English 12th Solved Paper

1. 
   1. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:

(a) Papa, my grandfather speaks of a carefree and beautiful childhood. Of days spent in plucking mangoes and guavas from their orchards, of picnics on the banks of the river where the men cooked mouth-watering food, of playing marbles and gilli-danda. From his talk, it seems, studies were an ancillary subject: and living and experiencing, the major subject.

(i) What kind of childhood did the speaker’s grandfather have?

Ans- (i) the speaker’s grandfather had a carefree and beautiful childhood.

(ii) Mention any two of the childhood pastimes of the speaker’s grandfather.

(a) He spent his days in plucking mangoes and guavas from their orchards.

(b) He enjoyed picnics on the banks of the river.

(iii) Pick out expressions from the above which support the statement given below:

“In the grandfather’s days, living life was more important than studies.”

Ans-(iii) It seems, studies were an ancillary subject and living and experiencing, the major subject.

(iv)Which words in the extract are similar in meaning to the following expressions?

(1) ‘A piece of land in which fruit trees are grown’

Ans- orchards

(2) ‘In addition to something but not as important

Ans- Ancillary

OrListen. The game’s up as far as I’m concerned. Things went wrong with me. I said it with bullets and got away. Unfortunately they got one of my men, and found things the fools should have burnt. Tonight I’m expecting trouble. My bags packed ready to clear off. There it is.

(i) Pick out the sentence from the above extract which tells that the speaker had used weapon to escape.

Ans- (i) I said it with bullets and got away.

(ii) What was the unfortunate thing that had happened?

Ans-(ii) The unfortunate thing that had happened was that the police, got one of his men and found things that should have been burnt.

(iii) What did the speaker expect that night and how did he prepare himself for the situation?

Ans-(iii) The speaker expected trouble that night and he had packed his bag ready to clear of off

(iv)Which words in the extract are similar in meaning to the following expressions?

• ‘To run away’

Ans- TO clear off

• ‘Regrettably

Ans- There it is.

(b) In Chennai at the Centre for Wind Energy Technology, research is done to check out various wind sites where wind energy can be tapped. And, wind turbines of various sizes are checked to see if they are delivering what they promised to do. Wind energy is also abundant in many parts of India from Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala to the hilly regions in Maharashtra.

(i) What is the objective of the research done in Chennai at the Centre for Wind Energy Technology?

Ams- (i) The objective of the research Chennai at the Centre for Wind Technology is to check out various winds where wind energy can be tapped.

(ii) For what purpose are the wind turbines checked?

Ans-(ii) Wind turbines (of various sizes) checked to see if they are delivering what promised to do.

(iii) Name the parts of India where wind energy is abundant.

Ans-(iii) Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala hilly regions in Maharashtra are the p India where wind energy is abound ant.

(iv)Which words in the extract are similar in meaning to the following expressions?

• ‘Existing in large quantities’

Ans- Abundant

• ‘To make use of a source of energy, knowledge, etc., that already exists’

Ans- Topped.

Or

In the tumult and confusion of our time, we stand facing both ways, forward to the future and backwards to the past, being pulled in both directions. How can we resolve this candled and evolve a structure for living which fulfils our material needs and at the same time, sustains our mind and spirit? What new ideals or old ideals, varied and adapted to the new world, can we place before our people, and how can we galvanize the people into wakefulness and action?

• What is the conflict that the speaker refers to in the above extract?

Ans-(i) The speaker refers to the tumult and confusion of his times which faces him and pulls him in both directions (future and past).

• What kind of a structure for living does the speaker wish to evolve?

Ans- (ii) The speaker wishes to evolve a structure for living which fulfils our material needs and at the same time sustains our mind and spirit.

• What is the speaker’s main concern?

Ans- (iii) The speaker’s main concern is the adoption of new of old ideals and to urge the people into wakefulness and action.

• Which words in the extract are similar in meaning to the following expressions?
• ‘To make something continue for some time without becoming less’

Ans- Evolve

• ‘To change something in order to make it more suitable for a few situations’

Ans- Galvanise.

2. Answer any three of the following questions in about 30-40 words each:

(a) What did Gavaskar like to do whenever he went to his uncle’s house? Why?

(My First Steps)

(b) What in the writer’s opinion is wrong with his education? What would he really like to learn?

(Father, Dear Father)

(c) Why did Bholi refuse to marry Bishamber? (Bholi) 

(d) When and for what purpose were windmills used in America?

(Fuel of the Future)

Ans.

(a) Whenever Gavaskar went to his uncle’s house he caressed fondly the pullovers that belonged to his uncle, Madhav Mantra. He did so because his uncle had played for India in Test matches wearing those pullovers.

(b) In the writer’s opinion it is wrong that education lays emphasis an learning rather than learning how lead a beautiful life. The lessons learnt are not applied in daily life. He would really like to learn to be able to use it in daily life.

(c) Bholi thought of Bishamber as a very mean, greedy and cruel follow. She felt that the lame and old fellow w   as not fit to be her husband. Therefore, she refused to marry him.

(d) Millions of windmills were created first in America in the late 19th century (during the stages of its development). Most of them were used to pump water for farms and ranches.

3.  Answer the following question in about 60 words:

What is the truth Aradhana wanted to find out? What did she actually discover?

(Must Know the Truth)

Or

Give three reasons why Tembu was not afraid of anything.

(The Tiger in the Tunnel)

Ans. Aradhana was the star dancer of kamla Devi School of Dance and Music. She was alghteen vears old Aunt Pomelo gave her a rude shock by telling her that she was not real but adopted child of Sunita aradhana broke into tears. She wanted to know far certain the truth about her real parents.

She actual discovered that the adopting mother Sunita loved her truly like her real daughter

Or

Tembu was not afraid of anything due to the following three reasons:

• The tiger had been killed by his father, Baldev. Therefore, there was no tiger now in the forest
• The forest gods were pleased.
• Tembu had his father’s are. Like his father he was good at using it against wild animals. The small weapon gave him confidence. His father had killed a bear with it. He had used it against the trade.

Q.4. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

I remember the night my mother

Was stung by a scorpion. Ten hours

Of steady rain had driven him

To crawl beneath a sack of rice.

Parting with his poison-flash

Of diabolic tail in the darkroom

• What had happened to the poet’s mother?

Ans- The poet’s mother was stung by a scorpion

• Where was the scorpion lodged and what ad driven him there?

Ans- The scorpion was lodged beneath a sack of corn. The steady rain had drive him there,

• Explain:

‘Flash of diabolic tail’.

Ans- it means the devilish tale carrying passion

Or

No time to see when woods we pass

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

• What does the poet think we need time for?

Ans- The poet thinks we need time for seeing around us while passing through the forests. (We should deserve the squirrels hiding nuts in the grass etc.)

• (What does the word ‘Beauty’ refer to? Why does the poet spell it with a capital letter “B”?

Ans- The word ‘Beauty’ refers to both a beautiful girl and the beauties of nature. The poet spells. It with a capital letter ‘B’ because beauty has been personified here.

• How do the beauties dance?

Ans- The beauties dance will the graceful movement of her dancing feet (steps).

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

Barefoot and warring sans, the world’s new number one peacemaker. Jody Williams, greeted reporters at her home. She had just received a special birthday present. On 1st October, 1997, one day after her birthday, Jody was awarded one of the world’s greatest honors. She won a Nobel Peace Prize. She received the L 6, 40,000 awards for her efforts to rid the world of deadly underground explosives called land mines.

The prize is named after Alfred Nobel, a Swede who invented dynamite in the 1800s. Nobel did not want to be remembered only for creating something destructive. So he left his fortune to reward people who work for the good of humanity’. The awards are given for the sciences, literature, economics and peace

• Who was Jody Williams?
• What was the special birthday present that she received on 1st October, 1997?
• For what was Jody Williams honored?
• Who was Alfred Nobel? What had he done to encourage people to work for the good of humanity’?
• Name the areas of activity for which these awards are given.

Ans.

(a) Jody Williams was the world’s new number one peacemaker.

(b) She received the Nobel Peace Prize as a special birthday present on 1st October, 1997. She received the £6, 40,000 awards.

(c) Jody Williams was honored for her efforts to rid the world of deadly underground explosives called land times.

(d) Alfred Nobel was a Swede who had invented dynamite in the 1800s. He had left his fortunes to encourage people to work for the ‘good of humanity’.

(e) The following are the areas of activity in which these awards are given:

(1) Sciences, (ii) literature, (iii) economics, and (iv) peace

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

Before Florence Nightingale came, only seven shirts had been washed in the whole building, and the bedding was washed in cold water. At once she took a Turkish house, had boilers built and set the soldiers’ wives washing the clothes and bedding. Next, she fitted out the kitchens and in future the sick men had regular meals of good, well-cooked food. In a few months, Florence Nightingale had changed the Barracks at Scutari from a place of misery and disease to something like a hospital.

No wonder the soldiers worshipped her. They knew that many of them owed to her not only their comfort but their lives. Often when the surgeons had given up hope of saving a man’s life Florence Nightingale’s calm confidence and her tireless courage saved him. Day and night she visited every bed in the hospital to see that no patient was neglected and that all were as comfortable as possible. However hard she had worked all day, every night she would take her lamp and once more move from bed-to-bed in those miles of words. ‘The Lady with the Lamp’, the soldiers called her, and ‘The Lady with the Lamp’ is the name by which the world had remembered her ever since.

• What action did Florence Nightingale take to change the Barracks from a place of misery and disease into something like a hospital?

Ans- Taking a Turkish house, getting boilers built, arranging for washing clothes and beddings and providing well cooked food to sick men were the actions of Florence Nightingale which changed the Barracks from a place of misery and disease into something like a hospital.

• Cite details from the passage in support of the statement given below:

 

“Florence Nightingale was a messenger of love and compassion.”

Ans- She visited every bed in the hospital regularly to see that no patient was neglected and all were as comfortable as possible. Thus she was a messenger of love and compassion.

• What did the soldiers call her? Why?

Ans- The soldiers called her ‘The Lady with the Lamp’ because she took her lamp and moved from bed to bed every night.

• Pick out words from the passage which are similar in meaning to the following expressions:

(i) ‘Great suffering of the mind and body

Ans- misery

(ii) ‘Feeling sure about your ability to do things and be successful’

Ans– Confidence

7. Read the passage given below and complete the statements that follow:

Sita felt very tired. Her arms were aching, and she was no longer upright. With the tree almost on its side, she had to cling tightly to her branch to avoid falling off. The grey weeping sky was like a great shifting dome.

She knew she could not remain much longer in that position. It might be better to try swimming to some distant rooftop or tree. Then she heard someone calling. Craning her neck to look upriver, she was able to make out a small boat coming directly towards her.

The boat approached the tree. There was a boy in the boat who held on to one of the branches to steady himself, giving his free hand to Sita.

She grasped it, and slipped into the beside him.  

The boy placed his barefoot against the tree-trunk and pushed away.

(a) With the tree almost on its side,(i)………….to her (ii)………… off.

(b) Craning her neck to look upriver, (iii)………. a small boat (iv)………. her.

(c) There was a boy in the boat who held on to (v)…… himself, giving (vi) ……. to Sita.

 (d) The boy (vii)……. against (viii)……… away.

 Ans.

(a) (i) she had to cling tightly to her (ii) branch to avoid falling off.

(b) (iii) she was able to make out a small boat (iv) coming directly towards her.

(c) (v) one of the branches to steady himself, giving (vi) his free hand to Sita.

(d) (vii) placed his barefoot against (viii) the tree-trunk and pushed away

8.  Read the passage given below and make a summary in about 100 words:

Once an iron merchant, called Krishnan, had to leave his home and go to a distant city on some important business. He would be away for more than six months. In his godown, he had about a ton of iron bars. It was a great problem to know what to do with them. He could not keep them locked up in the godown, for then he would not only have to pay a large rent, but also the wages of a watchman for six long months. Moreover, when he returned prices might have fallen and he would then have to sell the bars at a very great loss. Obviously the best thing to do was to sell them before he went away, but though he tried hard to find a customer, no one seemed to want to buy them.

One of his friends, called Gopal, was also a dealer in iron. He also had a godown where he kept his raw iron for sale as and when he found customers. His godown was very large and he could easily keep Krishnan’s bars in one corner. He told Krishnan that he could safely leave the iron in his godown and go on his journey. It would all be there when he came back.

Krishnan decided to do this. He thanked his friend Gopal for his kindness, sent him the iron, and left the town with a light heart.

Ans.                                                      Summary

Krishnan was an iron merchant. He had to leave his home for six months. He had a ton of iron bars. It was a costly affair to keep them locked up in the godown paying rent and wages of a watchman. There was also a fear of falling prices.

He failed to find a customer who could buy them. His friend, Gopal, a dealer in iron offered him to leave the iron bars in one corner of his godown. He could pick it up on his return. Krishna left the iron bars in Gopal’s custody. Thus he left the town with a light heart.

9.  Fill in the blanks in the following sentence with appropriate form of the verbs given in brackets:

Families where the parents and the elderly (a)………. (Respect) and (b)…….(take) care of (c)…….. (Bless) with peace and prosperity.

Ans. Families where the parents and the elderly are respected and taken care of are blessed with peace and prosperity.

10. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with appropriate form of the verbs given in backers:

Computers (a)……… (Speak) the same language. Through computers we (b)……  (Reach) undreamt horizons and (c……….. (Become) global citizens. Computers (d) ……. (Open) the doors to the world of knowledge and latest information.

Ans. (a) speak (b) (can) reach (c) (can) become (d) (would) open

11.  Combine the following pairs of sentences using the connectors given against each pair:

 (a) (i) I shall not talk to you. (ii) You apologize for what you did.                 (Unless)

 

(b) (i) He put on his best suit. (ii) He wanted to make a strong impression.                   

                                                                                                                            (Because)

(c) (i) He was proud of his new car.

(ii) It was painted bright yellow.                                                                     (Which)

                                                                                          

(d) (i) Hercules served a king.

(ii) The king sent him on difficult errands again and again.                        (Who)

Ans.

1. I shall not talk to you unless you apologize for what you did.
2. He put on his best suit because he wanted to make a strong impression.
3. ‘He was proud of his new car which was painted bright yellow.
4. Hercules served a king who sent him difficult errands again and again.
   

Q.12. Report the following conversation indirect speech:

 Griffiths              :        Mr. Reuter, someone has been to see you.

 Reuter                :        Yes, yes? Who was it?

 Griffiths              :        A foreign-looking gent leman.

Reuter                 :         A foreigner? Business last!

Ans. Griffiths told Mr. Reuter that someone had been to see him (Mr. Reuters).

Reuter nodded in affirmative and asked who it had been.

Griffiths told him (Mr. Reuter that it (he) was a foreign looking gentleman.

Reuter exclaimed if he was a foreigner, there was business at last.

13. Write a paragraph of about 100 words on any one of the following topics:

(a) Knowledge is Power

(b) My Father is My Hero

(c) Let us weed out corruption from out society.

Ans. (a) Knowledge is Power

Knowledge is power is an apt saying. A Knowledge able person stands better chances of name and fame among illiterates. He stands for above the common man. An educated person is honored wherever he goes. He is given a seat of authority by virile of his power of knowledge the master minds rule the world with the power of their pen. Even in on arch pay glowing tributer to men of knowledge. The scholastic attainment assures a high seat for the possessor knowledge. Knowledge is obtained through hard labour and whole-hearted devotion. Our role a in should be to obtain maximum knowledge. We can reach the climax of repute action after sacking knowledge. Virtually speaking knowledge is a great power. .

(b) My Father is My Hero

 My father’s name is Suraj Bhan Sharma. He has a handsome and cheerful face.  He is around of seventy eight years old. Kurta and dhoti are his favorite dresses. He is triple M.A. He has working knowledge of four languages. He is fond of composing completes in Urdu. He is a renowned scholar of English and Sanskrit.

The Gita is his elbow books. He is very hard working. He has a taste for writing books. He is very sensitive to the needs of poor people. He helps the poor people with food, clothes and money. He loves the children of the neigh bourhood. He spends his time in playing with me. He has a magnetic personality. He is a retired lecture. He his loved by all. He is my role model and here.

(c) Let us weed out Corruption from Our Society

Dishonest immoral or illegal behavior especially of people in authority is termed as Corruption. Corruption in public administration exists in all the countries. Money makes the files move. The corrupt people misuse their discretionary powers by accepting gratifications. Those who are entrusted with power extract gratification from their clients. Even the service rules defend the offenders.

The introduction of Panchayati Raj has increased the opportunities of amassing wealth. Subsides and loans are given not to the needy but to the politically sound people. The Anti-Corruption due to political interference.

The corrupt people are not only encouraged but also protected. The Only remedy lies in separating the function of other politician and the officials, corruption can be uprooted only when the corrupt people are restrict dealt with.

14. Write a letter to the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation about the poor and irregular water supply in your colony. Give details of the great inconvenience caused to everybody in the colony.

Ans.

69, Speedy Town,

Mumbai – 76

10th June, 2015

The Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mumbai

Dear Sir,

Subject: Poor and irregular water supply in our colony.

I wish to draw your attention to the poor and irregular water supply in our colony and the great inconveniences caused to everybody in the colony.

The water taps run dry most often. The water comes irregularly just for a while. It leads to quarrels in the streets where there are community taps. People form long quavers with their pitchers, pails, and buckets. Sometimes hot words are exchanged and heads are broken Hoodlums have a heyday. The whole atmosphere gets tense and grim. No water is available for cleaning and washing. Cleanliness cannot be maintained properly. There is foul smell everywhere. Kindly get the needful done to relieve us of this unbar able to on able and oblige.

Thanking you.

Yours faithfully,

Sham Lal Vasistha