Class XI - English Sample Paper

Class XI Session 2025-26

Subject – English Core

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.

(a) 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

(b) 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.

(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.

(d) 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

(e) 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

(f) 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.

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

View Answer

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

(h) 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

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

i. narrow

ii. outskirts

iii. extinguished

iv. broken

View Answer

Ans. ii. outskirts

(j) 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:

INDOOR POLLUTANTS

1. Call it a blessing or a curse of Mother Nature, we have to breathe in over 10,000 litres of air in a day (more than four million litres in a year) to remain alive. By making it essential for life, God wanted us to keep the air we breathe clean. Everyone can see the food that is not clean and perhaps refrain from eating it, but one cannot stop breathing even if one can feel the air being polluted.

2. Several harmful and noxious substances can contaminate the air we breathe. Generally, much is said and written about outdoor air pollution, most of which is due to vehicular and industrial exhausts. Given the fact that most of us spend most of our time indoors, it is most important to recognise that the air we breathe in at home or in offices can be polluted. It can be a cause of ill health. Air pollutants that are generally present in very low concentrations can assume significance in closed ill-ventilated places. .Indoor air pollution can lead to allergic reactions and cause irritation to the skin, the eyes and the nose. But as is logical to assume, the brunt of insult by pollutants is borne by the lungs. It can lead to the development of fresh breathing problems, especially in those who have allergic tendencies, or it can worsen existing respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis.

3. There can be several sources of indoor air pollution. Tobacco smoke is one of the most important air pollutants in closed places. “Passive smoking” or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) pollution can lead to all the harmful effects of tobacco smoking seen in smokers in their non-smoking companions. ETS as a health hazard has been unequivocally proven and is also getting social recognition now. One can occasionally see signs displaying the all-important message: “Your smoking is injurious to my health” in offices and homes. The children of smoking parents are among the worst affected persons. The exposure of young children to ETS leads to increased respiratory problems and hospital admissions as compared to nonexposed children. Several studies, including those done at the PGI, have shown an increased risk of lung cancer among women exposed to passive smoking. ETS also worsens existing lung diseases like asthma and bronchitis. It may be responsible for the development of asthma in children.

4. The gases are very toxic in high concentrations as may be encountered during industrial accidents, but even in very minimal amounts, as may be prevalent in homes and offices, they can cause irritation to the skin or the eyes, rashes, headache, dizziness and nausea. Improving ventilation is an important preventive measure, besides trying to eliminate the source that may not be always feasible. Other indoor pollutants are toxic chemicals like cleansing agents, pesticides, paints, solvents and inferior quality personal-care products, especially aerosols. Very old crumbling pipes, boilers, insulation or false roofing can also be important sources. Asbestos is a hazardous product that can cause cancer in humans. It is important to realize that the air we breathe at home may not be clean always and we must try to eliminate the source of pollution. We should give due consideration to ventilation.

(a) State 1 reason of air being unhealthy for breathing. (1) ________

View Answer

Ans. Several harmful and noxious substances contaminate the air which makes it unhealthy for breathing.

(b) Select the option that is true for the two statements given below.

(1) Passive smoking is also dangerous for health.

(2) People who inhale the smoke are prone to get respiratory disease like asthma.

a. (1) is the result of (2).

b. (1) is the reason for (2).

c. (1) is true and (2) is false.

d. Both (1) and (2) are false.

View Answer

Ans. b. (1) is the reason for (2).

“Your smoking is injurious to my health”

a. Passive smoking is risky for health.

b. ‘You’ and ‘I’ are both humans so pronouns doesn’t matter.

c. The person’s smoking is not risky for his own health but for us.

d. Smoking doesn’t affect the smokers but the sniffers.

View Answer

Ans. a. Passive smoking is risky for health.

(d) According to the studies at PGl, women have shown an increased risk of lung cancer because of ________.

View Answer

Ans. passive smoking

(e) Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks: The effects of ETS does NOT result in:

(1) asthma

(2) chicken pox

(3) bronchitis

(4) lung cancer

(5) other respiratory diseases

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

b. (2) and (3)

c. only (2)

d. only (5)

View Answer

Ans. c. only (2)

(f) List 1 way of how can you lessen Indoor pollutants from intoxicating air? (1) We can lessen indoor pollutants by ________.

View Answer

Ans. improving ventilation

(g) Though outdoor pollutants are very harmful for the air but indoor pollutants are riskier for us as ________.

Select the correct option.

a. we breathe indoors more

b. outdoor pollutants are temporary

c. outdoor pollutants are not that harmful

d. we have immunity against outdoor pollutants

View Answer

Ans. a. we breathe indoors more

(h) The exposure of young children to ETS leads to increase in migraine problems. (True/false).

View Answer

Ans. False

Explanation: The exposure of young children to ETS leads to increase in respiratory problems, not migraine problems.

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

Despite all the research, every one of us catches a cold and most of us catch it frequently. Our failure to control one of the commonest of all ailments sometimes seems ridiculous. Medical science regularly practices transplant surgery and has rid whole countries of such killing diseases such as Typhus and the Plague But the problem of the common cold is unusually difficult and much has yet to be done to solve it. It is known that cold is caused by one of a number of viral infections that affect the lining of the nose and other passages leading to the lungs, but the confusing variety of viruses makes study and remedy very difficult. It was shown m 1960 that many typical colds in adults are caused by one or the other of a family of viruses known as rhinoviruses, yet there still remain many colds for which no virus has as yet been isolated. There is also the difficulty that because they are so much smaller than the bacteria which cause many other infections, viruses cannot be seen with ordinary microscopes. Nor can they be cultivated easily in the bacteriologist’s laboratory, since they only grow within the living cells of animals or plants. An important recent step forward, however, is the development of the technique of tissue culture, in which bits of animal tissue are enabled to go on living and to multiply independently of the body. This has greatly aided virus research and has led to the discovery of a large number of viruses. Their existence had previously been not only unknown but even unsuspected.

The fact that we can catch cold repeatedly creates another difficulty. Usually, a virus strikes only once and leaves the victim immune to further attacks Still we do not gam immunity from cold. Why? It may possibly be due to the fact that while other viruses get into the bloodstream where antibodies can oppose them, the viruses causing cold attack cells only on the surface or it may be that immunity from one of the many different viruses does not guarantee protection from all the others It seems, therefore, that we are likely to have to suffer colds sometime yet.

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: Cold -The Viral Infection

Notes

I. Fighting common cold

i. most common almt

ii. typhus & plague erd

iii. common cold diff to solve

II. Causes of cold

i. viral inf ii. viruses — rhinoviruses

iii. affect lining of nose

III. Research work

i. tcq of tissue culture dev

ii. discovery of large no of viruses

iii. previously not known

IV. Why repeated attacks

i. cold viruses attack surface cells

ii. immunity not guaranteed

iii. cold persists

Key to Abbreviations

almt – ailment

diff – difficult

tcq – technique

no – number

erd – eradicated

inf – infection

dev – development

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

View Answer

Ans. Summary:-

Medical science has got rid of most of the deadly diseases like plague or typhus but one, which is common cold, which happens so frequently. Cold is a common ailment which is a cause of difficulty for scientists. It is caused by infection of the lining of the nose and other passages by a number of different viruses, thus, making it difficult to prescribe a common remedy. Immunity through vaccination cannot be given against repeated virus attacks, as it does not affect the bloodstream. The development of the technique of tissue culture, in which bits of animal tissue are enabled to go on living and to multiply independently of the body. We get repeated attacks of cold because the virus infects the surface cells and immunity from one virus does not guarantee protection from others.

Section B : Grammar (7 Marks)

4. Answer any SEVEN of the following questions: [7]

(a) He ____________ (play) the piano when Mr. Saxena arrived. (Fill tense correctly) [1] View Answer

Ans. had been playing

(b) My mother _____ (cook) in the kitchen now. (Fill tense correctly) [1] View Answer

Ans. is cooking

Ans. where

(d) You may sit __________ you like. (wherever/whenever/whatever) [1] View Answer

Ans. wherever

(e) Water is being sprayed by them with great force. (Active voice) [1] View Answer

Ans. They are spraying water with great force.

(f) Who can deny the fact? (Transform to negative) [1] View Answer

Ans. No one can deny the fact

(g) is/fragrance/sandalwood/and/for/medicinal/properties/volued/its (reorder correctly) [1] View Answer

Ans. Sandalwood is valued for its fragrance and medicinal properties.

(h) an/are/we/for/apartment/looking. (reorder correctly)

View Answer

Ans. We are looking for an apartment.

Section – B Creative Writing Skills (16 Marks)

5. You are Keshav/Karuna, interested in purchasing a house in Bengaluru. Draft in not more than 50 words an advertisement to be published in the classified column of a local daily giving the details of your requirement. [3] View Answer

Ans.

You are the manager, Herbal India Ltd. Draft an advertisement for your company for the post of two Sales Executives. Specify your requirements, qualifications, experience and personality of the candidates.

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. [3] View Answer

Ans.

As the President of Leo Club of Temple Town, prepare a poster on behalf of Lions Club and Leo Club for ‘Diwali Mela’ to be held at Nehru Stadium, mentioning some of the attractions

View Answer

Ans.

7. Today’s children are not yet aware of many opportunities awaiting them after they complete their school education. As an academic counsellor give a talk to the students of St Antony’s School on the need for career guidance and how knowledge of the available careers can benefit the youth. Write the speech in 150-200 words.

View Answer

Ans.

The Need for Career Guidance

Good morning everyone. The honourable Principal, teachers, staff members and dear students, I, Sushant, an academic counsellor, stand before all of you to talk about the need for career guidance.

The first and the foremost thing that all of you should realise, if you haven’t already, is that the decision regarding your career should be your own. You should and have to decide what you want to do in life and how you want to do that. Do not succumb to peer and parental pressure. At the end of the day, you are going to bear the results of your decision; so the decision should also be yours. Choosing a career is not a serious affair until your high school. However, once you are done with high school, it becomes imperative to choose a definite career goal. At this time you can seek the help of a qualified career counsellor who can assist you in discovering your potential and aptitude and accordingly suggest the right course.

It is really unfortunate that despite the many opportunities that are awaiting you after you complete your school education, many of you are yet not aware about them. Sometimes, in spite of having a clear idea of what you aspire to achieve in life, you are not sure about the career path that you need to follow i.e. you lack guidance. A career counsellor is an expert in his work and can help you clear the doubts that you have regarding the requisite academic qualifications/path for a particular course/job. So students, I would like to reiterate that career guidance provides essential support and boosts the morale of students by helping them to overcome preconceived notions about certain fields.

I would like to conclude on the note that the crux of career guidance is to provide the necessary counselling that is bound to help students in making the right choice about their career. It’s your life. So only you should choose and choose wisely.

Thank you!

Write a speech in 150-200 words on ‘Benefits of early rising’ to be delivered by you in the morning assembly of your school. You are Karuna/Karan, Head Girl/Head Boy.

View Answer

Ans.

Benefits of Early Rising

Good morning everyone. Respected Principal Sir, honourable teachers and all my dear friends! Today I, Karan, of class XII A, stand before you to speak on the topic ‘Benefits of Early Rising’.

There have been several studies that correlate early waking up with success. There are numerous evident benefits reaped by early risers. One of the benefits, as per experts, is that going to bed earlier and waking up earlier keeps our body more in tune with the Earth’s circadian rhythms, which offers more restorative sleep.

Another major benefit, as per various studies, is that ‘morning people’, i.e. early risers, exhibit character traits like optimism, amicable behaviour, satisfaction and conscientiousness. In contrast, ‘night owls’, i.e. late sleepers and late risers, are more likely to exhibit traits like depression, pessimism and being neurotic.

Many early risers use their morning quiet time for organising, goal-setting and planning their day and subsequent days and weeks ahead of time. Most successful business people get up early to exercise, much before their family is awake and their official workday starts. Regular exercise boosts mood and fitness, provides energy on the job and helps to create deeper sleep cycles. As per the 2008 Texas University study, college students who identified themselves as ‘morning people’ scored one full point out of 5, i.e. 20% higher on their GPAs (Grade Point Averages) than those who were ‘night owls’. It is quite evident that good grades help students to secure better career opportunities.

Hence, early rising can prove to be a key in successful careers and healthy body and relationships.

Thank you!

8. Consumerism is increasing day by day. Luxuries of yesterday have become necessities of today. The result is that the more we want the more miserable we become. Write a debate in 150-200 words on ‘The only way to minimise human suffering and pain is to control our needs.’ You are Navtej/Navita. [5] View Answer

Ans.

For the Motion

Honourable judges, my worthy opponents and dear students,

Today, I Navtej of class XII, will speak in favour of the motion, “The only way to minimise human suffering and pain is to control our needs”.

I am sure all of you watch TV programmes regularly, particularly entertainment programmes such as serial and telecasts of cricket matches on various TV channels. Would you believe that 25 years ago there was only one TV channel to watch? I know you will find it hard to believe, but Doordarshan was the only TV channel available to the people in those days. In those days, having a TV set was a luxury and not a necessity. All the members of a family, which could afford a TV, would sit together and watch the same programme. However, TV has become a necessity today.

TV is just one of the many examples responsible for our misery in a great way. We feel miserable if the refrigerator at home becomes defective during the summer. Today, it has become almost impossible to live without our mobile phone even for a day! Actually, we have changed our lifestyles to treat all such items as necessities of daily life. However, people of the previous generation controlled their needs to the minimum and treated items like TV sets, refrigerators etc. as luxuries; thus, they did not feel miserable or depressed when such luxuries were not available. But the luxuries of yesterday have become necessities of today. And the problem is that we continue to rise our demands everyday and the more we want the more miserble we become.

Hence, it is clear that we can definitely minimise human suffering and pain by controlling our needs.

Thank you!

Against the Motion

Honourable judges, my worthy opponents and dear students,

Today, I Navtej of class XII, will speak against the motion, “The only way to minimise human suffering and pain is to control our needs”.

It is true that human desires are insatiable. Today, people focus on what they want instead of focusing on what they really need. Just food, shelter and clothing cannot satisfy the people of today’s day and age. They want delicacies, palatial houses, new dresses, expensive accessories, luxury cars, and the list is never ending. Inability to meet these needs results in dissatisfaction, jealousy, misery, suffering and pain.

However, has the world not greatly changed since the earlier times? What we earlier looked upon as comforts and luxuries have today turned into necessities. And there is nothing wrong in it. We cannot be satisfied with just the bare minimum as such, because complacency will not give any scope for innovation, invention, improvement and creativity. What we are looking at as the evil of consumerism is something that lies at the bottom of all economic prosperity.

If people stop buying, how will the production be encouraged? Consequently, no employment will be generated. It will result in more suffering and pain. We need to prioritise our needs and try to fulfil them one by one instead of totally cutting down or controlling them. It is our attitude to any problem or situation that matters the most. One can conquer mountains with a positive attitude. These small needs will then appear just like mole hills.

Thank you!

You are Cultural Secretary of PND Xavier School, Jamshedpur. Your school organised a debate on the topic, ‘The impact of reality shows on the younger generation. Write a report in 100-125 words to be published in ‘The Times of India’, Jamshedpur.

View Answer

Ans.

The Impact of Reality Shows on the Younger Generation

by XYZ, Cultural Secretary

Jamshedpur, 15 November, 20XX: PND Xavier School, Jamshedpur hosted an Inter School Debate Competition on 12th November, 20XX. The debate was held on the topic, “the impact of reality shows on the younger generation”. Many reputed schools of the town graced the debate through their active participation. As part and parcel of the debate, some expressed their views in favour of and some against the topic. The students debated their stand with full confidence and reasons. The audience got to learn about both sides of the coin.

Students of Bishop Cotton School, who spoke for the motion, won the first prize. The District Magistrate was the chief guest. After giving away the prizes, he concluded by highlighting that everything has two aspects; all we need to do is to identify the positive aspect. Prizes and certificates were given to the winners.

Section C: Literature (31 Marks)

9. Read the text carefully and answer the questions:

And who art thou? said I to the soft-falling shower, Which, strange to tell, gave me an answer, as here translated: I am the Poem of Earth, said the voice of the rain,

(a) What is strange in the given extract?

a) The rain calling itself the Poem of Earth

b) The rain is answering the question

c) That the poet could translate the voice

d) The poet asking question to the rain

View Answer

Ans. b) The rain is answering the question

(b) Why does the rain call itself the Poem of Earth?

a) As it travels back to its origin

b) As it has a purpose

c) As it beautifies the Earth

d) As it is beautiful

View Answer

Ans. a) As it travels back to its origin

a) he was translating these lines for his readers

b) the rain was talking in our language

c) someone was translating these lines for him

d) the poet was making up these lines on his own

View Answer

Ans. a) he was translating these lines for his readers

Read the text carefully and answer the questions:

Yet have I killed

The seed I spent or sown it where

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.

(a) What does the father feel in the given lines?

a) That he himself should correct the situation

b) That his son is responsible for the situation

c) That he is responsible for the situation

d) That no one can be blamed for the situation

View Answer

Ans. c) That he is responsible for the situation

(b) The child is built to my design means that

a) they resemble each other

b) they share their likes and dislikes

c) they share an unbreakable bond

d) their opinions are the same

View Answer

Ans. a) they resemble each other

a) Ababacc

b) Aabbaac

c) Abcabca

d) Abccbcb

View Answer

Ans. d) Abccbcb

10. Read the text carefully and answer the questions:

A flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky on the morning we said our goodbyes. Extended banks of cloud like long French loaves glowed pink as the sun emerged to splash the distant mountain tops with a rosetinted blush. Now that we were leaving Ravu, Lhamo said she wanted to give me a farewell present. One evening I’d told her through Daniel that I was heading towards Mount Kailash to complete the kora, and she’d said that I ought to get some warmer clothes.

(a) Speed of the dog has been compared with

a) chase

b) vehicle

c) gun

d) bullet

View Answer

Ans. d) bullet

(b) Which of the following can be conclusively inferred about Mount Kailsh dogs

1. their colour is black

2. they are very quick

3. they are tiny creatures

4. they have massive jaws

5. they usually wear yellow collars

a) 1, 2 and 4

b) 2, 3 and 5

c) 1, 2 and 3

d) 1, 3 and 5

View Answer

Ans. a) 1, 2 and 4

a) they ran into the path of the vehicle

b) they barked furiously

c) they ran towards the vehicle

d) they swerved the vehicle

View Answer

Ans. d) they swerved the vehicle

Read the text carefully and answer the questions:

I would tell her English words and little things of western science and learning, the law of gravity, Archimedes’ Principle, the world being round, etc. This made her unhappy. She could not help me with my lessons. She did not believe in the things they taught at the English school and was distressed that there was no teaching about God and the scriptures

(a) Why grandmother of author could not help author with his lessons?

a) she did not want to

b) she did not know the subjects

c) author did not talk to her

d) author did not want her to help him

View Answer

Ans. b) she did not know the subjects

(b) According to the extract, which of the following were not told by the author to his grandmother

1. English words

2. French words

3. law of gravity

4. world being flat

5. energy conservation principles

a) 2, 5 and 4

b) 1, 3 and 5

c) 1, 4 and 3

d) 2, 4 and 5

View Answer

Ans. d) 2, 4 and 5

a) no teaching about God and no teaching about scriptures

b) no teaching about God

c) no teaching about scriptures

d) no teaching about religion

View Answer

Ans. a) no teaching about God and no teaching about scriptures

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

(a) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow: Andrew, abruptly recalled from the contemplation of his own affairs, told Morgan to wait. He went into the house for his bag, then together they set out for Number 12 Blaina Terrace. The night air was cool and deep with quiet mystery. Usually so perceptive, Andrew now felt dull and listless. He had no premonition that this night call would prove unusual, still less that it would influence his whole future in Blaenelly. The two men walked in silence until they reached the door of Number 12, then Joe drew up short.

i. Complete the sentence appropriately.

The author’s purpose in creating a mysterious environment, is to _______________.

View Answer

Ans. ..highlight that something unusual was about to happen that would influence Andrew’s future life in Blaenelly.

ii. In the given extract, which of the following emotions was not felt by Andrew?

a. Thoughtful

b. Embarrassment

c. Listless

d. Upset

View Answer

Ans. b. Embarrassment

iii. Which trait of Andrew is highlighted in the line ” Usually so perceptive, Andrew now felt dull and listless “?

View Answer

Ans. Andrew was generally full of life and spirit but was silent and lacked energy that night.

iv. How is the line, “He had no premonition that this night call would prove unusual”, an example of contrast?

View Answer

Ans. It was a cool night, and the streets were silent. Andrew had no idea something strange would happen that night which would change his life forever.

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

This was the wonderful part.

In the second place, we were poor.

This was the part that wouldn’t permit me to believe what I saw. We were poor. We had no money. Our whole tribe was poverty-stricken. Every branch of the Garoghlanian family was living in the most amazing and comical poverty in the world. 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.

i. List any one sensory details present in this extract.

View Answer

Ans. In the provided extract, sensory details that can be identified are: (any one)

I. Visual Imagery: The passage describes the poverty of the Garoghlanian family, creating a visual image of their living conditions and financial struggles.

II. Gustatory Imagery: The mention of “food in our bellies” invokes a sense of taste, even though it’s about the scarcity of food. This detail relates to the sense of taste and hunger, adding depth to the description of their poverty.

ii. What is the main reason behind the family’s financial situation as described in the extract?

A. A lack of understanding among family members about managing money.

B. The comical and amazing poverty experienced by every branch of the family.

C. A mysterious source of money that no one in the family could comprehend.

D. The unwillingness of the old men in the family to share their wealth.

View Answer

Ans. C. A mysterious source of money that no one in the family could comprehend.

iii. Complete the sentence appropriately. The phrase “living in the most amazing and comical poverty in the world.” suggests

View Answer

________________________.

Ans. The phrase “living in the most amazing and comical poverty in the world” suggests that despite their extreme poverty, the Garoghlanian family’s circumstances were so unusual and absurd that it was almost unbelievable

iv. Pick evidence from the extract that helps one infer that the speaker was proud of his entity/tribe.

Ans. The evidence from the extract that suggests the speaker was proud of his entity/tribe is the description of their poverty as “amazing and comical.” Despite their financial hardships, the speaker seems to take pride in the resilience and resourcefulness of their tribe in finding ways to survive and maintain their unity.

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12. Answer the questions from either (a) or (b) in 40-50 words: [6]

(a) i. Do you think it is important to preserve languages? (Discovering Tut)

View Answer

Ans. Yes, it is important to preserve languages as they are responsible for the development of culture of the community. It helps in preservation of one’s heritage and traditions. Language preservation ensures contact with one’s history and literature.

ii. How does the Laburnum tree appear in September?

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Ans. In the afternoon of an autumnal September sunlight, the laburnum top appears silent and quite still. A few leaves of the tree are turning yellow. All the seeds of the tree have fallen.

(b) i. What was the impact of the torrent on the narrator and Wave walker? Answer in context of We are Not Afraid to Die. [3] View Answer

Ans. A tremendous explosion shook the deck. The narrator’s head struck the wheel and he flew overboard and was sinking below the waves. Unexpectedly his head came out of water. wave Walker was almost capsizing. He masts were almost horizontal.

ii. What did the speaker learn about the existence of Heaven and Hell? Answer in the context of Childhood. [3] View Answer

Ans. As the speaker grew to be mature, he acquired reasoning power. He realized that Hell and Heaven could not be found in Geography books or Atlas. Since they could not be located anywhere in the world map, he concluded that they did not exist. He would believe only what he could see and find.

13. Answer ANY ONE of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words [3]

(a) Why and when did the narrator feel an urge to see her mothers belongings? Answer in the context of The Address. [3] View Answer

Ans. After the liberation struggle was over, the narrator returned home. One day. she became curious about all her things at Mrs. Darling’s house. She just wanted to see them, touch them and remember the old times and her mother

(b) How was the experience different for both Mrs. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Annie Pearson after the change of bodies? [3] View Answer

Ans. The real Mrs. Fitzgerald enjoyed the experience as she was able to reform the behavior of Doris, Cyril, and George towards Mrs. Annie Pearson. On the other hand, Annie was unhappy as she could not bear her family being treated harshly.

14. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. [6]

(a) Why do you think Professor Gaitonde decided never to preside over meetings again? [6] View Answer

Ans. Professor Gaitonde was experiencing a different version of the Battle of Panipat. According to this version, the Marathas emerged victorious in the Battle and started extending influence over the entire country. His mind was actually witnessing a different version of the historical reality. Interestingly, he was also witnessing an event that was not conforming to the conventions. The event was a lecture session on the outcomes of the Battle of Panipat. In this lecture session, Prof. Gaitonde observed that the chair of the President was vacant. This again was contrary to the conventions. Prof. Gaitonde rushed to occupy the chair and started explaining the need of a President in a lecture session like this. The public got angry at this point and started throwing objects on him. He had a harrowing experience. This led him to decide not to preside over meetings again.

(b) The poet Shirley Toulson has paid a tribute to her mother. Similar instances can be seen in The Portrait of a Lady. This made you think that writing about a loved one is much better than building their statues or drawing their portraits. Comment. [6] View Answer

Ans. Many writers have paid tributes to their loved ones through beautiful writing. Khushwant Singh gave an adorable description about his grandmother through his story. Shirley Toulson remembered her mother through her heart-touching poem.

In my opinion, writing about a loved one is much better than building their statues or drawing their portraits. One can never tell the true personality of a person just by looking at their sculptures or portraits. One can never know about the amazing time someone has spent with them. That magic can only be created by words. Words stand the passage of time whereas sculptures or portraits may get damaged by it. Hence, words are the best way by which anyone can pay a tribute to one’s loved ones.

15. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. [6]

(a) How, according to you, can peace and liberty be maintained in a state? Answer in the context of The Tale of Melon City. [6] View Answer

Ans. A model answer has been provided for students’ reference. It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own. Peace and liberty can be maintained in a state if there exists Laissez-faire, i.e. the principle of noninterference by the king in the activities of the citizens. However, the king or the government must maintain law and order in the absence of which anarchy may reign in the state. There should be a happy balance between state interference and citizens rights. Only then one can expect peace and liberty to be maintained in a state.

(b) Write a note on the title of the play Mother’s Day.

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Ans. The title of the play is quite appropriate. It sums up the theme of the play. It suggests that the action of the play revolves around a mother. The playwright confronts us at the outset with the problems the mother faces from her grown up children and their father. The novel technique employed to tackle the spoilt children and the grown-up man is quite amusing and thought-provoking. The bold and dominating mother acts tough with the children and makes them realise they need of proper attention towards their mother. They are made to learn a lesson in courtesy and polite behaviour not only towards the mother but also towards the visiting neighbour. The mother certainly has her day as the children learn to treat her properly. The supper being prepared by the children, their stay at home and the family game of rummy is a rare gift that the mother receives on this important day.

Class XI – English Sample Paper – 3