Maharashtra State Board Class 12th English Sample Paper Set 6 with Solutions Answers Pdf Download.
Maharashtra Board Class 12 English Model Paper Set 6 with Solutions
General Instructions:
- Each activity has to be answered in complete sentence/sentences. Answers written in only one word will not be given complete credit. Only the correct activity number written in case of options will not be given any credit.
- Web diagrams, flow charts, tables etc. are to be presented exactly as they are with answers.
- In point 2 above, only the words written without the presentation of activity format/design, will not be given credit. Use of colour pens/pencils etc. is not allowed. (Only blue/black pens are allowed.)
- Multiple answers to the same activity will be treated as wrong and will not be given any credit.
- Maintain the sequence of the Sections/ Question Nos./Activities throughout the activity sheet.
Section I: Prose
(Reading for Comprehension, Language Study, Summary, Mind Mapping)
Question 1.
(A) Read the extract and complete the activities given below: [12 Marks]
Punctually at midday he opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook, and a bundle of palmyra writing. His forehead was resplendent with sacred ash and vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp abnormal gleam which was really an outcome of a continual searching look for customers, but which his simple clients took to be a prophetic light and felt comforted.
The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced by their position-placed as they were between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers which streamed down his cheeks : even a half-wit’s eyes would sparkle in such a setting. To crown the effect he wound a saffron-coloured turban around his head. This colour scheme never failed. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahlia stalks. He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked a path running through the Town Hall Park. It was a remarkable place in many ways. A surging crowd was always moving up and down this narrow road from morning till night.
A variety of trades and occupations was represented all along its way : medicine sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and above all, an auctioneer of cheap cloth, who created enough din all day to attract the whole town. Next to him in vociferousness came a vendor of fried groundnut, who gave his ware a fancy name each day, calling it “Bombay Ice Cream” one day and on the next “Delhi Almond,” and on the third “Raja’s Delicacy,” and so on and so forth, and people flocked to him.
A considerable portion of this crowd ‘ dallied before the astrologer too. The astrologer transacted his business by the light of a flare which crackled and smoked up above the groundnut heap nearby. Half the enchantment of the place was due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of municipal lighting. The place was lit up by shop lights. One or two had hissing gaslihts, same had naked flares stuck on poles, some were lit up by old cycle lamps, and one or two, 1ke the
astrologer, managed without lights of their own.
It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays and moving shadows. This suited the astrologer very well, for the simple reason that he had not in the least intended to be an astrologer when he began life; and he knew no more of what was going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen to himself nextminute. He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers.
Yet he said things which pleased and astonished everyone : that was more a matter of study, practice, and shrewd guesswork. All the same, it was as much an honest man’s labour as any other, and he deserved the wages he carried home at the end of a day.
A1. State whether the following statements are True or False. Correct the False statements. (2)
i. The astrologer’s professional equipment included a simple chart and a notebook.
Answer:
False
The astrologer’s professional equipment included a mystic chart and a notebook.
ii. The astrologer sat under the boughs of a tamarind tree situated outside the Town Hall Park.
Answer:
False
The astrologer sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked the path running through the Town Hall Park.
iii. A considerable portion of the crowd that stopped by the fried groundnut vendor dallied before the astrologer too.
Answer:
True
iv. The astrologer knew much more about the stars than his innocent customers did.
Answer:
False
The astrologer was as much a stranger to stars as his innocent customers were.
A2. How could the astrologer tell the person about his life? (2)
Answer:
The astrologer never opened his mouth till his client had spoken for at least ten
minutes, which provided him enough time to form a dozen answers and advices. He had a working analysis of mankind’s common troubles. He utilised the time spent in silence to collate his experience and common understanding of life’s problems to tell the person about his life.
A3. What do you understand by the author’s statement that the astrologer deserved the wages he carried home at the end of the day? (2)
Answer:
The statement means that the earnings of the astrologer were a result of a hard day’s work. Even though he did not really know astrology, he did a good job of delighting and convincing his customers by telling them what they wanted to hear. So, it was as much an honest man’s labour as any other.
A4. Do you think that one can’t judge a person by his or her appearance? (2)
Answer:
Yes, I agree that one should not form an opinion of someone purely based on what appears on the surface. Upon a closer look, the person may turn out to be much more meritorious than the appearance suggests. On the contrary, someone looking very virtuous from outside may not prove worthy of the expectations upon a deeper analysis. This wisdom is aptly captured in the popular proverb “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
A5. Do as Directed:. (2)
i. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahlia stalks.
(Change to Active Voice)
ii. The colour scheme never failed. (Change to Affirmative)
Answer:
i. He attracted people as cosmos or dahlia stalks attract bees.
ii. The colour scheme always worked.
A6. Fill in the blanks using appropriate words from the ones provided below: (2)
(half-wit, flickering, prophetic, shrewd)
i. While she claims she has ___ vision, none of her predictions have ever been correct.
ii. Please speak sensibly in the gathering and avoid being viewed as a ____.
iii. Jignesh is a ___ businessman with much practical knowledge of the market.
iv. The electric bulb had been ___ for a while before it fused.
Answer:
i. prophetic
ii. half-wit
iii. shrewd
iv. flickering
(B) Grammar / Language Study (Non-Textual Grammar) – [4 Marks]
B1. Do as directed. (3)
i. I know that he has completed the assignment. (Rewrite as a Simple sentence)
ii. Chennai is hotter than Mumbai. (Rewrite as a Negative sentence)
iii. I can solve this problem. (Pick out the Modal Auxiliary and state its function)
Answer:
i. I know he completed the assignment. [1 Mark]
ii. Mumbai is not hotter than Chennai. [1 Mark]
iii. Modal Auxiliary: can
Function: ability
B2. Spot the error in the following sentence. (1)
i. When students stays up all night, they are not alert in the morning.
Answer:
When students stay up all night, they are not alert in the morning.
Question 2.
(A) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below: [18 Marks]
One afternoon in 1977, as his parents and two brothers fished in the Gulf of Mexico, 12-year- old. Michael Dell sat on the beach, painstakingly putting together a trotline – a maze of ropes to which several fish hooks could be attached. “You’re wasting your time,” the rest of the family called to Michael, as they pulled in a fish. “Grab a pole and join in the fun.”
Michael kept working. It was dinner time when he finished, and everyone else, .was ready to call it a day. Still, the youngster cast the trotline far into the water, anchoring it to a stick that he plunged deep in the sand.
Over dinner his family teased young Michael about coming away empty-handed. But afterwards Michael reeled in his trotline, and on the hooks were more fish than the others had caught all together!
Michael Dell has always been fond of saying, “If you think you have a good idea, try it!” And today, at 29, he has discovered the power of another good idea that has helped him rise in just a few years from teen to tycoon. He has become the fourth-largest manufacturer of personal computers in America and the youngest man ever to head Fortune 500 corporation.
Growing up in Houston, Texas, Michael and his two brothers were imbued by their parents, Alexander and Lorraine – he an orthodontist, she a stockbroker – with the desire to learn and the drive to work hard. Even so, stories about the middle boy began to be told early.
Like the time a saleswoman came asking to speak to “Mr. Michael Dell” about his getting a high-school equivalency diploma. Moments later, eight-year-old Michael was explaining that he thought it might be a good idea to get high school out of the way.
A1. Arrange the following events of how Michael was successful in catching more fish in the order of their occurrence. (2)
i. Michael cast the trotline far into the water.
ii. Michael painstakingly put together a trotline – a maze of ropes to which several fish hooks could be attached.
iii. Michael reeled in his trotline and succeeded in catching more fish than all the others had caught.
iv. Michael anchored the trotline to a stick that he plunged deep in the sand.
Answer:
ii. Michael painstakingly put together a trotline – a maze of ropes to which several fish hooks could be attached.
i. Michael cast the trotline far into the water.
iv. Michael anchored the trotline to a stick that he plunged deep in the sand.
iii. Michael reeled in his trotline and succeeded in catching more fish than all the others had caught.
A2. Say whether the following statements about Michael Dell are true or false. Correct the false statements. (2)
i. Michael Dell and his brothers grew up in the Gulf of Mexico.
ii. Over dinner, Michael’s family teased him for having caught no fish.
iii. Michael fondly says that if one has a good idea, one should try it.
iv. Michael’s parents only imbued his two brothers with the desire to learn and the drive to work hard. ’
Answer:
i. False. Michael Dell and his brothers grew up in Houston, Texas.
ii. True
iii. True
iv. False. Michael’s parents imbued him and his two brothers with the desire to learn and the drive to work hard.
A3. Michael had already achieved a lot by the time he was 29. Justify. (2).
Answer:
Michael had already achieved a lot by the time he was 29 because he had already climbed the ladder of success to become the youngest tycoon who headed a Fortune 500 corporation. He was also the fourth-largest manufacturer of personal computers in America.
A4. Personal Response:
Michael says, “If you think you have a good idea, try it!” Do you agree or disagree? Explain your view in detail. (2)
Answer:
Yes, I agree with Michael when he says, If you have a good idea,-try it! As we read the passage, we realise that nothing would be achieved if people did not put their ideas into practice. Many great inventions wouldn’t have been possible, had people kept their great ideas to themselves. To know whether our idea works, we must first try it out.
A5. Language study:
Do as directed.
i. Over dinner his family teased young Michael about coming away empty-handed. (Change the Voice)
ii. He is the youngest man ever to head a Fortune 500 Corporation. (Change the Degree)
Answer:
i. Young Michael was teased by his family over dinner about coming away empty-handed.
ii. No man as young as him has ever headed a Fortune 500 Corporation. (Positive) He is younger than any other man ever to head a Fortune 500 Corporation. (Comparative)
A6. Vocabulary:
Give meanings of the following word / phrase and make a meaningful sentence with it.
teased
Answer:
mocked, made fun of
The young boy was teased by his friends after he failed the exams.
(B) Summary Writing:
With the help of the given points, write a summary of the above passage and suggest a suitable title for it. (3)
i. First good idea
ii. Current achievements
iii. Upbringing
iv. Critical thinking
Answer:
Inside the Mind of Michael Dell
In 1977, a 12-year-old Michael Dell had his first good idea. By putting together a trotline, he caught more fish than the others in his family did all together. Today, at the age of 29 he has become the fourth-largest manufacturer of personal computers in America. His parents had imbued in him and his brothers the desire to learn and the drive to work hard. Even at the age of 8, Michael was able to explain to a saleswoman why he planned on attending high school.
(C) Mind Mapping:
Prepare a mind map on the topic ‘Human Interest’ using your ideas, flow, design and structure. (3)
Answer:
Section II : Poetry And Appreciation
Question 3. (A)
Read the extract and complete the activities given below: [10 Marks]
No stir in the air, no stir in the sea,
The ship was as still as she could be,
Her sails from heaven received no motion,
Her keel was steady in the ocean.
Without either sign or sound of their shock
The waves flow’d over the lnchcape Rock;
So little they rose, so little they fell,
They did not move the lnchcape Bell.
The Abbot of Aberbrothok
Had placed that bell on the lnchcape Rock;
On a buoy in the storm it floated and swung,
And over the waves its warning rung.
When the Rock was hid by the surge’s swell,
The mariners heard the warning bell;
And then they knew the perilous Rock,
And blest the Abbot of Aberbrothok.
A1. Pick out the lines from the extract which mean the following: (2)
i. The wind and the sea were calm.
ii. The under-frame of the ship stayed firm in its position.
iii. During a storm, the bell would swing on the float.
iv. The manners felt a sense of gratitude towards the Abbot.
Answer:
i. “No stir in the air, no stir in the sea,”
ii. “Her keel was steady in the ocean.”
iii. “On a buoy in the storm it floated and swung,”
iv. “And blest the Abbot of Aberbrothok.”
A2. Give reasons for the sailor’s appreciation of the Abbot. (2)
Answer:
The Inchcape Rock was infamous for causing a lot of shipwrecks. The Abbot, being a benevolent well-wisher of the sailors, had placed a bell on a buoy that floated over the perilous rock. When the waves crashed over the rock, the Inchcape Bell would ring, thus warning the sailors that the rock was nearby and that they should be careful as they steer past it. So, the sailors appreciated the Abbot out of gratitude.
A3. Personal Response:
Describe an incident where you went out of your way to help others. (2)
Answer:
I travel to my college on my bike on a fixed route every day. Once while travelling, I noticed a huge stone had landed on the road and blocked a part of the rock which resulted in traffic. I saw cars and bikes honking and trying to go around the road and. I dropped off my bike at the side and in the middle of the traffic went to pick the stone. I struggled a bit to pick up the stone as it was heavy but eventually was successful in getting rid of it. I noticed the people on the bikes and cars suck in the traffic smiling at me as a way of appreciation which made my day.
A4. Poetic Device:
Write the rhyme scheme of the given extract. (2)
Answer:
aabb
A5. Poetic creativity:
Compose 4 to 6 lines on ‘sea’. (2)
Answer:
Sea
The land once pricked the sea,
Your waves from the shore flee,
And here it’s me.
Grounded unlike thee.
The sea in all its patience quipped in glee.
Oh I see!
(B) Appreciation:
Read the extract and write the appreciation with the help of the following points: [4 Marks]
i. About the poem/poet and the title
ii. Theme
iii. Poetic style
iv. The language/poetic devices used in the poem
v. Special features
vi. Message, values, morals in the poem
vii. Your opinion about the poem
My father travels on the late evening train
Standing among silent commuters in the yellow light
Suburbs slide past his unseeing eyes
His shirt and pants are soggy and his black raincoat
Stained with mud and his bag stuffed with books
Is falling apart. His eyes dimmed by age
Fade homeward through the humid monsoon night.
Now I can see him getting off the train
Like a word dropped from a long sentence.
He hurries across the length of the grey platform,
Crosses the railway line, enters the lane,
His chappals are sticky with mud, but he hurries onward.
Home again, I see him drinking weak tea,
Eating a stale chapati, reading a book.
He goes into the toilet to contemplate
Man’s estrangement from a man-made world.
Coming out he trembles at the sink,
The cold water running over his brown hands,
A few droplets cling to the greying hair on his wrists.
His sullen children have often refused to share
Jokes and secrets with him.
He will now go to sleep
Listening to the static on the radio, dreaming
Of his ancestors and grandchildren, thinking
Of nomads entering a subcontinent through a narrow pass.
Answer:
’Father Returning Home’ by Dilip Chitre is a biographical sketch of the poet’s father. It is a monologue that deals with the plight of man, where he feels alienated from the very
society that he built. He, thus, goes through the mundane motions of life, having no connections with either the outside world or even his family and suppresses his emotions as there is no one with whom he can share them. The poem deals with the themes of alienation or estrangement, isolation, and the dissolution of the self in the man-made world. This two-stanza poem, which has been written in the form of a dramatic monologue, does not follow any rhyme scheme as it is written in free-verse.
The lines in the poem clearly depict the miserable state of man in this busy and crowded world. The poet uses numerous figures of speech such as Alliteration, Consonance, Metaphor, Onomatopoeia, Paradox, Personification, Repetition, Simile and Transferred Epithet. An example of Paradox from the poem is “unseeing eyes”, as the phrase is self contradictory. The language used by the poet is very simple and straight-forward. It paints a vivid picture of the tiring routine of the poet’s father and communicates his pathetic condition through the use of various descriptive words.
The use of enjambment, where one line of the poem continues into the next, indicates the succession of the worsening state of the father’s condition, whether it’s his isolation from the outside world in the first stanza or his alienation in his own house in the second stanza. The use of imagery is clearly evident in the poem. Whether the poet is sketching the image of his father as an old man with words like “eyes dimmed by age”, “fade homeward”, “grey platform”, or describing his father’s appearance “soggy shirt and pants”, “black raincoat stained with mud”, “chappals sticky with mud”, or comparing the disembarking of his father from the crowded train as “a word dropped from a long sentence”, the strong use of imagery makes the poem thoroughly appealing.
The message that the poem conveys is that of the seclusion of man from the modern world. In today’s fast-paced and humdrum life, the only solace that man can find is in his dreams of the past or the future. The poem also communicates the apathy of the society towards the elderly, who are trying to cope with estrangement in a metropolis. Overall, I find the poem highly relevant to today’s world. The aspect that I like the most about the poem is the simplicity with which it conveys a strong message to the readers.
Section III : Writing Skills
Question 4.
Complete the activities as per the instructions given below: [16 Marks]
A. Attempt any one of the following: (4)
i. Drafting a Virtual Message
Rajal comes hdme from school and finds the door locked. Since he has a duplicate key he enters and finds a note from his mother kept on the table. In it she explains that she had to rush to the hospital with Mrs Manohar, their neighbour, who had met with an accident. She has also written that he should have the rice and curry kept on the dining table for lunch. He could heat the food in the microwave oven if he wanted to, but he should be very careful while handling the switch.
Draft the message which Rajat’s mother left for him.
OR
ii Statement of Purpose:
You are an avid animal lover. You have a pet dog and some love birds at home. You are extremely fond of them. You have been a member of bird Watcher’s club. You have loved. – going on a safari. You have taken care of orphan animals, or animals who are hurt. In school you loved Biology. You wish to make a career in this field. The University of Cambridge offers an excellent course/programme which would boost your career. Make a Statement of Purpose which will help you to get admission to this University.
OR
iii. Group Discussion:
Prepare the arguments for group discussion on the topic – ‘A balanced progress never harms the Nature.’
Answer:
i. Message:
19th Sept 12:30 p.m.
Rajat
I have taken Mrs. Manohar to the hospital as she met with an accident. Please have the rice and curry kept on the dining table for lunch. Warm the food in the microwave oven if you wish, but kindly be careful while handling the switch.
Mother
Tip: Student should remember to highlight their qualities, life experiences and uniqueness in such a way that your application should stand out from the rest.
OR
ii. Statement of Purpose
My first encounter with the animal kingdom happened when I was five years old. I was taking a walk in the park with my grandmother, when she spotted a wounded sparrow lying unconscious on the grass. Together, we brought it home and I began to observe my grandmother tend to the bird every day until it got better. It was finally the moment to release the healed bird into the sky and I was extremely elated to see it flutter and fly away. That is when I decided to turn my passion into a lifelong journey.
It will soon be a decade since that day but my love for animals and birds has only multiplied Over the course of time I have contemplated and concluded that I want to study further on the topic of animal biology. To get a more hands-on understanding of the subject, I have set up a small home sanctuary where I have rescued many animals including my pet dog, cats, sparrows as well as a few love birds.
My school days were laden with a heavy dose of Discovery Channel and Nat Geo documentaries. It prompted me to take the initiative of starting a Bird Watchers Club. Through the club, we embarked on many expeditions in forests and reserved zones on the outskirts of my town. After my Std. X examinations, our family vacation led us onto a safari trip that I enjoyed immensely. I remember returning home with a newfound zest to care for animals.
Throughout my academic life, I have conducted various drives that collected money for better care and treatment of animals. With the help of my friends and like-minded individuals, I have been able to create awareness and encourage support for my initiatives.
University of Cambridge is held in high regard when it comes to the course on Animal Biology A Behaviour. The opportunity to be a part of this course would give wings to my life-long passion towards the animal kingdom. I also believe that it is the right course to flourish intellectually as well as sensitively and make a positive impact on society.
Tip: Student should remember to highlight their qualities, life experiences and uniqueness in such a way that your application should stand out from the rest.
OR
iii. Evaluator: You’ve all been given a few minutes to think on your topic for today’s group discussion, which is ‘A balanced progress never harms the Nature’. You may now begin the discussion. Who would like to start?
Raghav : The world today is driven by progress, that is, progress in all key aspects of life – construction, transport or communication. With time, everything has become more complex yet connected.
Ananya : That is true. Technological advancements have led to the invention and discovery of things, which at one point seemed impossible. It has only made this world a better place to live in.
Rohan : I agree that technological growth has led to a lot of advancements, but I beg to differ on the point that it has made the world a better place to live in. Though we have gained much, we have also lost a lot of things in the process. Don’t you think so?
Mitali : I totally agree with Rohan. We have ventured into forest lands, cut countless trees and are also damaging coastal areas in the bargain.
Ananya : I would like to point something out. We need to keep progress as our top priority as we take on the world. However, that should be in sync with nature. It needs to be balanced, because only then can it be termed as growth in the true sense.
Raj : I am afraid I don’t completely agree with that. Keeping the environment unaffected is very uncertain! Take the example of the Mumbai Metro. Numerous trees have been cut which has drastically reduced the green cover of the city. Also, when we think of Delhi, it is now synonymous with pollution, in spite of being the capital of the country and one of the most advanced cities in the world
Rohan : Excuse me! I would like to add something here. Even when we look at cities like Bangalore, the lakes and gardens are being affected and it looks like we are losing more than we are gaining. Also, consider the global scenario, incidents such as the forest fires in the Amazon and most recently the deadly blaze in Australia are all examples of development and progress grossly affecting nature.
Raghav : I think I agree with Ananya though. There may be a lot of things to consider, but
growing while maintaining a balance with nature is what we need to master. Only then will it be true progress.
Raj : I can see your point; but do you mean that progress should come to a halt? How will we be at par with the developed world if we do not grow at a rapid pace? I feel progress requires us to be cut throat and unidirectional, but yes not at the cost of hampering Mother Nature.
Evaluator : All right, everyone. Your time is nearly up. Could someone summarise this discussion, please?
Ananya : Considering everything spoken about today, I think it would be fair to conclude that though progress is necessary; it is also a responsibility. We should focus on dreaming bigger and reaching higher but always conscious of the fact that balance is the key and causing minimal damage to the environment should always be a priority!
Tip: While writing group discussion, Students should remember to use the appropriate language and expressions for expressing opinions, expressing agreements, expressing disagreements, offering a suggestion, asking for an opinion, interrupting, handling interruptions and concluding.
B. Attempt any one of the following: (4)
i. E-mail writing:
You are looking forward to start a Computer Institute in your area. You initially need 20 PCs. Prepare / Draft an E-mail to the city-dealer of DELL Computers demanding a moderate quotation ‘ for the same (in about 100-150 words).
OR
ii. Report writing:
You are a representative of the N. S. S. unit of your college. Write a brief report of the camp in which various social activities including cleanliness have been conducted by all the participants.
OR
iii. Interview Questions:
Imagine that you have met with the topper in M.P.S.C. Examination. You wish to interview of him/her to know his/her journey of success. Prepare a set of 8 to 10 questions to be asked.
Answer:
| To | [email protected] |
| Subject | Delay in delivery of 50 Ceramic Elephant Figurines due to shortage |
Respected Sir,
I am a resident of Aaram Nagar and I am planning to start a Computer Institute in my area. I am writing to demand a quotation for the purchase of 20 computers for said institute; Please make a note of the specifications I need for these computers:
- Processor: Inter core i5 or higher
- RAM: 86B or higher
- Hard Drive: 225GB SSD or higher
- Display: 21-inch monitor or- larger
- OS: Windows 10 or higher
I would be very grateful if you could also give me the information about the discounts, warranties and after-sales services that you offer. With such information, I would be able to make an informed decision about the purchase.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Sincerely,
Arjun K.
OR
ii. N.S. S. Social Activities Camp
– Karan Thakur, Student Reporter
Mulund, 12th January, 2020
The N.S.S. unit of the HAcharya College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mulund recently organized a social activities camp in order to instill the idea of social welfare in students and to provide service to society in an unbiased manner.
The camp was spread over a period of three days from the 6th of January to the 8th of January and for each day social activities had been planned. On the first day, the 6th of January, all participants took part in a tree plantation drive at the local Sahyadri Ground. On the second day, the 7th of January, they carried out a march in order to raise awareness regarding the massive felling of trees in the area during the previous monsoon.
More than 110 trees were cut down as they posed the danger of getting uprooted due to strong winds but no new trees were planted to replace them. Finally, on the third day, the 8th of January, a cleanliness drive was on the agenda and the participants were taken to the beach where they picked up nearly one tonne of garbage over a period of six hours,
Students learnt a great deal about their responsibility to their community and returned with a pledge to sincerely devote time and energy to the causes of afforestation and cleanliness. All in all, the social activities camp was a huge success.
Tip: Students should remember to mention the date, place and by-line of the report. Personal opinions should be avoided.
OR
iii. a. Do you believe that the exam has gotten harder or easier over the decades?
b. For how many months did you prepare for the exam? For how many hours did you study every day?
c. Would you have re-appeared for the exam if you had not cleared it in the firšt attempt?
d. What is the biggest challenge one may face while preparing for the exam?
e. How did you prepare for the interview held after the prelims and mains?
f. Had it always been your aim in life to work in the public sector?
g. What was your reason behind picking the public sector over the private sector?
h. Do you think there is a stigma attached to working in the public sector?
i. What are your future plans?
j. Is there any advice you would like to give to future aspirants of the exam?
C. Attempt any one of the following: (4)
i. Speech Writing:
You intend to take part in the intercollegiate elocution contest. One of the topics therein is ‘Stop Cruelty to Animals and Birds’. Prepare a speech on it in about 100 words.
OR
ii. Compering:
A handicraft exhibition is being organized in your college. You are given the task to compere the inaugural function. Write the script for compering.
OR
iii. Expansion of Idea:
Expand the following idea by using the points – ‘Argument is the worst kind of communication’
- Negative emotions when arguing
- Creates separation
- Fails to convey message
- Benefits of calm communication
Answer:
i. Good morning to all the distinguished guests, my respected teachers and dear friends. Today, I will be talking about cruelty towards animals and birds. All living beings have an equal right to live freely on earth. But man, with the hunger for controlling nature and its creatures, began to use animals for various purposes since time immemorial. Some of his cruel acts include killing elephants to make ivory products from their tusks, killing snakes, cows, pigs, etc. to use their skin for making luxury goods, sacrificing animals to please religious deities, abusing animals like bulls, horses, etc. by using them for rigorous work and killing birds as a sport activity. These are only a few of the numerous examples that highlight the cruelty towards birds and animals.
India has a provision in law called the ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act’ to protect animals from human torture, but most of the time, it goes unnoticed. It’s shameful enough that we need laws to control our urge to harm animals, but despite these laws, such incidences are on the rise.
As humans, we are blessed with qualities like compassion and empathy. We should make use of them and pledge to live in harmony with all living beings. We should remember that just because animals and birds cannot speak, doesn’t mean they do not feel the pain.
Thank you.
Tip: Students should remember to keep a logical flow of the ideas related to the speech with a proper introduction and conclusion.
OR
ii. Introduction
A very good morning to everyone present here at this function today. On behalf of T.G.T.I College, I welcome you all to ‘Hastashilp Mela’. This exhibition was envisioned by our founder chairman Mr. Raghav Dutta in the late-eighties and has been our much-awaited annual event ever since. Today marks the beginning of this wonder-filled 3-day exhibition of handicrafts from all over the country. Like each year, this event is brimming with the Swadeshi spirit. Let us seek the divine blessings by the symbolic lighting of the lamp.
Lighting of the lamp
I now invite on stage our distinguished guest for today, Mr. Rahul Phanse (Chairman of the Education Council of Maharashtra) to light the lamp as we seek the blessings of God. Thank you, Mr. Phanse.
About the event
India is known for its ethnicity. We pride ourselves in being one of the most culturally rich countries in the world. India is also immensely fortunate to possess some highly skilled artisans across the length and breadth of the nation. They are the ones who have established the legacy of Indian handicrafts and popularised it around the globe.
Many rural people still earn their livelihood from their creative pieces of art. It is with this vision to encourage these true sons of the soil that our founder chairman, Mr. Raghav Dutta had conceptualised this event all those years ago. Today we, the students of T.G.T.I College, proudly take this opportunity to nurture his evergreen dream!
I would like to request the students of Std. XI to kick off this beautiful shilp mela with a Bihu dance native to the state of Assam.
Wow! That was indeed a splendid performance!
Before I take your leave, I would like to thank all of you for your presence today and hope that you all will enjoy the exhibition as much as we enjoyed putting it together!
Tip: Students should remember to keep a smooth transition between the different
events of the program.
OR
iii. Argument is the worst kind of communication
The Earth is home to many plants, fishes, birds, animals, and us, humans. While all need oxygen to survive, there is one quality that separates human beings from the rest of the life on our planet. It is the ability of speech that helps us communicate with one another. Communication helps two or more people exchange their thoughts, ideas, feelings, and emotions in a meaningful way. It can be done both verbally, i.e. by speaking, or non-verbally, i.e. through gestures, writing, signals or behaviour. Effective communication makes up an integral part of everyday life.
Be it a simple task such as buying groceries or sharing notes with college-mates, life depends on interactions. When people don’t agree with each other, they often resont to arguments to express their displeasure. This leads to complications that are a result of anger, doubt, misunderstanding, and other negative emotions. It may also end up distancing people from one another and creating negative perceptions. Therefore, the above proverb stands as a valuable advice for all those who wish to communicate effectively. When one uses the power of speech in a calm and assertive manner it proves to be a win-win situation for everyone around.
Tip: Students should remember to organize their points and examples logically with proper introduction and conclusion.
D. Attempt any one of the following: (4)
i. Review:
You have recently read a famous magazine. Write a ‘Review’ on the same with the help of the following points:
✓ Title of the magazine
✓ Subject and Content
✓ Language/Style/Presentation / Special features/Attractions –
OR
ii. Blog Writing:
Write a blog in appropriate format on “Necessity of Social awareness” regarding cleanliness / Hygiene in about 100 to 150 words.
OR
iii. Appeal:
Prepare an appeal against the harmful effect of smoking and chewing tobacco with the help of following points.
i. Prepare an attractive slogan
ii. Use a logo / picture.
iii. Use attractive language
iv. Stress the evils of smoking and chewing tobacco
Answer:
i. Title of the magazine: Wanderlust is a British travel magazine that is published ten times a year. It focuses on covering adventurous, cultural and feature travel. The magazine stands by its name and is the perfect read for the wanderlust in each one of us.
Subject and Content: It is one of the world’s leading magazines that covers travel, culture, wildlife activities and other information. The magazine explores famous and hidden gems of earth’s most beautiful, picturesque and interesting places to travel. It provides research material for anyone planning a trip! It provides inspiration and ideas for trips, with all the necessary details required. It also includes tips and tricks on several travel and tourism related topics. The magazine includes photography tips and ideas too. The magazine also hosts various travel related contests and competitions, allowing readers to win free trips, weekend getaways and all sorts of travel guides and gear.
Language/Style/Presentation: The language of the magazine is simple yet engaging. It is suitable for everyone, including new readers or travellers with little to no knowledge. The magazine focuses on maintaining an effective manner of description while being Relevant and concise. The magazine is filled with the most scenic shots of the location, aptly surrounded by all the necessary information.
Special features/Attractions: The magazine additionally provides personal’ reviews regarding travel gear, books and films as well as travel events and festivals. It also include celebrity interviews with some of the top celebrities in the travel and wildlife industry.
Tip: Students should remember to present the theme or storyline keeping in mind the points given in the questions.
OR
Tip: Students should remember to mention the header / menu / navigation bar along with an appropriate footer.
OR
iii. Tobacco: Death, Disease and Disability
Give up smoking and chewing tobacco and choose a healthy life.
You may be under the impression that tobacco refreshes, however:
- 1/3rd of all deaths in the age group of 35 to 69 are due to smoking and chewing of tobacco.
- Just ‘one trial puff’ leads to addiction
- Consumption of tobacco invites hypertension, coronary heart diseases and cancer.
Thus, Stay away to be safe
TOBACCO KILLS
Put it out before it puts you out!
Tip: Students should remember to use motivational message, phrases to present the appeal in a more impactful way.
Section IV: Literary Genre – Novel
Question 5.
(A) Complete the activities given below as per the instructions: [4 Marks]
1. Match the columns: (2)
| A | B |
| i. Oroonoku | a. Joseph Conard |
| ii. The Heart of Darkness | b. John Bunyan |
| iii. Frankenstein | c. Aphra Behn |
| iv. The Pilgrim’s Progress | d. Mary Shelly |
Answer:
| A | B |
| i. Oroonoku | Aphra Behn |
| ii. The Heart of Darkness | Joseph Conard |
| iii. Frankenstein | Mary Shelly |
| iv. The Pilgrim’s Progress | John Bunyan |
Question 2.
Pick out the odd element from the group.
i. Aran Joshi, Vikram Seth, Graham Greene, Kiran Nagarkar (2)
Answer:
Graham Greene. All the others are authors of Indian origin.
(B) Answer in about 50 words to the questions given below: [4 Marks]
Question 1.
Describe in brief the purpose of organising the half-yearly report programme of Students’ Council. (2)
Answer:
The half-yearly report programme was an important event for the Students’ Council where students presented their studies to teachers and peers. The main purpose was to analyze and discuss academic progress, with students outlining their learning, giving teachers a clear picture of their understanding, and helping decide the structure of the remaining academic year.
Another significant aspect was the panel discussion. Students chose a panel of teachers to whom they asked questions about the reports. Teachers were not informed of their selection beforehand, ensuring students had a say in their academic progress. Additionally, the programme allowed students to showcase organizational skills, engage in school activities, voice opinions, and raise concerns. An example is Denham’s blunt criticism of the P.T. class, demonstrating how the programme helped students express their views.
Question 2.
‘When the turn of my class came I sat up anxiously’. Why was the narrator anxious? Explain the statement by citing suitable references from the extract of To Sir, with Love.
Answer:
The half-yearly report of the Students’ Council measured the students’ progress in the first half of the year, which had begun after Easter. At the beginning of that year, Braithwaite’s students had been rude, ill-mannered, and disinterested in their courses.
However, through innovative teaching methods, Braithwaite had built a strong student-teacher relationship based on mutual respect. His patience and genuine care for the students led to a transformation in their attitudes.
Braithwaite knew that on the day of the event, all eyes would be on the students. He notes that it “was one of the important days in the calendar of the Greenslade School. ‘The students’ reports were an overview of what they had learnt with Braithwaite and were a measure of his hard work. Additionally, the event allowed Braithwaite to observe them as an audience member, making him “as excited as the children as the day approached.”
The day finally arrived and Braithwaite took his seat in the audience. The reports would reveal if the students had truly learnt something from their courses, emphasizing “what they understood rather than what they were expected to learn.”
Braithwaite realized this was a test of his teaching skills, and whether he succeeded depended on his class’s report. Thus, when it was time for his students to present he was anxious about their performance and sat up straight in his seat.
(C) Answer in about 50 words to the questions given below: [4 Marks]
Question 1.
Phileas Fogg is as cool as a cucumber whereas Passepartout is as crazy as a loon. Explain the statement by citing some references from the extract of ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ (2)
Answer:
Passepartout’s personality is completely opposite to Fogg’s. While Fogg is serious and meticulous, Passepartout is comical and clumsy. Fogg is worldly, rational, and capable of making informed decisions after carefully studying any situation, while Passepartout is naive, gullible, and tends to get carried away. This is evident when he is easily manipulated by Fix into hiding Fix’s true motives, resulting in Fogg’s arrest in Liverpool.
Passepartout is eager, energetic, and excited by everything, unlike Fogg, who always remains calm even under trying circumstances. When Fogg is arrested in Liverpool and realizes he may lose the bet, he remains calm and composed despite the setback. Passepartout, however, is overwhelmed by quilt and emotion, “weeping till he was blind” and feeling desperate.
When it becomes clear that Fogg has lost the bet, he remains calm and rational, thinking about his next steps. In contrast, Passepartout is “tortured by remorse,” anxious, and worried about his master. He urges Fogg to react with anger, but Fogg stays calm. Passepartout even asks Aouda to talk to Fogg, and he keeps a constant.
Question 2.
What type of novel is ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’? Give a brief explanation for your
answer. (2)
Answer:
watch on him, fearing something terrible might happen. He becomes so restless that he seeks Aouda’s company, feeling too wretched to remain alone.
Thus, Passepartout’s emotional, impulsive, and energetic personality contrasts sharply with Fogg’s calm and contemplative nature. [2 Marks]
‘Around the World in Eighty bays’ is an adventure novel. An adventure novel is a work of fiction in which the key element is excitement and often danger. Such a novel features a fast-paced, action-packed plot in which the main character must complete a task or accomplish a mission in a fixed amount of time. The story usually takes place in a variety of setting and takes the reader through many fascinating encounters while ending in a thrilling climax.
‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ is one such exciting and thrilling tale, in which the main character, Phileas Fogg, must complete a trip around the world in eighty days. The story follows Fogg’s epic journey to many wonderful places in various parts of the world and ends with an incredible turn of events. Thus, ’Around the World in Eighty Days’ is clearly an adventure novel.
(D) Answer in about 50 words to the questions given below: [4 Marks]
Question 1.
The extract begins when Mary Morstan meets Sherlock Holmes at his house. After that Holmes, Dr. Watson and Mary visit some places in London. Explain in detail the various places mentioned in the extract of ‘The Sign of Four’.
Answer:
As the trio headed towards the Lyceum Theatre in their cab, Dr. Watson described-the September evening as dull, with a thick misty fog that lay low upon the great city and mud-coloured clouds slowly moving over the muddy streets. The first place they come across is the Strand, where the street lamps look like misty spots of dim light, casting a faint circular glow upon the wet pavement. The bright yellow lights in the shop windows shone out into the steamy, foggy air and threw a misty, irregular glow across the crowded street. The faces of countless people who passed through these narrow bars of light seemed eerie and ghostlike.
The trio then reaches Lyceum Theatre, where the side-entrances were already crowded with people, and horse-drawn carriages and four-wheelers constantly flowed at the front. Shirt-fronted men and beshawled and bediamonded women alighted from these rides. From the Lyceum Theatre, the trio was escorted by a small, dark, brisk coachman in a horse-drawn carriage. The carriage passed through Rochester Row Street, then through Vincent Square, along Vauxhall Bridge Road, and headed over to the Surrey side, adjoining the Thames.
As the carriage crossed over a bridge, a passing view of a stretch of the Thames, with lamps shining upon the water, could be seen. On the other side of the bridge, they landed on Wordsworth Road, followed by Priory Road, Lark Hall Lane, Stockwell Place, Robert Street, and Cold Harbour Lane, all of which are among the less fashionable regions of London. This rundown neighborhood is questionable and forbidding, full of dull brick houses with some public houses at the corner.
These are followed by two-storied villas, each with its small garden in the front, and then followed again by a continuous line of new brick buildings, which looked like the monstrous tentacles of the city. Their journey ended in this neighborhood where they drew up at the third house in a new terrace.
Question 2.
Describe the chapter of Mary Morstan from Dr. Watson’s point of view. (2)
Answer:
Dr Watson meets Mary Morstan for the first time when she brings a case for Sherlock Holmes. He describes Mary as a woman with a firm step and calmness of manner. He continues his description of her as a young, graceful, well-gloved lady, who is impeccably dressed in a sober, greyish beige, untrimmed and unbraided dress with a dull turban that has a white feather on the side. He finds her costume to be plain and simple, which suggests that she is a woman of limited means Her features are not regular and her complexion is not bright, but her expression is sweet and friendly and her large blue eyes are remarkably spiritual and sympathetic.
Dr. Watson, who happens to know women from various nations across three different continents, finds Mary’s face to be indicative of her refined and sensitive nature. He even describes her emotional state of mind as agitated, because he witnesses her lip tremble and her hand quiver as she takes her seat. Dr Watson finds Mary to be a very attractive woman with a deep, rich-toned voice and a beauty that has aged well with time. When Dr. Watson meets Mary Morstan for the second time, he describes her as wrapped in a dark cloak with her pale, composed and sensitive face. He says that she would have looked exceptional had she not been feeling uneasy about her strange situation.
However, despite her discomfort, she displays perfect self-control. Watson also observes that as they drove to the Lyceum Theatre, the combination of the dull evening and the mysterious nature of their mission left her nervous and depressed.
Finally, he notes that even while they are escorted to an unknown place, Mary demeanour is as resolute and collected as ever. Of most importance is Mary’s disinterest in the inheritance of riches and her relief and happiness at finding out the treasure has been lost and her subsequent acceptance of Watson’s proposal, proving once again that she is a virtuous woman.