Sharma due to some prior engagement. 3 Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below 5 A Public demonstration in the daily routine causes a lot of disturbance in the daily routine of a common mass. You almost missed your important entrance examination as people blocked the highway. As Tarun / Taruna, a student, aspiring to be a Doctor, write a letter to Editor of the Times of India, highlighting the need to discourage such demonstration and disturbance on roads. OR B You are Krishna/ Krishan, from C-9, Mayur Vihar, Delhi. You have come across an advertisement in a national daily for recruitment of Radio Jockey by Radio One, Noida. Apply in response to the advertisement giving your detailed bio-data. 4 Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below 5 A On the threshold of being a world superpower, India has a large young workforce but unfortunately not many in this world are employable for want of necessary skill. Write an article for the newspaper on the need of skill development in about 120-150 words. OR B You are Preet/ Prem, head of Health Club of KV Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi. Your club organised a talk to make students aware about alarming use of chemicals in vegetable and fruits. Experts from medical field and consumer forum were invited to answer the queries of the audience. Write a report in about 100- 125 words for your school magazine. SECTION C - LITERATURE 40 IV Read the given extract to attempt the questions with reference to context. 1 Attempt ANY ONE of the extracts given . 1*6 1A Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear The thought of so much childish longing in vain, The sadness that lurks near the open window there, That waits all day in almost open prayer For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car, Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass, [1] i What is tone of the poet? i anguish iii aggressive ii resigned iv pitiful v hopeful A (i) and (iii) C (i) and (iv) B (ii) and (iv) D only (v) [1] 7 | Page ii Identify the phrase from the extract that suggests the following Uncertain and futile expectation of poor people for city money [1] iii What quality/ qualities of the villagers can be inferred through these lines? A. pessimistic and despondent B. patient and trusting C gullible and naive D distressed and annoyed [1] iv On the basis of extract, choose the correct option with reference to (1) and (2). (1) The villagers are waiting for the squeal of brakes. (2) The villagers are praying for some money for their daily bread A . (1) is true but (2) is false B (1) is false but (2) is true C (2) is reason for (1) D Both (1) and (2) are false [1] v Select the option that uses the same poetic device as used for “sadness that lurks near the window ”. A. The world is your oyster. B. That large house must have cost an arm and a leg. C. The sun smiled down on us D. The green grass grew quickly. [1]] vi Complete the following appropriately- The poet can’t tolerate the ______ [1] OR 1B Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen, Bright topaz denizens of a world of green. They do not fear the men beneath the tree; They pace in sleek chivalric certainty. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool Find even the ivory needle hard to pull. 1*6 i What is the reason for the poet to use tigers as a trope ? A To present a contrast B To show how all men should be C To highlight the symbolism D To give a grandeur presence in the poem [1] ii Choose the option that does NOT reflect the quality of tigers created by Aunt Jennifer i Domination and oppression of women ii Aunt Jennifer’s artistic merit iii The nature of tigers iv certainty and confidence v ferocity A (i) and (v) B only (iii) C (iii) and (iv) D only (i) [1] iii The act of ‘embroidery’ is used by Adrienne Rich to dignify - i desires ii need of expression iii wishes iv dreams v ideals A (i),(ii), and (iii) C (ii), (iii), and (iv) [1] 8 | Page B (iii), (iv), and (v) D (i), (iv), and (v) iv ‘ Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool ’ Describe Aunt on the basis of the given line. [1] v Complete the following analogy correctly Fingers fluttering: ______: ______ metaphor [1] vi Identify the phrase from extract, that suggests the following The tigers are very possessive about their territory and on their own terms [1] 2 Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 1*4 2A MR LAMB: In that way? No, you won’t. DERRY: And no one’ll kiss me, ever. Only my mother, and she kisses me on the other side of my face, and I don’t like my mother to kiss me, she does it because she has to. Why should I like that? I don’t care if nobody ever kisses me. MR LAMB: Ah, but do you care if you never kiss them. DERRY: What? (On the Face of it) i Complete the following correctly “No, you won’t.” This phrase has been stated in the context of the story__ [1] ii How would you describe Derry’s tone when he says, “Why should I like that? ” i anger ii distraught iii frustration iv hatred v scared A (i), (ii) and (v) B (i), (ii) and (iv) C (ii), (iii) and (v) D (i), (ii) and (iii) [1] iii “She kisses me on the other side of my face, and I don’t like my mother to kiss me” What impact does the mother’s attitude leave on Derry? [1] iv “Ah, but do you care if you never kiss them” What does Mr. Lamb aim to do with such a statement? A Empower Derry to take charge B Inspire Derry to have dreams C Comfort Derry by distracting him D Questions Derry about his desire [1] 2B 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 ________. A allegory C imagery B symbol D simile [1] ii Complete the sentence appropriately, with reference to the extract “ But I never told my psychiatrist friend about that idea ” because-- [1] iii 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. [1] 9 | Page 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. iv The lines that “ for so many people through the years Grand Central has been an exit, a way of escape ” indicates that----- [1] 3 A Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given 1*6 It is for the patient, persistent, persevering drudge with a heart so shrunken that nothing can break it; rejection slips don’t mean a thing to him; he at once sets about making a fresh copy of the long prose piece and sends it on to another editor enclosing postage for the return of the manuscript. It was for such people that The Hindu had published a tiny announcement in an insignificant corner of an unimportant page — a short story contest organised by a British periodical by the name The Encounter. i “ It is for the patient, persistent, persevering drudge” in the given context refers to - (A) Legal adviser C Office boy (B) A Prose writer D A poet [1] ii Select the suitable word from the extract to complete the following analogy : Shrunken: reduced :: toiler: --- [1] iii Select the correct option to fill in the blank This drudge’s heart never be broken because A The person takes everything in a positive manner B The person is not afraid of rejection of his piece of writing C The person is very mature and successful D None of the above [1] iv Based on the above extract, choose the statement that is TRUE in context of the given statement- This patient, persistent , persevering drudge have to enclose return postage A As he wants to ensure that original manuscript is returned to him B As people ask for it C To show his sincerity D To send his manuscript to The Encounter [1] v Identify the textual clue that allows the reader to infer that the writer is sympathetic towards ‘such people’ . (Clue: a phrase) [1] vi Complete the sentence with an appropriate explanation, as per the extract The writer uses the phrase ‘ tiny announcement in an insignificant corn er’ to highlight--- [1] OR 3 B The official inquiry assembled a crushing mountain of evidence against the big planters, and when they saw this they agreed, in principle, to make refunds to the peasants. “But how much must we pay?” they asked Gandhi. They thought he would demand repayment in full of the money which they had illegally and deceitfully extorted from the sharecroppers. He asked only 50 per cent. “There he seemed adamant,” writes Reverend J. Z. Hodge, a British missionary in Champaran who observed the entire episode at close range. “Thinking probably that he would not give way, the representative of the planters offered to refund to the extent of 25 per cent, and to his amazement Mr. Gandhi took him at his word, thus breaking the deadlock. i What did the official agree to? A To make refunds to the peasants B To arrest Gandhiji C To release Gandhiji D To set up inquiry________--- [1] ii Rewrite the sentence by replacing the underlined phrase with its inference “There he seemed adamant” [1] 10 | Page iii On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below. 1 T he official inquiry didn’t favour the planters 2 Gandhiji asked for 25 per cent refund A (1) Can be inferred from the extract but (2) cannot. B. (1) cannot be inferred from the extract but (2) can. C. (1) is true but (2) is false. D. (2) is the reason for (1). [1] iv Complete the analogy correctly. Deceitfully: dishonestly:: impasse:---- [1] v In the given context “ the entire episode ” refers to _____ [1] vi Choose the option that offers the correct justification for the assumption made in the given statement “ Mr. Gandhi took him at his word, thus breaking the deadlock.” A He had anticipated the negotiating tactics of the planter’s representations B He had been informed about the depleting funds of the planters. C He had taken the advice of the Reverend on board D He had evaluated the commission’s attitude towards Indians [1] V Answer ANY FIVE of the following in about 40-50 words each 5*2 i Both, the story The Last Lesson and the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six ,end on a sad yet emphatic note. Comment. [2] ii Describe the emotional impact that the misadventure at the YMCA pool had on the narrator. [2] iii What kind of an imaginary and ideal world does the poet visualise in the poem Keeping Quiet? [2] iv Explain the concept of interstices in our life as given by Umberto Eco in the lesson Interview. [2] v What rich bounty has the heaven given us?(A Thing of Beauty) [2] vi A mistaken identity led to a discovery of a new one for the rattrap peddler. How did this impact him?( The Rat Trap) [2] VI Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2*2 i How did Antarctica amaze the writer when she first saw it? [2] ii How did Dr Sadao ensure that the American soldier left his house but he himself remained safe and secure? [2] iii What consideration influenced the tiger king to get married? [2] VII Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 120-150 words 1*5 i Unrealistic dreams often lead to great deal of unhappiness. Justify the statement with reference to ‘Going Places’. [5] OR ii Most of us do not raise our voice against injustice in our society and tend to remain mute spectators. Anees Jung in her story , ‘Lost Spring’ vividly highlights the miserable life of street children and bangle makers of Firozabad. Write a short description on Child Labour that neatly encapsulates the problems of Saheb and Mukesh with some suggestions. [5] VII I Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 120-150 words 1*5 11 | Page i The servants of Sadao and Hana reflected a particular mindset of general public in society towards the thinking of broadminded human being. Elaborate with the reference to the Enemy. [5] OR ii Imagine you are the narrator Tishani Doshi, writing to your parents back home telling them about your experience in Antarctica and how it is similar to that back home in some way. You can begin like this.. Antarctica November1,XX Dear mom It is so different here, I can’t post this letter but I write to capture these amazing moments I am spending here. Antarctica is a......... [5]