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Class XI – English Core – Paper – 1

English Core (301)

Class XI (2024-25)

Time Allowed: 3 hours                                                                                   Maximum Marks: 80

General Instructions: Read the following instructions very carefully and strictly follow them :

1. This question paper has 15 questions. All questions are compulsory.

2. This question paper contains three sections

Section A : Reading Skills,

Section B : Grammar and Creative Writing Skills

Section C : Literature.

3. Attempt all questions based on specific instructions for each part. Write the correct question number and part thereof in your answer sheet.

4. Separate instructions are given with each question/part, wherever necessary.

5. Adhere to the prescribed word limit while answering the questions

SECTION A : READING SKILLS (26 marks)

1. Read the text carefully and answer the questions: 1. My father has always been a passionate man. He has always been passionate about the people of the Everest region – so much so that in 1960 he began the first of the many projects aimed at improving their lives. In 1975 he had begun building his second hospital in the Himalayas when tragedy struck our family. My mother and my youngest sister Belinda were flying into the mountains to join him when their small aeroplane crashed soon after take-off from Kathmandu.

2. I was in Assam when I first heard of the accident. I flew straight to Kathmandu and met my father and oldest sister Sarah on a narrow lane on the outskirts of the city. Any hope I had clung to, that my mother and sister were still alive, was extinguished the moment I saw father – bowed and broken. I knew then that Mum and Belinda would never return.

3. It was years before Dad fully came out of this period of darkness. Only by plunging himself into more adventures and ever more projects in Nepal, could he get through it. He has built 42 schools and hospitals there.

4. As I grew up, some of Dad’s restlessness rubbed off on me. I know many people think there must be some compulsion for the son of Sir Edmund Hillary to climb mountains. They assume that there was some imperative etched in stone that says, “Thou shalt climb mountains” – and in particular Everest, whether you like it or not. But for me, it’s simpler than that. I think families are like factories: the Hillary family is a limited production mountaineering establishment.

5. Today, at the age of 48, I am an inveterate mountain man. I have been on more than 30 mountaineering expeditions, from the Himalayas to the Antarctic. And yes, I have climbed Everest – twice.

6. I treasure the same things that drew my father to climbing – the tremendous camaraderie involved, the intensity and adrenaline buzz especially in dangerous places where your life depends upon making the right call. I guess that I am luckier than most because I am able to fall back on all that my father has taught me.

(i) Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option.

The author’s father was passionate about the people of the Everest region; so he ________.

i. Climbed mountains

ii. Worked on the improvement of their lives

iii. Built schools and hospitals everywhere

iv. Invited all the family to stay there

View Answer

Ans. ii. Worked on the improvement of their lives

(ii) Comment on the effect of the plane crash in 1975 on the life Hillary family. 

View Answer

Ans. The plane crash in 1975 led to the turning point in the author and his father’s life. Author’s mother and my youngest sister Belinda were flying on that plane to join his father in the Himalayas.

(iii) List the two ways how author’s father came out of the dark phase in his life (Clue: Think about the type his engagements)

View Answer

Ans. The author’s father came out of the dark phase in his life by engaging himself in social service.

(iv) Select the option that conveys the opposite of ‘lethargy’, from words used in paragraph six.

i. treasure

ii. camaraderie

iii. intensity

iv. adrenaline

View Answer

Ans. iii. intensity

(v) How did the author prove to be the true son of his father?

i. He proved to be an excellent mountaineer

ii. He involved himself in social service

iii. He scaled the Everest twice

iv. All of these

View Answer

Ans. i. He proved to be an excellent mountaineer

(vi) Based on your understanding of the last paragraph, list one major advantage that the author had which made him consider himself fortunate.

View Answer

Ans. The author considered himself to be lucky because he could learn from his father’s experiences.

(vii) Why did the author take up climbing like his father?

View Answer

Ans. Because he was born in a family of mountaineers.

(viii) Complete the given sentence with an appropriate inference, with respect to the following:

The phrase “Thou shalt climb mountains” means ________.

View Answer

Ans. You shall climb mountains

(ix) A word similar in meaning to “section” in paragraph two is

i. narrow

ii. outskirts

iii. extinguished

iv. broken

View Answer

Ans. ii. outskirts

(x) Select the most suitable title for the above passage.

i. Mountaineering and Hillary family

ii. Tragedy that Struck the Hillary family

iii. Mountaineering – a passion of Hillary family

iv. Plane Crash and Mountaineering

View Answer

Ans. i. Mountaineering and Hillary family

2. Read the text carefully and answer the questions:

1. Research from the Publishers Association has shown that films based on books take 44 % more at the box office revenue in the UK and 53 % more worldwide than original screenplays. The report explores what impact a book as when adopted for film and TV.

2. The report reads: “Published material is the basis of 52 % of top UK films in the last 10 years, and accounts for an even higher share of revenue from these leading performers, at 61 % of UK box office gross and 65 % of worldwide gross.” The Hollywood adaptation of “My Cousin Rachel” was shown to have a significant impact on the sales of the Daphne Du Maurier thriller. The sales of the book in 2017 alone accounted for 23 % of all sales since 1992.

3. The research suggests that adapted films tend to perform better, because films can “leverage the popularity” of well-known books through an existing audience. Films adapted from books also tend to have a richer, more fully-developed story to draw on. In terms of TV adaptation, it was revealed that a quarter of dramas were based on literary sources and attracted a 56 % larger share of the audience than those based on original scripts. Fourteen of the 35 high end series produced in the UK in the period between January and September 2017 were based on books, compared to seven based on true stories or historical events and five based on pre-existing films or TV stories.

4. In the case of the 2016 BBC broadcast of “The Night Manager”, research revealed that while the novel was in circulation for over 25 years, 82 % of the copies it sold were in 2016 and 2017. Sales of the paperback edition remained strong in 2017 even after the series went off the air.

5. In conclusion, the report states that “there is a strong two-way relationship between publishing and the wider creative economy. wherein a successful adaptation often has spill-over effects and gives a substantial boost to the sales of the original book.” (338 words)

(Source: https://wwwthebookseller com/ news ffilms-based-books-take-more91mmore-globally-originalscripts-825036)

(i) According to the research, the films based on books have greater success because

a. people like to see the characters from the books on screen

b. the films get the advantage of the fame of the books

c. it takes less effort for people to watch films than read books

d. the films get a ready-made script from the books

View Answer

Ans. b. the films get the advantage of the fame of the books

(ii) The purpose of the researchers by Publishers Association was to study the ________.

View Answer

Ans. connection between books and films

(iii) Why, according to the research, the films based on books have greater success?

View Answer

Ans. According to the research, the films based on books have greater success because they get the advantage of the fame of the books.

(iv) Select the correct option to complete the given sentence. In the year 2017, the maximum serials in UK were based on ________

a. books

b. film stars

c. writers

d. public

View Answer

Ans. a. books

(v) Select the option listing what the given sentence refers to: ‘Films adapted from books also tend to have a richer, more fully-developed story to draw on.’

1. The plot and the storyline of such films are better.

2. The characters are likely to be more vivid.

3. The production of such films is meant for the rich and famous.

4. The settings and costumes are adapted from the book.

5. The making of such films require the author to write a sequel.

a. (1), (3) and (4)

b. (2), (3) and (5)

c. (1), (2) and (5)

d. (1), (2) and (4)

View Answer

Ans. d. (1), (2) and (4)

(vi) There is a strong two-way relationship between films and the wider creative economy. (True/false).

View Answer

Ans. False

(vii) Films adapted from books have a ________ content.

(viii) This passage lists an example proving that TV dramas based on literary works have Select the correct option.

a. increased the immediate sales of the book

b. increased the sales of the book during the first screening

c. had no immediate impact on the sales of the book

d. had very little impact on the sales of the book

View Answer

Ans. a. increased the immediate sales of the book

3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

Leadership does not exist without followership. A leader has to be accepted by the group which the former is supposed to lead. To gain acceptability, the leader should cause an emotive impact on the group members.

The strength of character exhibited by leaders makes them dear to their followers. A leader is one who effectively inspires followers to achieve worthwhile things. What character of the leader motivates the followers? It is not pomp and show, neither flattery nor sanctioning more incentives. Pomp and show create a sense of awe and the leader is deified rather than emulated. Flattery is unrealistic and cannot serve as a long term motivational tool. A leader’s style should be one that can be emulated by all irrespective of cadre, class and calibre. Simplicity in one’s day-to-day conduct is the only thing that can be adopted by all. When the leader is simple, he is counted as one belonging to the group of which he is the leader. That’s enough to motivate the people. Motivation is the innate quality that enables an individual or group to contribute unlimitedly with limited means. It is the proud prerogative of enlightened human beings.

A leader needs to assume the role of a guide; quintessential of fulfilling the role is knowledgeability. Technical and administrative knowledge of the guide in balanced quantity and of right kind are essential. Technical knowledge is too vast to be acquired by a leader. At best he is either ‘Jack of all’ or ‘Master of few’. But he has to master the human relations aspect of administration in all detail. And when the leader is good at this, his guidance is sought and accepted, then he fulfils the role of a guide. The leader is a negotiator within and outside the organisation.

The leader shapes people and moulds character. To achieve this the leader should maintain equanimity. Equanimity is keeping oneself poised and balanced at all times. A leader is simply great if he can mould his followers with his frame of mind. He does this by his own example.

a. On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, make notes on it using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary-minimum four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it.

View Answer

Ans. Title: Qualities of a Leader

Notes:

I. Leadership

i. does not exist without flwrshp

ii. a leader to be acptd by grp.

iii. emotional impact on the group members

II. Strength

i. strength makes leaders dear to followers

ii. leader’s style to be emltd

iii. simplicity must

iv. inspires and motivates

v. no flattery or show-off

vi. classy and follows simplicity

vii. knowledgeable

III. Role

i. assume role of guide

ii. technical & administrative knowledge required

iii. should be ‘Jack of all’ or ‘Master of few’

iv. leader shapes people’s character

v. requires eqnmty

Key to Abbreviations

flwrshp – followership

acptd – accepted

grp – group

emltd -emulated

tchncl – technical

eqnmty – equanimity

& – and

b. Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words.

View Answer

Ans. Summary:-

Leadership does not exist without followership. A good leader should have an emotional impact on his followers so that they value his knowledge and respect his identity. The strength of character shown by leaders is imitated by all, irrespective of cadre, class and caliber. When the leader is simple, he is counted as belonging to the group. Technical and administrative knowledge and the role of a guide in balanced quantity and of right kind is essential. A leader is considered great if he moulds his followers to his frame of mind by setting an example. The leader should maintain equanimity, which means keeping oneself poised and balanced at all times.

Section B : Grammar (7 Marks)

4. Answer any SEVEN of the following questions:

(i) My mother _____ (cook) in the kitchen now. (Fill tense correctly)

View Answer

Ans. is cooking

(ii) Last night the residents _________ (assemble) to discuss the occurrence of theft in the locality. (Fill tense correctly)

View Answer

Ans. assembled

(iii) The university __________ my brother reads is in Canada. (who/what/which/where).

View Answer

Ans. where

(iv) The teacher asked a question ________ was easy to answer. (that/this/who/where)

View Answer

Ans. that

(v) No other poet is as great as Kalidas. (use superlative degree)

View Answer

Ans. Kalidas is the greatest poet.

(vi) He has a car and a motorcycle too. (use as well as)

View Answer

Ans. He has a car as well as a motorcycle.

(vii) market/Tesla/excellent/ an/has/global (reorder correctly)

View Answer

Ans. Tesla has an excellent global market.

(viii) Hunting/one/boy/for/a/winter/went/morning (reorder correctly)

View Answer

Ans. One winter morning, a boy went for hunting.

Section – B Creative Writing Skills (16 Marks)

5. You need to buy a flat. Draft a suitable advertisement in about 50 words to be published in the classified columns of a local newspaper giving all the necessary details of your requirement. You are Karan/Karuna, M114, Mall Road, Delhi.

View Answer

Ans.

OR

You need to buy a flat. Draft a suitable advertisement to be published in the classified columns of a local newspaper, giving all your requirements of a 2-bedroom set – parkfacing, near market, etc. You are Kiran/Kashish, F-105/41, Krishna Park, Rohtak.

View Answer

Ans.

6. Design a poster in not more than 50 words for your school library on the value of “books and good reading habits”. You may use slogans.

View Answer

Ans.

OR

Tourism Department, Government of Uttarakhand has launched an ambitious plan to develop adventure sports and eco-tourism activities in the state. Prepare a suitable poster for display at important public places/publication in newspapers.

View Answer

Ans.

7. You are Priya/Piyush. You are a member of the Environment Club of your school. After visiting many places you have realized that it is the need of the hour to protect the environment. You decide to create awareness among the students. Write a speech in 150- 200 words on Environmental protection to be delivered in the morning assembly.

View Answer

Ans.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Respected Principal, teachers, and friends! Global warming has accelerated the rise of temperature on earth. The sea level is also rising and glaciers are melting away. Natural calamities are taking a toll of life on earth. Floods and scanty rainfall result in a crunch of food products, drinking water and disturb normal living conditions. The drought in Rajasthan has led to deaths and famine. Man is himself to blame for the deterioration of the ecosystem. Depleting forests, industrial pollution, toxic-wastes, vehicular pollution, cutting of trees in cities, and lack of green cover are some of the contributory factors. The entire process of environmental pollution is becoming a vicious cycle. The urgent need of the hour is to protect the environment. School children have begun to create awareness by campaigning against polythene bags and recycling waste material. Let us join hands to protect our forests^ grow more trees, check toxic pollutants and change our lifestyle.

Thank you.

OR

You are Keshav/Karuna, Sports Teacher of Shyamala Memorial Hall, Trivandrum. After watching the recent sports events in which quite a few players sustained injuries, you decide to address your school students on the importance of maintaining physical fitness along with a sound mind. Write the speech in 150-200 words.

View Answer

Ans.

Importance of Physical Fitness

Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity. – JF Kennedy Good morning students! I, Karuna, your sports teacher have come before you all to emphasise the importance of maintaining physical fitness along with a sound mind. Being physically fit does not necessarily mean having a lean body; it actually means having a strong body endurance, along with good muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness. It is also important to remember that a physically fit body is generally accompanied with a happy and satisfied state of mind. In the recent sports events, I observed that only a few players sustained injuries.

A physically fit person has lower stress levels and this is beneficial for his mental wellbeing. In adolescents, physical activity can improve aerobic capacity, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance. It also increases their self-esteem and builds bone mass. We, as teachers, need to help our students in developing the knowledge, attitudes and skills that they need to adopt and maintain a physically active lifestyle. To conclude, let me emphasise that remaining fit and active are critical for our health and well-being.

Thank you!

8. Write a debate in 150 – 200 words either for or against the motion: Chance plays a great role in the success of a businessman.

View Answer

Ans.

For the Motion: Chance plays a great role in the success of a businessman.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I stand before you to argue in favour of the motion that “Chance plays a great role in the success of a businessman.” While hard work, skill, and determination are undeniably important, the element of chance cannot be overlooked. Chance undeniably plays a significant role in the success of a businessman. Many successful entrepreneurs attribute their achievements to being in the right place at the right time. For instance, meeting a potential investor by chance or stumbling upon a lucrative market opportunity can propel a business to new heights. Additionally, external factors such as economic conditions, market trends, and even global events can create unforeseen opportunities that a businessman can capitalize on. While hard work and skill are essential, the element of luck often bridges the gap between effort and success.

Studies have shown that random events and luck significantly impact who becomes successful1. Therefore, acknowledging the role of chance does not undermine the importance of hard work but rather provides a more comprehensive understanding of success.

Thank you

Against the Motion: Chance Plays a Great Role in the Success of a Businessman

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Success in business is primarily driven by hard work, strategic planning, and perseverance, rather than chance. Successful businessmen meticulously plan their ventures, conduct thorough market research, and continuously adapt to changing circumstances. They build networks, acquire skills, and make informed decisions that steer their businesses towards success. While chance events may occasionally influence outcomes, they are not the primary determinants of success. Relying on luck undermines the value of dedication and effort that entrepreneurs invest in their businesses. Historical examples of successful businessmen, such as Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, highlight the importance of vision, innovation, and relentless pursuit of goals over mere chance.

Thus, attributing success to chance diminishes the significance of hard work and strategic thinking.

Thank you

OR

‘The Internet cannot replace a classroom teacher’. Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against the motion.

View Answer

Ans.

For the Motion

Good morning everyone! Respected judges, worthy opponents and the esteemed audience, Today, I Karuna of class XII, stand before you all to speak in favour of the motion, “The Internet cannot replace a classroom teacher”.

The classrooms today differ from the classrooms a decade ago in multitudinous ways. The influx of technology has opened doors, expanded minds and changed the world. However, no matter how advanced and beneficial the technology has got, it can never replace a classroom teacher. There is no denying to the fact that the internet can solve a bulk of problems and provide students all the necessary answers along with illustrations. However, it cannot replace a classroom teacher as it is devoid of any kind of emotion, which is very much required during teaching. A teacher simply does not impart knowledge or information. A teacher leads, guides, facilitates and mentors a student. He understands the emotions and sentiments of the students. He realises the positive as well as the negative feelings of the students.

A teacher faces all types of students with different mental abilities while teaching. He, thus, adjusts his teaching methodology according to them. He helps the weaker students to bloom and motivates his students accordingly. The internet cannot solve all the queries but a teacher can and that too in person. Teachers help the students to remain alert and active in the classroom during teaching, whereas a machine can never do so. Internet would never care about how much concentration, focus and attention the student is learning with. Besides, it can never beat the knowledge of human beings. In addition, it’s not necessary that all the information provided by internet is genuine. Have you ever wondered where all the information or knowledge on the internet has come from? It is only we humans who have fed it into the computers.

In conclusion, I would like to say that a machine can never replace a living and breathing knowledgeable person.

Thank you!

Against the Motion

Good morning everyone! Respected judges, worthy opponents and the esteemed audience, Today, I Karuna of class XII, stand before you all to speak against the motion, “The Internet cannot replace a classroom teacher”.

The classrooms today differ from the classrooms a decade ago in multitudinous ways. These days, a modern classroom is defined by technology. Teachers, administrators, parents and students have been told time and again that it is technology alone through which we can sharpen our education system. True personalised tech-infused learning is the future of education. In today’s age, the old school method of books and notes is no longer beneficial. Teachers have to keep themselves updated with today’s trends and have to equip themselves with the latest technology.

There is constant pressure on teachers and administrators today to implement technology in classroom. In order to fully engage the students and make them learn, a teacher will have to come out of his comfort zone and explore new ways of teaching through the internet. The internet has immense potential to upgrade today’s educational system. There may come a time soon when the role of a teacher in the classroom will considerably be diminished by the internet-based learning environment .

In near future, the teacher will not be able to function without internet and technology. The teacher will have to become a facilitator of imparting trustworthy information from electronic sources. The teachers today need to strike a balance and empower themselves through technology so as to prevent themselves from getting replaced altogether by the internet.

Thank you!

Section C : Literature (31 Marks)

9. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.

(i) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (any two)

I do not know this child.

Though we have lived together now

the land is his and none of mine?

We speak like strangers, there’s no sign

Of understanding in the air.

This child is built to my design

Yet what he loves I cannot share.

i. Whom does “we” refer to in these lines?

View Answer

Ans. “we” refers to the father and his son.

ii. Which poetic device has been used in the line “the seed I spent”?

View Answer

Ans. “we” refers to the father and his son.

iii. Explain the line “yet have I killed the seed…”

View Answer

Ans. The father seems to be repenting his way of upbringing the son which might have gradually led to the present scenario. The father wondered whether it was he himself who was responsible for the failure of their relationship.

(ii) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

And forever by day and night,

I give back life to my

Own origin, and make pure and beautify it;

(For song, issuing from its birthplace, after

Fulfilment, wandering.

Reck’d or unreck’d duly with love returns).

i. Explain the phrase make pure and beautify.

View Answer

Ans. The earth washes away even the tiniest of the particles. It removes droughts and dust. Thus, it purifies and beautifies the earth.

ii. What has the rain been compared to?

View Answer

Ans. The poet has compared rain with a song because he finds similarity in both.

iii. Is the comparison made by poet justified according to you?

View Answer

Ans. Yes. Just as a song originates from the heart and gives joy to every listener. Similarly, rain originates from the earth and spreads happiness and contentment everywhere.

10. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.

(i) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

These shaggy monsters, blacker than the darkest night, usually wore bright red collars and barked furiously with massive jaws. They were completely fearless of our vehicle, shooting straight into our path, causing Tsetan to brake and swerve. The dog would make chase for a hundred metres or so before easing off, having seen us off the property. It wasn’t difficult to understand why ferocious Tibetan mastiffs became popular in China’s imperial courts as hunting dogs, brought along the Silk Road in ancient times as tribute from Tibet. By now we could see snow-capped mountains gathering on the horizon. We entered a valley where the river was wide and mostly clogged with ice, brilliant white and glinting in the sunshine. The trail hugged its bank, twisting with the meanders as we gradually gained height and the valley sides closed in.

i. How did the Tibetan mastiffs react when they encountered the protagonist’s vehicle?

View Answer

Ans. The Tibetan mastiffs barked furiously with massive jaws and ran aggressively toward the vehicle, causing the driver to brake and swerve.

ii. What can be inferred about the behaviour and characteristics of Tibetan Mastiffs?

View Answer

Ans. From the passage, it can be inferred that Tibetan Mastiffs were formidable and imposing creatures. They were described as “shaggy monsters” that were “blacker than the darkest night” and had “massive jaws.”

iii. Identify the line from the passage that provides evidence of the Tibetan mastiffs’ historical significance and their connection to China’s imperial courts.

View Answer

Ans. The line that provides evidence of the Tibetan mastiffs’ historical significance and their connection to China’s imperial courts is: “It wasn’t difficult to understand why ferocious Tibetan mastiffs became popular in China’s imperial courts as hunting dogs, brought along the Silk Road in ancient times as tribute from Tibet.

(ii) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

In the evening a change came over her. She did not pray. She collected the women of the neighbourhood, got an old drum and started to sing. For several hours she thumped the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum and sang of the home-coming of warriors. We had to persuade her to stop to avoid overstraining. That was the first time since I had known her that she did not pray. The next morning she was taken ill. It was a mild fever and the doctor told us that it would go. But my grandmother thought differently. She told us that her end was near. She said that, since only a few hours before the close of the last chapter of her life she had omitted to pray, she was not going to waste any more time talking to us. We protested. But she ignored our protests. She lay peacefully in bed praying and telling her beads. Even before we could suspect, her lips stopped moving and the rosary fell from her lifeless fingers. A peaceful pallor spread on her face and we knew that she was dead.

i. What was the first noticeable change in the grandmother’s behaviour before she fell ill?

View Answer

Ans. She stopped praying and sang with a drum.

ii. How would you convince your grandmother, as her grandson, to cease drumming and singing?

View Answer

Ans. As her grandson, I’d gently express concern for her well-being, emphasizing her importance in our lives. I’d suggest she take a break, rest, and pray later, ensuring she understands our love and care.

iii. Pick evidence from the passage that suggests the grandmother’s evening activities were unusual and not part of her regular routine.

View Answer

Ans. The evidence from the passage that suggests the grandmother’s evening activities were unusual and not part of her regular routine is the following: “That was the first time since I had known her that she did not pray.” This statement indicates that not praying in the evening was a departure from her usual routine of prayer, making it clear that her actions that evening were out of the ordinary.

11. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given

(i) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

Still kneeling, Andrew stared at the child with a haggard frown. The whiteness meant only one thing: asphyxia, pallida, and his mind, unnaturally tense, raced back to a case he once had seen in the Samaritan, to the treatment that had been used. Instantly he was on his feet.

“Get me hot water and cold water,” he threw out to the nurse. “And basins too. Quick! Quick!” “But, Doctor-” she faltered, her eyes on the pallid body of the child.

i. What instructions did Andrew give to the nurse? How did the doctor try to revive the child?

View Answer

Ans. Andrew asked the nurse to bring hot and cold water. He plunged the baby into hot and cold water and rubbed its chest with a towel. Though the nurse lost hope, Andrew continued the process, and the baby revived.

ii. When the doctor instructed the nurse why did she hesitantly say, “But, Doctor-” in the extract provided? This is so, because she ________.

a. was sure about the treatment.

b. thought the efforts were useless.

c. did not trust the doctor.

d. was in utter amazement.

View Answer

Ans. b. thought the efforts were useless.

iii. The analogy of whiteness of the child is an appropriate analogy for a case in Samaritan because ________.

View Answer

Ans. Andrew had witnessed a similar case in Samaritan which was a case of oxygen deprivation. He quickly tried to recall its mode of treatment.

iv. Give one reason why the medical condition mentioned in the extract can be considered true in the case.

Ans. Asphyxia pallida is a rare medical condition that occurs in babies due to complexities during birth. In this, the patient collapses due to suffocation or unconscious condition caused by lack of oxygen and excess carbon dioxide in the blood, accompanied by paleness of the skin, weak pulse, and loss of reflexes. The newborn was showing a similar symptom. Therefore, it can be considered true in the context of the given case.

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(ii) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

Nobody could understand where we ever got money enough to keep us with food in our bellies, not even the old men of the family. Most important of all, though, we were famous for our honesty. We had been famous for our honesty for something like eleven centuries, even when we had been the wealthiest family in what we liked to think was the world. We were proud first, honest next, and after that we believed in right and wrong. None of us would take advantage of anybody in the world, let alone steal.

i. What is the meaning of the expression “Keep us with food in our bellies”?

A. To remain hungry

B. To remain thirsty

C. To remain satiated

D. To remain perplexed

View Answer

Ans. C. To remain satiated

ii. Which tribe is the narrator describing in the given extract?

View Answer

Ans. The narrator is describing the Garoghlanian family or tribe in the given extract.

iii. What was the tribe/family to which the narrator belonged to was renowned?

View Answer

Ans. The tribe/family to which the narrator belonged was renowned for its honesty. They had a long-standing reputation for honesty that spanned eleven centuries, even during periods of wealth and poverty.

iv. There was something that prevented the members of the tribe from engaging in theft. It was ________________________.

View Answer

Ans. The main factor that prevented any member of the tribe from engaging in theft was their strong sense of pride and their reputation for honesty. They placed great importance on their pride, honesty, and belief in right and wrong, and this moral code prevented them from even considering theft as an option.

12. Answer the questions from either (a) or (b) in 40-50 words:

(i) i. What were the results of the CT scan? (Discovering Tut)

View Answer

Ans. The main factor that prevented any member of the tribe from engaging in theft was their strong sense of pride and their reputation for honesty. They placed great importance on their pride, honesty, and belief in right and wrong, and this moral code prevented them from even considering theft as an option.

ii. Why has the poem been named The Laburnum Top?

View Answer

Ans. The poem has been named ‘The Laburnum Top’ because the top of the tree has been described in detail by the poet and the second part is a vivid description of the transformation that the tree undergoes. The entire scenario revolves around the tree.

(ii) i. Why do you think, did the narrator call lie Amsterdam the most beautiful island in the world? Answer in the context of We are Not Afraid to Die.

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Ans. lie Amsterdam was a very small island made of volcanic rock. It had little vegetation and only 28 inhabitants. However, the island provided them safety from the huge waves of the sea as well as an opportunity to repair the damaged ship.

ii. What do adults usually talk and preach of? How do they differ in their actions? (Childhood)

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Ans. Adults usually talk and preach of love. But in their actions, they are not so loving. Their loving and caring is only in their preaching and speaking.

13. Answer ANY ONE of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words

(i) Why did the narrator learn about Mrs. Dorling from her mother? Answer in the context of The Address.

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Ans. Mrs. Dorling was an old acquaintance of the narrator’s mother. The latter had not seen her for several years. Then she suddenly turned up and renewed their contract. Every time she left that place she took something with her like table silver, antique plates, etc.

(ii) What type of changes came after Mrs. Annie Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald exchanged their personalities?

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Ans. As the exchange of personalities took place, Annie received all the traits of Mrs. Fitzgerald. She became very aggressive and dominating. She also behaved like the boss of the family. She taught Doris and Cyril a lesson. She did not spare even her husband. She reminded him how people laughed at him behind his back and addressed him ‘Pompy-ompy Pearson.’

14. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words.

(i) How did Rajendra Deshpande apply his theory of catastrophic experience regarding the Battle of Panipat?

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Ans. Gangadharpant narrated to Rajendra his experience at the Azad Maidan meeting. For two days he was in a coma. He had met with an accident. He had now returned to the world he was familiar with. He asked Rajendra to explain where he had spent those days.

He admitted that just before the collision he had been thinking of the catastrophic theory and how it could change the course of history. He produced a page from the Bakhar to prove that his mind was working normally. The page described that Vishwasrao had not escaped the bullet, he had rather been hit and killed by the bullet. It was just contrary to what his own history book said. And he wanted to know the facts.

(ii) Why does the poetess compare her mother’s laughter too and why?

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Ans. The mother’s laughter that used to echo in the house when she was alive has now become the poet’s past. The comparison is given in order to remember the mother with fondness while looking at her photograph.

15. Answer in the context of A Photograph. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words.

(i) How did the accused try to shift the blame on others? How far did they succeed?

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Ans. The chief of builders was the first one to be held guilty. He shifted the blame on the workmen. The workmen were surprised but did not lose their reasoning power. They told the king he had forgotten the fact that the bricks were made of the wrong size. Swayed by their rational argument, the masons were summoned. They trembled with fear but shifted the blame on the architect who was responsible for planning and erecting the arch. The king ordered the architect to be hanged. The clever architect reminded the king that he had forgotten one small thing. He made certain amendments to plans when the former had shown them to the latter. The clearly meant that he held the king responsible for the mishap. The king became very angry and lost” his capacity of clear judgement. He called it a tricky thing and sought the advice the wisest man in the country. Thus each accused succeeded int shifting the blame on others.

(ii) The play, Mother’s Day, is a humorous and satirical depiction of the status of the mother in the family. Express your relationship with your mother.

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Ans. The play, Mother’s day is full of humor and irony. It reflected the status of a mother in a family. Through the character of Mrs. Annie Pearson, a docile homemaker in the plot, the author highlighted the plight of women, especially housewives. A series of events like the playing of magic, the exchange of personalities, and the shocked behavior of Mrs. Annie Pearson’s family members were all humorous as well as satirical. My relations with my mother are extremely healthy and cordial. We are more like friends and enjoy each other’s company. I try to help my mother in the kitchen and in doing the other domestic chores. She is engrossed throughout the day catering to everyone’s needs in the family. I try to help her as much as I can and really appreciate her selfless efforts. I respect my mother and completely admire her skills.