Students must start practicing the questions from CBSE Sample Papers for Class 11 English with Solutions Set 4 are designed as per the revised syllabus.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 11 English Set 4 with Solutions
Time Allowed : 3 hours
Maximum Marks : 80
General Instructions :
- The Question paper is divided into three sections:
Section A: Reading (26 – marks)
Section B: Grammar and Creative Writing Skills 23 marks (23 – marks)
Section C: Literature (31 marks) - All questions are compulsory.
- You may attempt any section at a time.
- All questions of that particular section must be attempted in the correct order.
Section – A (26 marks)
(Reading Skills)
1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: (10)
A man, his vision and his message
1. A.E J. Abdul Kalam was a multifaceted personality, a statesman and visionary and above all a good human being. He was a brilliant scientist and modern thinker. When I joined him as Press Secretary after 10 days of his becoming President, at his very first meeting he gave me his vision of a developed India.
He spoke of how he wanted to make Rashtrapati Bhavan a people’s place where voice of the millions of downtrodden people of India would be heard and action taken. Indeed during his time Rashtrapati Bhavan became a people’s place and he became popular as People’s President. He Wanted that institution of the President to be totally identified by ordinary people.
2. President Kalam took his Presidency seriously from day one. He was as comfortable with constitutional and legal issues as he was with school children. He was committed to nation-building and created a vision document to make India a developed nation by 2020. He made a power point presentation to senior ministers and bureaucrats on this.
3. He used to make power point presentations at conferences and seminars both in India and abroad to discuss that vision. On these, he used to work himself and he was very particular about every word and sentence.
4. He did it during his visits abroad and while meeting dignitaries such as US President George Bush and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. When he presented his vision of India’s nuclear energy requirements to Mr. Bush and his vision of a joint fight India and Pakistan could wage against poverty, the respective Presidents commented that they had to become scientists to understand the presentation. You can’t think of any other President of a country who would have done that.
5. His vision for the nation was based on equality, the dignity of the individual and justice, social, economic and political, to every Indian. Only then can India succeed and everybody sing the song of India, he used to say.
6. I met him last on July 22, five days before his demise. It was an one-on-one meeting that lasted a good 40 minutes. He was full of ideas as always, very active and discussed different subjects. He used to tell me, “Whatever you do, do differently. Wherever you work, leave a mark and be remembered.”
7. During his presidency he was always comfortable, except on two occasions, when his unease was visible. When he had to give his consent to the Office of Profit Bill, 2006 after it was sent for the second time by the Parliament and when he had to approve the ordinance on Disqualification of Elected Representatives in 2004 as it was sent to him by the Cabinet for a second time.
8. He was an icon for the youth. He used to say “Aiming small is a crime. Youth should have the courage to think differently and explore unexplored paths. Difficulties would come but don’t be afraid of them— overcome them with your intellect and hard work.”
9. The man who pioneered India’s missile programme was always proud of his work at the Indian Space Research Organisation and other scientific institutions. He used to believe that a scientific approach could find a solution to every problem.
10. He was an ardent secularist and also a religious man. He believed that all religions are like beautiful islands; but there is no connectivity between them. We should strive to achieve this connectivity and transform religion into spirituality. For him religion and morality were the same.
11. A man of vision, he always worked in mission mode. He had a mission to meet 10 lakh students and interact with them. He completed this when he left Rashtrapati Bhavan. He continued with this till his last breath. His child-like simplicity was an instant hit.
12. He got the sobriquet of being the People’s President because of his humility and accessibility. President Kalam always worked towards building consensus rather than ramming down decisions.
13. He came from a modest background, but educated himself and worked hard to rise to the top. He was simply the missile man whose books were prime-sellers, whose lectures were always house full. He was adored by children as he would give them easy-to-digest messages.
A. On the basis of your understanding of the passage answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option. (1×6 = 6)
Question 1.
Which of the following traits explain in a single word the many qualities of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam?
(A) brilliant scientist
(B) visionary
(C) statesman
(D) multifaceted
Answer:
Option (D) is correct.
Explanation: The first sentence of the passage mentions that Kalam was a multifaceted man.
Question 2.
What was so special about A.P. J. Abdul Kalam that no other president could do?
(A) His vision documents
(B) Equally comfortable with legal issues and school children
(C) His skill of powerpoint presentation on nuclear energy
(D) His commitment to nation building
Answer:
Option (B) is correct.
Explanation; He was committed to nation-building and created a vision document to make India a developed nation by 2020 and thus was comfortable with both.
Question 3.
Which of the following qualities made him loved by children?
(A) Advised them to start aiming small
(B) Encouraged them to think differently
(C) Advised them with easy to digest messages
(D) Exhorted them to overcome difficulties
Answer:
Option (B) is correct.
Explanation: He encouraged the youth to think differently by telling them that aiming small is a crime.
Question 4.
The bills were not passed by A.E J. Abdul Kalam initially because ………………
(A) they were profit bills
(B) they were not sent by the cabinet
(C) parliament sent for the second time
(D) he was not convinced with them
Answer:
Option (D) is correct.
Explanation: Para 7 mentions the same.
Question 5.
‘Sobriquet of being People’s President’ (para 12) is an ?
(A) title
(B) nickname
(C) award
(D) honour
Answer:
Option (B) is correct.
Explanation: It is a nickname he received because of his humility and accessibility.
Question 6.
The antonym of ‘modest’ (para 13) is ?
(A) flamboyant
(B) immodest
(C) ordinary
(D) poor
Answer:
Option (A) is correct
Explanation: Modest is unassuming in the estimation of ones abilities or achievements whereas flamboyant is tending to attract attention because of their exuberance, confidence, and stylishness.
B. Answer the following questions as briefly as possible : (Do any 4) (1×4=4)
1. He wanted the institution of the President to be totally identified by ………….
2. He made a power point presentation to senior ministers and ………… on this.
3. Presidents commented that they had to become ………… to understand the presentation.
4. Pick out the word from the passage which are similar in meaning to ‘person of high position’, (para 4)
5. He was adored by ………….
Answer:
1. ordinary people
2. bureaucrats
3. scientists
4. dignitaries
5. children
2. Read the passage carefully and then answer the following questions. (1×8 = 8)
My First-Ever Roller Coaster Ride
I have come to a theme park to meet roller coaster enthusiast Jay Murray, to find out what makes these rides so popular. Jay estimates he has been on 700 rides in the past 10 years, and is surprised that I have never been on one. He says that one of the attractions of these rides is that you feel out of control, but safe. Jay really wanted to emphasise the importance of safety. “All rides are tested for 1,000 hours before they open to the public,” he said.
“They also do a test run on every ride each morning, and there’s a thorough annual inspection too.”
Roller coasters first appeared in 17th-century Russia. These were sloping structures up to 15 metres high, built of wood, with a layer of ice on the surface which people would slide down. Roller coasters with wheeled sledges were developed soon afterwards.
Later, in Pennsylvania, in the USA, a train that had been used to deliver coal was converted to carry passengers on day trips. This gave a man called LaMarcus Thompson the idea to open a park with pleasure rides at Coney Island, New York. A school teacher by profession, he had the eye of a designer, and the mind of a businessman. In just three weeks, he raised enough money from the rides to pay for the cost of building the park.
By 1888, Thompson had built nearly 50 roller coasters around the USA and Europe. He introduced new technologies such as cables to pull trains uphill, but it was another man, John Miller, who came up with a design for an under friction wheel, which kept trains firmly attached to the rails. This meant that they could go faster and on steeper tracks, without falling off. This invention appeared in 1912.
Name of ride Country Height Total cost Maximum speed Tower of Terror Australia 115 metres A 16 million 161 kilometres per hour Formula Rossa United Arab Emirates 52 metres £19.5 million 240 kilometres per hour Steel Dragon Japan 97 metres US $52 million 153 kilometres per hour However, there are limits to the physical forces that a person can tolerate on a ride. People can cope more easily with the positive vertical – the feeling of being pressed into their seat – than the negative vertical, which pushes them out of it.’
Interestingly, Jay points out that the desire to make roller coaster rides higher and faster is slowly being replaced by a trend towards more complex rides, which offer a more lasting experience. Jay explains: “A world-famous ride such as Kingda Ka (in the USA) is over in less than ten seconds.
Although such a ride is thrilling, and gives you a rush of adrenaline, there is an alternative. You can try a ride like Helix (in Sweden), which lasts for two minutes – it’s my number one at the moment.” All the same, Jay was eager for me to experience ‘air time’ – the moment when you reach the top and hang, weightless, before plunging down the other side. And when I finally did, I had to admit that it was fantastic!
Question 1.
How do theme parks make sure each ride is safe every day?
(A) Daily inspection
(B) Open ride
(C) By test run
(D) None of these
Answer:
Option (C) is correct.
Explanation: Jay really wanted to emphasise the importance of safety. “All rides are tested for 1,000 hours before they open to the public,” he said. “They also do a test run on every ride each morning, and there’s a thorough annual inspection too.”
Question 2.
What were the earliest roller coasters covered in?
(A) Layers of ice
(B) Dust
(C) Wood
(D) Coal
Answer:
Option (A) is correct.
Explanation: Roller coasters first appeared in 17th-century Russia. These were sloping structures up to 15 metres high, built of wood, with a layer of ice on the surface which people would slide down.
Question 3.
What did the railway in Pennsylvania originally transport?
(A) Wood
(B) Coal
(C) Both (A) and (B)
(D) Roller coasters
Answer:
Option (B) is correct.
Explanation: Later, in Pennsylvania, in the USA, a train that had been used to deliver coal was converted to carry passengers on day trips.
Question 4.
What was the occupation of the man who first designed the rides at Coney Island?
(A) Business
(B) Engineer
(C) Designer
(D) Teacher
Answer:
Option (D) is correct.
Explanation: LaMarcus, a school teacher by profession, had the eye of a designer, and the mind of a businessman.
Question 5.
What was the name of the device which was invented in 1912?
(A) Cable
(B) Tower of Terror
(C) Under-friction wheel
(D) Steel Dragon
Answer:
Option (C) is correct.
Explanation: John Miller came up with a design for an under-friction wheel, which kept trains firmly attached to the rails.
Question 6.
According to the table, how tall is Tower of Terror?
(A) 115 metres
(B) 110 metres
(C) 75 metres
(D) 100 metres
Answer:
Option (A) is correct.
Explanation: It is clear from the given table.
Question 7.
Which term refers to the force that pushes you into your seat while on a ride?
(A) Physical force
(B) Positive vertical
(C) Negative vertical
(D) None of these
Answer:
Option (B) is correct.
Explanation: People can cope more easily with the positive vertical – the feeling of being pressed into their seat – than the negative vertical, which pushes them out of it.
Question 8.
Which feature makes Jay Murray believe that roller coaster rides will change in the future?
(A) Thrilling
(B) Weightless
(C) More complex
(D) Simple
Answer:
Option (C) is correct.
Explanation: Jay points out that the desire to make roller coaster rides higher and faster is slowly being replaced by a trend towards more complex rides, which offer a more lasting experience.
3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follows:
1. Humour is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.
2. The ability to laugh, play, and have fun with others not only makes life more enjoyable but also helps you solve problems. People who incorporate humour and play into their daily lives find that it renews them and all of their relationships.
3. Life brings challenges that can either get the best of you or become playthings for your imagination. When you “become the problem” and take yourself too seriously, it can be hard to think outside the box and find new solutions. But when you play with the problem, you can often transform it into an opportunity for creative learning.
4. Playing with problems seems to come naturally to children. When they are confused or afraid, they make their problems into a game, giving them a sense of control and an opportunity to experiment with new solutions. Interacting with others in playful ways helps you retain this creative ability.
5. As laughter, humour, and play become an integrated part of your life, your creativity will flourish and new discoveries will occur to you daily. Humour takes you to a higher place where you can view the world from a more relaxed, positive, creative, joyful, and balanced perspective.
(a) On the basis of your reading the passage, make notes using recognisable abbreviations wherever necessary.
Use a format you consider suitable, supply a suitable title. (5)
(b) Make a short summary of the passage in about 80 words. (3)
Answer:
(a) Laughter – A PRICELESS MEDICINE
1. Physical changes in body:
1.1. strengthens immune system
1.2. boosts energy
1.3. diminishes pain
1.4. protects from stress.
2. Benefits of laughter.
2.1. makes life more enjoyable
2.2. helps solve problems
2.3. connects with others
3. Laughter – An Integral Part of life
3.1. makes one creative
3.2. helps to balance perspective
3.3. makes one more relaxed & positive
| Key to Abbreviation | ||
| S.No | Abbreviation | Word |
| 1 | immne | immune |
| 2. | dimnshs | diminishes |
| 3. | enjyble | enjoyable |
| 4. | prspctive | Perspective |
| 5. | & | and |
(b) Summary
Laughter is free, yet a priceless medicine. It makes the body healthy. Humour helps build better relationships. Problems are best solved by developing a child-like attitude of playing with them rather than brooding over them. Laughter should be an integral part of life to make it relaxed, positive and balanced.
Section – B (23 marks)
(Grammar and Creative Writing Skills)
Grammar [7 Marks]
4. Fill in blanks with the appropriate option given below. Do any four. (1×4=4)
Yesterday; as I (i) ………. along the mall, a taxi (ii) ………. near me. A man (iii) ………. me by my first name. I (iv) ………. as I failed to recognise the man, who (v) ………. and repeating my name.
(i) (a) walks (b) is walking (c) was walking (d) had been walking
(ii) (a) stopped (b) stops (c) to stop (d) will stop
(iii) (a) addressing (b) addressed (c) to address (d) has addressed
(iv) (a) is surprised (b) was surprised (c) surprising (d) to surprise
(v) (a) smiles (b) to smile (c) was smiling (d) has been smiling
Answer:
(i) (c) was walking (a) stopped (b) addressed (b) was surprised (c) was smiling
5. Rearrange the following words or phrases to make meaningful sentences: (1×3=3)
(a) the / on / forests / the / industry / oil / depends
(b) do / get / the / forests / from / what / we / products
(c) had / winning a medal / he / my /I told him / until / about / known / not
Answer:
(a) The oil industry depends on the forests.
Explanation: The sentence is correct because it follows proper sentence structure and conveys a clear relationship between the oil industry and the forests, expressing dependency or reliance.
(b) What products do we get from the forests?
Explanation: The rearranged sentence forms a meaningful question by placing the interrogative word What at the beginning to inquire about the specific product obtained (roni the forests. The sentence structure is correct, with subject (“we”) followed by the helping verb (“do”) and the object (“product”), while the prepositional phrase “from the forests” provides additional context about the source of the product in question.
(c) He had not known about my winning a medal until I told him.
Explanation: The rearranged sentence conveys that the speaker did not have any knowledge of “him” winning a medal until the speaker informed “him” about it. The past perfect tense suggests that the lack of knowledge occurred in the past, before the moment the speaker shared the information.
Creative Writing Skills [16 Marks)
Question 6.
Gopal Sharma has one flat for sale. Draft an advertisement for him to be inserted in the classified columns of the local newspaper. Invent necessary details. (3)
Answer:
Flat For Sale
Available 3 BHK flat in a posh area with all modern amenities. East facing, located near market, 24 hours running water supply, round the clock power back up near children’s park, 24×7 Security. Price negotiable. Contact : Copal Sharma at 64320000
OR
Ajay Arora wishes to let out a portion of his built house. Draft an advertisement for publication in” To Let” column of HT, giving all the necessary details.
Answer:
TO-LET
Available on rent, a newly constructed first floor, 3 BHK flat in Vikas Nagar. Good location, airy rooms, attached bathrooms, individual parking, 24×7 security and power back up. Near Shopping complex, schools, metro station, central park. Interested persons may contact: Aay Arora (Mob. 921xxxxxx).
Question 7.
The women’s health club needs a poster on yoga day to promote its importance. Draft a poster highlighting main points. (3)
Answer:
OR
Prepare a poster on behalf of the Municipal Authority of your city informing the citizens about how to protect themselves against mosquitoes.
Answer:
Question 8.
Outdoor exercise or morning and evening walks during winter months have become difficult in the polluted atmosphere of the metropolitan cities. In such a situation, indoor (team) games have become very important. Write a speech in 120-150 words persuading your students to make more use of facilities for basketball, badminton, etc. available in your school. You are the Principal of the school. (5)
Answer:
OR
Recently, Agra Administration launched a campaign against use of plastic bags. Write a speech to be delivered in your morning assembly on the topic, ‘Say no to plastics’ in about 150-200 words. You can take the help of figure.
Answer:
Question 9.
Career Counsellor (not you, yourself) is the best person to guide you in the choice of a career Write a debate in
10 – 150 words either for or against the motion. (5)
OR
Should schools promote Coaching Institutes? Taking a cue from the points given below arid using your own
ideas, write a debate speech for or against the topic in about 120—150 words.
‘ Despite CBSE’s ban, Coaching Centres are running classes in schools.
‘ Teachers from Coaching Institutes teach subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics whereas English
and Physical Education continue to be taught by the School faculty.
. Classes in separate sections from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the CLISE and Competitive Examination.
Section – C (31 marks)
(Literature)
10. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow: (1×3=3)
A. The cardboard shows me how it was
When the two girl cousins went paddling.
1.
The cardboard in the poem refers to
(A) a scenery
(B) a photograph
(C) a box
(D) a painting
Answer:
2.
Who were two girl’s cousins?
(A) Poet’s cousins
(B) Poet and her cousin
(C) Poet’s mother’s cousins
(D) Poet’s mother and her cousin
Answer:
3.
Where did the girls go for paddling ?
Answer:
OR
B. I do not understand this child.
Though we have lived together now
In the same home for years.
1.
Who is ‘I’ in the poem?
(A) Father
(B) Mother
(C) Teacher
(D) Servant
Answer:
2.
Who is the child?
(A) Poet’s cousin
(B) Poet’s son
(C) Poet’s grandson
(D) Poet’s nephew
Answer:
3.
Name the poet.
11. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. (1×3=3)
A. He was just a teenager when he died. The last heir of a powerful family that had ruled Egypt and its empire for centuries, he was laid to rest laden with gold and eventually forgotten. Since the discovery of his tomb in 1922, the modern world has speculated about what happened to him, with murder being the most extreme possibility.
1.
Who is the author of these lines ?
(A) Khushwant Singh
(B) James Cook
(C) A. R. Williams
(D) Nani Palkhivala
Answer:
2.
Who is ‘he’ in these lines ?
(A) The narrator
(B) James
(C) Steer
(D) Tut
Answer:
3.
What has happened to ‘he’ recently?
(A) Undergone heart surgery
(B) Undergone CT scan
(C) Undergone blood test
(D) Experienced kidney failure
Answer:
OR
B. Meanwhile, the racing fund of Professor Gaitonde had arrived at a plan of action in Bombay. Indeed, as a historian he felt he should have thought of it sooner. He would go to a big library and browse through history books. That was the surest way of finding out how the present state of affairs was reached.
He also planned eventually to return to Pune and have a long talk with Rajendra Deshpande, who would surely help him understand what had happened. That is, assuming that in this world there existed someone called Rajendra Deshpande! The train stopped beyond the long tunnel. It was a small station called Sarhad. An Anglo-Indian in uniform went through the train checking permits.
Question 1.
Who was Professor Gaitonde and where did he hail from?
(A) A historian from Pune.
(B) A historian from Bombay.
(C) A historian from Sarhad.
(D) A historian from Nagpur.
Answer:
Option (A) is correct.
Explanation: Professor Gaitonde was a historian from Pune. This is evident from the line ‘the racing fund of Professor Gaitonde had arrived at a plan of action in Bombay.” The fact that he is a historian from Pune is also evident from the line “he planned eventually to return to Pune and have a long talk with Rajendra Deshpande.”
Question 2.
Why was he going to the big library?
(A) To browse through history books to determine his plan of action.
(B) To browse through history books to find out more about Rajendra Deshpande.
(C) To browse through history books to find how the present state of affairs was reached.
(D) To browse through history books to find more about historic events.
Answer:
Option (C) is correct.
Explanation: Professor Gaitonde was going to the big library to browse through history books to find out how the present state of affairs was reached. This is evident from the line “That was the surest way of finding out how the present state of affairs was reached”.
Question 3.
In which period the incident might have taken place?
(A) Dunng the British-rule.
(B) During the Portuguese invasion
(C) lbst-independence
(D) None of these
Answer:
Option (A) is correct.
Explanation: The incident might have taken place during the British rule. This is evident from the line ‘An Anglo-Indian in uniform went through the train checking permits. The Anglo-Indians were a community of people of mixed Indian and European descent who served in the British Indian Army and other government services during the British rule of India.
12. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. (1×4=4)
A. When the curtain rises It is an afternoon in early autumn and the stage can be well Lit. Mrs Pearson at right, and Mrs Fitzgerald at left, are sitting opposite each other at the small table, on which are two teacups and saucers and the cards with which Mrs Fitzgerald has been telling Mrs Pearson’s fortune Mrs Pearson is a pleasant but worried-looking woman in her forties. Mrs Fitzgerald is older. heavier and a strong and sinister personality. She is smoking. It is very important that these two should have sharply contrasting voices.
Question 1.
What is the name of the play?
(A) The Address
(B) Ranga’s Marriage
(C) Mother’s Day
(D) Birth
Answer:
Option (C) is correct.
Explanation: The name of the play is Mothers Day.
Question 2.
Where is the scene set?
(A) Garden
(B) Hotel room
(C) Mrs. Fitzgerald’s living room
(D) Mrs. Pearson’s living room
Answer:
Option (D) is correct.
Explanation: The scene is set in Mrs. Pearsons living room.
Question 3.
How are Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald related?
(A) School days friends
(B) College friends
(C) Relatives
(D) Neighbours
Answer:
Option (D) is correct.
Explanation: Mrs. Parson and Mrs. Fitzgerald are neighbors.
Question 4.
What was the contrast between the voices of the two ladies?
(A) Mrs. Fitzgerald had deep voice.
(B) Mrs. Fitzgerald had flurried sort of tone.
(C) Mrs. Pearson had an Irish accent
(D) All of these.
Answer:
Option (A) is correct.
Explanation: Fitzgerald had a deep, flurried sort of tone, while Mrs. Pearson had a pleasant but worried looking voice.
OR
B. He went into the house for his bag, then together they set out for Number 12 Blaina Terrace. The night air was cool and deep with quiet mystery. Usually so perceptive, Andrew now felt dull and listless. He had no premonition that this night call would prove unusual, still less that it would influence his whole future in Blaenelly. The woman nodded and picked up the suitcase under the coat-rack. She wore a brown coat and a shapeless hat. ‘Does she live far away?’ I asked, seeing the difficulty she had going out of the house with the heavy case.
Question 1.
What is the profession of Andrew?
(A) Lawyer
(B) Engineer
(C) Doctor
(D) Fireman
Answer:
Option (C) is correct.
Explanation: Andrew is a doctor. This is evident from the line “Usually so perceptive, Andrew now felt dull and listless.” Doctors are often required to be perceptive in order to diagnose their patients illnesses.
Question 2.
Where did he live?
(A) Bryngower
(B) Blaenelly
(C) Harteiffs
(D) Jhsiojle
Answer:
Option (B) is correct.
Explanation: Andrew lived in Blaenelly. This is evident from the line “Number 12 Blaina Terrace.” Blaina Terrace is a street in Blaenelly.
Question 3.
Why was Andrew serious that evening?
(A) He had a disappointing evening with his girlfriend.
(B) He had seen some painful incidents of husbands suffering at the hand of wives.
(C) He was short of sleep.
(D) All of these
Answer:
Option (C) is correct.
Explanation: He had seen some painful incidents of husbands suffering at the hand of wives
Question 4.
Who was waiting for him when he reached home late night ?
(A) Bramwell
(B) Blodwen
(C) Christine Donald
(D) Joe Morgan
Answer:
Option (B) is correct
Explanation: His girlfriend, Blociwen, was waiting for him when he reached home late that night. This is evident from the line “Andrew found Blodwen waiting for him when he reached home late that night.”
13. Answer the following questions in 40-50 words each. (3×2=6)
(a) Who was King Tut? Why was a CT scan done on him?
OR
The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place.
Answer:
King Tut was a boy King of Egypt who was the last heir of his powerful family. This family ruled for centuries. His tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter. A CT scan was done on his mummy to get new clues about his life and death.
OR
The author had heard about the experience of Japanese monk who was so moved by the sanctity of the lake Mansarovar that he burst into tears. But author was disappointed when he himself visited Hor. It was a grim and miserable place. There was no vegetation. There were only dust and rocks. The town was on the banks of holy lake which was affected badly by the garbage of the town.
(b) What is the cycle of the song? What does it represent?
OR
The three stanzas depict three different phases in the poem ‘A Photograph’. What are they?
Answer:
The cycle of the song is what is issued from its birthplace. It represents fulfilment and moving reck’d unreck’d returns to its origin with love.
OR
The first stanza depicts the childhood of poet’s mother when she was enjoying a holiday on the sea side.
The second stanza depicts the period when the poet’s mother has grown older and laughs at her own photograph. The third stanza depicts the time when she has died and the poet misses her.
14. Answer any one of the following questions in 40-50 words each. (3×1=3)
What, according to Doris could be the reason for mother’s strange behaviour? Does Cyril agree with her?
Answer:
Mrs. Dorling held her hand on the door as if she wanted to prevent it opening any further. Her face showed no sign of recognition. She kept staring at the narrator without uttering a word.
OR
What was Andrew’s view of marriage? Why was he resentful and confused?
Answer:
As Andrew sat dozing by the kitchen fire his thoughts wandered over the subject of marriage. He thought of Bramwell who was foolishly devoted to a woman who deceived him meanly. Then he thought of Edward Page who was married to the ill-natured Blodwen and was now living unhappily, apart from his wife. This led him to the conclusion that all marriages are dismal failures. Then he thought of his girlfriend, Christine and wished to consider marriage as a pleasant state.
15. Answer any one of the following questions in about 120-150 words: (6×1=6)
Draw a character sketch of Khushwant Singh’s grandmother as portrayed by him in the lesson ‘The Portrait of a Lady’.
Answer:
The narrator’s grandmother was a true picture of love, affection and care. She had all those virtues which grandmothers generally have for their grandsons. She was highly religious but a conservative lady. The grandmother presented a picture of peace and contentment. Her spotless white dress and her silver white hair gave her spiritual beauty. The grandmother was not physically very attractive. She had deep love and affection for her grandson.
She got him ready for school. She accompanied him to his school and came back home with him. She was a very religious lady. She was always telling the beads of her rosary. She had compassion even for animals and birds. She fed the village dogs. She took to feeding the sparrows in the city. But the grandmother was a conservative lady. She didn’t like the English language and Science. She hated music. She associated music with prostitutes and beggars.
OR
Describe the encounter between Gaitonde and Khan Sahib?
Answer:
Wu Prof. Gaitonde and Khan Sahib were travelling by Jijamata Express. The train was going from Pune to Bombay. After a long tunnel, the train stopped at small station called Sarhad. Here, Khan Sahib spoke to Gaitonde. He informed him that the area of British Raj began at that station. He asked if Gaitonde was going to Bombay for the first time. Gaitonde replied in positive because it seemed that he was in a new world where everything was different from what he had known.
Gangadhar Pant, then, asked Khan Sahib how he would go to Peshawar. Khan Sahib said that he would go to Delhi from Bombay, then to Lahore and from there to Peshawar. Thereafter, Khan Sahib spoke a lot about his business which Gangadhar Pant listened with interest. He did so because this was giving him some idea of the life of this new India he was in.
16. Answer any one of the following questions in about 120—150 words: (6×1=6)
How did the narrator come to know about Mrs. Dorling and the address where she lived?
Answer:
Years ago, during the first half of the war, the narrator went home for a few days to see her mother. After staying there for a couple of days, she noticed that something or other about the rooms had changed. She missed various things. Then her mother told her about Mrs. Dorling.
She was an old acquaintance of her mother who had suddenly turned up after many years. Now, she came regularly and took something home with her everytime she came. She suggested that she could save her precious belongings by storing them at her place.
Mother told her address, number 46, Marconi Street. The narrator asked her mother if she had agreed with her that she should keep everything. Her mother did not like that questioning. She thought it would be an insult to Mrs. Dorling. She was worried about the risk, Mrs. Dorling faced carrying a full suitcase or bag.
OR
What is the problem confronted by Mrs. Farson? Who helps her solve this problem, and how’
Answer:
Mrs. Person’s problem is that she is neglected by her husband and children. She is very fond of her family. She runs after them all the time, takes their orders as if she was the servant in the house and stays at home every night while they go out enjoying themselves. She takes no holiday. They have come to believe that she is there simply to look after them and wait for them. So they take, no notice of her.
Her neighbour, Mrs. Fitzgerald, helps her solve this problem. She advises Mrs. Pearson to assert her rights as the mistress of the house if she wants them to treat her properly. Mrs. Pearson says that she does keep dropping a hint now and then but she can’t be harsh with them as she does not want any unpleasantness in the house. Mrs. Fitzgerald asks her to let her do it. Mrs. Pearson wonders how it is possible. Mrs. Fitzgerald tells her that they would change their personalities with each other.
She had learnt this trick when she was in East. Mrs. Pearson hesitates but she finally agrees. The two women change their personalities. Now, Mrs. Pearson with Mrs. Fitzgerald’s personality, puts the members of her family in their proper places. They begin to give her due regard and consideration.
