CBSE SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER English (CORE) Class XII

 

TIME: 3 hrs.                                                                                                                          Max. Marks: 100

Instructions:   1. The paper is divided in three compulsory sections.

                        2. Adhere strictly to the given word limits.

 

                                    SECTION -A  (READING)        20 marks

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:  12 marks

                                                                                                               

            " THE VERY cruel bomb" compelled the Empire of Japan to surrender to the Americans.

            The bomb was the product of many minds. For decades, physicists had dreamt of unleashing the power, which lay imprisoned in the tiniest particle of matter, that the current scientific theories postulated the atom, which by a schoolboy definition was the smallest particle of an element, which still retained all the qualities of that element. If once the power latent in an atom could be released, they promised sanguinely or guardedly, according to their several temperaments- the world's work could be, soon would be, transformed to child's play in their laboratories, men of genius, of talent, of craftsmanship conducted obscure experiments; "bombarding atom with electricity, experimenting with flames that leapt from point to point, flashes representing an astronomical number of volts.

            The war in Europe was scientific: pilot less planes, rockets which struck unheralded b sound or sight- bur the war in Europe had drawn to its end.  A nation of eighty million has been smitten from an eminence greater than that of Napoleon's France into catastrophic defeat. Yet, still, wearily, drearily, savagely, the war in the East went on.

            While the mariners and the sailors, the soldiers and the airmen were working their way from the bases in Australia to assail Okinawa and raid the islands of Honshu, the scientists were working in Los Alamos in desert New Mexico, in Oakridge, Tennessee, working furiously, in spite of all the patience science imposes, against time, starving to harness the ultimate secret , to liberate the ultimate power in Nature… not for peace , but for warlike purposes.

With an element called Uranium- a special variety of uranium "designated U-235 -they finally achieved what was termed a "chain reaction" a substance which proliferated explosion as cancer proliferates its diseased cells, a proliferation accelerated to something like the speed of Light. B the slow process of trial and error, correcting, amending , improving, they finally produced a working bomb. It was tested in the "Bad lands" where it would do no harm. The news of the achievement was given to Washington- and to London.

            The statesmen and the politicians were confronted with a tragic and agonizing dilemma: to use it or not. To withhold it meant- the deaths of the uncountable men, the protraction of untellable suffering, condemnation to still further torture of prisoners who had already beaten and starves and subjected to bestial cruelties.

            At such an hour the hardest -headed statesmen and soldiers with the stoniest hearts must " the greatest good for the greatest number." Joining hands with the savagely vindictive protagonists whose argument was no more than "they started it, didn't they? They asked for it, well let them have it. To hell with it."

            To hell with it, a facile, trivial phrase, said as one orders an extra drink or smokes a forbidden cigarette, but " it" in this case, was a city of quarter of a million people. Some of these people were men who had tortured prisoners, or approved of the torture. Yet there were men and women gentile enough to admire the petals of chrysanthemums or cherry blossom, industrious enough to slave in paddy fields. They expected to live, as does every human being, in the ritual circle of birth, a, and marriage and death.

            For long the argument continued in West: to withhold, or to drop the bomb. At last the decision was taken.

            Ultimately that decision lay in the hands of three men: President Truman, Premier Attlee, Marshal Chiang- kai -Shek., Franklin Roosevelt who had transcended American tradition by serving not only three  Presidential terms but a fourth , was dead. Winston Churchill, embodiment of embattled Britain, had been unbelievably cast aside by the electorate in the very hour of his triumph.

            Seven Boeing Super -Fortresses were detailed for the operation. Three were sent ahead to report on the weather conditions and two were consider alternative targets including Nagasaki, which, a few days later was able to be atomized. Two aircrafts were detailed to carry instruments and observers. One stationed at Iwo Jima was ready to take over the bomb if anything happened to the B29 into which it was actually loaded.

            From Tinian, in the Mariana Islands, Colonel Paul. W. Tibbets , USA Air Force was took off at a quartet to three on the morning of 6 August 1945 . For over five hours he sailed serenely through the lightening sky. It was bright sunlight when he arrived more than five miles above his target, fling at some 31,000 feet.

(a) Answer the following questions briefly:

            i)  Give two examples to prove that the war in Europe was scientific enough?                  2                                                  

            ii) The work to produce the bomb had been going on at two levels. How?                             2                               

            iii) What would be the result if the use of bomb were withheld according to the statesmen and the politicians?                 2

            iv)  Quote a line from the extract that proves that innocent people were also the victim of this cruel act.                           1

            v)  Name the three decision makers behind the atomization of Japan.                                                                             1

            vi) Which was the next city ready to be atomized?                                                                                                         1

(b)        Find words from the extract which mean the same as following;    3

            i) victory

            ii) restlessness

            iii) act of kindness

 

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:    8 marks

Delhi, the national capital, has a population exceeding twelve million. This is the only city of its size in the world, which depends mainly on the buses as a popular means of mass transport. Bus services being highly inadequate and buses being heavily crowded, particularly at peak hours, private vehicles have proliferated in Delhi to an extent that Delhi alone has more such vehicles than Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, all taken together. Nearly 70% of these are two wheelers. Such unmanageably large number of vehicles has led not only to extreme congestion on roads and slow movement of vehicular traffic but also to environmental pollution.

With a view to reducing the problems of Delhi commuters and improving the quality of mass transport service, the government of India thought of introducing a rail-based, non-polluting, fast and safe mass transit system. Thus, the Metro Rail Project was launched in May 1995 to be completed within ten ears. The first phase of the Delhi Metro Rail Project was expected to cost approximately Rs. 4,860 crores, comprise a network of 11 Km underground corridor along with 44.30 km of elevated / surface rail corridors, and have 45 stations in all. This project is being implemented by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. (DMRC).

A project of such immense proportions needed elaborate and meticulous planning, so actual work on the project could start only on October 1, 1998. Till March 31st, 2004 the Metro had extended its total length to 21.3 km with 18 stations. The first part of the Metro rail was open to public on Dec. 25th, 2002. With an 8.3 km line from Shahadara to Tis Hazari and a total of six stations in all. The maximum speed of the train is 8 km per hour and the average stoppage time at a station is 20 seconds.

Each train has a set of 4 coaches. Train sets were initially manufactured in Korea but are now being built in India by Bharat Earth Movers Limited. The train has vestibules that permit passengers to move throughout the length of the train. All trains are air-conditioned and the underground stations are also designed to be air-conditioned. All the stations, in due course of time, will have food outlets, coffee shops newspaper vendors and even ATMs.

Metro trains are designed to be safe and user friendly. Each train has a seating capacity of 240 passengers with space for another 325 standing passengers. Coaches are at platform level to allow easy entry and exit to passengers. Announcements both in Hindi and English give an indication of the next station and warning about the closing of doors. There are route maps and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) system in every coach. Stations are also equipped with public announcement system and close circuit T.V.

In order to provide foolproof security on The Metro, the system has its own specially trained Police, having special powers to prosecute offenders and prevent crime. There is also a plan to have plain clothes Metro - marshals on trains on the lines of sky- marshals on many flights. Private security guards are also employed to enhance security within Metro premises.

The Metro rail promises to put an end to the traffic chaos in the capital. The residents of East Delhi as well as North-west Delhi have comfortably started using facilities provided by the Metro, as some of the lines in their part of the city are already operational. The West and Central zones are eagerly awaiting their turn. The end of 2005 will complete the work in this area. The second phase of the Delhi Metro will bring South Delhi also in its fold and will be operational by 2010.

(a). Make notes on the content of the extract using recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary. Assign a suitable heading to it         also. 5

 

2.         Develop your notes into a summary of about 80 words only.            3

 

                                    SECTION - B (WRITING)        35 marks

3.         Your school is organizing an interhouse quiz to mark World Consumer Rights Day. Draft a notice to be displayed on your school notice board informing the students of the same and submit names for participation through their respective House -Captains.  5

                                                            OR                                     

            Brilliant Public School is shortly going to introduce classes in Spoken English for its students. As Administrative Officer of the school, write an advertisement inviting applications for the post of Spoken English Teacher.

 

4.         You, along with our classmates visited the slum areas of Ferozabad. You were shocked to see the inhuman living conditions there. The people forced to live a life of poverty; drudgery and exploitation are mostly the glass bangle makers of the town. Write a report on your visit to be published in our school magazine. 10

                                                            OR

            Redcross Society of your city organized a blood donation camp in the Municipal Hospital. A number of young men and women enthusiastically donated blood on the occasion. Write a report to be published in a local daily.

 

5.         Weddings today are fast becoming extremely lavish and costly, with utter display of wealth. As a result people who can't afford such heavy expenditure are also tempted to go for it. Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper drawing the attention of the common people towards this evil practice urging them to go for simple marriages.        10

                                                            OR

      You came across an advertisement for part time vocational courses of various types. Write a letter to the Director of the institute enquiring about a course in Hospitality and Tourism. You are Mukul residing at 23/II Rajpur Road Dehradun.

 

6.         Middleclass families today are obsessed with the sole entertainer TELEVISION so much so that all their talks, manners, values and even daily timetables are tuned to it. Write an article to be published in your school magazine on the advantages and disadvantages of watching television.        10

                                                            OR

      Every consumer has a right to safeguard himself against adulteration, overpricing, spurious goods, and expired products. Write an article urging the people to assert their rights as consumer stressing that an  "Enlightened Consumer is an Empowered Consumer."

 

                                    SECTION -C (TEXT BOOKS)    45 marks

 

7.         Read any one of the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:     4

 

            Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear

            The thought of so much childish longing in vain

            The sadness that lurks near the open window there,

            That waits all day in almost open prayer

            For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car

            Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,

            (i)  Name the poem and the poet of these lines.

            (ii)  What is the childish longing that the poet refers to?

            (iii) Mention the two kinds of sounds that they wait for all day.

            (iv) Why have the cars been described as "selfish".

                                    OR

            When aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie

            Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by

            The tigers in panel that she made                       

            Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

            (i) What is aunt Jennifer terrified of?

            (ii)  What ordeals mastered all her life?

            (iii)  Describe the tigers made by her.

            (iv)  Find out words from the extract that mean- (a) frightened (b) troubles

 

8.         Answer any three of the following questions in about 30- 40 words each:         2*3=6

            (i)  What does the poet compare her mother's face to in the poem "My Mother at Sixty Six"? Why has this comparison been                   made?

            (ii)  What according to the poet is the only hope for the children in an elementary school classroom in a slum?

            (iii)  What does the poet wish all people to do in the poem" Keeping Quiet"? What is the purpose behind this exercise?

            (iv)  Briefly, very briefly, write a note on the theme of the poem "Beauty".

 

9.         Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each:       2*5=10

            a.  Why did the iron master speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?

            b.  How does M. Hamel describe the French language in his last lesson?

            c.  Why did Gandhiji chide the lawyers who represented the sharecroppers?

            d.  What position did Subbu enjoy in the Gemini studio?

            e.  What is the belief in some primitive cultures about photography?

 

10.       Answer any one of the following in about 150 words:                                  10

            What was the misadventure? What role did the instructor play in building a swimmer out of Douglas in the story?

                                                         OR

            What is the significance of the title "Lost Spring" in context of the story?

 

11.       Answer any one of the following in about 150 words:    7

            Write a note on the element of irony in the story "The Tiger King".

                                                       OR

            Comment on the dilemma faced by Sadao in the story "The Enemy". Which trait of his personality finally dominated his actions?

 

12.       Answer the following questions briefly:              2*4=8

            a.  What is the first day cover?

            b.  What is the programme "Students on Ice"? What is the purpose behind behind it?

            c.  How  did Joe want the story told by her father to end and why?

            d.  How  did Evans make sure that the pig's blood did not coagulate?

Tips: For Scoring Good Marks 1. Always write neatly leaving margins on both side. 2. Adhere strictly to the given word limits. 3. Highlight the main or the important points in your answer. 4. You can chose any section viz. A,B or C of your choice in an order you feel comfortable with , but once a section has been started , attempt all parts of it and then go for the next section of your choice. 5. Never to leave any question unattempted. ÙæðÅUÑ- ØãU °·¤ âñ{ÂÜ ÂðÂÚU ãñU ÁM¤ÚUè ÙãUè´ ç·¤ §âè ×ð´ âð ÂÚUèÿææ ×ð´ ÂýàÙ ¥æ°Ð

Rachana Dev P.G.T (English) K.V BHEL (Hardwar)