CBSE Class 12 English Question Paper 2015 (Comptt Delhi) with Solutions

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CBSE Class 12 English Question Paper 2015 (Comptt Delhi) with Solutions

Time allowed : 3 hours
Maximum marks : 80

General Instructions

• This paper is divided into three Sections: A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.
• Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them faithfully.
• Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the queestions.

SET I

SECTION A

READING 20

Question 1.
Read the passage carefully: [12]
1. For four days, I walked through the narrow lanes of the old city, enjoying the romance of being in a city where history still lives-in its cobblestone streets and in its people riding asses, carrying vine leaves and palm as they once did during the time of Christ.

2. This is Jerusalem, home to the sacred sites of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. This is the place that houses the church of the Holy Sepulchre, the place where Jesus was finally laid to rest. This is also the site of Christ’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

3. Built by the Roman Emperor Constantine at the site of an earlier temple to Aphrodite, it is the most venerated Christian shrine in the world. And justifiably so. Here, within the church, are the last five stations of the cross, the 10^th station where Jesus was stripped of his clothes, the 11^th where he was nailed to the cross, the 12^th where he died on the cross, the 13^th where the body was removed from the cross, and the 14^th, his tomb.

4. For all this weighty tradition, the approach and entrance to the church is nondescript. You have to ask for directions. Even to the devout Christian pilgrims walking along the Via Dolorosa-the Way of Sorrows-first nine stations look clueless. Then a courtyard appears, hemmed in by other buildings and a doorway to one side. This leads to a vast area of huge stone architecture.

5. Immediately inside the entrance is your first stop. It’s the stone of anointing: this is the place, according to Greek tradition, where Christ was removed from the cross. The Roman Catholics, however, believe it to be the spot where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial by Joseph.

6. What happened next? Jesus was buried. He was taken to a place outside the city of Jerusalem where other graves existed and there, he was buried in a cave. However, all that is long gone, destroyed by continued attacks and rebuilding; what remains is the massive-and impressive-Rotunda (a round building with a dome) that Emperor Constantine built. Under this, and right in the centre of the Rotunda, is the structure that contains the Holy Sepulchre.

7. “How do you know that this is Jesus’ tomb?” I asked one of the pilgrims standing next to me. He was clueless, more interested, like the rest of them, in the novelty of it all and in photographing it, than in its history or tradition.

8. At the start of the first century, the place was a disused quarry outside the city walls. According to the gospels, Jesus’ crucifixion occurred ‘at a place outside the city walls with graves nearby ……’ Archaeologists have discovered tombs from that era, so the site is compatible with the biblical period.

9. The structure at the site is a marble tomb built over the original burial chamber. It has two rooms, and you enter four at a time into the first of these, the Chapel of the Angel. Here the angel is supposed to have sat on a stone to recount Christ’s resurrection. A low door made of white marble, partly worn away by pilgrims’ hands, leads to a smaller chamber inside. This is the ‘room of the tomb’, the place where Jesus was buried.

10. We entered in a single file. On my right was a large marble slab that covered the – original rock bench on which the body of Jesus was laid. A woman knelt and prayed. Her eyes were wet with tears. She pressed her face against the slab to hide them, but it only made it worse.

1.1 On the basis of your understanding of this passage answer the following questions with the help of the given options: [1 × 5 = 5]
(a) How does Jerusalem still retain the charm of the ancient era?
(i) There are narrow lanes.
(ii) Roads are paved with cobblestones.
(iii) People can be seen riding asses.
(iv) All of the above.
Answer:
(iv) All of the above.

(b) Holy Sepulchre is sacred to
(i) Christianity
(ii) Islam
(iii) Judaism
(iv) Both (i) and (iii)
Answer:
(i) Christianity

(c) Why does one have to constantly ask for directions to the church?
(i) Its lanes are narrow.
(ii) Entrance to the church is non-descript.
(iii) People are not tourist-friendly.
(iv) Everyone is lost in enjoying the romance of the place.
Answer:
(ii) Entrance to the church is non-descript.

(d) Why is the stone of anointing significant for the Roman catholics?
(i) Christ was removed from the cross here.
(ii) Jesus’ body was prepared for burial by Joseph.
(iii) Jesus is buried in a cave here.
(iv) Jesus was finally laid to rest here.
Answer:
(ii) Jesus’ body was prepared for burial by Joseph.

(e) Where was Jesus buried?
(i) In a cave
(ii) At a place outside the city
(iii) In the Holy Sepulchre
(iv) Both (i) and (ii)
Answer:
(iv) Both (i) and (ii)

1.2 Answer the following questions briefly: [1 × 7 = 7]
(f) What is the Greek belief about the ‘stone of anointing’?
(g) Why did Emperor Constantine build the Rotunda?
(h) What is the general attitude of the pilgrims?
(i) How is the site compatible with the biblical period?
(j) Why did the pilgrims enter the ‘room of the tomb’ in a single file?
(k) Why did ‘a woman’ try to hide her tears?
(l) Which word in the passage (para 3) means the same as ‘a large grave’.
Answer:
(f) According to Greek belief the ‘stone of anointing’ is the place where Christ was removed from the cross.

(g) Emperor Constantine built the Rotunda to venerate the place of burial of Jesus. He built this structure to protect the Holy Sepulchre.

(h) The pilgrims are not interested in the history or tradition of the place and the tomb where Jesus was buried. They are more interested in the novelty of it all and in photographing it.

(i) Archaeologists have discovered tombs from that era. So this is compatible with the biblical period according to which Jesus’ crucifixion occurred ‘at a place outside the city walls with graves nearby ….’

(j) The pilgrimsenter the room of the tomb in a single file (line) because it has a narrow passage and a low door which leads to a smaller chamber.

(k) ‘A woman’ tried to hide her tears because she did not want anyone to see her crying. Like a true Christian, she was overwhelmed as Jesus was buried there, while others seemed unconcerned.

(l) The word ‘tomb’ means the same as a large grave.

Question 2.
Read the passage given below: [8]
It is surprising that sometimes we don’t listen to what people say to us. We hear them, but we don’t listen to them. I was curious to know how hearing is different from listening. I had thought both were synonyms, but gradually, I realised there is a big difference between the two words.
Hearing is a physical phenomenon. Whenever somebody speaks, the sound waves generated reach you, and you definitely hear whatever is said to you. However, even if you hear something, it doesn’t always mean that you actually understand whatever is being said. Paying attention to whatever you hear means you are really listening. Consciously using your mind to understand whatever is being said is listening.

Diving deeper, I found that listening is not only hearing with attention, but is much more than that. Listening is hearing with full attention, and applying our mind. Most of the time, we listen to someone, but our minds are full of needless chatter and there doesn’t seem to be enough space to accommodate what is being spoken.
We come with a lot of prejudices and preconceived notions about the speaker or the subject on which he is talking. We pretend to listen to the speaker, but deep inside, we sit in judgement and are dying to pronounce right or wrong, true or false, yes or no. Sometimes, we even come prepared with a negative mind set of proving the speaker wrong. Even if the speaker says nothing harmful, we are ready to pounce on him with our own version of things.
What we should ideally do is listen first with full awareness. Once we have done that, we can decide whether we want to make a judgement or not.

Once we do that, communication will be perfect and our interpersonal relationship will become so much better. Listening well doesn’t mean one has to say the right thing at the right moment. In fact, sometimes if words are left unspoken, there is a feeling of tension and negativity. Therefore, it is better to speak out your mind, but do so with awareness after listening to the speaker with full concentration.
Let’s look at this in another way. When you really listen, you imbibe not only what is being spoken, but you also understand what is not spoken as well. Most of the time we don’t really listen even to people who really matter to us. That’s how misunderstandings grow among families, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters.

(a) On the basis of your reading 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. [4]
(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words. [4]
Answer:
(a) Title: Hearing Versus Listening
Notes:
1. Difference b/w listening \& hearing-
1.1 hearing-a phys. phenomenon
1.2 sound waves are gen.
1.3 you hear what is said to you
1.4 paying attention-means you are listening
1.5 listening is using the mind consciously to understand what is said

2. What is listening?
2.1 more than hearing
2.2 hearing with full attention \& applying our mind

3. What is not listening?
3.1 While we listen our mind is full of needless chatter
3.2 Not enough space to accommodate what is being said.
3.3 Prej. and preconceived notions about the speaker give us a -ve mindset
3.4 Even if the speaker says something harmless we pass our own judgement

4. What one should really do?
4.1 listen with full awareness – then make judgement
4.2 comm. will then be perfect
4.3 interpersonal relationship-become much better

5. Listening well means
5.1 not to say the rt. thing at the rt. moment
5.2 sometimes if words are unspoken-feeling of tension & negativity
5.3 better to speak your mind but with awareness after listening with full concern
5.4 listening well enables us to imbibe both, i.e., spoken & unspoken
5.5 when we do not listen to people who matter to us-misunderstandings grow

List of Abbreviations:
b/w – between comm. – communication
phys. – physical
rt. – right
gen. – generated
concen. – concentration
& – and
i.e – that is
prej. – prejudices
-ve – negative

(b) Summary: There is a big difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is a physical phenomenon but paying attention and applying the mind to what you hear is listening. If we come with preconceived notions about the speaker we sit in judgement and are ready to pounce on him. We must listen first with full awareness and then decide if we want to make a judgement. It is better to speak our mind but after listening to the speaker with full concentration. We must listen to people who matter to us and then there will be no misunderstandings.

SECTION B

WRITING SKILLS 30

Question 3.
Your school, Akash Public school, Agra needs a canteen manager. On behalf of the Principal, write an advertisement in about 50 words to be published in the classified columns of a local daily. Mention the educational and professional qualifications, other qualities required in the manager, who to apply to and the last date for the receipt of applications. [4]
Answer:

Or

Your club is going to organise an interclass singing competition. Write a notice in about 50 words inviting names of the students who want to participate in it. Give all the necessary details. You are Navtej /Navita, Secretary, Music Club, Akash Public School, Agra.
Answer:

Question 4.
You are Navtej/Navita, Secretary, Environment Club, Akash Public School, Agra. You, along with a group of students, went on a 3-day tour through Corbett National Park. You fqund how the tourists abuse the available facilities and thus endanger the environment. Write a letter in 120-150 words to the editor of a national daily highlighting the situation.
Suggest ways through which the environment of the Park can be saved. [6]
Answer:
Akash Public School
Agra
23^rd March, 20xx
The Editor
The Daily Times’
Agra
Subject: Endangering of the environment by tourists in National Parks
Sir
Through the medium of your esteemed newspaper I would like to express my concern on how the tourists are abusing the available facilities and thus endangering the environment of the Corbett National Park.
Our group of about 40 students had gone on a 3-day tour through Corbett National Park. On our visit we saw the tourists, callous attitude towards the available facilities in the park. It was most unfortunate to see that tourists do not adhere to the rules of carrying a litter bag and leave their non-biodegradable garbage like plastic bottles, metal foils etc. inside the park. Moreover, actions such as trampling vegetation, parking in areas that are not designed for parking add to the destruction of the land. All these things are likely to endanger the environment.

I strongly feel that the authorities should take stringent action against the defaulters who display such a casual attitude towards the environment. Heavy fines and even penalties should be imposed on them so that these act as major deterrents for all tourists to use and not misuse the available facilities. Educating tourists on this sensitive issue and limiting the number of tourists and vehicles in these national parks may help in preventing further degradation of such parks.
I hope you will publish my letter in your newspaper so that tourists as will as the concerned authorities change their attitude and work along to conserve the National Parks of our country.
Yours sincerely
Navtej

Or

On Teacher’s Day, you read in a newspaper that privately owned and managed schools in small towns or even in the suburbs of metropolitan cities exploit their teachers by paying them just a fraction of their authorised salaries. This affects their performance in the classroom and thus the lives of their students. Write a letter in 120-150 words to the editor of a national daily raising your voice against such exploitation. Suggest ways to solve this problem. You are Navtej/Navita, 112 Taj Road, Agra.
Answer:
112 Taj Road
Agra
18^th April, 20xx
The Editor
The Daily Times
Agra
Subject: Exploitation of teachers by giving them less than the authorised salaries
Sir
Through fhe medium of your esteemed newspaper I would like to raise my voice against exploitation of teachers who are paid a mere fraction of their authorised salaries.
Recently I read in a newspaper that privately owned and managed schools in small towns or even in the suburbs of metropolitan cities exploit their teachers by paying them meagerly. This to a very large extent affects their efficiency and performance in the classroom and thus also affects the lives of the students. Underpaid teachers are usually demotivated and lose interest in their jobs. Low salaries result in competent teachers leaving their jobs in search of better pays.
Pay structure is potentially a very important incentive tool in the hands of the education policy makers and this needs to be implemented fairly in all schools.

The policy makers need to view this problem with grave concern and find ways to solve it. Schools which do not pay the teachers according to the scales should have their accreditation cancelled by the CBSE and their recognition cancelled by the government. By implementing these suggestions with precision and strictness, exploitation of teachers can surely be dealt with in a very positive way and the injustice against them can be’tackled.
I hope you will publish my letter in your newspaper so that the concerned authorities can take up steps to remedy this exploitation against teachers.
Yours sincerely Navita

Question 5.
The government has banned the use of animals in the laboratories for the purpose of dissection. Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against this decision. [10]
Answer:
Learning zoology will never be the same. There will be no frog, mouse or guinea pig to dissect in laboratories. I, XYZ, support the government’s decision to ban the use of animals for the purpose of dissection in laboratories.
The indiscriminate removal of these animals from their natural habitats has disrupted the biodiversity and ecological balance. The case of frogs, the population of which has declined to alarming levels in the recent times, is often cited as an example. Institutions have failed to follow the laws and guidelines about animals and their welfare, therefore, the government was forced to enforce this ban.

Also, I feel students should be taught to be compassionate towards animals and this can be an effective step in this direction. Laboratory exercises should make use of museum specimens, photographs, video clippings, models, charts and field operations. The only thing that an animal dissection lab teaches students is that an animal’s life is disposable and unimportant.
Students can definitely learn about animals and how their bodies work without taking apart its insides.
So, I may conclude by saying that I am in complete agreement with the government’s decision to ban the use of animals for dissection.
Thank You!
Or
Some people feel that electronic media (TV news) will bring about the end of print media (newspapers). What are your views on the issue? Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against this view.

• use of visuals on TV
• authentic and fast
• not enough news for 24-hour telecast
• may fabricate news
• become repetitive and dull
• even scandals become news
• print media – time tested
• analysed, verified news
• editorial comments
• cater to all interests

Answer:
Some people believe that electronic media (TV news) will bring about the end of the print media (newspaper). I, XYZ, disagree with this view. The print media is tried and tested over centuries and still its popularity has not diminished. In fact, it has managed to hold its ground despite the fact that TV news channels telecast news 24 × 7. News in the print media are analysed and verified and are not repetitive like the TV news. Moreover, newspapers cater to varied interests of different people who eagerly await their morning newspaper. The 24-hour news channels have revolutionized the world which now appears closer and smaller. Though news conveyed by TV news channels is quicker and faster, these, many a times, tend to omit facts and details about an incident and sometimes even sensationalize news without a reason. Here the newspaper comes in handy as it gives not only vital details but also contains more reliable news.

Besides, the newspaper is easy to carry and can be read at any time. Further, the permanence of the printed word helps in refreshing one’s memory about certain facts and incidents reported in the past. Newspapers also contain many columns dedicated to advertisements like vacant situations, buying or selling of goods, information about missing persons, obituary news, etc. All this and much more information is contained only in the newspaper. Thus, 1 would like to conclude by saying that newspapers have been and will remain the mouthpiece of the nation and the unseen advisers of the common people.
Thank You!

Question 6.
Ragging has raised its ugly head again. A recent incident at a prestigious school has shown that this evil has not yet come to an end. Write an article in 150-200 words on ‘Ragging, an Evil’. You are Navtej/Navita. [10]

• a practice from the British era
• original aim, respect for hierarchy
• enforcing traditions, discipline
• Prefect—a teacher substitute
• misuse of authority
• vulgar aspect
• fatalities
• solution

Answer:
‘RAGGING, AN EVIL’
By: NAVTEJ
Ragging is a social evil that has been in practice since the British era. It was initiated with the aim to reiterate respect for hierarchy and to misuse authority by enforcing traditions and discipline.
Now this social evil has spread to educational institutions. It is a damaging form of interaction of the seniors in colleges or schools with their juniors or newcomers. It has become increasingly unpopular due to several complaints of serious injuries to the victims. Due to this severity, strict laws against ragging have been enforced by the Supreme Court. Under the pretext of fun, new students are often assaulted, sometimes stripped and ‘ intimidated by their seniors and this torture leaves an indelible impression on their minds. Seeing the vulgar aspect and fatalities of ragging it has been strictly banned in many institutions and this is proving effective. The Supreme Court too has declared ragging as a criminal offence.
Since ragging has degenerated into an unmitigated evil it must go completely, and there can bp no argument in favour of this evil practice. Whenever it has raised its ugly head, it has only shown the physical or mental exploitation that new students are subjected to.
Or
India is a tourist’s dream destination. Give your views on the tourism potential of India in an article in 150-200 words. You are Navtej/Navita.
• places of worship – religious tourism
• foreigners – places of historical interest
• the rich – hill stations during summers
— the sun-kissed beaches in winters
— leisure tourism
• medical tourism – world class, hospitals
Answer:
THE TOURISM POTENTIAL OF INDIA
By.-NA VITA
India’s rich cultural history and heritage and its geographical diversity make its international tourism potential large and varied. Besides its cultural and heritage tourism, India also offers medical, business, educational and sports tourism.
Indian tourism with its places of worship, places of historical interest, hill-stations, beaches etc, embraces a vast array. For more than 4000 years, India has been regarded as one of the most spiritual places on earth. The Golden Temple at Amritsar, the Konark Sun Temple, Sarnath Temple, etc. attract people from all over the world. The places of historical interest in India like the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, Charminar, etc. are a great attraction for foreigners. During summers, tourists like to visit the hill stations in India and in winters the sun-kissed beaches are crowded with foreign tourists. Moreover, India is placed among the top three medical tourism destinations in Asia, due to the world class hospitals, quality and low cost treatment and highly skilled doctors.
Thus, tourism in India has emerged as one of the fastest growing sectors which has contributed significantly to our county’s economic growth and development.

SECTION C

LITERATURE

TEXTBOOKS 30

Question 7A.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: [1 × 4 = 4]
“Do you mind telling me why you’ve brought this, sir?” He held up a smallish semi-inflated rubber ring, such as a young child with a waist of about twelve inches might have struggled into. “You thinking of going for a swim, sir?”
(a) Who is the speaker of the above lines? [1]
(b) What reason did McLeery give for carrying the rubber-ring? [1]
(c) What was the actual reason for carrying it? [1]
(d) How did it help in Evans’ escape? [1]
Answer:
(a) The speaker is prison officer, Jackson.
(b) McLeery claimed he was suffering from haemorrhoids and he needed the ring when he sat down for a length of time.
(c) He was carrying it because it contained blood that he later poured over his head.
(d) McLeery poured the blood over his head to show he had been injured by Evans and thus created a panic situation.

Question 7B.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: [1 × 4 = 4]
On their slag heap, these children
Wear skins peeped through by bones and spectacles of steel
With mended glass, like bottle bits on stones.

(a) Who are these children? [1]
(b) What is their slag heap? [1]
(c) Why are their bones peeping through their skins? [1]
(d) What does ‘with mended glass’ mean? [1]
Answer:
(a) These are the poor, impoverished children who are studying in an elementary school in a slum.
(b) Their slag heap refers to the dirt and garbage on which their childhood gets wasted.
(c) These children are undernourished and impoverished and look almost like skeletons with their bones peeping through their skins.
(d) The phrase ‘with mended glass’ gives us a glimpse of the impoverished life led by these children who use mended glasses for their spectacles.

Question 8.
Answer any five of the following questions in 30-40 words each : [2 × 5 = 10]
(a) What did garbage mean to the children of Seemapuri and to their parents?
(b) How did Rajkumar Shukla establish that he was resolute?
(c) ‘Life is what it is all about;How is keeping quiet related to life?
(d) Mention any four things of beauty that add joy to our life.
(e) The manner of his (The Tiger King’s) death is a matter of extraordinary interest. Comment.
(f) In what condition did Dr. Sadao find the American soldier at the seashore?
(g) How did the wizard help Roger Skunk?
Answer:
(a) The rag-pickers of Seemapuri consider garbage as nothing less than gold. For the elders it is their only means of survival as it provides them with their daily bread. For the innocent children it is wrapped in wonder as they marvel at the chance of finding a coin, a currency note or a curio that really thrills them and gives them a hope of finding more elusive notes.

(b) Rajkumar Shukla wanted Gandhiji to visit Champaran to take up the cause of the poor sharecroppers who were being exploited by the English landlords but Gandhiji said he had appointments in various parts of India. Shukla started following Gandhiji everywhere the latter went and for weeks he never left Gandhiji’s side thus establishing his resoluteness.

(c) The poet advocates keeping quiet and inactivity but he does not want these to be confused with death. Life is an ongoing and continuous process, so it should not come to a standstill under any circumstances. People pursue their goals single- mindedly and their lives keep on moving.

(d) The poet sees beauty in various things of nature that add joy to our life. These include the sun, the moon, the trees, the sheep, the green pastures and the clear water of the small streams. These remove the sadness from our dark spirits.

(e) The manner of the tiger king’s death is indeed a matter of extraordinary interest. The Tiger king vowed to kill a hundred tigers to ensure his longevity as when he was bom, the chief astrologer had predicted that a tiger would be the cause of his death. He later brings a wooden tiger as a gift for his son and its tiny sliver of wood pierces his right hand. He neglects his injury which becomes grievous and led to his death. Thus, he gets killed by the hundredth tiger.

(f) When Dr. Sadao first saw the American soldier at the sea shore, he was crawling on his hands and knees and then he fell on his face. He was badly wounded and lay motionless. Blood flowed freshly when Dr. Sadao touched his wound and the man moaned in pain.

(g) The wizard asked Roger Skunk what he wanted to smell like. Roger said he wanted to smell like roses. The wizard took his magic wand and chanted a spell and his whole house was full of the smell of roses. Roger also smelt of roses and in this way the wizard helped him by making him get rid of his bad smell.

Question 9.
Answer the following question in 120-150 words : [6]
Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment. (The Last Lesson)
Answer:
The one common feeling that fills each and every person who is present in the last French lesson is an acute sense of regret. M. Hamel reproaches himself for putting off his students’ learning till the next day and sending them to water his flowers instead of learning yheir lessons. He also gave his students a holiday when he wanted to go fishing. Franz felt sorry for not learning his lessons and escaping school. He wished he had attended his classes more often and -even the thought of losing his teacher pained him. The village elders occupied the back benches of the class to atone for their guilt and express their regret for not having attended ’school regularly. They were now showing their respect for the country that was theirs no more.

Or

Sophie lives in a world full of dreams which she does not know she cannot realise. Comment.
Ans. Sophie, like most girls of her age, loves to fantasize and live in a world full of dreams which is far away from reality. She envisions a life for herself which she would like to lead not knowing that she might never be able to realise her dreams. She dreams of owning a boutique which again she might never be able to fulfil. The best part of her fantasy is that she is unaware of the fact that her dreams may never materialise. Though her friend Jansie tries her best to keep her grounded, Sophie is undeterred ..Sophie’s dream world makes her traverse into those spheres of life which she may never be able to achieve in reality and this does not cause her any anxiety. She blissfully ignores the fact that she comes from a lower middle class family and continues to dream on.

Question 10.
Answer the following questions in 120-150 words: [6]
Even today so many among us believe in superstitions. An astrologer predicted about ‘the Tiger King7 that he would be killed by a tiger. He ‘killed’ one hundred tigers yet was himself ‘killed’ by a tiger. How did the superstitious belief ‘prevail’?
Answer:
The chief-astrologer had forewarned the king in his childhood that a tiger would be responsible for his death and he should be particularly beware of the hundredth tiger. After killing the hundredth tiger the king was relaxed and became careless. He did not know that the hundredth tiger had actually survived because the bullet had missed its mark. Finally it was a tiger who was responsible for the king’s death though it was a toy-tiger which he had bought as a birthday gift for his son. The carved toy tiger had a rough surface with sharp wooden splinters. One of these sharp splinters pierced the king’s right hand and caused a deadly infection that spread all over his arm. Three surgeons tried their level best but they could not save the king and so the astrologer’s prediction did indeed come true. Despite the fact that the king took every measure to avoid the circumstance of his death the hundredth tiger took its final revenge upon the king as predicted by the astrologer.

Or

Dr. Sadao faced a dilemma. Should he use his surgical skills to save the life of a wounded person or hand an escaped American P.O.W. over to the Japanese police? How did he resolve this clash of values?
Answer:
Dr. Sadao gives priority to his professional ethics over his patriotism and uses his surgical skills to save the life of a wounded man even though he belonged to the enemy’s camp. He rises above narrow prejudices and realizes his duty as a doctor. The surgeon in him instinctively inspires him to operate upon the dying soldier and save his life. But he is also a responsible and patriotic citizen of his country so he decides to inform a senior Japanese Army General about the prisoner’s presence in his house and even agrees to have him killed by the General’s assassins. He even spends three restless nights waiting for the assassins to carry out their job. But the assassins did not arrive. In this way, Dr. Sadao is able to resolve the clash of his values and appease his conscience of having done his duty as a responsible citizen of his country.

SET II

Note: Except for the following questions, all the remaining questions have been asked in Set I.

Question 7.
Midday meal scheme in the schools introduced by the government serves several purposes. Millions of children from the deprived sections of society get nutritious food leading to good health, are attracted to the schools, kept from going astray and developed into good citizens. The scheme may have some drawbacks too. Write an article in 150-200 words on all aspects of the scheme. You are Navtej/Navita. [10]
Answer:
THE MIDDAY MEAL SCHEME
By: NAVITA
The Midday Meal Scheme, a school meal programme was introduced by the Government of India to improve the nutritional status of school-going children who belong to the deprived sections of the society. This Scheme has attracted many impoverished children to school thus also preventing them from going astray.
The Midday Meal Scheme, has been a successful nationwide free school lunch program catering to all students. It has helped in boosting school enrolment, ending hunger, aiding the process of socialisation, promoting gender equality by increasing female enrolment and also creating employment opportunities for poor.

But the Midday Meal Scheme has its drawbacks also. The midday meal tragedy in Bihar which killed 23 children who ate the contaminated cooked food turned the spotlight on the problems affecting this scheme. Lack of monitoring, hygiene and corruption discredits the Midday Meal Scheme. Experts say the scheme suffers from structural problems, the biggest being the lack of a proper monitoring mechanism. Children often get low quality, insufficient and unhygienic food and there is corruption in the delivery system.
The government has now decided to streamline this scheme and involve parents and local members of the community in its implementation.

Or

Morning assembly in the schools gives a cool and calm start to the otherwise hectic schedule of the day. It can be a means of passing important information to the students. What are your views on this significant event of the day? Write an article in 150-200 words on ‘Importance of Morning Assembly’. You are Navtej/Navita.
Answer:
IMPORTANCE OF MORNING ASSEMBLY
By: NAVTEJ
Morning Assembly is one the most important aspects of a school’s curriculum. It has the potential to nurture a positive school ethos that stresses care for the self and for others. It gives a cool and calm start to the otherwise hectic schedule of the day.
Morning Assembly prepares students physically, mentally and spiritually for the day. A morning assembly includes prayer, songs, speeches and physical exercises all of which energize us to begin the day on an optimistic note.

Morning assembly has the potential to heighten consciousness by generating a school ethos .that is calm, happy and purposeful. A Morning Assembly is also a means for the whole-school to celebrate national festivals together. It gives a chance to students to share stories, experiences and anecdotes etc. At a later stage in our lives, we celebrate a behaviour that reflects the values we have embedded on a daily basis through these Assemblies. Morning Assembly’s can become a very positive experience. once their influence and impact to both the individual and the school in general is truly understood and recognized.

Question 9.
Answer any five of the following questions in 30-40 words each :
(a) What does Saheb look for in the garbage dumps?
(b) Why does one feel ‘a sudden strangeness’ on counting to twelve and keeping quiet?
(c) Mention any two things which cause pain and suffering. (A Thing of Beauty)
(d) When was the Tiger King in danger -of losing his throne?
(e) What role did the American professor play in bringing Hana and Sadao together?
Answer:
(a) According to the author Saheb scrounges for ‘gold’ in the garbage dumps. ‘Gold’ here infers to items that are valuable to him like used clothes, shoes, plastic scrap, stray coins or currency notes. For children like Saheb, garbage is ‘wrapped in wonder’.

(b) One feels ‘a sudden strangeness’ on counting to twelve and keeping quiet because this is an exotic moment which builds a sudden and strange feeling of universal brother hood. This feeling of togetherness and brotherhood is rather new and inexplicable.

(c) Pain and suffering is caused by man’s malice and unhealthy and evil ways. Man lacks noble qualities and his hostile and inhumane nature makes the world gloomy and depressing and brings misery and suffering in his life.

(d) The Tiger King was in danger of losing his kingdom when he annoyed a senior British Officer by refusing him permission to not only hunt a tiger in Pratibandapuram but also rejected the officer’s request of being photographed with a tiger killed by him (the Maharaja).

(e) The American professor and his wife had been kind people who were anxious to do something for their few foreign students and the students, though bored, accepted this kindness. It was at the professor’s house that Dr. Sadao had met Hana, a new student, and had felt that he would love her if it were at all possible.

Question 10.
Answer the following question in 120-150 words: [6]
How different from usual was the atmosphere at school on the day of the last lesson?
Answer:
Acquiring power over the Alsacians made the Prussians so dominating that they even imposed their language on them. This way the Prussians intended to dominate the hearts and minds of the Alsacians and wanted them to even think in their language and thereby lose their complete identity. An order had been received from Berlin that only German would be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine. So there was something unusual about the school on the last day of the French lesson. The usual hustle and bustle was missing. Everything was ‘strange and solemn’ as on a Sunday morning. The village elders were seated on the back desks. M.Hamel, who had been teaching French at the school for the .last forty years, was wearing his formal suit in honour of the last French lesson. While delivering the last lesson, he called upon his students and the village elders to guard the French language among themselves and never forget it, declaring French to be the most beautiful language in the world. Franz developed a sudden fascination for school and the French language and a sudden respect for M.Hamel. He wanted his teacher to stay and felt very guilty for having neglected his French lessons as now he was being deprived of the opportunity of learning his language.

Or

How different is Jansie from Sophie?
Answer:
Sophie and Jansie were classmates as well as friends. They both belonged to lower middle- class families. But that is where their similarity ends. There is a striking contrast between their characters. Sophie is a day-dreamer and Jansie is practical. Sophie lives in a world of dreams and does not want to come out of this fairyland. She is an incurable escapist and dreams of having a boutique, becoming an actress or a fashion designer. Jansie, on the other haAd, is very grounded. Jansie has her feet firmly planted on the ground and knows they are both ‘earmarked for the biscuit factory’. She knows big things require big money and experience which they lack desperately. She advises Sophie to be sensible and not entertain wild dreams.
Sophie and Jansie’s temperaments differ greatly. While Sophie shares her dreams only with one person, her brother Geoff, Jansie on the other hand is nosey. She takes an interest in learning new things about others and can spread stories in the whole neighbourhood.

SET III

Question 6.
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. [10]
Answer:
Consumerism is increasing day by day. We all are materialistic to some extent.
I, XYZ, have come before you all to speak for the motion ‘The only way to minimise human suffering and pain is to control our needs’. We use and enjoy the luxuries which have become necessities and an inseparable part of our lives. The result is we want more and more and feel miserable when we do not get all that we need.
We need to minimize this misery and pain and an effective step in this direction would be to control our needs. The greed to have more becomes an obstacle when we start allowing material things to control us. The struggle to accumulate materialistic things give rise to a rat-race and cut-throat competition. This in turn generates tremendous physical and mental stresses which further lead to various ailments.

When we have limited needs we feel satisfied and content. Excessive desire for things is anyway considered immoral, a violation of natural or divine law. When this greed to have more than we actually need starts growing strong, we become utterly fixated on seeking what we do not actually need and try to get hold of those things that will still not help to eliminate the deep rooted evil of not having enough. When we learn to control our needs we not only minimize our suffering and pain but are able to be at peace with ourselves and be happy and appreciate the little things that have been bestowed on us.

Or

Migration from villages to cities has led to the spread of urban slums. People living in these slums lead a miserable life. Economic disparity leads to the problems of law and order: Write a debate in 150-200 words on ‘Solution to the problem of misery in the urban slums lies in creating jobs in the villages’. You are Navtej/Navita.
Answer:
Today, I, ABC, have come before you all to speak in favour of the motion ‘Solution to the problem of misery in the urban slums lies in creating jobs in the villages/
In the recent years we have witnessed an unprecedented rise in urban slums as more and more .people are migrating from villages to cities in search of jobs. People who come to inhabit these slums lead miserable lives and this problem needs our immediate attention. The only solution to the problems and misery in the urban slums lies in creating job opportunities in the villages so that our rural population does not feel the need to migrate from their villages to the cities in search of jobs and better opportunities.

Our government needs to generate more jobs in the villages so that the rural population does not face a financial crunch which forces them to look for employment in the cities where they land as migrants and are forced to live in the slums which lack even the basic facilities. This rapid urbanisation in the past few decades has increased the population of slum inhabitants in India. The slums without proper access to basic services such as sanitation and healthcare fail to provide any quality of living to their inhabitants.
Addressing this issue is one of the Jsgy. steps in the regeneration of the country’s development and will have a highly positive impact in the future with massive collateral benefits for the nation as a whole.
Thank You !

Question 9.
(a) “It is his karam, his destiny.” What is Mukesh’s family’s attitude towards their situation?
(b) What were the terms of the indigo contract between the British landlords and the Indian peasants?
(c) How will ‘keeping quiet’ protect our environment?
(d) Which objects of nature does Keats mention as sources of joy in his poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’?
(e) What was Sadao’s father’s dream for him? How did Sadao realise it?
Answer:
(a) Mukesh’s family have accepted their misery and impoverished condition as factors that have been ordained by destiny. Years of depravation and suffering make them accept their condition passively in the name of fate or destiny. They feel that a God- given lineage can never be broken and have accepted bangle making as his destiny.

(b) The arable land in the Champaran district was divided into estates which were owned by Englishmen and worked by Indian tenants. The chief commercial crop was Indigo. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant 15 per cent of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent.

(c) When we keep quiet and refrain from activity, we will not indulge in chemical and nuclear wars that cause total destruction by releasing toxic gases in the environment. These will destroy all greenery and life on earth making it a dead planet.

(d) The poet sees beauty in various natural things. He sees simple and scenic beauty in the image of the sun, the moon, the trees, the sheep, the green pastures and the clear water of the small streams. All these things of beauty are a constant source of joy for us.

(e) Dr. Sadao’s father had spent infinite pains on his only son and his education had been his father’s chief concern. He had sent Dr. Sadao at the age of 22 to America to learn all that could be learned of surgery and medicine. Before his father’s death, Dr. Sadao ensured that he saw him not only as a surgeon but also as a scientist.

Question 10.
Answer the following question in 120-150 words: [6]
How did the order from Berlin change the situation in the school? (The Last Lesson)
Answer:
Acquiring power over the Alsacians made the Prussians so dominating that they even imposed their language on them. This way the Prussians intended to dominate the hearts and minds of the Alsacians and wanted them to even think in their language and thereby lose their complete identity. An order had been received from Berlin that only German would be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine. So there was something unusual about the school on the last day of the French lesson. The usual hustle and bustle was missing. Everything was ‘strange and solemn’ as on a Sunday morning. The village elders were seated on the back desks. M.Hamel, who had been teaching French at the school for the last forty years, was wearing his formal suit in honour of the last French lesson. While delivering the last lesson, he called upon his students and the village elders to guard the French language among themselves and never forget it, declaring French to be the most beautiful language in the world. Franz developed a sudden fascination for school and the French language and a sudden respect for M.Hamel. He wanted his teacher to stay and felt very guilty for having neglected his French lessons as now he was being deprived of the opportunity of learning his language.

Or

It is not unusual for a lower middle class girl to dream big. How unrealistic were Sophie’s dreams?
Answer:
Sophie belongs to a lower middle class family and lives a humble life with her parents and elder brother. But her dreams far supercede the reality in which she is living. Her dreams are far beyorid her reach. So she wishes to open a boutique, entertains the idea of being an actress and also aspires to be a fashion designer. Her dreamy disposition and romantic allusions lead her to hero-worship the wonder-footballer, Danny Casey towards whom she develops a romantic fascination. Though she sees him only once in person she sits for hours imagining Danny coming to her. The incurable dreamer in her remains an escapist who wants to remain away from her real world.
Her friend Jansie continued to ground her to reality by stating that they were earmarked for the biscuit factory. Her father also stated that if she ever had enough money she would first buy them a decent house to live iaJSQphic’s little brother Derek too feels that his sister thinks money grows on trees.