ENGLISH CORE
Time : 3.00 Hours
Maximum Marks : 100
CBSE
Sample Question Papers
Solution to Question Paper
SECTION ‘A’ : READING
6
(30 marks)
1.(A)(1) True
(2) True
(3) False
(4) False
(1 × 4 = 4)
(B) (i) An innovative scheme in Goa‘s budget has introduced a grant for homemakers, which officially
acknowledges their invaluable contribution.
1
(ii) The scheme proposes to give Rs. 1,000 per month to all homemakers with annual household
income of below Rs 3 lakh, benefiting some 1.25 lakh families.
1
(iii) The housewives like Bicholim think that working women are often absolved of household
responsiblities, but no one gives a thought for the work they put in 24 × 7.
1
(iv) A grant, she believes, would merely help some of them move from starvation to subsistence.
But what they should be given, is a direct stake in their husbands‘ pay cheques, she feels.
(v) She doesn‘t believe doles can help empowerment. “Why should the government pay
homomakers ?‘ I would consider it an insult. Women are the graha lakshmis and should be
treated as equals and given the charge of household finances.
1
(vi) Venezuela recognizes housework as work under its constitution and pays homemakers 80%
of minimum wages.
1
(C)(a) absolved
(b) subsidized
2.(A) (1) (b) befor an exam
(2) (a) Muscle tension and dryness of throat
(3) (c) Heart attack
(B) (1) A common reason for stress for an adloescent could be failure in examination.
(2) The heart diseases and depression.
1
(3) The three responses that a person under stress gives are : flight, fight, or flee.
1
(4) Herbal medicines and relaxation techniques are two stress busters.
(C)(a) Collapse
(b) Reprimand
(c) Lethargic.
3.A. Title – Tourism—The Temple of Somnathpur.
1. Prominent templets at Somnathpur
(a) Built around 1268 A.D. by the Hoyasalas.
(b) Built by the most prolific temple-builders.
2. Other temples
(a) The temples of Belur and Helebid
(b) Suffered during the invasions of the 14th century
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
2
3. Temple : the beauty and vitality
(a) Detailed sculpture-covering walls, pillars, ceilings.
(b) Three shikharas-stands star-shaped, raised platform-24 edges.
(c) The outer walls-have detailed carvings.
(d) The entire surface-run over by carved plaques of stone.
(e) Vertical panels covered by exq. figures of godo.
4.
Temple as representation of Hinduism
(a) With many incarnations depicted.
(b) Many deities.
Characteristics of Hoyasala sculptures
5.
(a) The series of friezes on the outer walls.
(b) Revealed intricately carved caparisoned elephants.
(c) Charging horsemen.
(d) Stylized horsemen.
(e) Warriors, musicians, crocodiles and swans.
Temple‘s History
6.
(a) Actually comm. by Soma Dandanayaka or Somnath.
(b) The inner center of the temple was the Kalyana Mandapa.
(c) Leading-three corridors, each ending in a shrine.
(d) Each kind of Krishna-Venugopala, Janardana and Prasanna Keshava, Life-test., of plu.
Abbreviations Used
1.Exq.
–
exquisite
2.Fig.
–
figures
3.Test.
–
testimony
4.Plu.
–
plurality
5.Comm.
–
commissioned
B. Summary : Temple of Somnathpur is extraordinary due to the sculptures on the walls, pillars, and
even the ceiling which are covered by exquisite figures of Gods and Goddesses. The sculptures have
a series of friezes on the outer walls. The various walls have carved elephants, charging horsemen
and stylized flowers. The temple was commissioned by Soma Dandanayaka or Somnath. It was
built to house three versions of Krishna—Venugopala, Janardana and Prasanna Keshava.
SECTION ‘B’ : ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS
(30 marks)
4. Suggested Value Points :
[SITUATION VACANT / VACANCY / any other appropriate heading]
— by whom – Sunrise Global School, Agra
— what - receptionist
— qualification
— experience
— skills (shorthand/computer savvy/fluency in languages) (optional)
— salary & perks
— how to apply – to whom (contact details)
— any other relevant details.
(due credit should be given to economy of words)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 4
Solutions
3
Detailed Answer :
Situation Vacant
Sunrise Global School, Agra requires a young female receptionist, graduate with convent background,
computer friendly, having pleasing personality with 1 to 5 years of experience. Attractive salary and
perks. Interested candidates may apply within 7 days to the Principal. Ph. : 9412500075.
OR
HONOUR ON TEACHERS’ DAY
Suggested value points :
— event - details
— purpose of invite - request to grace occasion
— date / time / venue
— request confirmation
— any other relevant details
(NOTE : marks to be awarded even if the student writes in the form of a card)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 4
Detailed Answer :
Sunrise Global School
Agra
Sep 1, 20xx
Mrs. Sudha Murthy
14, Mall Road
Agra
Sub : Invitation to Teacher’s Day Celebration.
Respected Madam,
Our school is going to celebrate Teacher’s Day on Sep. 5, 20xx in our school auditorium from 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. The School Management Committee wants to honour you for the excellent services, you
had given to our school. We shall be highly obliged if you could spare some of your precious time to
grace the occasion. Waiting for your kind confirmation.
Karan
(Head Boy)
5. LETTER TO POLICE COMMISSIONER –ROAD RAGE
Suggested Value Points :
Problems of road rage
— extremely aggressive behaviour
l verbal
l physical
— extreme cases – murder
— spontaneous / impulsive action solutions
— be a polite driver
— avoid confrontations
— keep driving environment calm
— find alternate routes if necessary
— implement stricter traffic laws
— use surveillance technology (any 4)
(Any other relevant points)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 6
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
4
Detailed Answer :
M114, Mall Road
Delhi
24 Nov 20xx
The Police Commissioner,
New Delhi
Sub : Control Over Road Rage
Dear Sir,
Every year, thousands of people are injured or killed in car wrecks caused by the road rage incidents.
Despite this fact, many people still behave impatiently and become angry on the road and they display
extremely agressive behaviour on the road that may be physical or verbal. In some cases, it extremes to
the extent of murder. Aggressive driving starts from things such as illegal or improper lane changes,
failing to yield to the right way, and excessive speeding just to name a few. Everyday we deal with this
type of driving.
Weak enforcement of law, highway traffic, the growing congestion in cities and personal issues play
a major role in the disposition of an aggressive driver. Then the angry driver may demonstrate his or
her displeasure by speeding around the other vehicle, cutting the other car off, and/or with a number
of verbal and non-verbal messages.
We must take the issue seriously and try to check it. First of all, we should try to be a polite driver and
should keep to driving according to the traffic rules. Traffic on highways should be better managed.
Besides, traffic rules should be enforced strictly so that people are not able to change lanes or overspeed.
Traffic police should be available in close proximity. In case a misunderstanding happens between
drivers, surviellance technology should be used. We must control this outrageous behaviour before
someone else gets hurt.
Thanking You
Yours sincerely
Karan
OR
LETTER TO THE EDITOR– IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL TOURISM FOR INDIA
Suggested Value Points :
Importance of medical tourism for India
— cost effective and efficient medical sector
— skilled physicians and nursing practitioners
— world class medical facilities and infrastructure
— comprehensive solution for all medical needs
— alternative treatment and therapies
— earns foreign exchange
— improves relations with other countries
— enhances image of India
(Any three) (any other relevant details)
Detailed Answer :
M114, Mall Road
Kanpur
24 Feb, 20xx
The Editor
Times of India
Delhi
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 6
Solutions
5
Sub : Importance of Medical Tourism
Dear Sir,
Medical tourism is a novel and trendy concept, used to obtain medical and surgical services while
vacationing or travelling in another country. India is the hottest and the most sought after emerging
destination catering to the vastly flourishing medical tourism industry.
It is good to know that people from all walks of life cut across the entire span of the globe and travel to
India for their treatment, in order to experience the most competent and world class medical services.
India has some of the most highly qualified and experienced physicians in the world. The medical
facilities present in the high end hospitals of India are at par with the best hospitals present in the
Western countries. Hospitals here are equipped with the latest technology and the physicians have
super specialization in their respective specialities. In addition to the allopathic and modern medicine,
India boasts of several other traditional medicine options like ayurveda, naturopathy, homeopathy,
unani and yoga.
The cost saving on medical expenses in huge as compared to the Western countries and is one of the
biggest motivating factors for people who travel all the way to seek treatment in India. For example, the
cost of an effective knee surgery is almost 40-60% less in India than that in the US, even if we include
the stay in the hospital, all procedures and surgeon’s fee and also including transportation to and from
India.
We hope that this trend continues and Medical Tourism keeps flourishing in India in times to come.
It will not only bring foreign exchange but also improves relations with the other countries.
Yours sincerely
Karan.
6. THE POLICY OF NO DETENTION TILL CLASS VIII IS NOT IN THE INTEREST OF STUDENTS
Note: Student’s views to be expressed either for or against the topic
Suggested Value Points :
FOR
— no motivation to excel
— basics not clear
— lack of hard work
— everyone gets promoted
— life is competitive so children should start young
— best not rewarded
AGAINST
— imparts basic literacy to enhance elementary education
— encourages life skills and holistic development
— reduces cut throat competition
— reduces stress levels
— time to explore personality traits of the child
(Any other relevant point)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
Detailed Answer :
Honourable Chairperson, Respected judges and my dear friends. Today I am standing here before
you to express my arguments against the view point that the policy of no detention till class VIII is
not in the interest of students. Perhaps the main culprits behind all this propaganda are the ones who
want to cash in on this idea by making the students to go for more and more tuition classes. The fact
is that education is not a thing that should be bound up in the trap of examination; where students
are made to sit for exams all the time in order to get the tag of ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’. As one of my friends has
presented his point that such a policy of no detention is making students careless. I’d like to tell my
dear friend that it is better to be careless rather than to adopt unfair means to pass the exams – as we
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
6
read about such incidents in the news everyday. The tension of exams is making students mentally
sick. I am afraid that the time, that should be used in gaining pure knwoledge without any pressure
of detention may be lost in the tension about failing exams. There is also another advantage of this ‘no
detention policy’ and it is that more and more students without any such fear of failure will attend the
school with full enthusiasm and will make themselves ready automatically for the period of maturity.
There they will be benefitted from their feelings of confidence and eagerness to go ahead, without
any tension of passing or failing that will encourage to learn different life skills and would result in a
holistic development of the child.
OR
A STUDENT MUST KNOW HOW TO MANAGE HIS TIME
Suggested Value Points :
— lot of pressure on students
— organised work – adds to efficiency
— time for self-study and recreation balanced
— scope to enhance other skills / hobbies
— enhances confidence
— must learn to balance time o to reduces stress
(Any other relevant details)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
Detailed Answer :
A Student Must Know How to Manage his Time
Respected Principal, worthy teachers and my dear friends. Today I, Karuna, Head girl, have the
privilege of expressing my views on the importance of time management for students. A student
should surely know how to manage his precious time because student-life is the most important part
of one’s life. And here time lost means everything lost. He/She should not be taken in by others’
views. Rather he or she should be his or her own manager. And a good manager is one who does the
right thing at the right time and at the right place. So all of these three aspects should be kept in mind
by a student if he or she wants to establish a good ground for his or her future.
The youth has to face neck- to-neck competition in all the fields, especially in the academic field.
Instead of creating a mess to accomplish all his tasks, the student should manage all his choices that
also without getting frustrated. First of all, he should have a proper time- table for all his activities.
To avoid unnecessary pressure of handling his studies as well as his other activities, e.g. co-curricular
activities, sports etc., he should set his priorities for the period and act accordingly. The foremost thing
is that he should not waste his time in any act of laziness etc. by roaming around aimlessly.
Parents have to play an important role in this direction. They may accompany students in their schedule
for a morning walk, yoga etc. By doing this, they will not only share their time and experience with
them but also help them in reducing stress by sharing the problems of their wards. This will, in turn,
lead them towards a healthy and bright future.
7. THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT (any other suitable heading )
Suggested Value Points :
— eases congestion, reduces
— saves money and energy
— reduces global warming
— saves fuel
(any other relevant points)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
Solutions
7
Detailed Answer :
The Importance of Public Transport
By Karan
Public transportation is a crucial part of the solution to the nation’s economic, energy, and
environmental challenges - helping to bring about a better quality of life. In increasing numbers,
people are using public transportation and local communities are expanding public transit services.
Every segment of the society - individuals, families, communities, and businesses - benefits from the
public transportation.
It has several advantages over private transport. It is beneficial for our health as it reduces emissions
because of less use of private transport. So it also saves consumption of fuel at national/state level.
Less private vehicles on road leads to the reduction in global warming. Individuals who use public
transportation get over three times the amount of physical activity per day than those who don’t, by
walking to stops and final destinations. Besides, it keeps the air cleaner and reduces pollution. It is
safer and at the same time much cheaper as well.
It also reduces stress. Public transportation improves access to education and employment, which in
turn leads to better long-term economic opportunities. In fact, 12 percent of transit riders are traveling
to schools and almost 60 percent are going to work. It also provides access to social and recreational
activities, allowing individuals to participate in the events which they otherwise couldn’t have joined.
Furthermore, public transport benefits community cohesion by promoting positive interactions
between the commuters.
The benefits of public transportation are enormous, ranging from public health to household finances.
OR
HOW TO PROVIDE PROPER HEALTH CARE TO A COMMON MAN
Suggested Value Points :
Problems
— health sector commercialised causes
— money spinning business
— large population
— government hospitals not enough / over crowded solutions
— stricter laws for private hospitals
— stringent implementation of rules
— more government hospitals
— creating awareness of healthy lifestyles, nutritious food etc. in rural areas
— providing healthcare in schools (any four points)
(Any other relevant details)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
Detailed Answer :
How to Provide Proper Health Care to Common Man
By– Karuna
Now-a-days, rising pollution, at fast and competitive lifestyle, lack of nutritious food etc. have caused
health woes for a large section of our population. Earlier, providing health–care used to be a charitable
and ethical activity. Our country is well- known in the world for selfless service and pure love. Sarojini
Naidu, Mother Teresa served the sick people without any aspirations. They considered it to be their
auspicious duty. But today, such a feeling can be seen missing to a large extent, though not absolutely.
On one hand, the techniques in the medical field have resulted in miraculous results; on the other
hand, its black side shows us a horrible scene. Today perhaps, ethics have been lost. The health care
industry has become more or less commercialized—an absolute money- spinning business. Most of
the hospitals have contracts with the pathologies. Irrespective of the problems, patients are asked to
go through many costly tests. After all, the doctors have to earn commission and generally there are
no government dispensaries. In their absence, patients, especially from rural areas are put to many
hardships. They are left to the mercy of some quacks or private practitioners who charge exorbitant
fees. To provide proper health- care to the common man, more and more public health care centres
should be established where sufficient medical staff as well as helping staff should be appointed.
8
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
For private hospitals also, strict laws should be made and their stringent implementation should
be confirmed. Moreover, the common man, especially students should be made aware of healthy
lifestyles, nutritious food etc. Healthcare should be provided in schools.
Though the government is spending much money to improve this field but certain greedy persons and
groups try their best to make such policies fail. The concerned authorities, along with some voluntary
ones should come forward so that this industry can once again emerge as a life-giving charitable
service, and not as a money-spinning business.
SECTION ‘C’ : LITERATURE : TEXT BOOKS AND LONG READING TEXT
(40 marks)
8. (a) poet/Kamala Das / poetess / narrator / daughter (any one) (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 1
Detailed Answer :
Here ‘I’ is Kamla Das, the poetess.
(b) realised with pain that mother nearing old age / mom’s death / separation from mother. (any one)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 1
Detailed Answer :
She realised with pain that her mother had grown old.
(c) the mother’s approaching death was a hard fact for her to accept
thoughts of separation from her mother made the poet sad (any one)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 1
Detailed Answer :
The realisation was painful because with it came the thought that she might not live for a very
long time. It was hard for her to accept the thoughts of her separation. (½ + ½ = 1)
(d) simile ‘ashen like that of a corpse’
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 1
OR
(a)The poet means to say that it was too generous a sign to put a map of the world in the classroom
as the children could only dream of such places and never visit them.
1
(b) Through the windows one can see the narrow street covered by an overcast sky and fog where the
future of the children was to be spent, bleak, foggy and uncertain.
1
(c) The children’s world was different from that on the map because the world on the map signified
modern progress and liberal attitude whereas the children’s future was dark and dismal. The map
symbolised opportunities whereas the children are doomed.
1
(d) The poem’s name is ‘An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum’ and its poet is Stephen
Spender.
1
9. Suggested Value points :
3
(a) full name : Saheb-e-Alam which means the Lord of the Universe.
is a rag picker, a refugee from Bangladesh
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
Saheb’s full name was Saheb-e-Alam. It means the ‘Lord of the Universe’. But the irony was that the
poor boy, a rag picker a refugee from Bangladesh, was not even his own master. Rather, he wandered
on the roads along with other barefooted poor boys like him.
(b) – in the unequal fight support of Englishman would show weakness of heart.
– cause just / wanted Indians to rely on themselves, and not seek a prop / wanted Indians to be self
reliant.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
Mr. Andrews was an Englishman and Gandhiji did not want his help. He did not believe in seeking a
prop in him he believed that their victory was certain. He wanted the peasants to be self-reliant.
Solutions
9
(c) – no escape even after death.
– terrified hands will be ringed with ordeals she was mastered by / still dominated by uncle / male
– dominated society. (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
Aunt Jennifer lived in constant fear of her husband. She was very weak and frail. She could never
stand up boldly against her tyrannical husband. She revolted silently in her own way, i.e by creating
tigers on a panel to symbolize her wish to be strong, fierce and free like the tigers. As a result, finally
in a male dominated society she could not escape fear even after the death.
(d) education to be related to their life / break open from confined spaces / show children green fields
/ use nature as teacher / want the rich and powerful (governor, inspector, visitor) to get involved
(solve their problems) (any two)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
Stephen Spender wants that the windows should be broken and the children should be moved to the
bright day light. They should be given education in a natural atmosphere so that their lives can be
changed, by useful and relevant education imparted to them. He wanted the rich and powerful people
i.e., governor, inspector etc to get involved to solve their problems.
(e) – he would die – irony – 10 day old infant speaking / everyone who is born has to die.
– killed by the tiger (100th) – irony death by a toy / wooden tiger’s sliver. (Any 1)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
When the Tiger King was only ten days old, an astrologer had proclaimed that a tiger would become
the cause of his death. He must be particularly careful with the hundredth tiger. Ninety-nine tigers
were killed. The irony, here was that a wooden toy tiger became the cause of his death.
(f) father’s chief concern was sadao’s education. (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
Dr. Sadao’s father had a great concern for his career. His chief concern was his education. In order
to fulfil that requirement, he was sent to America at the age of twenty–two to learn surgery and
medicine.
10. Gandhiji believed that freedom from fear is more important than legal justice. Gandhiji went from
village to village throughout India. He told poor people not to fear the police, the landlords and the
British. He told them that fear was their worst enemy. His words had a magical effect on the people.
The poor and unarmed people became ready to face the lathis and bullets of the British. Gandhiji
always practiced whatever he preached. He led from the front. He inspired others by his own example.
A good leader has the quality to change the prevalent flow of ideas with his or her great thoughts. Like
Mahatma Gandhi we must have moral courage.
Today’s world is full of so-called leaders. But most of them are not true leaders. We should be selfless.
We should be simple in living and have high thoughts.
A true leader takes his followers to the path of progress and prosperity. Persistent efforts, firm
determination and resolution lead a man to attain the goal of his life. In this, perseverance plays an
important role. One must never lose sight of one’s goal and keep on moving ahead with courage and
resolution. Gandhiji taught us so many good qualities of leadership. Thus, with the true qualities of
leadership one can go ahead to counter the present day problems of exploitation. Besides the qualities
of true leadership one must be firm and determined. We must be eagle-eyed to find out the true leader
who can make our life a success.
6
OR
The peddler was ungrateful for the hospitality shown by the crofter. The crofter welcomed him in his
house when he had asked for the shelter. He took good care of him. He immediately put the porridge
pot on the fire and gave him supper; then, he carved off such a big slice from his tobacco roll and gave
it to him. Finally, he got out an old pack of cards and played ‘mjolis’ with him until bedtime. Not
only this, the old man was just as generous with his confidence as with his porridge and tobacco. He
10
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
told him at once that in his days of prosperity, his host had been a crofter at Ramsjo Ironworks and
had worked on the land. And now he had thirty kronors, which he had earned selling the milk of his
cow. He did all this because he was alone and happy to have a company. But the peddler betrayed the
crofter’s trust. After they both had left in the morning, the peddler came back to the crofter’s house,
broke the open window and stole the thirty kronors, which he had earned by selling the milk of his
cow.
6
11. The story is a satire on the conceit of those in power. The author employs the literary device of dramatic
irony in the story. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the hero of the story. He comes to be known
as ‘Tiger King’ because he killed ninety nine tigers with his gun. He does this at his wish. He has no
regret at all. He vows that he will attend to all other matters only after killing the hundred tigers. The
Maharaja is determined to fulfil his wish. He doesn’t care to think about the right or wrong. He thinks
that he is immortal. He kills ninety-nine tigers. But he is not able to kill the hundredth tiger. The irony
here is that a wooden toy tiger becomes the cause of his death. One of the slivers of the toy pierce
the Maharaja’s right hand. The next day, infection flares up in Maharaja’s right hand. In four days, it
gets developed into a suppurating sore which spreads all over the arm and the Maharaja dies. In this
manner, the hundredth tiger takes its final revenge upon the Tiger King.
6
OR
Sympathy, pity and charity, these are all human qualities. The Governor of the prison had acquired
all these qualities. The Governor was an intelligent person and had a sharp mind. After the escape of
Evans, Governor makes a great attempt to locate Evans, and at last he found Evans in the Golden Lion
Hotel. The Governor was a helpful person and he wants to update his prisoners also, so he enquires
about the procedure of O-level German Exam from the secretary of the Examination Board. He also
assured that there is no record of violence against Evans.
Inspite of all the arrangements made by the Governor and his staff, they failed to foil Evans’ bid to
escape because of certain lapses on their part. First of all, they called a teacher from Technical College
to act as Evans’ German tutor, but never cared to check on him. Then, they engaged Reverend S.
Mc Leery to invigilate but did not pot a check on him when he comes to discharge his duties. When
Stephens raises an alarm, they blindly go by the Stephens’ assumption that Evans, impersonating
McLeery, has escaped from prison. Consequently, they stumble again and again. Believing Mc Leery,
they go to the board officers. There Mc Leery gives them a slip and disappears. Belatedly, they discover
that it was not Evans, impersonating Mc Leery, who had walked out, but it was Evans, impersonating
Mc Leery, who had stayed in. Finally, following some clues, the Governor nabs Evans at the Golden
Lion Hotel. Here again he acts foolishly. He rings up the local police station and asks them to send a
police-van and lets. Evans get away once more from under his very nose.
6
12. The Invisible Man attacked Marvel. Marvel was dragged into the kitchen. There was a scream and
a clatter of pans. Marvel, head down, and lugging back obstinately, was forced to the kitchen door,
and the bolts were drawn. Then the policeman, who had been trying to pass the barman, rushed in,
followed by one of the cabmen, gripped the wrist of the invisible hand that collared Marvel, was
hit in the face and went reeling back. The door opened, and Marvel made a frantic effort to obtain a
lodgement behind it. Then the cabman collared something. “I got him,” said the cabman. The barman’s
red hands came clawing at the unseen. “Here he is !” said the barman. Mr. Marvel, released, suddenly
dropped to the ground and made an attempt to crawl behind the legs of the fighting men. The struggle
blundered round the edge of the door. The voice of the Invisible Man was heard for the first time,
yelling out sharply, as the policeman trod on his foot. Then he cried out passionately and his fists flew
round like flails. The cabman suddenly whooped and doubled up, kicked under the diaphragm. The
door into the bar parlour from the kitchen slammed and covered Mr. Marvel’s retreat. The men in the
kitchen found themselves clutching at and struggling with empty air. Finally, the policeman fired five
shots towards the Invisible Man.
6
OR
Silas Marner came and settled at a cottage near the deserted stone-pit in Raveloe. The base betrayal of
his friend William Dane who implicated Silas on a charge of theft made him suffer ex-communication
from the religious sect at Lantern Yard. As the lots drawn by the church authorities had declared him
guilty, he had lost faith in God and man. His engagement to Sarah was broken. She married his false
friend William. Having lost his moorings at Lantern Yard, Silas settled at Raveloe. Silas had formerly
loved the purpose of money when he used it primarily for charitable purposes, but now it had no
purpose. His love was transferred to the money itself, and he began hoarding the earnings from his
Solutions
11
trade. As Silas continued his solitary existence, his growing hoard of money became an absorbing
passion. During this period of Silas’s gradual withering, an incident occurred that showed that the
fountain of affection in him had not become completely dry. While carrying water from a well nearby
in his brown mud-pot, Silas accidentally dropped it and the pot broke into three pieces. Sick with grief,
he carried the pieces home. After piecing them together, he kept the broken pot in its usual place as
a memorial. Such was the dreary, recluse-like life of Silas Marner till about Christmas of the fifteenth
years. Then an event occurred which in a singular way blended his life with that of his neighbours. It
was the theft of his money by Dunstan Cass, the scapegrace son of Squire Cass.
6
13. ‘The Invisible Man’, Griffin is a gifted young university medical student with albinism, who studied
optical density. He believes he is on the verge of a great scientific discovery. To finance his experiments,
Griffin robs his own father. Working reclusively in his flat, he invents a formula to bend light and
reduce the refractive index of physical objects, making them invisible. He intends from the start to
perform the process on himself, but is forced to rush his experiments due to persistent intrusion from
his landlord, who is suspicious of his activities. He processes himself to hide from his landlord, and
sets fire to the building to cover his tracks. He winds up alone, invisibly wandering the streets of
London, struggling to survive out in the open, unseen by those around him. To make himself visible
again, he steals some clothes from a dingy backstreet theatre shop, including a trenchcoat and hat.
He takes up residence in the Coach and Horses Inn in the village of Iping, so that he can reverse
his experiment in a quiet environment, but complications arise when the locals are unnerved by his
appearance. As a result, his progress slows and he has insufficient money to satisfy the pub owners.
To pay the bill, Griffin burgles the home of Reverend Bunting. Now driven insane by his inability to
reverse the experiment, Griffin seeks assistance from a tramp named Thomas Marvel. Griffin pursues
him to the town of Port Burdock, where he runs into his old schoolmate Dr. Kemp. Griffin attempts
to convince Kemp to be his visible partner and help him begin a reign of terror. Kemp, rather than
assisting the crazed Invisible Man, alerts Colonel Adye of the Port Burdock police. Furious, Griffin
vows to kill Kemp. But Griffin is killed by navies. The invisibility wears off in death, and Griffin’s
corpse becomes visible again.
6
OR
Silas Marner is the titular hero of the novel. Originally, a member of Methodist denomination (a small
religious community) at Lantern Yard. After a false charge of theft against him, he leaves for Raveloe
and settles there as a linen-weaver. He loses his hoarded gold, rifled by Dunstan Cass, in his absence.
Eppie, the two-year old child of Molly Farren through Godfrey Cass toddles to his cottage on New
Year’s eve. Silas becomes a Godfather of her. He is restored to his faith in God and man by his love for
Eppie. Silas was a simple, kind-hearted and trustworthy man. His early life prior to his settlement in
Raveloe was marked by a tragedy. He was a member of the evangelical sect, a religious community in
Lantern Yard, but was excommunicated after being wrongfully shown guilty.
6
ll
ENGLISH CORE
Time : 3.00 Hours
Maximum Marks : 100
CBSE
Sample Question Papers
Solution to Question Paper
SECTION ‘A’ : READING
7
(30 marks)
1.(A) 1. (a) By minding our thoughts
1
2. (c) We are always active on the thought plane
1
3. (b) Every thought lives upon its energy and becomes a reality
1
4. (d) both (a) and (c)
1
(B) (a) Thoughts are important because we create our entire world by the way we think. 1
(b) Mind is the sum total of the states of consciousness grouped under thoughts, will and
feelings. 1
(c) Thought or intent determines the results of one’s action. 1
(d) Theosophy teaches us that thoughts are like small seeds which grow to make our character.1
(e) We can change our mood by mixing with people who are cheerful. We can bring about
the desired result by choosing the thoughts’ seeds of right ideas, noble and courageous
aspirations that will be received by the minds of the same nature. 1
(f) Right introspection will be required of us to determine what we really desire to effect.
1
(C) (a) dynamic 1
(b) cyclic 1
2.(A) 1. (d) all of the above
1
2. (b) smile on the face
1
(B) (a) It is important that he/she should recognize the signs of stress in his/her behaviour and be
healthy enough to enjoy success.
1
(b) A common reason for stress in an adolescent could be failure in examination.
1
(c) The heart diseases and accidents. 1
(d) The three responses that a person under stress gives are : flight, fight or flee. 1
(e) Herbal medicines and relaxation techniques are two stress busters. 1
(f) Signs in the behaviour, attitude of the individual, muscle tension, palpitation, high blood
pressure, indigestion and hyper-acidity.
1
(C)(a) collapse
1
(b) lethargic
1
3. (A) Title : Migraine : Causes and Prevention
1. A Common Illness
(i) more common than asthma or diabetes
(ii) more common in women
(iii)one in four women suffers in the age group 40-50.
2. Treatment available but people not aware
(i) most people dismiss it as a tension headache
(ii) children’s migraines taken as stress headaches
(iii) medicines available to reduce the frequency & severity of attack
3. Symptoms
(i) begins as a dull ache in the head or neck
Solutions
4. 5. 13
(ii) lasts for several hrs
(iii) nausea
(iv) vomiting
(v) senstivity to light, noise, smell
(vi) neck shoulder pain
(vii) dry mouth or shivering
Causes
(i) changes in the level of serotonin
(ii) when levels are high blood vessels constrict & vice versa
(iii) Serotonin levels affected by tension, sunspices, red wine, choc., & hormones.
Preventions
(i) identify triggers & avoid them
(ii) take painkillers like aspirin or paracetamol
(iii) changes in lifestyle-regular sleep & ex.-relaxation tech.
Abbreviations Used
1.hrs
—
hours
2.senstvty
—
sensitivity
3.choc.
—
chocolates
4.Ex.
—
exercise
5.&
—
and
6.Tech.
—
technique
(b) Summary : Migraine is a very common ailment. It can be treated but most people are not aware of
this fact and they simply avoid it thinking it is linked to stress or tension. The common symptoms
of migraines include throbbing pain on one side of the head, nausea, vomits, sensitivity to light and
5
sound, and shivering. Migraines are caused by changes in the level of serotonin in the body which
is influenced by factors like sleep, tension, sun, food or hormones. They can be prevented through
appropriate medication and adopting a healthy life style which includes regular sleep and exercise
and using some relaxation techniques when stressed.
3
SECTION ‘B’ : ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS
4.
(30 marks)
Lion’s Club
NOTICE
3rd July, 20XX
Blood Donation Camp
This is to inform that Lion’s Club, Trichy is organizing a blood donation camp in Shyamala Memorial
Hall on 10th July, 20xx. It is open to all students, parents and friends. Come one, come all and make
it a huge success.
Jay
(Secretary, Interact Club)
4
OR
36, New Town
Agra
4th April, 20xx
Dear Friends,
You are cordially invited to dinner on 10th April, 20xx at our residence to celebrate the achievement
of our son Suresh for having cleared the Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental entrance exam. Kindly grace
the occasion and give him your blessings for his future success.
Yours sincerely
Mr. and Mrs. Gupta
4
14
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
5. 43, Ram Nagar
Meerut
26th January, 20XX
The Manager
Paying Guest Service
Delhi
Subject : ‘Details About Accommodation’
Respected Sir,
I am a resident of Meerut and have joined coaching classes in Laxmi Nagar. I wanted to enquire if
there is a room available as paying guest in and around this area. If so, please let me know whether
it is single or twin sharing. Besides this, please also send me the details regarding monthly charges,
i.e., of boarding and lodging. Also kindly let me know if there is 24 hours power supply, mode of
transport available and also if there are any shopping centres located close by. I should also like to
know whether it is safe for me to come back at night from my coaching centre.
Hope you will send me the details as soon as possible so that I can shift at the earliest.
Thanking you.
Yours faithfully
Neeta Vyas
6
OR
121, Bank Street,
Kanpur
23rd March 20xx
The Editor
The Times of India
Kanpur
Subject : Educate Girl Child
Dear Sir,
Today’s girl child will be the mother of tomorrow. As a mother, she can give her child a sound nursing
and capable upbringing. At micro-level, educated women help in making the whole family including
the older family members, understand the values and importance of education, and at macro-level,
educated women add to the social and economical development of the the nation.
Discrimination between the education of girls and boys is common in rural areas. Surely things are
changing, though slowly.
The various awakening programmes launched by the government for encouraging the girls‘ education,
the introduction of TVs in the rural areas, the 33% reservation given to females in Panchayats, have
played a positive role in this direction but the result is not up to the desired level. Education for a girl
child means making the next generation well educated, full of virtues, free from useless superstitions,
confident and capable to do something good for the family, for the society and for the country as a
whole. So she must be given all the necessary education. Ignoring her, keeping her illiterate means that
we are creating an illiterate and ignorant generation. So it is perfectly true that educating a girl child
means educating a family. Development cannot be accelerated unless girls are given right education
in the right direction.
Yours sincerely
Raj
6
6.
Today’s Youth –Adventure Loving
Good morning to one and all present here, Today I’ve got an opportunity to share my views with you
on the topic ‘Today’s Youth–Adventure Loving‘. The power of the outdoors is indescribable. The life
skills, larger perspective and appreciation of our natural surroundings cannot be replicated anywhere
else. The majority of these important experiences can happen in our youth .These experiences not only
provide new perspectives and learning but also creates deep memories and irreplaceable bonds that
have insurmountable lifelong affects.
It’s important for teens to experience life outside their normal environment, to learn more about the
world outside their typical surroundings. On an adventure, you typically try new things and learn
things about yourself that you might not have known before. Teens can experience challenges, and
triumphs, all in one adventure.
Solutions
15
Use of the outdoors makes a major contribution to physical and environmental education and
enhances many other curriculum areas. It contributes to personal growth and social awareness and
develops skills for life and the world of work. Qualities such as a sense of responsibility and a purpose
in life are nurtured. There is also a great deal of intrinsic enjoyment and satisfaction to be experienced
from participation in outdoor activities Challenging outdoor experiences promote the development
of communication, problem solving and decision making skills which have a lot of importance across
a range of occupations. They encourage a positive “opting in” and “can do” attitude. Young people’s
horizons are broadened, new challenges are relished rather than shunned, and perseverance and
determination are reinforced. Values and attitudes developed in a context of shared endeavour help
to form a sound basis for a responsible citizenship.
Thank you
10
OR
Suggested Value Points :
FOR
– consumerism becomes excessive when it extends beyond what is needed
– personal credit allows to make purchases beyond income level
– advertisements reshape our desires around material possessions
– crime rate increases
– personal relationship gets affected
– rat-race to earn more
– forced to cope up with stress, other work related tensions
– results in a desire for more
– psychological health affected
AGAINST
– consumerism becoming hallmark of most world economies
– person’s standard of living is valued by his or her material possessions
– more industrial production
– higher growth rate economy
– more goods and services available
– comforts for a better living style
– advantageous since goods manufactured have to be sold. (Any other relevant details)
[CBSE Marking Scheme 2015] 10
Detailed Answer :
Good morning everyone,
It is true and all of us accept that the lives of our grandparents were much happier , peaceful and
relaxed. Though we have more luxuries now, more gadgets , more technology yet human suffering
and pain is only increasing.
Man has failed to understand that wants do not bring happiness, instead they bring dissatisfaction
and greed. The more contented we are, the more happy we will be. The race for consumerism is
increasing day-by-day. Now consumerism has become excessive as it has extended beyond what is
needed.
One of its reason may be that the facility of credit lure us to make purchases beyound our income
level. And also, the advertisement, that turns us to desire more and more material possessions. They
make us to think that the luxuries of yesterday have become necessities of today. Mobile phones, two
wheelers, ipads, these things are a normal part of teenagers‘ life. When they can’t afford this, they feel
themselves discontented. Infact, in the rat race of earning/acquiring more to get these luxuries, not
only personal relationship is getting affected but also crime rate is increasing. As a result, either they
resort to unlawful means in order to acquiring these things or fall a prey to depression.
We need to understand that happiness is a state of mind. Things do not bring us happiness. It is the joy
of getting a thing well done, helping others and just being grateful to what we have makes us happy.
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
16
7. GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN SOCIETY (Any other suitable heading)
Suggested Value Points:
Causes
— patriarchal set up
— low level of literacy
— poverty
— social customs, beliefs and practices (dowry etc.)
Solutions
— quotas for women in the Parliament and political parties etc.
— create awareness through media
— enact and enforce laws protecting women
— sharing domestic responsibilities
(Any other relevant points)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
Detailed Answer :
Gender Discrimination in Society
By - Karan
In India, discriminatory attitudes towards male and female have existed for generations and have
affected the lives of both the genders. Although the Constitution of India has granted men and women
equal rights, gender disparity still remains. Gender discrimination violates human rights. Its main
causes are the patriarchal set up, low level of literacy, poverty, social custom and beliefs etc. Dowry
also constitutes a major factor in this evil.
The cultural construct of Indian society which reinforces gender bias against men and women, with
varying degrees and variable contexts against the opposite sex, has led to the continuation of India’s
strong preference for male children. Practices like female infanticide and sex-selective abortion are
adopted which strongly reflects the low status of Indian women.
A decline in the child sex ratio(0–6 years) was observed with India’s 2011 census reporting which stands
at 914 females against 1,000 males, dropping from 927 in 2001 - the lowest since India’s independence.
We need to sensitize everyone to this important issue related to gender inequality. Educators should
foster in student equality, promote and strengthen the constitutional culture and stability. To promote
equality, it will be necessary to provide for equal opportunity to all not only in terms of access to
education, but also in terms of the conditions for success. Everyone has to be reminded of the inherent
equality of all through education. There should be quota for women in Parliament and political
parties etc. Even at the domestic front, responsibilities should be equally shared. Laws for protection
of women should be strictly enforced.
Discrimination may be latent or potent, open or subtle. It is infact a mind set, that operates within a
given situation. All efforts should be directed towards influencing this mind set with the awareness of
the principles of equality and justice.
OR
With the examinations round the corner, the stress levels of both the parents and wards are high and
about to reach the breaking points. But this is detrimental to the performance of the students. Instead
if both are relaxed it would be easier for both to face life as well exams. The parents should know, the
capability of their child and not have unrealistic expectations. They should expect their children to do
only what he is capable of and not draw unnecessary comparisons.
At the same time the students should also understand that the time has come for them to be serious
as their future depends upon their examinations. They should schedule their studies and follow it
seriously. At the same time they must also take proper rest and diet.
With a slight change in the attitudes, both parents and their wards would feel less stressed and be able
to perform better.
Solutions
17
SECTION ‘C’ : LITERATURE : TEXT BOOKS AND LONG READING TEXT
(40 marks)
8.(a) The unlucky heir is the boy with the stunted growth.
1
(b) He will inherit disability and disease rather than wealth and property.
1
(c) The stunted boy symbolises the disability he has inherited from his father and is reciting his
lesson from his desk.
1
(d) Suggested Value Points : One unnoted / sweet and young / dreamer / one who dreams about a
squirreli’s game.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 1
Detailed Answer :
A boy whose eyes can still dream of squirrel’s games, playing freely in the tree, with hope for the
future in his eyes, is sitting at the back of the dim class.
OR
(a) Aunt Jennifer lives in constant fear of her husband and she is also very weak and frail. So her
fingers were fluttering.
1
(b) It suggests Aunt’s suffering. The wedding band refers to the engagement ring which is also the
metal band that keeps her chained, and curtails her freedom. 1
(c) Aunt Jennifer is a timid woman who could never stand up boldly against her tyrant husband.
She remained a caged bird or a domestic maid. She bore her sufferings meekly. So, she created
tigers in her embroidery. These represented her silent revolt against uncle’s marriage band and
sufferings. She too wished to be as strong, fierce and free like the tiger. 1
(d) The image of Aunt Jennifer is that of a weak woman who has been treated badly by her husband
but she revolts silently in her own way by creating tigers.
1
9. Suggested Value Points :
(a)— after his successful attempts in Lake Wentworth and Warmlake became confident and understood
that ‘all we have to fear is fear itself ’
3
— during near death experience at YMCA pool.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016)
Detailed Answer :
After his successful attempts in Lake Wentworth and Warmlake Douglas overcome his fear of water
by hiring a trainer and learning how to swim. He understood that ‘all we have to fear is fear itself. He
realised that all obstacles, fears and terrors can be conquered. We must have the determination and
courage to meet them.
(b)— mistook peddler for an old comrade
— ironmaster was happy he found his comrade with whom he could spend Christmas eve
— loneliness of ironmaster made him desperate to invite the man home.
— because of condition in which he had found the peddler. (Any two)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
The iron master spoke kindly to the peddler and invited him home because he thought that he was
an old comrade with whom he could spend Christmas eve. Due to the dim light and the peddler’s
unkempt appearance, he mistook him for Nils Olof Von Stahle, someone he had known a long time
back.
(c) Suggested Value Points : Looks out of the car window at young trees sprinting/the merry children
running out of their homes/by not looking at her mother’s old, ashen face/by distracting herself.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
18
Detailed Answer :
Kamala Das tries to put away the thoughts of her ageing mother by looking out of the window of
her car. She saw young and healthy trees, cheerful children both represents happy life. She feels the
vigour and vitality in them and for sometime, she forgets about her ageing mother.
(d)— German teacher doubtful of Evan’s language ability.
3
— Evans could not even understand basic pleasantries in German. (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016)
Detailed Answer :
The poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ teaches us to be quiet for some time and introspect. The poet urges us to
stop all our activities, thoughtless actions and the race of moving from one day to the other. To know
ourselves and to rejuvenate ourselves, we must go inwards and introspect.
(e)— fixed procedure for breakfast
3
— first bell to pull the chairs
— at second bell all had to sit down
— at third bell all started earting with forks and knives, she felt out of place started crying.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016)
Detailed Answer :
The German teacher did not have a good opinion about Evan’s proficiency in German. He was doubtful
about whether he would pass the exam as Evans could not understand even the basic presentation in
German.
(f) When Zitkala-Sa was admitted in the Carlisle Indian School, she faced a number of rules that
the students had to follow. One of them was the manner of eating. There was fixed procedure for
breakfast. There were three bells which were rung before the students were allowed to start eating i.e.,
first bell for pulling the chairs, second to sit down and third to start eating with folk and knives. Being
a natural being, Zitkala-Sa could not digest the meaning of these polished manners which were alien
to her culture. She felt herself out of place.
10. Persistent efforts, firm determination and resolution lead a man to attain the goal of his life. In this,
perseverance plays an important role. One must never lose sight of one’s goal and keep on moving
ahead with courage and resolution. Raj Kumar Shukla, an illiterate peasant, was resolute in seeking
assistance from Gandhiji in the matter of share-cropping. He brought the plight of the peasants of
Champaran to the notice of Gandhiji. Gandhiji had some other appointments but this did not deter Raj
Kumar from his resolution and he followed Gandhiji wherever he went. Impressed by his determination,
Gandhiji fixed an appointment and kept it also by reaching there on the appointed date. He listened
to the grievances of the share-croppers and started the Civil Disobedience Movement. They came out
victorious and the landlords were given back their claims over their estates which reverted back to
the farmers. The firm determination of Raj Kumar Shukla was a milestone in achieving our
independence. It was the beginning of the birth of courage and self-reliance which later assisted us to
get our freedom.
6
OR
Suggested Value Points : Effect - author - unable to forget terrifying memories of childhood - robbed
him of confidence - develop life long complex - leads to major health and mental problems - constant
feeling of fear. Suggestions - deliberate planned effort - understanding of self and people - setting up
of school committee for monitoring - support of parents and community - awareness among children
to understand and report bullying.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2015) 6
Detailed Answer :
In the story ‘Deep Water’ the author, Douglas, was thrown into the deep end of the swimming pool,
which could have led to his death. These kind of cases of bullying and ragging persist in many teenage
groups and can have a very negative impact on the victims. The author was afraid and was unable to
forget the terrifying memories of childhood, he was robbed of his confidence. Similarly, others who
Solutions
19
become the victims of such ragging and bullying develop long life complexes leading to major health
problems. They grow up with the constant feeling of fear. To overcome this, schools and colleges
should make deliberate planned efforts. A special committee should be set up for monitoring such
activities. Parents and community should also support in bringing about awareness among children
to understand the after-effects of such actions.
6
11. Suggested Value Points :
— poor ragpickers/unschooled/barefoot/sometimes taking up odd jobs like working at tea stalls.
— garbage to them is gold, it is their daily bread.
— migrants (squatters) from Bangladesh, came to Delhi in 1973.
— their fields and homes swept away in storms.
— live in structures of mud with roofs of tin and tarpaulin, devoid of sewage, drainage or running
water.
— have lived for more than 30 years without identity, without permits but with ration cards.
— no intention of going back to their own country.
— wherever they find food, they pitch their tents. (Any five)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2015) 6
Detailed Answer :
The author says that her acquaintance with the barefoot ragpickers leads her to Seemapuri, a place on
the outskirts of Delhi. Those who live here are the people who settle on public land without a legal
right. They came from Bangladesh in 1971. Saheb’s family is our among them. Seemapuri was then a
wilderness. It still is, but it is no longer empty. About 10,000 ragpickers live there in structures of mud
with roofs of tin and tarpaulin, devoid of sewage, drainage and running water. They have lived there
for more than thirty years without an identity, without permits, but with ration cards and their names
on voter’s lists which enables them to buy grain.
They tell the author that food is more important than an identity. The author asks a group of women
in ragged sarees why they had left their beautiful land of green fields and rivers. They replied that if
at the end of the day they can feed their families and go to bed without an aching stomach, they would
rather live here than in the fields that give them no grains. Wherever they find food, they pitch their
tents. The author comments that surviving in Seemapuri means ragpicking. Garbage to them is their
daily bread.
6
OR
Derry is a fourteen year old boy with a face burnt by acid. Mr. Lamb serves as an ideal for Derry.
Mr. Lamb has a tin leg. But he never allows his disability to sour the joys of life. Derry on the other
hand makes himself quite pitiable and miserable. His hyper-sensitivity is like an open wound. He
can’t stand people staring at him. Even cruel and uncharitable remarks upset him. He can’t keep his
ears shut. Nor does he possess a large and generous heart like that of Mr. Lamb. Children call him
‘Lamey-Lamb’ but he does not mind it. He plays with them and gives them jelly and toffees. Derry has
developed a perverted thinking. The worst is that Derry distrusts this world and its people. We find
a change in Derry towards the end. Mr. Lamb’s ideas leave their imprint on him. He is free from that
complex now. He doesn’t care about his burnt face and it is no more important to him.
6
12. People in Port Stowe saw a “fist full of money” (no less) travelling without visible agency, along by
the wall at the corner of St. Michael’s Lane. A brother mariner had seen this wonderful sight that very
morning. When he tried to take that the money he was knocked headlong, and when he had got to his
feet the butterfly money had vanished. The other incidents of flying money were also noticed from
the neighbourhood, even from the August London and Country Banking Company, from the tills of
shops and inns money had been quietly and dexterously making off that day in handfuls and rouleaux,
floating quietly along by walls and shady places, dodging quickly from the approaching eyes of
men. And it had, though no man had traced it, invariably ended its mysterious flight in the pockets
of that agitated gentleman in the obsolete silk hat, sitting outside the little inn on the outskirts of Port
Stowe.
6
20
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
OR
In the early years of the nineteenth century, there lived a linen-weaver by name Silas Marner in a
stone cottage near the village of Raveloe, a country village in the central plain of England. His cottage
was situated not far from the deserted stone pit. It was fifteen years since he had come to Raveloe.
He lived all alone. He never invited anyone to his cottage, never strolled into the village to drink at
the Rainbow or to gossip with the villagers. He seemed to weave like the spider from pure impulse
without reflection. Though, outwardly Silas was a man of unchanging habits, his inward life had been
a painful memory. There was a dark chapter in his earlier life before he settled in Raveloe. Four days
journey from Raveloe, there was a small town called Lantern Yard. Silas was an artisan, who belonged
to a religious community which lived there. His mental life was full of activity and fellowship. Silas
went away with despair in his soul. His trust in man and God suffered a rude jolt. For a whole day, he
sat alone. On the second day, he received word from Sarah that their engagement was terminated. He
received the news silently and returned to his work at the loom. In a month’s time, Sarah was married
to William. Within a couple of months after this, Silas left Lantern card for good, and at last came to
Raveloe and settled down there as a weaver.
6
13. Dr. Cuss is a doctor living in the village of Iping. Intrigued by the tales of a bandaged stranger staying
at the Coach and Horses Inn. Dr. Cuss goes to see him under the pretence of asking for a donation
to the nurse’s fund. There he attempts to get an interview with Griffin. Actually, the interview is not
intended fairly by him. With an evil desire to know about the stranger out of his professional envy,
tries to infuriate him, rather tries to know something valuable. It was a fake type of interview as he
asks something else and aims at something else. Infact he is the first to realize the emptiness of the
stranger where there should be flesh and bone. Though Cuss is scared away after Griffin pinches his
nose with an invisible hand. He tells an outrageous story to his companious in town. To describe
his exprience. Cuss immediately goes to see the Rev. Bunting, who surprisingly, does not believe
the doctor’s wild story. Later, Cuss and Bunting obtain the Invisible Man’s notebooks, but these are
subsequently stolen back from them by the invisible Griffin, when he also takes both men’s clothes.6
OR
Rinehart is a mystery and a source of deep ambiguity in the ‘Invisible Man’. He never appears in the
novel and the narrator only learns of his existence when other people mistake him for Rinehart while
he is in disguise. Rinehart seems to be all things, to all people, pimp, bookie, and preacher, among
other things. Ultimately, Rinehart is an extremely surreal figure of Ellison’s creation, designed not to
be realistic or believable but rather unsettling and confusing. Rinehart represents a protean conception
to identify the idea, that a person’s identity can change completely depending on where one is and
with whom one interacts, an extreme version of the narrator’s conundrum throughout the novel. At
first, the narrator feels that Rinehart’s adaptability enables a kind of freedom, but he quickly realizes
that Rinehart’s formlessness also represents a complete loss of individual selfhood. In the end, the
liquidity of Rinehart’s identity is one of the forces that compel the narrator to discover his own more
solid identity. 6
nn
ENGLISH CORE
Time : 3.00 Hours
Maximum Marks : 100
CBSE
Sample Question Papers
Solution to Question Paper
SECTION ‘A’ : READING
1.(A) 1.
2.
3.
4.
(b) He was the only son and only child for the first eleven years
(d) All of the above
(c)They were much older than him
(c) Their knowledge of English
8
(30 marks)
1
1
1
1
(B)(a) Nehru had two sisters
1
(b) He had a typical Hindu joint family. It was a large family of cousins and near relatives. 1
(c) Nehru’s family name had been Kaul. When his ancestor, Raj Kaul migrated to Delhi and was
granted a residence near a canal (a Nahar), Nehru got attached to their name and it changed
to Kaul- Nehru. Eventually, Kaul got dropped and they simply became Nehru. 1
(d) On the journey from Delhi to Agra, his younger uncle was accused of kidnapping an English
child because his younger sister who was fair like most Kashmiri children, was taken to be
an English girl by some English soldiers.
1
(e) Raj Kaul.
(f) The Nehru family lost all their possessions after the revolt of 1857 and joined the numerous
other fighters who were migrating to Agra.
(C) (a) decline 1
(b) vanished 1
2.(A) 1. (b) traditional music, art, literature
2. (c) The breeze
1
(B) (a) Thousands of people go to temple ‘maidans’ and sit there throughout the night to listen to
‘nadaswaram’.
1
(b) South Indian dances are special because they are pure as well as sensuous.
1
(c) They all are pure, enchanting and divine.
1
(d) Karnataka‘s music has soft beauty and pace.
1
(e) Bharat Natyam is the most graceful and enchanting dance, whereas Kathakali is most masculine
and virile.
1
(f) It is a renowned international centre that has turned out hundreds of celebrated maestros and
dancers who have brought name and glory to our country.
1
(C) (a)cantankerous
1
(b)mellifluous
1
3. (a)Title – Childhood Fears
Notes :
1. Childhood
(i) a period of happiness
(ii) a period of memorable exp.
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
22
(iii) a period of terrifying mnts
2. Diff. kinds of fears
(i) fear of darkness
(ii) fear of getting lost
(iii)fear of not being accptd by others
3. Evol. from child to adult
(i) enables to recognise fears
(ii) helps to ovrcm fears
(iii) helps to understand the importance of friendliness & sincerity.
Abbreviations Used
1.Exp.
2.mnts
3.diff.
4. accptd
5. evol.
6. ovrcm
—
—
—
—
—
—
experience
moments
different
accepted
evolution
overcome
5
(b) Summary : Childhood, generally, is a period of happiness and of most memorable and carefree
time of a person’s life. But it is also a time when children, including the writer when he was a child,
have some fears which cause uncomfortable moments for them. In his childhood, the writer was
scared of darkness and any sort of sound would make him shudder and feel helpless. Another
childhood fear was the fear of getting lost and so he would go only where he was sure he would
never get lost. The worst fear was the fear of not being liked or accepted by others. But the journey
from childhood to adulthood teaches us how to recognise and overcome our fears. One realizes
that friendliness and sincerity encourage people to like others.
3
SECTION ‘B’ : ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS
4.
Issued in Public Interest : A.K. Public School, Green Park, Delhi
(30 marks)
Solutions
23
OR
36B, Phase-II
Preet Vihar
Lucknow
28th May, 20XX
Dear Swati,
You will be pleased to know that I have cleared my class XII examination with 96% marks and have
been declared a city topper. To celebrate the occasion, please join me in a small get together on 1st
June, 20XX at my residence at 7 p.m. Hope you will surely come and be a part of my happiness.
Yours lovingly
Namita
4
5.
Suggested Value Points :
Uncovered manholes, frequent accidents
-
Can be lethal for all persons, especially small children.
-
Causes bad smell, pollution, breeding area for mosquitoes.
-
Lack of streetlight adds to the woes and difficulties.
-
Authorities should take action.
(CBSE Marking Scheme 2014) 6
Detailed Answer :
Sunrise Apartments
Gymakhana Road,
Pune,
20th July 20XX
The Editor
The Times of India
Pune
Sub. : Problems due to open manholes
Through the column of your esteemed daily newspaper, I would like to draw the attention of the
Municipal Commissioner towards the problems faced by the residents of our colony due to open
manholes.
These have become a cause of frequent accidents specially at night. Non-availability of the street
light adds to the miseries as it can be lethal for everybody, especially for the small children. They can
unknowingly fall in them. Moreover, manholes spread pollution and causes bad smell. They have
become breeding area for mosquitoes. Every now and then, there is danger of diseases and accidents.
The concerned authorities have been reported many a time but to no avail.
To avoid any fatal accident, the manholes should be closed immediately. City dwellers and school
going children can also help in keeping the roads safe, by not throwing garbage on the roads and not
leaving stones and bricks here and there. They should also drive slowly and safely.
It is my request to the Municipal Commissioner to take some quick and positive action.
Yours sincerely
Amit
OR
1, M.G. Road
Mysuru
29th April, 20xx
The Director
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
24
Sure Future Ltd.
3, Shahjahan Road,
New Delhi
Subject : Information about Universities in Singapore
Dear Sir,
I am a B. Com. final year student and after its completion, I wish to pursue a post graduation degree
in management from Singapore. I have come to know about your organization from some reliable
sources as well as from the internet. It would be really great if you could furnish me with the details
about the admission procedures to various universities there alongwith the relevant brochures at
the above mentioned address. It’ld be kind on your part if you send me the guidelines of the job
opportunities after those courses.
Thanking you
Yours faithfully
Keshav
6
6. Suggested Value Points :
-
Outdoor games make us active, agile and alert.
-
Exchange of ideas and thoughts.
-
Social circle is broadened.
-
More joyful than sitting alone on computers and chatting. (CBSE Marking Scheme 2014) 10
Detailed Answer :
Good Morning Respected Principal, teachers and very dear friends, today I Suraj have got a golden
opportunity to express my views on how games and sports are important for the personality
development and hence they should be made compulsory in schools.
Sports and games keep you healthy and it is rightly said that healthy mind resides in a healthy body.
Sports actually help in the development of the personality and teach or inculcate the traits that are
really essential in the society. By participating in tournaments, one gets opportunity to visit different
places which gives the person a chance to meet more people. It broadens the social circle of the player.
Opportunity to exchange ideas and thoughts makes the person bold and alert.
Sports and Games teaches you team spirit and help maintain cordial relations with other member
of the team. They also teaches you patience and discipline and help in keeping your body agile and
active. Which inturn makes you healthy and happy. Otherwise also it is more joyful to play outdoor
games than sitting alone on computers and do chatting.
Not only this, sports and game can also become your career if pursued properly and with a focussed
mind. Therefore, in my opinion sports and games should be made compulsory in every school.
Thank You.
OR
Honourable Judges, respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends.
A very good morning to all. Today’s topic ‘community service once a week should be introduced
in all schools and should be graded’ makes me laugh because how can you expect a young student
moving about and offering his/her service to the community around the school and that too forcibly,
i.e., just to get grades and what about the people to whom the service is being rendered ? Will they take
it positively, will it not become their habit to depend upon the students for a particular thing to be
done ?
This act should be done voluntarily and with the true feeling from the core of the heart. It should not
be a ‘time-pass’ for the students and moreover it will not be possible for the teachers to keep a watch
on the activities of all the students.
Social and community services are done from the true feelings of the heart. You cannot force it upon
anybody. Hope you all are convinced with my views.
Thank you.
6
Solutions
25
7. HOW CAN WE STOP BEING CRUEL TO ANIMALS
Suggested Value Points :
— adopt stray animals
— set up animal welfare organisations / homes for stray animals
— government policies – stricter enforcement
— schools to educate about endangered species through participative workshops
— ensure no harm done to animals in films
— volunteer to assist RWA in management of stray animals (Any four)
(Any other relevant details)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
Detailed Answer :
How can we stop being cruel to animals
By Karuna
It is a common scene to see a wounded cow or an injured dog in a street. Many a time, their owners
abandon them because these animals, no longer, are of any use to them. Even on streets these animals
are sometimes teased or beaten for fun or simply ignored and allowed to die a painful death.
It’s not only up to the legal system to ensure that communities across the country are aware and
educated about animal cruelty. There are plenty of things that the citizens can do everyday. The
simplest action is for people to take care of their own pets and learn the facts so they can educate
others about proper animal care. Another easy way to help is by donating or volunteering at a local
animal shelter for stray animals. Contrary to the popular belief, volunteering doesn’t require a lot
of time; simply going for a few hours a week helps tremendously. At school, students should be
educated about extinction of endangered species. For this purpose, partipative workshops should be
organised. Moreover, it should be ensured that no harm is done to the animals in films. Finally, by
writing letters you can remind your local lawmakers that animal abuse is a real problem that needs to
be addressed. There should be stricter enforcement of the government policies.
Taking a few minutes to support this worthy cause not only helps animals, but also allows you to
feel proud about standing up for something so important to society.It is our job to be the voice of the
creatures who cannot speak for themselves.
OR
Mushrooming of Coaching Centres
By Gurpreet
Coaching centres and private tuition centres have been mushrooming all over the city over the past
few years. These coaching and tuition centres make promises of providing the best possible help to the
students but end up with failed promises. They are rather a minting machine for the teachers.
Young minds, who actually need proper counselling are being exploited at such places. Many a days,
the teachers do not turn up and sometimes they dismiss the class with a promise to solve a certain
problem of a child in a particular subject proving their incapability.
Students are attracted to such places because their friends are going there and they would get
comfortable time to talk to each other.
Such coaching centres with sub-standard teachers can be found in every nook and corner of the city.
Teachers and parents are equally responsible for the growth of such institutions. The decision of
choosing a coaching centre should not be hasty as it is a matter of the students’ future. Children
should try to be more self-dependent and more judicious.
10
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
26
SECTION ‘C’ : LITERATURE : TEXT BOOKS AND LONG READING TEXT
(40 marks)
8. (a) Suggested Value Points : Poet’s mother looked pale and wan because she was very old. (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
The poet’s mother looked pale and wan as she was old.
(b) Suggested Value Points : The fear of ageing and ultimate death / separation. (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
The speaker’s ache was fear of being separated from her mother due to her ageing and death.
(c) Suggested Value Points : She has lost her shining skin and strength and was like the hazy, obscure
winter moon.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
Mother has lost the brightness of her skin and strength due to her old age and has become just as the
winter moon lazy and obscure.
(d) Suggested Value Points : My Mother at Sixty-Six, Kamala Das. (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
Name of the poem is My Mother at Sixty Six, and the poet is Kamla Das.
OR
(a) Suggested Value Points : Shakespeare and his work are of no use to slum children. (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
Shakespeare is wicked because Shakespeare and his works are of no use to the slum children.
(b) Suggested Value Points : The map does not depict their own world of narrow lanes. (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
Map is a bad example because it does not depict their own world of narrow lanes. It shows the places
that are beyond their reach.
(c) Suggested Value Points : They lived like rats in their cramped holes.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
They lived like rats in their cramped holes where there is no brightness in their lives.
(d) Suggested Value Points : Their future is foggy and uncertain. Their birth, life and death – all are
enveloped by darkness.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
This means that their future is foggy and uncertain. Their birth, life and death – all are enveloped by
darkness.
9. (a) Suggested Value Points :
— the crofter felt proud of the cow that gave him enough milk to support him
— to convince the peddler
— was lonely / happy to share his confidences generously with the peddler
—trusting (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
The Crofter believe shown thirty kronors to the peddler to convince him because he felt that the
peddler did not believe what he had been saying. Moreover, he felt lovely, so he wanted to share his
confidences generously with him.
Solutions
27
(b) Suggested Value Points :
— experience of fear and death and its conquest made him live intensely
— conquering fear made him realise true value of life and helped him enjoy every moment of life
— learnt ‘all we have to fear is fear itself’
— made him more confident and determined (Any two) (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
At YMCA swimming pool, the experience of fear and death and then its conquest made him brave
and live, i.e., the conquest over fear made him realise true values of life and helped him enjoy every
moment of life. If also made him more confident and determined.
(c) Suggested Value Points :
— For elder – means of survival
— For children – wrapped in wonder / they expect to get a coin / gives them the hope of finding
more.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2015) 3
Detailed Answer :
To the children, the garbage is wrapped in wonder. They keep looking for something exciting in it — a
coin, a ten-rupee note. To parents, it was a means of survival as it is the only means of their earning.
(d) Suggested Value Points :
— beautiful things are a joy forever / source of eternal joy
— provide peaceful sleep and mental peace
— uplift our gloomy souls
— provide hope, health, happiness, contentment and comfort
— experience of the divine feeling (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 3
Detailed Answer :
Beautiful things are a source of enternal joy which provide peaceful sleep and mental peace, they
uplift our gloomy souls; provide us hope health, happiness, contentment and comfort. Above all,
these provide a experience of divine feeling.
(e) Suggested Value Points :
— Evans not a violent person
— pleasant sort of a chap
— one of the stars at the christmas concert
— good at imitations
— congenital kleptomaniac
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
The Governor gave quite a satisfactory report about Evans to the Secretary of the Board. It stated that
Evans had no record of violence. He was quite a ‘pleasant sort of chap’. Evans was one of the stars at
the Christmas concert. He suffered from a weakness. He was just a congenital kleptomaniac.
(f) Suggested Value Points :
— bitter cold day, snow covered ground
— large bell rang for breakfast
— annoying clatter of shoes disturbed peace
— constant clash of harsh noises and an undercurrent of many voices murmuring an unknown tongue
— marched into dining room
— were given tight fitting clothes which Zitkala-Sa found immodest (Any two)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
28
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
Detailed Answer :
Her first day in the land of apples was full of embarrassment and indignities. While others were
moving for breakfast, the blanket wrapped around her was removed. It was a bitter cold day and the
ground was covered with snow. She was given tight fitting clothes which she found immodest. In
such a condition, she marched into the dining room.
OR
10.
Suggested Value Points :
— studied the problems and got the facts
— visited the Secretary of the British landlords’ association
— met the British Official Commissioner of Tirhut Division
— consulted the lawyers and chided them for collecting fee from the sharecroppers
— disobeyed the court order and listened to the voice of conscience
— inspired the peasants to overcome fear and be self-reliant
— was prepared to go to prison for the sake of peasants
— agreed to 25% refund to make the poor farmers realize their rights
— inspired the lawyers to go to jail with him
— four protracted interviews with the Lieutenant Governor
— ensured the triumph of civil disobedience
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 6
Detailed Answer :
First of all, Gandhiji began by trying to get the facts, for this purpose he visited the secretary of the
British Landlord’s Association, but he refused to give any information to an outsider. Next, he called
upon the British Official Commissioner of the Tirhut Division in which Champaran district lay. The
Commissioner bullied him and advised him to leave Tirhut. This shows that Gandhiji was a staunch
seeker and believer of truth.
But Gandhiji did not leave and rather proceeded to Motihari, the capital of Champaran. He mobilized
the support of the lawyers and peasants. He got an official notice to quit Champaran immediately. But
he disobeyed the order and was summoned to court. The spontaneous demonstration of thousands
of farmers was their liberation of fear of the British. Gandhiji just wanted the Civil Disobedience
movement or Satyagraha in a non-violent manner. Later on, for India’s freedom struggle Satyagraha
and non-violence became the pillars of strength.
OR
Suggested Value Points : Life of the peddler :
—poorly dressed, starving, lonely, tramp, wandered from place to place, making small rat traps with
material begged from stores or big firms, begged and committed petty thievery, scared of the police
meeting with the old crofter.
—the crofter‘s loneliness and hospitality meeting with the Ironmaster and his daugher (Edla)
—father - ready to turn him out when his real identity was known.
—daughter treated him like a guest, offered him good food, clothes and shelter/treated him like the
regimental officer as intitially assumed by her father.
—this treatment brought about a total transformation in the peddler-resolved to pull himself up, to
live a of respect and dignity.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2010) (Any six)
Detailed Answer :
The theme of human loneliness and need to have someone to share one‘s joys and sorrows run
throughout the story. To begin with, the reader‘s attention is drawn to the peddler who is lonely and
in his loneliness, he makes rat-traps and is left to his own meditation. When he knocks at the cottage,
the crofter welcomes him and entertains him. It is because the crofter is lonely. He wants someone to
talk to. He finds peddler a good companion and tells him a lot about himself and his cow, thought the
peddler is a complete stranger to him.
Solutions
29
Then, we find that the ironmaster and his daughter are also lonely. They live in a big house and have
nobody else for company. So, they insist that the peddler should spend the Christmas Eve with them.
11. Suggested Value Points : Both belong to poor families – Jansie practical and realistic – ready to work
in a biscuit factory – advices Sophie not to day dream – can’t be a manager – father will not allowSophie – not practical – dreamer – dreams of wonderful shop – wants to become an actress or fashion
designer – looking for something sophisticated and fancyfull – over ambitious and wavering mind.6
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014)
Detailed Answer :
Sophie and Jansie both are friends and belong to poor families. Jansie is very practical and realistic,
whereas Sophie lives in the world of fantasy. Jansie knows that after passing out from school they
both have to work in a biscuit factory and she is ready for it but Sophie dreams to open a boutique,
become a fashion designer, manager or an actress. Jansie discourages her from dreaming such things.
Sophie is over-ambitious and dreams of such things that are beyond her access. She is always looking
for something sophisticated and fancyful. She even goes to the extent of cooking wild story that she
met Danny Casey in a shopping arcade and was going out on a date with him. So she can be said
overambitious girl with wavering mind as compared to Jansie who is very practical.
OR
Suggested Value Points :
— Obedient son / humane / kind / compassionate / patriotic / a caring husband / a good human
being / rose above national prejudice.
— Duty conscious / professional / skillful. (Any two)
[CBSE Marking Scheme, 2012] 6
Detailed Answer :
Dr. Sadao and Hana face a dilemma for quite a long time. Dr. Sadao was in a fix whether to serve his
duty or show his loyalty towards his nation. As a doctor, he could not throw a wounded man back into
the sea. But if he and Hana gave him shelter in their house, they would be arrested. Had they handed
him over to the police that would have meant throwing him into the jaws of death. Ultimately, the
duty of a doctor overpowered all other petty considerations. Both of the them carried the wounded
man into their house. Hana asked Yumi to wash his wounds. Yumi flatly refused to obey. She revolted
at the idea of serving a white man. Hana herself washed the wound with a clean steaming towel. By
this time, Dr. Sadao had decided to operate on the unfortunate prisoner.
Hana obeyed her husband and followed his instructions. Eventually, Dr. Sadao removed the bullet.
The man was still unconscious but Dr. Sadao declared that he would live.
Thus, we see that Dr. Sadao was a kind hearted man and had also performed his noble duty as a
doctor. He saved a dying man. Love for humanity and the ethics of a doctor won over petty and
narrow racial considerations.
12. Suggested Value Points :
— Marner – compared to a spider weaving a web.
— When he loses gold – feels helpless – likened to an ant.
— Silas tries to rehabilitate – a new emerging plant.
— His relationship with Eppie – flower in bloom.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 6
Detailed Answer :
In the novel, ‘Silas Marner’, the narrative is constructed with ample reference to plant and animal
imagery, charting Silas progression from the figure of an alienated and isolated loner to a well loved
father figure Silas, as a solitary weaver, is shown as being akin to a spider, which also weaves its
web in solitude. But as he becomes a prominent figure in the village, he is compared to a plant which
draws association of nature and nurture along with the blossoms into a father, his consciousness
unfolding, metamorphosing from a loner to a father. The images from the natural world doubly drive
in the point of growth considering the fact that the novel is an ironic commentary on the increasingly
30
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
industrialized society of England, where things manufactured rather than grown. Eliot by hearkening
to these images of natural growth, juxtaposes a preindustrial rural village next to the image of an
increasingly urbanised and industrial setting, to show that actual growth happens only in the natural
world.
OR
Suggested Value Points : Ending happy – just in a, way – Griffin dies – Marvel becomes rich with
stolen money – Sad and not just – because Griffin dies – Marvel should not have become rich with the
stolen money – Griffin misuses his powers – creates terror – harms – steals – Kemp could also misuse
the research – happy ending if Griffin had realized his mistake.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 6
Detailed Answer :
Seeing the activities of Griffin it seems good when Griffin dies but finally the ending seems to be sad
and not just because Marvel should not have become rich with the stolen money. It would have been
better if Griffin had found the formula again of becoming visible and led a normal life after realizing
his mistake. Griffin is shown making misuse of his power. He steals and harms people and creates
terror, Kemp could also misuse the research, he could also harm people and take privilege to this
formula. Therefore, all is well that ends well. In the end, had Griffin been alive and repented his deeds,
it would have been a happy and just ending.
13. Suggested Value Points :
l Eppie comes as a touch of cheer – toddles in Silas cottage when she was of two years, after her
mother’s death.
l Has golden curls which Silas fantasised as the return of his lost gold.
l Lovable – accepts Silas as her father.
l Fond of outdoors – persuades Silas to grow a garden – affectionate to animals.
l Her sense of responsibility and gratitude to Silas remain constant and unwavering.
6
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014)
Detailed Answer :
When Molly Farren, the secretly married wife of Godfrey died in the snow on her way to Red House
on the New year’s eve, her two year old child toddled towards the open door of Silas and slept on the
sack before the hearth. Silas thought her to be the gift in place of his lost gold. She came as a touch
of cheer to him. She is so lovable that she accepts Silas as her father. She is fond of being outdoors
and persuades Silas to grow a garden. She is also affectionate to animals. All that was dear and good
to Eppie was also dear and good to Silas. Her sense of responsibility and gratitude to Silas remains
constant and unwavering. She regenerates Silas from a morose miser to a kind father and neighbour.
OR
Suggested Value Points : Both scientists – different approach – Griffin does not think about humanity
– pre – occupied with himself and his research – disconnects himself from everyone – over – ambitious
– selfish – isolated from others.
Kemp – caring attitude – reflected in his actions – he asks the housemaids to keep themselves locked
irrespective of anything – apprises, warns, and advises all about the Invisible Man’s intentions –
money is not of value – become the reason for someone’s isolation or evil actions.
6
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014)
Detailed Answer :
Although both are scientists but they are very different. They have different approach towards
life. Griffin does not think about humanity, he is pre-occupied with himself and his research, he
disconnects himself with everyone, he is over-ambitious, selfish and isolated from others. When he
becomes invisible, he enjoys playing pranks with others.
Kemp is of caring attitude. This trait is reflected in his actions. He asks the housemaids to keep
themselves locked irrespective of anything. He warns and advises all about the Invisible Man’s
intentions. He believes money is of no value as it becomes the reason of one’s isolation. But finally
Kemp betrays his old acquaintance, i.e., an Invisible Man, although it was for the good of the society.
nn
ENGLISH CORE
Time : 3.00 Hours
Maximum Marks : 100
CBSE
Sample Question Papers
Solution to Question Paper
SECTION ‘A’ : READING
1. (A) (1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
9
(30 marks)
(b) Small actions and decisions are important in one’s life. 1
(a) Steadily gave up bad habits.
1
(c) Every day Gandhi made efforts to change himself in some small way. 1
(b) They build character in small ways.
(CBSE Marking Scheme 2014) 1
(B) (a) Suggested Value Points : build character. (CBSE Marking Scheme 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
Small actions and choices build our characters.
(b) sequential series – Eg. of child. (CBSE Marking Scheme 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
Organic process of growth is a growth through sequential series of stages, for e.g., the child first learns
to crawl, then to stand and walk and finally to run.
(c) to make oneself grow in a small way – everyday. (CBSE Marking Scheme 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
Organic process of growth through a sequential series i.e., to make oneself grow in a small wayeveryday is the ‘universal law of nature’.
(d) tried to change himself – reform – grow in small ways. (CBSE Marking Scheme 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
He did so because he grew in small ways in his day-to-day affairs, changed himself and brought a
reform in his day-to-day life.
(e) practice – discipline – self mastery – used freedom in right way – worked on small things –
learned from mistakes. (CBSE Marking Scheme 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
His struggles, fears, doubts and anxieties on one side and on other side his practice, descipline, his
efficiency to work on small things, his tendency to learn from mistakes were not seen by most people.
(f) small step – one at a time – remain optimistic. (CBSE Marking Scheme 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
We can achieve our ideal goals by taking small steps one at a time and performing it by being optimistic.
(C) (a) nurtured, (b) impact. 2.A. (1)
(2)
B. (a)
(CBSE Marking Scheme 2014) 2
(b) becomes a subject for photographers.
1
(c) Many renowned actors are rickshaw pullers.
1
He stares ahead blankly because he is feeling sad / has no choice / he is in pain / his back hurts
/ rickshaw pulling only source of livelihood / He was feeling tired/His future was bleak and
steeped in poverty.
1
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
32
(b) Their poverty represents the poor of Calcutta / He makes a great subject for the photographers,
writers and the film-makers.
1
(c) The fact that he visited home once a year / he sends ` 300/- per month tells us that he loved his
family.
1
(d) He stays in a room / in a nearby lane / in Calcutta
1
(e) Rickshaw puller compared to a horse with the rickshaw compared to a carriage/ they make
quite a pair / both are old and withered.
1
(f) They all hail from the countryside / all wear lungi / almost all are elderly / often barefoot / and
they are very poor
1
C. (a) famous/most noticed
1
(b)livelihood.
3. (A) Title : Work - Pleasant or Boring :
1. Doing wrk leads to :
(i) happiness
(ii) unhappiness
2. Adv. of wrk
(i) brings relief & delight
(ii) keeps busy & fills time usefully
(iii) prevents boredom
(iv) makes holidays imp. & zestful
3. Disadv. of wrk
(i) brings boredom at times
(ii) seems waste of time
(iii) done something out of compulsion
4. Why wrk is essential
(i) gives chances of success
(ii) opp. of ambition
(iii) builds reputation
(iv) keeps continuity of purpose
Abbreviations Used
1. wrk.—
work
2. adv.—
advantages
3. disadv.—
disadvantage
4. & —
and
5. imp.—
important
6. opp.—
opportunity
5
(b) Summary : Work brings happiness as well as unhappiness. It has its advantages, for example
it brings relief and delight, keeps one busy and fills time usefully, it prevents boredom and makes
holidays important and zestful. It has its disadvantages also as it brings boredom at times and seems
to be a waste of time. Though it is boring when it is done out of compulsion, yet work is essential as
it gives us chances of success, opportunities of ambition. It builds reputation and keeps continuity
of purpose.
3
Solutions
SECTION ‘B’ : ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS
33
(30 marks)
4. LOST AND FOUND
Suggested Value points :
— what - bag
— where - taxi from Lucknow airport to Hazaratganj probable time
— description of the bag – colour, make, size etc.
— contents of bag
— offer or reward
— contact
— any other relevant details
(Note : marks to be awarded if written as an advertisement)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 4
Detailed Answer :
Lost and Found
A small red colour leather beg containing some important documents has been left in a taxi while
travelling from Lucknow airport to Hazaratganj between 10 to 11 a.m. Whosoever finds it, is requested
to contact at the number given below. The finder will be suitably rewarded.
Karan
Contact No. 9191909089
OR
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 4
5. REPLY TO LETTER OF COMPLAINT
Suggested Value Points :
— reference to the complaint letter of Principal
— regret for the inconvenience
— reason for delay / less number sent
— accept responsibility
— recall damaged books - assurance to deliver books again without delay.
(Any other relevant points)
Detailed Answer :
Standard Book House
Fort Road
Kochi
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 6
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
34
April 2, 20xx
The Principal
Sunrise Global School
Calicut
Sub : Compensation against faulty supply
Sir,
This is with reference to your complaint letter, ref. no. 4231/AP/16, we regret for the inconvenience
caused to you. The reason that you received your order late is that our labour had gone on strike. So
the order was sent by the personal staff which sent you the books only out of the available stock. We
accept our fault. Now everything has become OK so we take it as our responsibility to correct our
mistakes and would like to recall the damaged books.
We assure you to deliver books as per your order in a good condition and without any delay.
Thanking You
Yours sincerely
Karan Kumar
(Manager)
OR
5. Detailed Answer :
121, Ram Nagar
Sitapur
23 March, 20XX
The Principal
National Public School
Kanpur
Sub : Applicaton for the post of Laboratory Assistant
Dear Sir,
This is in response to your advertisement in ‘Hindustan Times’ dated 21 March, 20XX for the post of
a Lab Assistant. I would like to apply for the same.
I have done my graduation in Science. Thereafter, I have acquired sufficient experience working in
various institutions. I would like to switch to your prestigious institution for better career prospects.
I have enclosed my resume. I hope my particulars would meet the requirements.
Yours sincerely
Rani
RESUME
Name :Rani
Father’s Name
:
Mr. Ram Shankar
D.O.B
:
12 April 1985
Address
:
121, Bank Street
Ram Nagar, Sitapur
Education
:
B.Sc (Biology)
:
(2002-2005) Librarian, G.G. Public School.
Experience
(2005-till date) Librarian, S.S. Convent School
Hobbies & Interests
:
Reading & Painting
Reference
:
Mr. D. Saraswat
Principal,
Somerset International School New Delhi
Solutions
35
6. LIBRARY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE AT SCHOOL
Suggested Value Points
— important for students as buying books expensive
— source of reference
— a quiet place
— digital libraries – new trend
(Any other relevant details)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
Detailed Answer :
Library Plays an Important Role at School
Good morning to one and all present in this morning assembly. Today, I, Karuna, Head Girl, have got
a golden opportunity to share my views with you on the importance of the Library at school. Today
the internet has become a major source of information. We can get all the information we want-just by
a click of a mouse. We can read, write and even play on the internet. But inspite of information being
easily available, the school libraries have retained their importance and that is because everyone does
not have access to the internet. The average and economically poor students find the school library
important and useful. They can sit and read there without paying a single rupee on buying expensive
books. Moreover, that quite place leads to more and improved concentration.
Definitely libraries cannot be replaced by computers. Books have their own importance. The beautiful
illustrations make you fly on the wings of imagination. Libraries do not need electricity all the time.
The books available there can be read easily during daylight, that also without any tension about
electricity. So libraries have and will ever retain their importance. Now-a-days, we can enjoy the new
trend of library, i.e., digital library that has bountiful of options within one’s reach.
Thank you.
OR
RISING PRICES CAN BE CONTROLLED ONLY BY THE GOVERNMENT
Note: Student’s views to be expressed either for or against the topic
Suggested Value Points :
FOR
— laws made by the government
— government can control factors responsible for the price hike
— infrastructure, relaxation, subsidies - in government hands
AGAINST
— natural causes like weather responsible
— government not solely responsible
— hoarding / black marketeering
— gap in demand and supply
(Any other relevant point)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
Detailed Answer :
Rising Prices Can be Controlled only by the Government
Respected Chairperson, honourable judges and my dear friends.
I am standing here before you today, to express my views for the motion - ‘Rising prices can be
controlled only by the government’. I also agree with the point that the year that has gone by has
burnt a big hole in the common man’s pocket, the reason being uncontrollable inflation. The prices of
items of daily consumption such as milk, vegetables, pulses etc. have been sky-rocketing and it has
become difficult for the common man to make the both ends meet. Prices of food grain and pulses
have also gone up and are expected to go even higher. Cooking gas has also become a luxury these
days. Though the government has provided cheap grains to ration shops, they are hoarded by black-
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
36
marketers and sometimes huge quantities of rations are just thrown away but they do not reach the
common man. If necessary action is not taken soon it will become difficult for the common man to
survive.
It is high time that the government should initiate some action instead of just announcing the plans.
It is only the government that can control the factors responsible for the price hike. Black marketing
and hoarding should be controlled. Goods that are exported should be checked. First, the needs of
our own people should be looked into before exporting goods to other countries. Laws made by the
government should be strictly enforced and hoarders, black marketers should be punished.
Thank You
7. FESTIVALS OF INDIA
Suggested Value points:
— bring happiness and joy
— important part of our lives
— bring family and friends together
— unite the country
— promote brotherhood
(Any other relevant details)
NOTE: If the student gives an account of festivals it should be accepted
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016)
Detailed Answer :
Festivals of India
By Karuna
India is a land of diversity. Indians are diverse in their physical appearances, dresses, languages, and
creed. Even then, it is really fascinating to witness how the Bengalis, the Marathas, the Gujaratis, the
Tamils, the Andhras, the Oriyas, the Assamese, the Punjabis and the Kashmiris – have all retained
their peculiar characteristics throughout the ages. The dwellers of any part of India still have more
or less the same virtues. There is something living and dynamic about this heritage which manifests
itself in the way of festivals. These festivals know no distinction either of age, community, faith or
even nationality. Whether it is Holi or Diwali, Sankranti or Pongal, Id or Gurupurv : people of all ages
and areas enjoy them alike. The rich and the poor, all celebrate these festivals in their own way but
the fact that is to be noted is that these festivals bring happiness and joy to everyone. People forget
all differences of caste, creed and faith and become one in their joy while celebrating these festivals.
These festivals really unify the palaces and huts, the bare-bodied beggars and crowned kings. They
not only eat up our routine boredom, and tedium but also in return give us a freshness, chewing up
all our worries, and pumping zeal and enthusiasm in us. Eradicating the differences of religions and
regions, rich and poor, these festivals unite the country, promote brotherhood bring joy and spiritual
serenity for all Indians in particular and the world in general
OR
HOW TO MAKE WOMEN FEEL SAFE
(Any other suitable heading)
Suggested Value Points :
Problem :
— women unsafe
— domestic violence / rape / eve teasing / lack of safety in public places
Solution :
— inculcate respect for women
— implementation of stringent laws
— policing should be vigilant and effective
Solutions
37
— empower women
(any four points)
(Any other relevant details)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
Detailed Answer :
How to Make Women Feel Safe
By Karuna
It makes every one shocked and sad that even after sixty- six years of independence, there is not much
improvement in the condition of woman in India. India is a country where ‘woman is worshipped’ but
perhaps only in books. If we see the real picture, women are unsafe not only on roads or at the place
of their work but also at home. They usually become victim of domestic violence, eve-teasing or rape.
Superficially, it is said that the condition of today’s woman has changed like anything but the reality
states something different. Perhaps, a part of the society is unable to digest their upliftment.
Today, on one side, boys and girls are given equal education, equal opportunities in jobs, equal place
at sports but on another side, this act of getting ahead costs them heavily e.g. if a well-educated girl
gets married to a boy of the same standard, her parents have to give a heavy amount of dowry; if they
don’t do so, the girl may not get due respect. The cases of burning the bride for dowry demands are
not uncommon. At workplace, she has to face harassment from the male co-workers.
In order to make her feel safe, she herself has to become bold. She should stand up herself against
such practices instead of being ashamed. Dowry system must be checked seriously. The educated
boys should boycott such acts and stand up against their parents. And the most important thing is
that there is an urgent need to change the male mindset in its attitude towards women. They shouldn’t
consider them playthings. It should be kept in mind that if a woman appears frail at one moment, then
she can, at another moment can come out as ‘Goddess Kali’ who killed demons mercilessly. Learning
self-defence and the safety programmes, organized by some social service groups and government
will help them a lot towards feeling safe.
SECTION ‘C’ : LITERATURE : TEXT BOOKS AND LONG READING TEXT
(40 marks)
8. Suggested Value Points:
(a) by keeping quiet / counting upto twelve / halting all activities / doing nothing / thinking nothing
(Any one) (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 1
Detailed Answer :
We can bring about a ‘huge silence’ by keeping quiet or by doing or even thinking nothing.
(b) total, absolute, comprehensive silence / every person on earth has become quiet / exhaustive / all
encompassing silence / unusual exotic moment. (Any one)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 1
Detailed Answer :
Silence is called ‘huge’ because every person on the earth has become quiet. The earth, from outside,
seems inactive.
(c) we are in a mad rush / engaged in destructive activities / keep total silence / reflect and introspect
/ understand ourselves (Any one)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 1
Detailed Answer :
For the lact of understanding, we should reflect and introspect ourselves. It gives us time to plan a
better tomorrow.
(d) death / threaten ourselves with death / victory without survivors (Any one)
Detailed Answer :
This lack ultimately leads to death.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016)
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
38
OR
Suggested Value Points :
(a) the poor / impoverished children of the slums
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
These children are the children of the slum, very poor and impoverished.
(b) slum in which they are living / waste material heap / unwanted (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
Their slag heap is their badly nourished and very weak bodies due to the poor slum living conditions
and those were just like unwanted waste materials.
(c) physically weak / malnourished / impoverished
Detailed Answer :
Their bones are peeping through their skins because they are malnourished, physically weak and very
thin. There is hardly any flesh on their bodies.
(d) too poor to afford spectacles / shattering of dreams
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 1
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 1
Detailed Answer :
‘With mended glass’ the author means the glass or spectacles which are broken but has been repaired,
as they are too poor to afford a new one. Broken glasses are compared with shattering of dreams of
these children.
9. Suggested Value Points :
(a) —
—
—
—
—
no longer free
earns 800/- per month – gets 3 meals a day
lost carefree look
carries steel canister instead of plastic bag
no longer his own master
(Any two)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
When Saheb took up the job at a tea stall, he started earning ` 800 per month, along with 3 meals a day.
But even then, he was not happy because he had to carry steel canister everyday instead of plastic bag
for the tea stall owner. He lost his carefree look as he had lost his freedom.
(b) Suggested Value Points : A rattrap, three ten kroner notes and a letter; regret for robbing the Crofter; his
gratitude to Ms. Williamson for treating him like a captain. (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 3
Detailed Answer :
Peddler left a rattrap with three ten kronor notes and a letter of regret for robbing the Crofter. He
signed himself as captain Von Stahle to show his gratitude to Ms. Williamson for treating him like a
captain.
(c) Suggested Value Points : Fear of separation/worried about her ageing mother/fear of losing her mother/
anxiety.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2012) 3
Detailed Answer :
The poetess’s feelings at the airport were of fear that her mother was going to die because she was
looking very weak and she is not sure whether she will meet her mother again. She hides her fear by
smiling and assures her mother that they would meet again.
(d) Suggested Value Points : poverty expressed through :
— description of classroom
— description of children
— description of slum
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
The poem portrays the children in a very pathetic manner. Poverty is expressed through the description.
Solutions
39
They are undernourished and diseased. The poet compares their unkempt and dull hair to rootless
weeds. One of the girls is sitting with her head weighed down probably burdened with the miseries
of poverty. A boy had inherited his father’s disease and another is sitting unnoticed and yearning to
play outside as the room is too dark to sit in.
(e) Suggested Value Points : — puzzled by semi inflated rubber tube
— comment - asked if he was thinking of going for a swim.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
McLeery was carrying a small brown suitcase. Jackson found that it contained a sealed question paper
envelope, a yellow invigilation form, a special ‘authentication’ card from the examination board, a
paper knife etc. The object that puzzled him sorely was a semi inflated rubber tube. On seeing it he
asked McLerry if he was thinking of going for a swim.
(f) Suggested Value Points : — dilemma between patriotism and professional ethics/humanitarian
instincts.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 3
Detailed Answer :
He was in a great dilemma between his patriotism and professional ethics. He found that the wounded
man was an American P.O.W. (prisoner). As a patriotic Japanese, he should have handed over the
prisoner to the police but he know if he did that, the prisoner would die. And to let a person die
without treating him was against his professional ethics.
10. It was the determination and perseverance of Raj Kumar Shukla that brought Gandhiji to Champaran
and, thus, started the whole movement. It’s not just the skills and capabilities that contribute to
the success of a person in his/her respective area of interest. It’s the dedication, determination and
perseverance towards achieving the set goals that take the person to the place where he/she always
desires to be. It’s the perfect blending of one’s competencies and timing that really hits the bull’s eye.
OR
Suggested Value Points : — Values of positive attitude and courage : — Douglas overcame fear of
water by these virtues — initially afraid of water which deprived him of the joys of water sports —
positive attitude made him get an instructor and overcome fear — how these values help ordinary
people.
[Note : accept any other positive quality which may not refer to the text]
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 6
Detailed Answer :
Life is not a bed of roses. Everyone comes across problems in this life. One has to cross the path of
struggles and has to face difficulties at some stage of life. But these difficulties are like touchstones.
They test a person’s will-power as well as his courage. It is only positive attitude and courage which
helps us to achieve success in life and survive in the period of stress. We must realise that nothing is
impossible in this world. These virtues helped Douglas to overcome his fear. Douglas was initially
afraid of water which deprived him of the joys of water sports. Determined to get rid of his fear
and his positive attitude towards himself made him get an instructor. We must take a step ahead to
overcome all the problems with words ‘I can do it’ a personal battle with oneself can be won with
courage and determination. These two qualities combined with preseverance can liberate us from
having negative thoughts and we can accomplish the impossible.
11. Dr. Sadao Hoki was sent to America by his father at the age of twenty-two to learn surgery and
medicine. He had come back at the age of thirty. Before his death, his father had seen Sadao as a
famous surgeon and a scientist.
During his stay in America, he had quite an unpleasant experience with white people. He had great
difficulty in finding a place to stay because he was a Japanese. The Americans had been full of prejudice
and it had been bitter to live there, knowing himself to be their superior. He had despised the ignorant
and dirty old woman who had at last consented to house him in her miserable home. He had once
tried to be grateful to her because she had nursed him through influenza, but it was difficult, for she
was no less repulsive to him in her kindness. 6
40
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
OR
‘Memories of Childhood’ presents two autobiographical episodes. Both are from the lives of women. The
first account is by an American Indian woman born in the late nineteenth century. The second episode
is narrated by a contemporary Tamil Dalit writer. Bith the women belong to two different cultures.
Gertrude Simmons Bonnin describes the shameful treatment that red native Indians meet at the hands
of the white people. On the other hand, ‘Bama’ narrates how the people of ‘high’ caste don’t consider
the people of ‘low’ castes as human beings.
The first common feature of both the writings is that both episodes describe the episodes of two
women. Both the women are from ‘marginalised communities’. Native Indians don’t get respect,
dignity and importance in America. They are marginalised and sidelined. The white people suffer
from racial prejudices. They force the minorities to follow their traits, traditions and whims. The poor
Indian girl in ‘The Cutting of My Long Hair’ is dragged out, tied to a chair and her long and heavy hair
was shingled. No one helped or even consoled her. She lost her identity. She was now one of the many
little animals driven by a herder. Similarly, the girl in ‘We Too Are Human Beings’ is upset by the curse
of untouchability. What they share is the cruel discrimination and adverse situations faced by both of
them and how they both educated themselves and brought forward their accounts in the form of story
telling the whole world what they faced.
6
12. Griffin had sent the letter to Kemp. He warned him that the reign of terror is about to begin. He told
them that inspite of them chasing him the whole day he managed to eat and sleep and now he is going
to begin his reign. To begin with the rule will be easy. The first day there will be one execution for the
sake of example, a man named Kemp. Death starts for him today. He may lock himself away, hide
himself away, get guards about him, put on armour if he likes; “Death, the unseen Death, is coming.
Let him take precautions; it will impress my people. Death starts from the pillar box by mid-day. The
letter will fall in as the postman comes along, then off! The game begins. Death starts. Help him not,
my people, lest Death should fall upon you also. Today Kemp is to die.”
6
OR
The religious affirmations of Silas Marner are ambiguous and much closer to George Eliot’s humanism
than to any recognizable creed. On that superficial level there is rejoicing at his return to faith, but
there is little concern over what it really means. In the consoling and conventional interpretation of
Silas Marner, the hero returns happily to the religious faith. Further, George Eliot does not confine
herself in Silas Marner to presenting the decay of religious faith in rural nineteenth-century England.
The fact that Silas Marner’s first crisis in his life, is so great that it nearly breaks him completely in
terms of human existence. It comes about not only through his membership in an evangelical sect but
also, more significantly, through the ways that the sect comes to decisions focuses the attention of the
reader on the importance of religion, particularly organised religion, in the novel. Thus, in the novel,
the Church is defined as a social institution where man makes the necessary communication with the
society. Churches, as George Eliot reveals them here, are sometimes less than wholly spiritual and
sometimes less than enlightened. The author implies that churches are what man makes of them. In
short, the religious affirmations of the novel and its hero are ambiguous and much closer to George
Eliot’s humanism than to any recognizable creed.
6
13. Janny Hall is the wife of Mr. Hall and the owner of the Coach and Horses Inn. A very friendly, down
to-earth woman who enjoys socialising with her guests, Mrs. Hall is continually frustrated by the
mysterious Griffin’s refusal to talk with her, and his repeated temper tantrums. George Hall is the
husband of Mrs. Hall and helps her run the Coach and Horses Inn. He is the first person in Iping
to suspect that the mysterious Griffin is invisible: when a dog bites him and tears his glove, Griffin
retreats to his room and Hall follows to see if he is all right, only to see Griffin without his glove and
handless or so as it appears to Hall.
6
OR
Godfrey was the eldest son of Squire Cass. When the novel opens, he was twenty six years old, a fine,
open faced, good natured young man. He actually appears in relatively a few chapters of the novel. He can
Solutions
41
be seen merely as one of the instruments in the action that involves Silas with the community of Raveloe.
Godfrey loved Nancy Lammeter of the Warrens, but she disapproved of his dissolute ways of life and did
not encourage his suit. In a reckless moment, he married a low woman, Molly Farren, who was addicted
to opium and with whom he had a child. Though, he proved for all their wants, he did not acknowledge
them as his wife and his child. He appeared in a bad light. The basic flaw in Godfrey’s character is his
“natural irresolution and moral cowardice.” He was a moral coward, who did not dare do his duty by
his wedded wife and his legitimate child. He is a curious mixture of strength and weakness. It is
difficult not to see Godfrey as a weak and unfortunate character who brought his unhappiness upon
himself.
6
nn
ENGLISH CORE
Time : 3.00 Hours
Maximum Marks : 100
CBSE
Sample Question Papers
Answer to Question Paper
SECTION ‘A’ : READING
1.A. (i) (a)durable
10
(30 marks)
1
(ii)(c)many species of sea mammals are dying
1
(iii) (a) send them off to the landfill
1
(iv) (c) cloth bags
1
B. (i) Reusing plastic bags is not practical because they are not strong enough to withstand
numerous trips.
1
(ii) Plastic bags end up in the landfill or are burned, burning emits toxic gases and landfills hold
them indefinitely. 1
(iii) Sea animals can mistake a plastic bag for a meal and find their airway cut off. while land
animals which swallow them suffer by suffocation death. 1
(iv) Recycling of plastic bags is expensive. It doesn’t melt easily and there is no funding for
upgrading recycling plants. 1
(v) Reusable plastic bags are stronger and more durable and can be used for three to five trips to
the store.
1
(vi) Paper bags affect the environment negatively because trees have been used to make paper.1
C. (a) suffocation (b) expensive 2.A. 1. (b) certain accomplishments are beyond attainment.
2.
(b) we never have time to carry them out.
1
1
1
1
B.
(a) People normally resolve to do their same old favourite activities like trying to eat less, get up
early each morning etc.
1
(b) Most of us fail in our efforts of self-improvement because our schemes are too ambitious, we
never have time to carry them out and we announce our resolution to everybody.
1
(c) The writer could not carry out his resolution on New Year’s day because he had attended an
all night party.
1
(d) It is a basic mistake to announce our resolution because we look more foolish when we slip
back to our old ways.
1
(e) The writer’s jumping about on the carpet and twisting his human frame into uncomfortable
positions was the performance the writer is talking about.
1
(f) The writer bought ‘How to read a Thousand words a Minute’ to keep his mind fresh by
reading it.
1
C. (a)monotonous
(b)diminish.
Solutions
43
3. (A) Title : Miseries of Untouchables
1. Prejudices faced by the outcastes :
(i) not allwd to draw water from
(a) village well
(b) nearby brook
(ii) upper caste believed water would be polltd
2. Poverty aggrvtd water woes :
(i) no well for outcastes
(ii) too poor to afford their own well
(iii) had to depend on the bounty of upper caste
(iv) had to wait long at well
3. Easy access to water for the rich :
(i) engaged water carriers
(ii) drew water directly from well
4. Sohini’s plight :
(i) needed water for tired brothers
(ii) long queue at the well
(iii) no trace of any help
(iv) resign’d herself to her fate
Abbreviations Used
1. allwd—
allowed
2. polltd—
polluted
3. aggrvtd—
aggravated
4. resign’d—
resigned
5
(B)Summary : Outcasts faced caste prejudices. They were not allowed to draw water from well or
brook as upper caste Hindus believed that the sources would be polluted. Poverty aggravated their
woes. As they were too poor to afford their own well, they had to depend upon the bounty of rich
upper caste Hindus and wait long. Rich upper caste had their own wells and also engaged water
carriers. One day Sohini went to the well to fetch water for her tired and thirsty brother but there
was no one to help her so she resigned herself to her fate.
3
4. Suggested Value Points :
PAYING GUEST ACCOMMODATION / ACCOMMODATION / PROPERTY / TO – LET
(or any other relevant title)
— type of accommodation – first floor
— where - location
— special features / facilities, amenities provided
— expected rent
— terms and conditions
— contact
— any other relevant details
(due credit should be given to economy of words)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 4
Detailed Answer :
To - Let
Available well furnished independent paying guest accommodation on the first floor of our
house, near main market, 24 hours power and water supply, east facing, good ventilation, park
ahead. Rent negotiable
To know, terms and conditions, contact : Karuna, M114, Mall Road, Delhi : 9412178872
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
44
OR
Suggested Value Points :
— invite the artiste
— what - school organising one-act play competition
— date, time, venue
— details of the event - classes involved, theme, category (interschool / interhouse)
— request to confirm
— any other relevant details
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 4
Detailed Answer :
Sunrise Global School
Agra
March 5, 20XX
Ms. Nalini
27, Kamla Nagar
Agra
Sub : Invitation
Madam,
Our school is going to organize a one-act play competition in our school auditorium on March 10,
20XX from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. We shall be highly obliged if you could spare some of your precious
time to grace the occasion.
I hope that you will accept this humble request and will confirm your programme at the earliest.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Karuna
(Cultural Secretary)
5. 92, Govind Dham,
Kolkata
12th Oct., 20XX
The Hostel Warden
Shakti Mandir Public School
Darjeeling
Subject : ‘Urgent Action Against Seniors’
Respected Sir,
I am Kailash Dhar, brother of Soni Dhar, a student of Class XII, studying in your school and residing
in the hostel. Children are sent to hostel to broaden their horizon, boost confidence, learn to live
independently and improve interpersonal skills. The house masters are meant to compensate for the
parents’ absence. The situation in your hostel seems different. My brother, Soni is constantly being
bullied by senior students who threaten him with severe consequences, if he complains. He is regularly
called by his seniors to their rooms at odd hours and asked to get eatables from college canteen and
also to do their personal work. I request you to kindly look into the matter and take strict action
against the seniors. Supreme court has also banned bullying and ragging.
Hoping for immediate action from your side.
Thanking you
Yours faithfully
Kailash Dhar
6
Solutions
45
OR
JOB APPLICATION
Suggested Value Points :
— reference to advertisement
— post senior English teacher
— request for consideration / interview
— personal details
— educational qualification
— references
— any other relevant details
NOTE: The resume can be part of the letter or as an enclosure(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 6
Detailed Answer :
M114, Mall Road,
Delhi
April 5, 20xx
The Manager
Sunrise Global School
Noida
Sub : Application for the Post of English Teacher
Sir,
With reference to your advertisement in ‘Times of India’ dated 1/4/20xx for the vacancy of senior
teacher in English in your reputed school, I have the honour to apply for the same.
It is my proud privilege to inform you that I am a young and energetic female with a natural flair to
teach with innovative methods.
I hope my qualifications would meet your requirement. I am enclosing my resume for you kind
perusal. In anticipation for a favourable response.
Karuna
Name
Father’s Name
Date of Birth
Address
Educational qualification
Marital Status
Phone No.
E-mail id
Languages Known
Hobbies
References
RESUME
:Karuna
:
Sh. A.K. Singh
:
30 July, 1990
:
M 114, Mall Road, Delhi
:
M.A. (English) B.Ed from D.U.
:Unmarried
:94111xxxxx
:
[email protected]
:
Hindi and English
:
Reading Fiction
:
Principal G.C.G., Delhi
6. Suggested Value Points :
— starts day on positive note
— promotes spiritual well being
— improves concentration
— builds meditative, reflective spirit / calm mind
— upholds value system
(Any other relevant point)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
46
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
Detailed Answer :
Importance of Prayer in the Morning at School :
Good morning dear students. It is a common practice to begin a day’s work in school with a morning
assembly, in which the entire assembls for the common prayer.
Prayers are devotion to God. This imparts a calm peaceful tone to the otherwise hectic schedule of the
day and the students begin the day on a happy spiritual note. It can be a means of passing positive
energy to the students. By singing prayer, students start their day with a positive note which instills in
them a strong positive feeling that the supreme power of God is always there to help them. It not only
promotes the spiritual well being among the students but also improve their concentration. thereby
improves their result in academics as well as in general behaviour. It calms their mind, and renders
theirminds free of any moral chaos which enhances their behaviour because it makes them aware of
the presence of God everywhere. It builds meditative and reflective spirit among the students which
ultimately improve their value system. So, in all, it is the best way to start the day in the school with a
prayer.
Thank you
OR
POLICY OF RESERVATION IN PROFESSIONAL COURSES
Note: Student’s views to be expressed either for or against the topic
Suggested Value Points :
FOR
— inequality in society
— opportunities for the deprived
— country can progress only if all sections of society contribute
— must raise the weaker / marginalised communities
AGAINST
— misuse of opportunities
— progress should be only on merit
— main reason for the brain drain / injustice to the deserving
— increase in inequality / resentment in society
— disturbs communal harmony
— standards can’t be lowered especially for doctors / engineers
(any other relevant point)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
Detailed Answer :
Respected Chairperson, honourable judges and all present :
I stand before you to express my views against the motion that the policy of reservation of seats for
admission to the professional courses is good for the deprived sections of society. India is a country
with dimensions and diversities. Accordingly, the Indian Constitution has adopted an egalitarian,
secular and casteless society where injustice done to any class will not be tolerated. But the report of
the Mandal Commission reveals that millions of actual weaker sections of the society are still suffering
from atrocities and caste-based inequalities. So, it is evident that some special privileges of reservation
have proved to be a boon for some and bane for others. Even then the ‘reserved’ sections grumble that
they have been made to suffer.
Here I want to ask whether reservation is fair when those from the general categories suffer. In fact,
it is a bane for those meritorious students. On the contrary, the so-called down–trodden or deprived
sections enjoy the privilege. The non- deserving candidates are admitted into technical and professional
colleges but the deserving candidates are unable to get admission because they belong to the ‘higher
classes’ of society. (This leads to brain drain). In my opinion, it would be more suitable to provide
opportunities for all the needy or deserving candidates without any discrimination and without the
reservation of seats based on caste, creed, clan or colour. No compromise should be done by lowering
the standards especially for doctors and engineers. In fact, this reservation system creates division and
Solutions
47
fragmentation among the castes. It is nothing but a consolidation of vote-banks by the politicians at
the expense of deserving candidates. Hope that you all have been convinced by my arguments.
Thank you.
7. STUDENTS AND THEIR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Suggested Value Points:
— both individual and collective
— spread literacy
— spread awareness about health, cleanliness and social issues
— protest against corruption / wrong social practices
— volunteer in community service programmes
(Any four)
(Any other relevant details)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
Detailed Answer :
Students and Their Social Responsibilities
By : Pushpa Sharma
Students can play a very important role in the upliftment of the society as they possess abundant
store of energy and time. They can devote their precious time for this noble cause individually as well
as collectively by forming a voluntary group. Young people can work for social issues like literacy,
poverty, unemployment, corruption etc. Since youth is the hope of the nation, they should come
forward and shoulder more responsibilities for nation building. A nation can only prosper when the
youth motivates others and fights against the social issues. They can teach illiterate people and instruct
them about living skills, proper hygiene, childcare and nutrition. They can hold demonstrations,
protests and candle light marches to fight injustice. They should strive for economic revolution and
bring about new ideologies to bring a drastic change in whole set up. Involvement of the youth will
provide first-hand knowledge of the actual problems the people are facing and will inspire them to
play a more active role in nation building. So it is an obvious assessment that the more number of
young generation involved in social service activities, less will be the sufferings of the members of
society.
OR
HOW TO KEEP A CHECK ON POPULATION
Suggested Value Points:
Problem :
— population explosion leading to :
l unemployment
l poverty
Solution :
— literacy for all
— job opportunities
— women empowerment
— government policies
— creating awareness of disadvantages
(Any four points)
(Any other relevant point)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 10
Detailed Answer :
How to Keep a Check on Population
By– Karan
India is an emerging economy. We are rich in natural resources. Yet a significant proportion of our
48
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
people is living below the poverty line. One cause of this poverty is our rising population. The problem
of population explosion is a serious one as fifty thousand children are being born every day, posing a
serious threat to the very existence of Indians.
The population explosion entails undesirable repercussions, begetting one problem after another.
Millions of infants are bare-headed, bare-footed and have no clothes to put on. Such progeny has
no future and it also creates hurdle and bottleneck towards the progress and development of the
country. In order to curb population explosion, the Indian Government started the ‘Family Planning’
programme that seems to be the only effective measure to check this problem. A number of subsidiary
devices were also popularized, such as contraceptives and tubectomy for the men and vasectomy for
the women. The Government offered lucrative incentives to endear devices like ‘loop’, ‘condom’, ‘oral
pill’ and such other contraceptives that were made available to the public free of cost. Family planning
officers visited the far off villages to help the villagers with useful counselling, advice and concerned
assistance. The minimum matrimonial age was raised to twenty- one years for boys and eighteen for
girls.
Truly speaking, mere law will not suffice to achieve the goal of the family planning programme. A
diagonal change in the attitude of people is needed, that over-population is not a divine blessing
but rather a demonic curse, and that poverty cannot be eradicated from India without lowering the
population growth rate and enlightening and educating people. More educated the population will
be, less will be the burden of new population because they ’ll better understand the disadvantages of
over-population. Moreover they will create awareness of its consequences around their area. If that is
not done in time, then the day is not far when starvation and anarchy will reign and India will be in
the doldrums.
SECTION ‘C’ : LITERATURE : TEXT BOOKS AND LONG READING TEXT
(40 marks)
8. (a) The poem is ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’ composed by Kamala Das.
1
(b)
She was driving to the Cochin airport.
1
(c)
Her mother looked sick and drowsy. Her face was ash-coloured like that of a dead body as she
was lifeless.
1
(d)
She tried to put away the thought and her fear that her mother would not live long.
1
OR
(a) Suggested Value Points : great men/warriors/emperors/writers/thinkers (Any one)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016)
Detailed Answer :
The ‘mighty dead’ are the great men, warriors and heroes who lived their lives with grandeur and met
their ends bravely and heroically.
(b) Suggested Value Points : built beautiful statues/tombs/lovely tales/heroic tales/stories about
their grandeur
(Any one) (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016)
Detailed Answer :
We have built beautiful statues & tombs in their memory.
(c) Suggested Value Points : an endless fountain of immortal drink (Any one)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016)
Detailed Answer :
‘An endless fountain of immoral drink’ has been used as a metaphor for ‘lovely tales’.
(d) Suggested Value Points : It stand for beauty/everlasting beauty/tombs stand for death/one can
find beauty even in death/beauty also spiritual. (Any one) (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016)
Detailed Answer :
As the grandeur of the dooms stands for beauty it shows that such beauty is also spiritual.
Solutions
49
9. (a) Suggested Value Points : selfless dedication- helped in the inception of school- 40 years of
meritorious service- made people conscious of the imp. of their language and national identity.3
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014)
Detailed Answer :
M. Hamel proved to be an ideal teacher because he worked with selfless dedication and rendered his
40 years of meritorius service. He made people conscious of the importance of their language and
national identity.
(b) Suggested Value Points : Basically kind, trusting and compassionate – wanted peddler to enjoy
– be at peace – did not want to turn away a guest on Christmas eve – kind gesture to reform the
peddler.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 3
Detailed Answer :
Edla was basically trusting and compassionate. She wanted the peddler to enjoy and be at peace. She
did not want to turn away the guest on a Christmas eve. It was her kind gesture to reform the peddler.
(c) Suggested Value Points : Ill lit, ill-ventilated, unhygienic,dingy hovels – high temp. – bends back
of young children –loss of vision – become old before time.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014) 3
Detailed Answer :
In a bangle factory, people work in ill lit and ill ventilated rooms in unhygienic, dingy hovels with
high temperature. Children have their backs bent at a very young age, they lose their eye sight and
become old before time.
(d) Suggested Value Points : Dr. Sadao trained to talk to patients – to comfort them – elicit
response.
3
Ironical – as the soldier/sailor is an enemy - Sadao saves his life. (CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014)
Detailed Answer :
Being a doctor may be he was trained to talk to patients in a friendly manner to comfort them and he
got elicit response. It was ironical because the patient was a soldier of American army which was their
enemy. Finally, Sadao saves his life too.
(e) Suggested Value Points : Jo finds mum stupid – mum should not have spanked wizard - wants
Skunk to get back the smell of roses – mum to be punished – as insensitive , cruel, unfair.
3
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014)
Detailed Answer :
Jo being a child, considers Skunk’s mother to be stupid as she spanked wizard for giving Skunk the
smell of roses. Jo wants Skunk to get back smell of roses and mother to be punished as she thinks her
to be insensitive, cruel and unfair.
(f) Suggested Value Points : Hair cut by enemies of unskilled captured warriors – short hair worn
by mourners – shingled hair by cowards - indecent, undignified.(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2014)3
Detailed Answer :
Zitkala – Sa did not want her hair to be cut short because her mother had told her that shingled hair
was worn by cowards unskilled warriors who were captured and short hair was worn by mourness.
She felt indecent and undignified.
10.
Need for Revival of Patriotic Spirit amongst Indian Youth
A strong foundation is a pre-requisite for a strong building so that it is able to stand in hard times also.
The spirit of patriotism, which should be inculcated in the childhood, is missing these days. The youth
of today is value-starved and is facing a total crisis. Violence, terrorism, intra-group conflicts etc. are
the reigning order of the day. It is time for the young people to wake up and involve themselves in
the upliftment of their country. They have an obligation towards the development of their country.
If the youth of a country have strong moral values, no one can defeat that country in any field. It is
the youth who can free the society and the country in turn from all social evils. There is a need for
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
50
good leadership and governance. We need people like Mr. Hamel to teach our youth the value of
patriotism. On the day, there were orders from Berlin to teach German and not French in the School,
Mr. Hamel was a changed personality. He told his students that it was only their spirit to stick to
their language which would become a key to their freedom from slavery. He wrote “Viva La France”
on the blackboard. This all conveys that the value based spirit of patriotism must be present in the
youth. They should be inculcated with the spirit of nationalism as well as humanism right from the
beginning. 6
OR
Suggested Value Points :
Ironmaster
l Commits judgemental error-mistakes, the stranger as his old regimental friend, requests him to
come home.
l Shows friendliness by sending his daughter when the stranger declines invitation.
l Attitude changes when the truth is revealed that the stranger is not his friend.
l Calls him dishonest and threatens to hand him over to the sheriff.
Daughter
l More sedate, understanding and affectionate.
l Intervenes to stop her father from ill treating the stranger.
l Treats him like a captain and gifts him a suit.
l Provides him with peaceful atmosphere.
l Is able to bring about a change in the peddler’s attitude.
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2013) 6
Detailed Answer :
The iron master, father of Edla Willanson is totally different from his daughter. When the iron master,
who owned the Ramsjo Iron Works came for inspection there in the night, he saw tall ragged rat trap
peddler and committed judgemental error as he thought that the stranger was his old regimental friend.
Then he requested him to come home for the Christmas Eve. But the rat-trap peddler emphatically
refused to go to his house. Then at his father’s request Edla Willanson, the daughter of the iron master
came to take him. Edla Willanson, the daughter of the iron master is a more sedate, understanding,
kind-hearted, compassionate and a noble young woman. Though she was not pretty, yet she seemed
modest and shy. It was only due to her compassionate and friendly manner that she was successful in
persuading the peddler to go to their home to celebrate Christmas Eve. But when the rat-trap peddler
was bathed, shaved and dressed in the iron master’s suit, the iron master realised that he was not his
regimental comrade Captain Von Stahle. Then his attitude changed and he called him dishonest and
threatened him to hand him over to the sheriff.
But Edla requested the peddler to stay just to enjoy one day of peace with them. She asked the peddler
to sit down and eat. She told him to keep her father’s suit, which he was wearing as ‘a Christmas
gift’. Her behaviour towards him transformed the rat-trap peddler and he returned the thirty kronors
stolen by him and requested her to give the money to the old crofter.
6
11. It is said that war arouses passion. During the war hatred against a member of the enemy race is
justifiable. It is a natural reaction. We find it in the servants of Dr. Sadao. Even Yumi refuses to wash
the wound. They don’t want to commit the sin of saving the enemy. Hence, they leave the house as
long as the American lives there. It does not mean that Dr. Sadao loves or likes Americans. On the
other hand, he has had very bitter experiences with them when he was in America. He knows that
Americans were suffering from racial prejudice. He considers it a relief that Japan is at war with
America. Even Hana is reluctant to wash the wound of the prisoner of war. Only her humanitarian
qualities and devotion to her husband compel her to look after the enemy. So far as Dr. Sadao is
concerned, his duty as a doctor makes him operate on Tom and save him from dying.
Solutions
51
Above all, it is the basic humanity and the human values that compel a human being to rise over these
prejudices. Love for humanity and human beings transcends all other narrow considerations. Both Dr.
Sadao and Hana think that Americans are their enemies. Dr. Sadao has been trained as a doctor and
will not let a man die if he can help it. So he will do his duty and his wife will help in every possible
way. He delivered his duties as a human being and did not allow man-made boundaries to overpower
humanitarianism.
6
OR
Suggested Value Points :
l The Tiger King annoyed a high ranking British officer by refusing to allow him to kill tigers in his
province.
l Did not even allow him to get himself photographed with the tiger killed by the king.
l Prevented a British officer from fulfilling his desire - so stood in danger of losing his kingdom.
l Averted the danger by sending a gift of fifty diamond rings (to choose one or two from) to the
British officer’s wife. (Any three)
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2012) 6
Detailed Answer :
The Tiger King was in the danger of losing his kingdom when a high ranking British officer visited
Pratibandapuram and expressed his desire to kill a tiger. He was very fond of hunting tigers and was
even more fond of being photographed with the tigers he had shot. But the Maharaja was firm in
his resolve and refused permission. The officer sent a word that he simply wanted a photograph of
himself holding a gun beside the tiger’s dead body. The Maharaja didn’t agree even to that.
Since the Maharaja had prevented a British officer from fulfilling his desire, he stood in danger of
losing his kingdom.
The Maharaja and the dewan thought over the problem. They asked a famous British company of
jewellers in Calcutta to send samples of diamond rings. They received fifty rings. The Maharaja sent
all the rings to the British officer’s lady. She kept them all and sent a word of thanks. In two days, a bill
for three lakh of rupees came from the British jewellers. The Maharaja was happy that though he had
lost three lakh rupees but he had managed to retain his kingdom.
6
12. When Griffin went to bury his father his mind was still on his research. He did not participate in any
of the funeral activities. An old college friend of his father read the service over him. Then he went
back to the empty house. He remembered himself as a gaunt black figure, going along the slippery,
shiny pavement, and the strange sense of detachment that he felt . He did not feel a bit sorry for his
father. He seemed to him to be the victim of his own foolish sentimentality. The funeral required his
attendance but he did not bother to be there. His old life came back to him for a moment when he met
the girl he had known ten years since, “Our eyes met. Something moved me to turn back and talk to
her. It was all like a dream that visit to the old places.” He did not feel then that he was lonely, that he
had come out from the world into a deserted place. When he went back to his room it seemed to him
like reality had returned. There were the things he knew and loved. There stood the apparatus, the
experiments arranged and waiting.
6
OR
As a novelist, George Eliot is always concerned with the painful problems of life. She depicts characters
who are prone to wrong actions and suffer on account of that-like Hetty Sorrel in Adam Bede, who
lapes from virtue, commits child murder and is sentenced to imprisonment. She also presents weak
characters, who unconsciously lapse into wrong and do not have the moral courage to undo the
wrong-like Arthur Donnithorne in Adam Bede. Thus, she emphasizes the moral code that sin will
bring in unhappiness, sooner or later. At the same time, she does not exclude the well-known fact that
innocents suffer for no fault of their own. She illustrates this seemingly unjust happening in the divine
ordering of human life. Though it may sound strange, poetic justice is not always found in the human
OSWAAL CBSE Sample Question Paper, English Core, Class - 12
52
world. The wicked prosper and the innocent suffer. This is illustrated in the Lantern Yard episode of
Silas Marner. Thus, George Eliot is pre-occupied with the mixed problems of human life in its sins and
sorrows. Silas Marner also deals with some of these problems, thus explaining in a way the working
of the divine will on human lives.
6
13. Suggested Value Points :
Character sketch of Mrs. Hall
Business woman
— wife of Mr. Hall
— owner of the Coach and Horses Inn
— down to earth
Greedy
— since the stranger had compensated for his mess so she defends him by calling him an experimental
investigator.
— stands her ground – scared but confronts Griffin (and says he must come only through door when
she suspects the latter’s involvement in the burglary)
— practical – disciplined by years of experience remained in the bar next to the till and supressed her
curiosity
— used to making her decisions – expected nothing from her husband
(CBSE Marking Scheme, 2016) 6
Detailed Answer :
Janny Hall is the wife of Mr. Hall and the owner of the Coach and Horses Inn. A very friendly, downto-earth business woman who enjoys socialising with her guests. Mrs. Hall is continually frustrated
by the mysterious Griffin’s refusal to talk with her and his repeated temper tantrums.
She is a practical but greedy lady who accepts to leave Griffin alone as he was paying his bills on time.
She realises that at that time of the year they would not have many guests at the inn and so tries to
retain Griffin by giving in to his whims and fancies. Though the stranger created a lot of mess yet, after
receiving compensation for all that, she defends him by calling him an experimental investigator.
She also boldly stands her ground. When she suspects Griffin’s involvement in burglary, she gives
him notice that he must come only through door.
She is also a dominating woman. Between she and Mr. Hall, it is she whose words prevail. It is evident
from the fact when Mr. Hall questions her about the guest at the inn, she gets angry, questions him
back and finally makes him silent. She expected nothing from her husband.
OR
Dunstan called ‘Dunsey’ is the villain of the novel. He is perhaps the only character in the novel
who acts freely. The other characters with the possible exception of Eppie tend to react more than
they act. He is the minor character in the novel but his role is important for the progress of the story.
By stealing the money of Silas, he affects the second crisis in the life of the weaver. His mysterious
disappearance after the theft paves the way for Godfrey’s marriage with Nancy. Dunstan was the
second son of Squire Cass. He was a wild irresponsible fellow, who indulged in dissipating habits. He
is a despicable character in the novel. He is a prodigal son, a blackmailer, and a mean thief. His death
evokes no pity but only horror. He has been made a capital use of by the novelist to develop her plot
with complications and its final resolution.
6
nn