Session Ending Exam, 2021-22
Class-XII
Subject –English Core (301)
Max. Marks 40 Max. Time 2 Hrs
General Instructions:
1. The Question paper contains THREE Sections-READING, WRITING and LITERATURE.
2. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
Part A: Reading
1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
1. Dugong or the sea cow is the State animal of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This endangered marine species survives on seagrass and other aquatic vegetation found in the area. It is the only herbivorous mammal that is strictly marine. Dugongs are usually about three-meter long and weigh about 400 kg. Dugongs have an expanded head and trunk-like upper lip. Elephants are considered to be their closest relatives. However, unlike dolphins and other cetaceans, sea cows have two nostrils and no dorsal fin. Distributed in shallow tropical waters in the Indo-Pacific region, in India, they are found in the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
2. Having being declared vulnerable, the marine animal calls for conserving efforts. Studies have suggested the reasons for the extinction of the animal such as slow breeding rate, fishing, and the loss of habitat. The herbivorous mammal feeds on seagrass, which is at a loss. Human activities such as riding of speed-boats causes death of the animal due to boat and propeller strikes. Further, habitat loss is also attributed to the increase in conversion of coastal forests to banana, areca nut, and coconut plantations and high boat traffic
3. Natural factors are also responsible for the decline in Dugongs population. According to study (Das & Dey 1999), extreme weather events such as cyclones and high energy tidal storms may also contribute to the loss of seagrasses in the region.
4. Dugongs are also known to suffer due to accidental entanglement and drowning in gill-nets. Fishing activities around the Indian, Andaman, Nicobar, and Sri Lankan coasts include gill netting and dynamite fishing.
5. India’s first Dugong conservation reserve will be built in Tamil Nadu for the conservation of Dugong, a marine animal that has been enlisted vulnerable to extinction on a global scale by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The reserve will spread over an area of 500 km in Palk Bay on the southeast coast of Tamil Nadu. Palk Bay is a semi-enclosed shallow water body with a water depth maximum of 13 meters.
6. The conservation reserve can promote growth and save the vulnerable species from the verge of extinction. Dugongs are protected in India under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Act 1972 which bans the killing and purchasing of dugong meat. Community participation in dugong conservation can help in helping the dugong population recover. It also calls for creating awareness among the people, involving the local communities
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any ‘EIGHT ‘of the NINE questions given below:
i) According to the passage, what do Dugongs eat?
Ans. -seagrass and other aquatic vegetation found in the area
ii) What characteristic feature of Dugong, make them similar to elephants and different from Dolphins?
iii) Rewrite the given sentence by replacing the underlined word with a phrase similar in meaning, taking cues from para 2.
The present crisis demands mature judgment on the part of our leaders.
iv) Select a suitable word from para 5, that may replace the underlined word, to complete the following sentence appropriately.
The house is unsafe, since the foundations are weakened by floods.
v) What could be the role of community in Dugong conservation?
vi) Which aquatic conditions are favourable for Dugong population?
vii) How is the natural habitat of Dugong at risk due to natural events?
viii) Which human activities need to be checked to save Dugongs from extinction?
ix) “Dugongs are protected in India under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Act 1972.” To what extent such laws are successful in protecting the wildlife?
2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
The pandemic has been widely defined as the gateway to a new future for the world. For most people, particularly the millennials the changes were unprecedented, rapid and highly disruptive. Along with major lifestyle changes, Work from Home (WFH) became a reality that most of the working population was pushed into.
YouGov Millennial Survey found that the millennials are fundamentally divided in their perception of WFH. Before the pandemic, unlike many developed nations WFH was not a mainstream option for most of the workforce. The general notion was that WFH is a perk reserved for the lucky ones. However, when the pandemic forced the entire generation to WFH, the repercussions were unexpected.
The blurring boundaries between home and work has been a major flaw of WFH throughout the world. In this survey as well, 60% of the millennials reported difficulty in balancing household chores and office work. Women employees are projected to be suffering more due to this since they are the primary caregivers and shoulder most of the domestic work.
Presence of family members at home has been rated as a negative component for WFH by about 48% of the respondents. Globally all sections of the population have listed missing social interaction at work, with family and friends as a major problem during the pandemic. Resonating the same sentiment, 55% of the survey participants reported working without colleagues as unsatisfactory. In many fields, especially the creative and media sectors, where brainstorming with entire teams is a necessity, this was a major challenge.
Overall, the survey found that the millennials are gravitating towards perceiving WFH negatively, although numerous positive aspects have also shot to prominence. The changes brought about by the pandemic are expected to have far reaching changes in our lives and will shape our future significantly. But one thing is certain, WFH will continue to remain mainstream in the years to come.
Based on your understanding of the above passage, answer any SIX out of SEVEN questions given below:
i. What does the researcher mean by saying, ‘the millennials are fundamentally divided’?
ii. Comment a possible reason for the second most common complaint about ‘Work from Home’ as stated in the survey
iii. Write one conclusion that can be drawn from the findings of the Survey and its expected future impacts.
iv. What can be concluded by the percentage of the survey participants who reported ‘working without colleagues as unsatisfactory’, with reference to the figure1?
v. Elucidate the most common and least common complaints about Work from Home as stated in the survey?
vi. How WFH (Work from home) was perceived earlier? Substantiate with reasons.
vii. Identify the reasons responsible for difficulty in balancing household chores and office work specifically in view of gender difference.
SECTION – B (WRITING)
3. You are the famous journalist and writer Ravish Kumar, who has received an invitation to be the chief guest for the inaugural reading event from the Principal of St. Thomas Public School, Meerut. The school is organising a week-long Book Fair as reading event. Draft a reply giving your consent for the same. Do not exceed the word limit of 50 words.
4. Attempt ANY ONE A and B given below
A. You are Kashish/Kailash, residing at B-94, Bela Road, Dehradun. You have read the advertisement given below. You are qualified for the job. Write an application in 120 – 150 words along with resume.
OR
After Russia attacked Ukraine and launched a military operation on February 26,2022, a crisis situation emerged to bring back Indian students studying in Ukraine. You are Praveen Chaudhary/ Maasooma Ghazal, a staff reporter of an Indian national daily. You have been asked to cover the homecoming of Indian students, studying in Ukraine. Write a report in 120-150 words.
SECTION – C (LITERATURE)
5. Attempt ANY FIVE of the six questions given below, within 40 words.
i. What is the message of the story ‘The Rattrap’?
ii. How did synthetic Indigo become a problem for poor peasants?
iii. Why are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers not afraid of men?
iv. What image does the poet use to describe the continuity in beautiful bounty of the earth?
v. If you were given a chance to choose an end for the story ‘On the face of It’ What would be that?
6. Answer any TWO of the following in about 120-150 word each.
i. Give evidences from the story ‘The Rattrap’ to bring out the differences in the character of the ironmaster and his daughter?
ii. Reflecting on the story, what did you feel about Evans’ having the last laugh?
iii. How does beauty lead to ‘a sleep full of sweet dreams’ and how does such a sleep help us?