Sunday, October 4, 2009

CBSE Class XII English Sample Paper 1

ENGLISH (COMMUNICATIVE)

Time Allowed: 3 Hours Max. Marks: 100

CBSE SAMPLE PAPER –1
This paper consists of four sections:
A Reading 20 Marks
B Writing 30 Marks
C Grammar 20 Marks
D Literature 30 Marks

General Instructions:

1. Attempt all questions
2. Do not write anything on the question paper.
3. All the answers must be correctly numbered as in the question paper and written in the answer sheet provided to you.
4. Attempt all questions in each section before going on to the next section.
5. Read each question carefully and follow the instruction.
6. Strictly adhere to the word limit given with each question. Marks will be deducted for exceeding the word limit.

SECTION A- READING (20 marks)
1. Read the following poem carefully. (8 marks)
Breakfast
Of all the meals that glad my day
My morning one’ the best;
Purveyed me on a silver tray,
Immaculately dressed.
I rouse me when the dawn is bright;
I leap into the sea,
Returning with a rear delight
To honey, toast and tea.

My appetite was razor edged
When I was in my prime;
To eggs and bacon I was pledged…
Alas! The March of Time;

For now a genial old gent
With journal on my knee,
I sip and take with vast content
My honey, toast and tea.

So set me up for my delight
The harvest of the bee;
Brown, crispy toast with butter bright,
Ceylon – two cups or three.
Let others lunch or dinner praise,
But I regale with glee,
As I regard with grateful gaze
Just honey, toast and tea. - Robert Service

1.1 Below is the summary of the poem. Complete it by writing the missing word/ phrase against the correct blank number in your answer sheet. (1/2 x 6 = 3 marks)
On returning from a (a) …………………. In the morning, the poet experiences (b) ……………… in having, what to him is the day’s best meal comprising honey, toast and tea. With time, the poet has been tranformed from a young man to (c) ……………… His tastes have also changed from (d) ……………….. to honey, toast and tea. The port differs from others in that, while he thinks that breakfast is the (e) ……………. of the day, others may (f) ……………………

1.2 The poet uses certain expressions in the poem to suggest something to the reader. There are some suggestions given below in circles. Choose one suggestion that best fits each of the expressions in the table, and write the answer against the correct blank number in your answer sheet. (4 marks)
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‘The single file parade by time’,‘Look delightfully, exultantly, gratefully’,‘My appetite had sharp edges’,‘Wearing fine clothes’,‘Respect and offer gratitude’
‘Passage of time’,‘I was extremely hungry’ ,‘Perfectly laid out’

1.3 On the basis of your reading of the poem, explain the following expressions. Write the answer against the correct blank number in your answer sheet. (1 mark)
(a) ‘Ceylon’ …………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) ‘harvest of the bee’-……………………………………………………………………………..



2. Read the passage given below. (12 marks)
1. Decision-making is a very vital part of our lives. This is because what we are today is largely a result of the decision we took in the past. Similarly, whatever happens tomorrow will be a result of the decisions we take in the present.
2. It is not possible to reverse the wrong decisions taken in the past but it is possible to train ourselves into becoming a good decision-maker for the future, If we don’t, we’ll end up doing what we’ve always done and thus get what we’ve always got. Philosopher Walter Kaufman has called this Decidophobia.
3. All sorts of decisions- big or small, relevant or irrelevant, conscious or unconscious – punctuate our lives, Sometimes, we don’t even realise we are taking a decision.
4. Those who avoid taking a decision leave everything to chance and float along life with a ‘what will be’ will be’ attitude.
5. To enhance our decision-making, we must, first of all gather as much information as possible about the issue before we make our decision. We might be heading for a failure if our decisions are based on half-baked information.
6. If you have a set of guiding principles for your life, decision-making becomes a lot easier. For example, if you value integrity and honesty and consider them to be of vital importance, you will never waver.
7. Sometimes decisions are very difficult to make, especially when the odds seem to be against us. In this case, giving ourselves a little time to decide wouldn’t be a bad idea at all. Circumstances may change with time and then it may be easier to see which action is more preferable to the others.
8. Being clear about your goals can facilitate decision-making. If we know exactly where we want to be or what we want to do in the next five years or even ten, we will decide to undertake actions, which will lead us to our goals. So outline your short and long-tem goals in black and white,
9. Action is a vital consequence of decision-making. It is the necessary follow-up. Only when we act, will we get a feedback of whether our decision has been correct or not and then we can proceed in a more focussed way. So it is essential to move from the world of thought to the arena of action. (384 words)

2.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage above complete the following sentences. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. (8 marks)

(a) The course of our life is largely determined ……………………………………………………..
(b) People who suffer from ‘Decidophobia’ are unable to shape their lives because …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(c) The first step towards decision-making would be ………………………………………………..
(d) If your value system is clearly defined then ………………………………………………………
(e) In situations where ……………… taking a little time to decide would be the best way out.
(f) Outlining your goals can facilitate decision-making because ……………………………………
(g) Decision-making is futile if it is not ………………………………………………………………
(h) To proceed in a focused way it is essential that ………………………………………………….

2.2 Find the words/phrases from the passage which mean the same as the following from the paragraphs indicated. Write the answer sheet against the correct blank number. (4 marks)
(1) to interrupt repeatedly -para 3
(2) not considered carefully -para 5
(3) to make possible or easier -para 8
(4) information or statements of opinion about something that provide an idea of whether it is successful or liked -para 9


SECTION – B (Writing)
3. Ashwani/Aastha Sharma, in charge of the NSS Club of St. Andrew’s School, Kashipur, is given the following letter to write a notice to be put up for students on the school notice board. Write the notice in not more than 50 words, including relevant details from the letter in your notice so that students may contribute generously. Do not give extra information. Put the notice in a box. (5 marks)
The Philanthropic Society
5-Mount Hill Road
Dehradun
5 August, 2004
The Principal
St. Andrew’s School
Kashipur, U.P.
Dear Sir
We are a charitable organization working for helping the people who have been distresses due to natural calamities like the earthquakes, floods etc.
We would acknowledge it as a gesture of great benevolence if your students contribute to the cause of rendering helps to the hill people of Uttranchal who have experienced a terrible flood and have been displaced by it. The students can contribute food articles, medicines, money, clothes, shoe and other items of daily use. This will help to receive the distress of the people of this area greatly.
These items may be collected next Saturday at about 1 p.m. in the school’s NCC and Scouts room when our team visits the school.
Thank you very much.
Yours faithfully
K.C. Katihar
President

4. Read the following notes form the note-pad of Shri B.L. Sharma, the principal of St. Anthony School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. He asks his assistant to draft a message on his behalf for Mr. K. Makkar, the vice-principal of the school. Using the information from the note-pad, draft the message, in not more than 50 words. Put the message in a box. (5 Marks)

  • Request attend urgent meeting
  • Meeting in my office – 10 a.m.- today
  • Agenda-planning for excursion to Gangotri
  • Duration-2 weeks – summer vacations
  • Inform-class teachers of X, XI and XII – should attend meeting

5. Anil/Anjali Diwan of Model Town, Delhi reads the following advertisement in the newspaper about Help the Old, an organization for helping the aged of India. He/She writes a letter saying he/she along with a group of NSS students would like to help the aged in some way.
As Anil/Anjali write the letter in not more than 150 words. Ask for the programmes you can join the kind of service you and your schoolmates can provide. Also ask for information about the ways you can collect or donate money to them. (10 marks)
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6. Rosa Nair, a student of S.D. Public School, Hamirpur (H.P.) has to take part in a speech competition on the topic “Stop Crowding Hamirpur”. During the last decade it has grown from a lovely green hill station into a heavily populated industrial town. Using the ideas from the table and the hints given below, ideas from the unit on “Environment” and your own ideas, write Rosa’s speech in not more than 150-200 words.
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HINTS

  • Deterioration in civic amenities
  • Pollution levels increasing everywhere
  • Overcrowding in streets, buses, markets
  • Suggest some practical solutions

SECTION – C (Grammar)
7. Mr. M. Sharma is the owner of K.P. Bakeries. He has made the following notes about a wedding cake to be delivered to one Mr. John, he asks jis personal assistant to write a brief note to Mr. John, using the information from the note pad given below. Complete the notes. Do not add any new information. Write the correct answer in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence. (5 marks)
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Dear Mr. John,
We are pleased to (a) ……………is ready. It is a cake (b) ………………. on it. The names of the bride (c) ………………….. on the top. Since it is a perishable item, (d) ……………… this evening. We shall not be responsible if (e) ……………….. afterwards.
Yours truly
M.Sharma
Proprietor (K.P. Bakeries)

8. Given below is a conversation between David and his friend, Meenu. Complete the dialogue in any suitable way. Write the correct answer in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence. (4 marks)

David: Hello, is this 26897367?
Meenu: Yes (a) ……………………………………………………………………………………..
David: To Meenu, I am her friend David
Meenu: David! It’s Meenu (b) ……………………………………………………………………..
David: I’m calling from Indira Gandhi International airport. I’m here for a visit.
Meenu : That’s great (c) ……………………………………………………………………………
David: I wanted to give you a surprise.
Meenu: When did you arrive?(d) ……………………………………………………………………
David: I just got here and I/m alone.

9. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each of the lines. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet as given below against the correct blank number. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. (1/2 x 8 = 4 marks)

Children love picnics and outings of their parents e.g. of ………….. with
though they are equally happier doing things with (a) ……………………
them around the house. A parent may make (b) ……………………
his child feels special by following some simple (c) ……………………
rituals. Bedtimes stories, the game of cars or (d) ……………………
simply talking and laugh together before going to (e) ……………………
bed – some give children a wonderful sense (f) …………………….
of well-being. They hardly ever forgot these moments (g) …………………….
And cherish them throughout these lives. (h) …………………….

10. Look at the words and phrase below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences. The first one has been done as an example. (1/2 x 6 = 3 marks)
Write the correct sentences in your answer sheet against the correct blank number.

And a very/the king/named Acanthus/talented sculptor/Pygmalion was/of Cyprus/of a village.
Pygmalion was the king of Cyprus and a very talented sculptor of a village named Acanthus.
(a) had finished/he smiled/when he/the ivory statue/of a beautiful woman/one day.
(b) Smile/at having found/it was/the innocent/new and unique/of a child/something.
(c) By the beauty/that/to worship it/he was/falling down/he felt like/so impressed/on his knees/of the statue.
(d) That he/a masterpiece/and called/he realized/this beauty/had created/Galatea.
(e) Was a devoted/to the goddess/he prayed/to breathe life/into it/of Aphrodite/since he/ follower.
(f) To life and/married her/after the goddess/ his wish/Pygmalion/Galatea came/granted him.

11. Look at the newspaper items below. Use the information in the headlines to complete the paragraphs. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence. (4 marks)
(a) BLASTS OUTSIDE ATHENS POLICE STATION
Three bombs ………………. On Wednesday in a series of timed blasts, causing serious damage and rattling security forces just 100 days before the Olympic Games.
(b) SECURITY SYSTEM AT SHANTNIKETAN TO BE ‘REDISIGNED’
The Vishwa-Bharti University authorities’ …………………. At Shantiniketan in the wake of last week’s theft at Tagore’s Memorial Museum.
(c) FAKE DOCUMENTS RACKET BUSTED
A racket in printing and selling of …………………………………………………………………… police. One person has been arrested in this connection.
(d) “5 LAKH JOBS TO BE CREATED BY 2010” – PLANNING COMMISSION
Mr. Naresh Mathur, member of the Planning Commission, said yesterday that ……………………………………………………………………………………….. by the year 2010.


SECTION – D (Literature) (30 Marks)
12. Read the extract given below and answer the following questions. Write the answers in your answer sheet in one or two lines only. Remember to number the answers correctly. (4 Marks)
My mother twisted through and through
Groaning on a mat.
My father, sceptic, rationalist,
Trying every curse and blessing,
Powder, mixture, herb, and hybrid.
(a) Why is the narrator’s mother twisting and groaning on mat? 1
(b) How does the narrator’s father move away from his character as a sceptic and rationalist? 2
(c) How long does it take for mother to recover? 1

13. Read the extract given below and answer the following questions. Write the answers in your answer sheet in one or two lines only. Remember to number the answers correctly. (4 Marks)
The very deep did rot: O Christ!
That ever this should be!
Yea, Slimy things did crawl with legs
Upon the slimy sea.
(a) Who speaks the above lines? 1
(b) What does the word ‘deep’ refer to? How did it rot? 2
(c) What do the last two lines suggest about the speaker’s attitude towards nature? 1

14. In the poem Ode to The West Wind the poet establishes a link between his own personality and the personality of the West Wind. What is the link? What is the link? What appeal does he make to the West Wind? Why? Your answer should not exceed 100 words. (4 Marks)

15. Read the extract given below and answer the following questions. Write the answers in your answer sheet in one or two lines only. Remember to number the answers correctly. (5 Marks)
Antony: O, Pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
(a) Where is Antony at this time? 1
(b) Why does Antony call Caesar’s body ‘thou bleeding piece of earth’? 2
(c) How and Antony been ‘meek and gentle with these butchers’?2

16. In the lesson ‘The Tribute’ Babuli says, “My home—my village—they used to pull me away from the moribund city life.” (4 Marks)
(a) Why does Babuli refer to city life as ‘moribund’? 2
(b) How did draw him away from his home and his village later? Your answer should not exceed (75 words) 2

17. Christopher grows up into a teenager and recollects his experience with Cutie-pie. Describe these experiences in the form of a diary entry in about 150-175 words. (8 Marks)

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