Class XII - English Core - Paper - 1

English core (301)

Time Allowed: 3 hours. Maximum Marks : 80

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

i. This question paper has 13 questions. All questions are compulsory.

ii This question paper contains three sections:

Section A: Reading Skills

Section B: Creative Writing Skills

Section C: Literature.

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

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

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

SECTION A – READING SKILLS

1. Read the following passage carefully:

1. India is one of the largest producers of tea in the world, with vast tea plantations spread across the northeastern and southern regions. The states of Assam, West Bengal (Darjeeling), and Tamil Nadu are especially famous for their tea production. Assam produces more than half of India’s total tea, known for its strong, bold flavor. Darjeeling tea, often referred to as the “Champagne of Teas,” is prized for its light, floral taste, and is one of the most sought-after teas globally.

2. Tea cultivation in India dates back to the early 19th century when the British East India Company began establishing tea gardens to compete with China’s tea monopoly. The hilly regions of Assam and Darjeeling were found to have the perfect climate for growing tea. Today, tea is not only an important agricultural product but also deeply intertwined with the cultural identity of India. Millions of Indians begin their day with a steaming cup of chai, often spiced with ginger, cardamom, and other flavors.

3. Tea gardens employ millions of workers across India, with many of them being women. The work involves plucking the tender leaves by hand, a skill that requires precision and speed. The freshly plucked leaves are then processed in factories, where they are withered, rolled, fermented, and dried to produce the final product. Despite its popularity, the tea industry faces several challenges, including fluctuating market prices, climate change, and the need to improve working conditions for laborers.

4. In recent years, India’s tea exports have expanded to countries like Russia, the UK, and the United States, contributing significantly to the nation’s economy. India remains the second-largest producer of tea globally, after China. However, there is growing competition from other tea-producing countries like Sri Lanka and Kenya, which are also major players in the global market.

5. The future of India’s tea industry depends on sustainable practices and modernization. With climate change affecting rainfall patterns and temperatures in key tea-growing regions, many plantation owners are looking to adapt through eco-friendly farming techniques and better resource management.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. According to paragraph 1, which Indian states are known for their significant tea production?

View Answer

Ans. Assam, West Bengal (Darjeeling), and Tamil Nadu are known for their significant tea production.

ii. How did tea cultivation begin in India, as mentioned in paragraph 2?

View Answer

Ans. Tea cultivation in India began in the early 19^th century, when the British East India Company started tea gardens to compete with China.

iii. Read and complete the following sentence suitably.

The phrase “intertwined with the cultural identity of India” in paragraph 2 suggests that tea plays a central role in daily life and tradition for many Indians.

Choose the correct response from the two options to complete the sentence. Tea is important to India’s culture because _____.

(A) it is only consumed in rural areas

(B) millions of people enjoy it as a daily beverage

View Answer

Ans. (B) millions of people enjoy it as a daily beverage

iv. Complete the following with ONE reason, with reference to paragraph 3 :

Tea plantations employ many workers because _____.

View Answer

Ans. Tea plantations employ many workers because the process of plucking tea leaves is labor-intensive and requires skilled workers.

v. Why does the writer mention challenges like climate change in paragraph 3? Because

(A) These challenges affect the production and quality of tea.

(B) The challenges show how tea remains popular despite difficulties.

(D) It highlights how other countries are overcoming these issues.

View Answer

Ans. (A) These challenges affect the production and quality of tea.

vi. Provide ONE textual evidence with reference to paragraph 4, to support the following :

India plays a key role in the global tea market.

View Answer

Ans. Textual evidence: “In recent years, India’s tea exports have expanded to countries like Russia, the UK, and the United States, contributing significantly to the nation’s economy.”

vii. In the line, ‘The future of India’s tea industry depends on sustainable practices and modernization’ (Paragraph 5), what does the phrase ‘sustainable practices’ suggest about the changes needed for the industry’s survival?

View Answer

Ans. The phrase ‘sustainable practices’ suggests that the tea industry needs to adopt farming techniques that protect the environment, ensure long-term productivity, and manage resources efficiently to cope with the impact of climate change.

viii. Complete the analogy with ONE word from paragraph 1 :

Assam tea : strong flavor :: Darjeeling tea: _____

(A) light flavor

(B) bold flavor

(D) spiced taste

View Answer

Ans. (C) floral taste

ix. Why is it fair to say that the statement ‘Tea cultivation is deeply intertwined with the cultural identity of India’ in paragraph 2 uses factual language?

(A) It shows the popularity of tea in India’s daily life.

(B) It emphasizes the cultural importance of tea production.

(D) It highlights the historical impact of the tea industry

View Answer

Ans. (A) It shows the popularity of tea in India’s daily life.

x. Assess the potential challenges or benefits of eco-friendly farming techniques in India’s tea industry, as suggested in paragraph 5.

View Answer

Ans. One benefit of eco-friendly farming techniques is that they help preserve the environment and improve the long-term productivity of tea plantations. However, a challenge could be the cost of implementing these techniques, which may be difficult for small farmers.

2. Read the following carefully.

1. Introduction: Energy consumption is one of the key factors contributing to global environmental changes, with varying levels of energy usage across countries depending on industrialization, population, and economic activity. This case study explores the energy consumption patterns of different countries and evaluates the sources of energy used, focusing on renewable versus non-renewable energy.

2. Methodology: Data was gathered from international energy reports tracking the consumption of energy in both developed and developing nations. The data was divided into renewable and non-renewable sources, and the energy consumption trends from 2000 to 2020 were analysed. The study aimed to understand the dependence on non-renewable resources and the global shift toward renewable energy.

3. Survey Examination: The survey categorized countries based on their energy consumption and the proportion of energy sourced from renewables versus non-renewables. Factors such as government policies, technological advancements, and geographical resources were also examined to identify their impact on a country’s energy mix.

4. Results: The chart below shows the percentage of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption in different regions as of 2020:

5. Implications for Interventions: The data shows that despite global efforts to transition to renewable energy, a significant portion of energy consumption still comes from non-renewable sources, especially in developing regions. Governments must implement stronger policies to promote renewable energy use through incentives, subsidies, and public awareness campaigns. Technological innovation in renewable energy generation can also play a critical role in reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

6. Conclusion: The findings of this study emphasize the need for a global shift toward renewable energy to mitigate environmental damage caused by non-renewable energy sources. International cooperation and investments in clean energy technologies are essential to achieving a sustainable energy future for all nations.

Answer the following questions, based on given passage.

i. Complete the following suitably.

In the introduction, the researcher links energy consumption with environmental changes to highlight _____.

View Answer

Ans. The impact of energy consumption on environmental sustainability and the need for a shift to cleaner energy sources.

ii. What would the following be classified as?

To analyse the global patterns of energy consumption and the shift towards renewable sources.

Select the appropriate response.

(A) Secondary objective

(B) Method of analysis

(D) Research outcome

View Answer

Ans. (C) Primary objective

iii. Give two points to support why renewable energy was included as a focus in the study on global energy consumption.

View Answer

Ans. Two points to support why renewable energy was included as a focus in the study on global energy consumption:

1. Renewable energy is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.

2. It offers a sustainable alternative to non-renewable energy sources, ensuring long-term environmental and economic benefits.

iv. Paragraph 3 includes words – ‘technological advancements’ and ‘policies.’

Classify the following sentences as ‘technological advancement’ or ‘policy’:

Sentence 1: The development of solar and wind energy systems helps countries reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Sentence 2: Government subsidies encourage businesses to invest in renewable energy.

View Answer

Ans. Sentence 1: Technological advancement

Sentence 2: Policy

v. Read the following:

Liam lives in Europe, where renewable energy accounts for 40% of total energy consumption. His friend Suresh, who resides in Asia, primarily uses non-renewable energy, which makes up 80% of the total. Meanwhile, Carlos in South America benefits from an equal split between renewable and non-renewable sources.

Select the option that identifies the correct regional energy consumption for Liam, Suresh, and Carlos.

(A) Liam – North America; Suresh – Africa; Carlos – Europe

(B) Liam – Europe; Suresh – Asia; Carlos – South America

(D) Liam – Asia; Suresh – Europe; Carlos – Africa

View Answer

Ans. (B) Liam – Europe; Suresh – Asia; Carlos – South America

vi. Although Europe and South America both use a significant portion of renewable energy, why does South America have a higher percentage of renewables?

View Answer

Ans. South America has a higher percentage of renewable energy due to its natural resources, such as abundant hydropower, which allows it to generate a significant portion of energy from renewable sources.

vii. Analyse how targeted policies and technological advancements can help increase the use of renewable energy in regions like Asia and Africa. (Paragraph 5)

View Answer

Ans. Targeted policies such as subsidies and incentives, along with technological advancements in renewable energy infrastructure, can help regions like Asia and Africa transition to cleaner energy sources. By focusing on affordability and accessibility, these regions can reduce their dependence on non-renewable energy.

viii. What is the ultimate goal for stakeholders, based on the insights from the study?

(A) To increase the global use of non-renewable energy

(B) To promote energy consumption regardless of the source

(D) To limit the use of renewable energy only to developed countries

View Answer

Ans. (C) To achieve a global shift toward renewable energy

SECTION B – CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS

3. Attempt ANY ONE of the two, (A) or (B), in about 50 words.

A. You are Vijay Dhawan, a student of Florence Nightingale Convent, Rohtas Nagar, Aurangabad. Your school is planning an Inter-House poster making competition to conclude the week-long Environment Week. As the secretary of the school’s cultural association, write a notice in about 50 words informing students of classes IX-XII about the competition.

View Answer

Ans.

B. In a few days, the country will be celebrating its Independence Day. The Prime Minister will hoist the national flag of the country from the ramparts of the Red Fort and address the nation. Massive arrangements for seating and security are in the offing. The Delhi Traffic Police will be making traffic diversions on the big day in order to avoid inconvenience to the travellers and commuters, it has issued a public notice about the same. Reproduce the notice. You are Jayram Patil of Chanakya Puri, New Delhi.

View Answer

Ans.

4. Attempt ANY ONE of the two, (A) or (B), in about 50 words.

A. You are Nidhi Aggarwal, Secretary of the Literary Club called Shakespearewala of your school. The literary club has produced some great theatre actors in the past and has a phenomenal repertoire of dramas. Now, it is putting up the famous Shakespeare play ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. The principal of your school has asked you to draft an invitation inviting the famous writer Mr. Ruskin Bond to be the Chief Guest at the event. Write the invitation in not more than 50 words. Invent necessary details as required.

View Answer

Ans.

B. Your friend, P.V. Nithish, has invited your family to attend the wedding of his sister, Jaya. You have your board examination on the day of the wedding. Since, south Indian weddings are traditionally morning events, you will not be able to attend the event. Write a formal reply in about 50 words to the family expressing your regret. You are Sushmitha Nair, M-114, Fort Road, Chennai.

View Answer

Ans.

5. Attempt ANY ONE of the two, (A) or (B), in 120-150 words.

A. After passing the secondary school examination, a candidate has to make a very difficult choice from a number of streams available to him for further studies at senior secondary level. There is no valid mechanism to assess the suitability of a candidate for a particular stream. The aggregate percentage is deemed sufficient to decide the stream of a candidate. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily emphasizing the need for educational counsellors for guidance in this matter in each school. You are Rishi Negi of Koregaon, Pune, Maharashtra.

View Answer

Ans.

B. You are Asit/Aarti Hempal of 14, West Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi. You have seen the following advertisement in The Hindustan Times for the post of Chief Chef in a Five Star Hotel. Apply for the job with complete biodata. Write a cover letter also.

View Answer

Ans.

6. Attempt ANY ONE of the two, (A) or (B) in 120-150 words.

A. India is emerging as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The number of tourists has definitely picked up after the pandemic. The bar graph given below shows the criteria or parameters that play a decisive role for a foreign visitor in choosing and finalizing the country where he is going to spend his money and time. The government of India is making sustained efforts in projecting India as a great tourist destination but the citizens also need to understand their duties. Utilising this bar graph, write an article on “India as the popular choice of foreign visitors” as Lakshya Sen.

View Answer

Ans.

B. Some students of the Senior Wing of St Mary’s School, Safdarjang Enclave, New Delhi, collectively authored a book, ‘School Memorabilia’ that recounts episodes from their school days, anecdotes and the legacy of the school alumni who achieved legendary success in their respective fields. As student reporter for The Hindustan Times’ PACE programme, write a report in 120-150 words.

View Answer

Ans.

SECTION C- LITERATURE

7. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two – (A) or (B)

A. “But after the airport’s

Security check, standing a few yards

away, I looked again at her, wan, pale

as a late winter’s Moon.”

(My Mother at Sixty-Six)

i. Choose the option that displays the same poetic device as used in the last line of the extract.

(A) Life is full of ups and downs.

(B) The lanky lad troubled all.

(D) Nature is god’s gift to us.

View Answer

Ans. (C) As white as snow

ii. Read the assertion and the reason below, with reference to the given extract.

Assertion: The poet feels a deep sense of concern as she observes her mother’s frail appearance.

Reason: The mother’s pale and wan appearance is compared to a late winter’s moon, symbolizing aging and fragility.

Choose the correct option regarding their relationship:

(A) Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

(B) Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.

(D) The assertion is false, but the reason is true.

View Answer

Ans. (A) Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

iii. Complete the following suitably.

The poet looked at her mother again in order to _____.

View Answer

Ans. bid her good bye.

iv. What does the line ‘I looked at her, wan and pale as a late winter’s moon’ indicate?

View Answer

Ans. The line ‘I looked at her, wan and pale as a late winter’s moon’ indicates that the poet’s mother is old.

v. Select the correct option from those given in brackets, to fill in the blank. The figure of speech used in the lines ‘the young trees sprinting is _____ (metaphor/ personification).

View Answer

Ans. Personification

vi. List any two reasons for mother’s pale face.

View Answer

Ans. (A) Her old age

(B) Her depleting energy.

B. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green,

They do not fear the men beneath the tree;

They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.

The massive weight of uncle’s wedding band

Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.

(Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger)

i. What quality of Uncle can be inferred through the lines given in extract?

(A) Confident

(B) Courageousness

(D) Dominating nature

View Answer

Ans. (D) Dominating nature

ii. What are the tigers in the extract symbolic of?

View Answer

Ans. The tigers in the extract are symbolic of creativity and courage.

iii. Select the correct option from those given in brackets, to fill in the blank. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers have _____ (strengthened/ weakened) a lot due to her oppression.

View Answer

Ans. weakened

iv. Read the assertion and the reason below, with reference to the given extract.

Assertion: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers symbolize fearlessness and confidence, in contrast to her own constrained life.

Reason: The tigers move with chivalric certainty, while Aunt Jennifer struggles with the burden of her marriage, represented by the heavy wedding band.

Choose the correct option regarding their relationship:

(A) Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

(B) Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.

(D) The assertion is false, but the reason is true.

View Answer

Ans. (A) Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

v. What message do the last four lines of the given extract highlight, in the context of feminism?

View Answer

Ans. The extract emphasizes the hardships and tensions that a woman confronts in a male-dominated society. Aunt Jennifer is the main character representing all woman who are persecuted by the patriarchal society.

vi. Complete the following suitably. Denizens of the ‘world of green’ refer to _____.

View Answer

Ans. tigers

8. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (A) or (B)

A. Because he was perfecting a discovery which would render wounds entirely clean, he had not been sent abroad with the troops. Also, he knew, there was some slight danger that the old General might need an operation for a condition for which he was now being treated medically, and for this possibility Sadao was being kept in Japan.

(The Enemy)

i. Why was Dr Sadao not sent with the troops?

View Answer

Ans. Dr. Sadao was not sent with the troops for two reasons. Firstly, he was perfecting a discovery which would render wounds entirely clean, and secondly, there was some danger that the old General might need an operation. So, the doctor would be required there.

ii. What kind of a person was Dr Sadao’s father?

(A) A jealous man

(B) Traditional man

(D) Both (B) and (C)

View Answer

Ans. (D) Both (B) and (C)

iii. The General referred to in the given extract is _____.

View Answer

Ans. Japan’s Army General

iv. How does the general help Dr Sadao?

View Answer

Ans. The General assures Dr. Sadao to help him in getting rid of the American soldier but due to his self-absorption in his ailment, he forgets. When Dr. Sadao tells him about the escape of the white man, he takes the blame on himself and saves Dr. Sadao.

B. Students on Ice, the programme I was working with on the Shokalskiy, aims to do exactly this by taking high school students to the ends of the world and providing them with inspiring educational opportunities which will help them foster a new understanding and respect for our planet. It’s been in operation for six years now, headed by Canadian Geoff Green, who got tired of carting celebrities and retired, rich, curiosity-seekers who could only ‘give’ back in a limited way.

With Students on Ice, he offers the future generation of policy-makers a life-changing experience at an age when they’re ready to absorb, learn and most importantly, act.

(Journey to the End of the Earth)

i. Complete the sentence appropriately. Students on Ice is _____ headed by Geoff Green.

View Answer

Ans. an expedition

ii. Characterise the celebrities based on your understanding of the extract.

View Answer

Ans. The given extract pose the celebrities to be miserly and impassive to the cause of the environment.

iii. Select the most suitable title for the extract.

(A) High School Students

(B) Adventure in Antarctica

(D) Wanderlust

View Answer

Ans. (C) Students on Ice Programme

iv. Why did Green start his Students on Ice programme?

View Answer

Ans. Green started his Students on Ice programme to make youngsters realise the glory reality to planet Earth and to provoke them into thinking about their planet earnestly.

9. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (A) or (B).

A. Food is more important for survival than an identity. “If at the end of the day we can feed our families and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would rather live here than in the fields that gave us no grain,” says a group of women in tattered saris when I ask them why they left their beautiful land of green fields and rivers. Wherever they find food, they pitch their tents that become transit homes. Children grow up in them, becoming partners in survival. And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine art. Garbage to them is gold. It is their daily bread, a roof over their heads, even if it is a leaking roof. But for a child it is even more.

(Lost Spring)

i. List any two details about the ragpickers discussed in the extract.

View Answer

Ans. 1. Food is more important for survival

2. Identity is not more important for them.

ii. The phrase ‘transit homes’ refer to the dwellings that are _____.

(A) temporary and mobile

(B) inadequate and fleeting

(D) unhygienic but permanent

View Answer

Ans. (A) temporary and mobile

iii. Pick evidence from the extract that helps one infer that ragpicking has attained the position of a skill.

View Answer

Ans. Ragpicking has acquired the proportions of a fine art.

iv. Complete the sentence appropriately For a child, garbage _____.

View Answer

Ans. is even more

v. What does the term ‘Garbage to them is gold’ mean?

View Answer

Ans. For them, garbage is a means of survival and they find happiness in it.

vi. Which of the following headlines best suggests the central idea of the extract?

(A) Love for other country

(B) Ragpicking – an art

(D) The living standard of ragpickers

View Answer

Ans. (B) Ragpicking – an art

B. The players who played the crowd were the responsibility of the office boy (Even the make-up department of the Gemini Studio had an ‘office boy’!). On the days when there was a crowd shooting, you could see him mixing his paint in a giant vessel and slapping it on the crowd players. The idea was to close every pore on the surface of the face in the process of applying make-up. He wasn’t exactly a ‘boy’; he was in his early forties, having entered the studios years ago in the hope of becoming a star actor or a top screen writer, director or lyrics writer.

(Poets and Pancakes)

i. What was the responsibility of the ‘office boy’?

View Answer

Ans. The responsibility of the ‘office boy’ was to do make up of extras or ‘crowds’ in a crowd shoot.

ii. On a day of crowd shooting, the office boy would be _____.

View Answer

Ans. mixing his paint in a giant vessel and slapping it on the crowd players.

iii. Which of the following expresses the office boy’s age?

(A) 10-20 years old

(B) 20-30 years old

(D) 40-50 years old

View Answer

Ans. (D) 40-50 years old

iv. Rationalise, to support the given opinion.

A hierarchy existed in the Gemini Studios.

View Answer

Ans. It is true that a hierarchy existed in the Gemini Studios because the responsibility of the office boy has been specifically highlighted. This indicates that the make-up task of other actors was given to people at different positions.

v. Complete the sentence with one word. The line “…players who played the crowd were the responsibility of the office boy…” can be best classified as _____.

View Answer

Ans. a fact.

vi. Why was the office boy disappointed?

(A) Could not succeed as a director

(B) Could not become a lyric writer

(D) All of these

View Answer

Ans. (D) All of these

10. Answer ANY FIVE of the following six questions in 40-50 words each:

i. ‘We realise the worth of something either before acquiring it or after losing it.’ Explain this with reference to ‘The Last Lesson’.

(The Last Lesson)

View Answer

Ans.

ii. What are we single-minded about and what are its consequences?

(Keeping Quiet)

View Answer

Ans.

iii. How is the ragpicker’s name Saheb-e-Alam an ironical contradiction to his reality?

(Lost Spring)

View Answer

Ans.

iv. What is the time projected by the poet in “her terrified hands will lie, Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by”?

(Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers)

View Answer

Ans.

v. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?

(The Rattrap)

View Answer

Ans.

vi. Are Mukund and Eco on the same page when it comes to their views about Eco’s work? How can you substantiate your response with reference to ‘The Interview’?

(The Interview)

View Answer

Ans.

11. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions in 40-50 words each:

i. ‘Take care of the small things and the big things will fall into place.’ Elucidate the relevance of this statement in context of the environment in the Antarctica.

(Journey to the End of the Earth)

View Answer

Ans.

ii. Why did Charley suspect that Sam had gone to Galesburg?

(The Third Level)

View Answer

Ans.

iii. Only an untouchable would know the pain of being one. Dalit consciousness cannot be illustrated as poignantly by people from other castes. Do you agree with the statement with reference to Bama’s life?

(Memories of Childhood)

View Answer

Ans.

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

A. Our scriptures tell us that determination and perseverance are cardinal virtues of a good human being. Raj Kumar Shukla was determined as well as persevering because owing to these two traits, he succeeded in taking Gandhiji to Champaran. Gandhiji, in turn, had these characteristics too. Do you agree with the comparison? How can young students today use these two qualities to make successful careers for themselves?

(Indigo)

View Answer

Ans. I agree that both Raj Kumar Shukla and Gandhiji had ample perseverance and determination; they would have spectacularly failed in their respective missions, if it wasn’t the case. If Shukla persuaded Gandhiji to visit Champaran, it was gandhiji’s resolve to stand against all odds and win.

No wonder these two qualities should be the ‘mantra’ for young students to make a successful career for themselves. If there is one personal trait that correlates with success, it is the trait of persistence-the ability to endure till the end. With a little more perseverance what once seemed a hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. Determination and perseverance give us hope that the righteous suffer no other failure except that of giving up and no longer trying.

B. I went to the pool when no one else was there… in came a big bruiser of a boy…he yelled, “Hi, skinny, how’d you like to be ducked?” Later, the boy said, “But I was only fooling.”

The youth today is characterized by a total absence of concern for others. They also act without thinking how their deeds may have long lasting effect on others. Write a note in about 120- 150 words to be published in a youth magazine on the need for inculcating regard for the fellow beings.

(Deep Water)

View Answer

Ans.

The Youth and YOLO

The teenagers today indeed are reckless, self- centred and constantly seeking fun at the expense of others. This can make them rude and hurtful and cause physical and emotional distress to others. A rebuke or warning even for their personal safety is met with YOLO (You Only Live Once). Take for example, bullying in school. It can lead to extreme fear, poor self-esteem, and helplessness in a victim but does the perpetrator bother? He enjoys cornering his victims and seeks pleasure in their discomfort.

The young man who threw Douglas into the pool was one such thoughtless fellow who did not think through the consequence of his prank and nearly pushed the frail little boy to death.

The youngsters need to respect fellow beings- their individuality, space and dignity. They should take responsibility for their behaviour and actions and make an effort to bond with others.

13. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. 1×5 = 5

A. Satire employs irony, sarcasm, ridicule, etc. in exposing and criticising follies and vices in men. The story ‘The Tiger King’ criticizes self-seeking Kings who willfully exploit both nature and their subjects for selfish interests and by a twist of fate are also paid in the same coin.

Can we relate this thought with instances in modern life too? Write your analysis in about 120-150 words.

(The Tiger King)

View Answer

Ans. Kalki uses satire and irony to criticise not only the corrupting influence in the King but also his powerful courtiers. Just because the Tiger King had power, he felt he could browbeat his subjects and even defeat fate. He neglected his administrative responsibilities. He became indifferent to the mute animals, the welfare of his subjects and his family. He increased and reduced taxes at will and sacked his officers. They don’t tell him the truth. Fate hits him when a dishonest shopkeeper sells him a crude toy and fleeces him. The toy causes the King’s death.

Similarly, our politicians and powerful men are locked in ivory towers. They hate criticism, avoid debate and thus, refuse to learn and improve. Suppressing or avoiding truth is all they know. This is breach of public trust. Fate will catch up with them sooner or later.

B. Both The Third Level by Jack Finney and the story The Adventure’ by Jayant Narlikar in class XI interweave fantasy and reality. How do they compare and contrast with each other? Does Sophie in ‘Going Places’ belong to the same category of people as Charley and Prof. Gaitonde?

View Answer

Ans. ‘The Third Level’ is about time travel, in a manner analogous to moving through space. First Charley and then, Sam experience this. To Charley this happened accidentally whereas, Sam did it in a planned manner. Both men were ridden with anxiety and wished to escape this stress-laden reality of the modern world. In ‘Adventure’ the author explores the mathematical implications of fields in cosmology. The author suggests the possibility of travel between parallel realities or universes. The situation is beyond human control because it is driven by the random movement of electrons.Sophie is a typical teenager who is far- removed from reality. She is a romantic who lives in her own world of fantasy. She cooks up incredible tales for her family, friends but most importantly for herself and believes them.

Class XII – English Core – Paper – 1