CBSE Hots for Class XII

SECTION B

ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS

NOTICE WRITING-word limit- 50 words

1. The Counseling Cell of your school is organizing an orientation programme for the parents of class XII in the school auditorium. Frame a notice giving information about the same to the parents.
2. You are Arun Sen, the secretary of the Red Cross Committee of your school. The Red Cross Society of India is organizing a blood donation camp in your school. Draft a notice for display on the school notice board, requesting the members of the staff as well as the students of XI and XII to come forward and donate blood generously.
3. You are the Secretary of your School Literary Association. Write a notice for your school notice board, giving details of the inauguration of the literary week. You are ABC of Queen Victoria Senior Secondary School, Nagpur.
4. You are Asha/Asmit, Head boy/Head Girl of your school (Rainbow Public School. Write a notice for your school notice board calling for entries from students who desire to take part in Britannia Quiz Contest- preliminary round to be held at your school. Invent other necessary details.
5. As Chief Librarian of Delhi Public Library, put up a notice informing members about the change in winter timings effective from 1st Oct.2008 to 1st April 2009 .The timings have been changed from 7.00 a.m.-9.00 a.m.(morning) and 6.00 p.m.-8.00 p.m. (evening) to 8.00 a.m.-10.00 a.m.(morning) and 5.00 p.m. -7.00p.m.(evening).

Advertisements word limit –50 words

1. You are manager of Sunrise Production house Patparganj Institutional area, Patparganj. You urgently require two computer operators for your office. Write an advertisement for the situation vacant column of a local newspaper.
2. You are Mr. Raj Kishore Tyagi of 247/C, Rajendra Park, Delhi-92. Your pet dog, Scooby is missing. Write an advertisement for the “Missing pet Animals” column of a newspaper.
3. Your brother has opened a new showroom for Refrigerators named ‘Chilz’. Draft an advertisement for a local daily to promote the sale of the Refrigerator offer for ‘6 Kulfi Moulds FREE’ along with the refrigerator to those who buy before Aug ’08.
4. You have recently started a Yoga Centre for school children. Draft an advertisement to be published in a local daily about it giving all the relevant details.
5. You are launching a Fairness Lotion in the market showing promising results in a fortnight. Draft a convincing advertisement with in 50 words promoting its sale.

POSTER WRITING [50 words]

1. You are an active member of United Nations Volunteers Association [UNVA].
Design an attractive poster asking the educated youth to volunteer to teach the under privileged children for two hours under the project `Teach India’
2. During the rainy season, there is an increase in health causalities like gastroenteritis, dysentery etc. Prepare a poster to be issued by the health department suggesting ways on how you can prevent these diseases.
3. Repeated earthquakes in India and elsewhere have resulted in an unprecedented damage and destruction to both life and property. Educating people on ‘Disaster Management’ is the need of the hour. Prepare a poster for creating this awareness.
4. Design a poster on behalf of Delhi police to fight terrorism in the wake of recent bomb explosions.
5. Design a poster to increase awareness among youth about blindness and the ‘Importance of donating eyes’.

INVITATIONS-50 words

1. Your friend has invited you to spend a part of your summer vacation with her in her native village but you are unable to do so due to a valid reason. Write a reply in 50 words.
2. Aditi has secured admission in IITF - a career she dreamt of. She wants to celebrate this momentous occasion with her friends. Write an informal invitation giving details of venue, time and date.
3. You are Apoorva, the president of the ECO Club of your school. Draft a formal invitation to be sent to the parents inviting them to participate in the plantation drive on “Earth Day”.
4. You are hosting a party to felicitate the victorious ‘Rajasthan Royal Cricket Team’ in the IPL match. Draft the invitation in 50 words.
5. You are Akshay / Abhinaya. You have been invited to participate in a seminar on ‘Effective Time Management’ organized by the Lions Club of India of your district. Respond to the invitation by writing a letter to the Secretary of the Club.

REPORT WRITING-125 words

1. Your school organized a workshop under NAEP to create awareness among adolescents of the growing abuse of drugs. Write a report in not more than 125 words for publication in the Times of India (NIE).
2. You are Raghav / Raghavi of Bal Bharti School. A team of Educationist from Pakistan visited your school as a part of a cultural exchange programme. Students of your school put up a cultural show in their honour. Write a report on the show for your school magazine.
3. The chief Minister of Delhi Ms. Sheila Dixit called a press conference to update on the development that is taking place in Delhi for 2010 common wealth games. As a reporter write a report in 125 words.
4. You with your parents participated in a Career Counseling programme organized by ‘Career India’ at Pragati Maidan. You listened to professionals from various fields like Food Technology, Fashion Technology, and Media Management etc. Write a report in about 125 words for publication in school magazine.
5. Your school organized a Mini Sports festival for the special children of Amar Jyoti School, Karkardooma to sensitize all towards the physically challenged. They were given prizes for their performances and participation. As a Head boy of the school write a report in 125 words to be published in Hindustan Times (NIE).

FACTUAL DESCRIPTION [125words]

1. Your school has recently built a new state of the art Auditorium. All the cultural programmes of your school will now be held in this Auditorium. Your Principal has asked you to write a factual description of the new auditorium called ‘Chetwood Memorial Hall’.
2. The International Book Fair was inaugurated by the Chairman of Children Book Trust (CBT), Dr. Kumar. The theme this year was ‘Illustrated work of children.’ You are Akshay/ Aakansha a class 12th student of GD Goenka public school. You visited the exhibition & were impressed by the range of books on display. Write a factual description of it in125 words.
3. Travelling in a train gives a bitter as well as sweet experience as one can see so many activities going on there in a great haste. Write in 125 words the factual description of the insideof the railway carriage you were travelling in.
4. Write a factual description of the room you are presently sitting in. Do not use more than 125 words.
5. You are Umesh / Uma of Ahlon International school Delhi. You along with your parents visited the hill station, Manali. You were overwhelmed by the scenic beauty of the place. Attempt a factual description of this place of interest.
6. Your friend Amit has joined a Graduation course at DU as a Day Scholar. He wants a bus pass to be made. Write for him the process of getting a bus pass made.

LETTER WRITING-150 WORDS

Letter to the Editor

1. You are the Secretary, RWA, Masjid Moth, Delhi. The incessant rains of the region have caused flood in the area. You have written to the concerned authorities for help but all in- vain. Write a letter to the Editor of a local daily highlighting the problems faced by the residents.
2. Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper drawing the attention of the concerned authorities towards the number of schools that fail to provide proper playgrounds and classroom facilities.

Letter placing an order

1. You are Amita Paul, Computer In charge of Delhi public school. Your school plans to buy 20 computers and computer accessories from DELL COMPUTERS, 124 Nehru place, New Delhi. Draft a letter placing order giving all the specifications of product and its quality mentioning its terms and conditions.
2. You are Rakesh Modi, Librarian of Hinduja Public School. You want to place order for four English fictions, with M/S Dixit Publications, F-152, Connaught Place, New Delhi-110001.

Letter for Cancellation of order

1. You are Anuradha / Sandeep staying at B-12, Arjun Nagar New Delhi. Last month, you brought a digital camera from the ‘Electronics World’, Bangalore, against a warranty of 2 years. Now you discover that there is something wrong with this camera. It doesn’t work for more than 30-40 seconds at a stretch and the pictures are not very clear. Write a letter to the dealer complaining about this problem.
2. You are Sadhana /Sanjay, librarian of St. Joseph’s School; Jabalpur. You had placed an order for a few books for your School library. When the books were delivered, you found that some were damaged and some were missing. Write a letter to the Sales Manager of Bharat Publishing House, Rohini, Delhi cancelling the order because of the poor service.

Letter of Enquiry

1. Annamalai University, Chennai offers different courses of studies through correspondence. Write to the Director,Institute of Correspondence Courses and Continuing Education, Annamalai University inquiring after the details of a course you would like to take and requesting him to send you the prospectus.
2. You are Rajni/Rajan living in Ahemdabad. You and your friends are planning a weeklong holiday. You came across an advertisement in the newspaper regarding an attractive holiday package to Malaysia and Singapore. Write a letter making necessary inquiry from the Tour operator before you make your final decision.

Job Applications

1. You are Sunil /Sunita, staying at 35-B, Nehru Nagar, Hyderabad. You have seen an advertisement in ‘The Hindu’ for recruitment of Management Trainees in ICICI Bank, Apply for the same, giving your detailed bio-data (Curriculum Vitae).
2. A well – reputed College has advertised for the post of two well-experienced, highly qualified Physics Lecturers on permanent basis. You are Suhas / Sneha of 52-Wellingdon Road, Mumbai. Write a job application for this post with complete biodata. Invent other details.

ARTICLES-150-200 words

1. You are Kamakshi / Kuber. You have been selected to represent your school in an All India School Debate organized by the Lions Club, New Delhi .The topic for the debate is “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth will make the whole world go blind.’ Write an article in not more than 200 words for or against the motion giving arguments for your stand.
2. Your school is celebrating ‘Anti - Corruption Day’. Write a speech in 200 words on the topic ‘Minimization of Human Wants is the only way to cleanse society of all kinds of corruption..’ You are Avni / Anuj of class XII.
3. You witness children working in shops, small factories and restaurants. You discuss this problem with your elder sister. She informs you about the unhealthy and awful conditions of factories making safety matches, bangles and crackers where child labour is usually employed. You feel agitated; you decide to write an article for publication in a national daily advocating ban on child labour. (Word limit 200 words).
4. The value education Club of your school organized a visit to a ‘Home for the aged ’in your city, where you interacted with the inmates and got an insight into their feelings. You were pained to hear about their loneliness, and their craving for the company of their near and dear ones. In order to reach out to society you decide to write an article in 200 words, ‘Caring for the Old during Sunset Years.’
5. Owning a car has become a status symbol these days. However increase in the number of cars has added to the environmental pollution is creating many health related problems. Write an article in not more than 200 words, highlighting the urgent need for reducing this man made problem, by observing a ‘No car day’, by using public utility services etc. Give suitable and creative suggestions.
6. You are ABC of class XII. Recently you spent a week in a rural setting, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Describe ‘The joy of living in the lap of nature’. Write an article in 200 words for your school magazine.
7. You are Malik / Manju. You are concerned about the craze for westernization among the youth of today. There has been a depletion of our values and culture. Write an article on the need to preserve our age-old culture (word limit 200 words).
8. Pizzas and burgers have joyfully robbed the traditional rotis and other wholesome items from the Indian plate. Little does the younger generation realize the potential health hazards they are inviting. As a health conscious individual, invite the attention of these children to ‘Eat healthy in order to stay healthy.’ Write the article in 200 words.
9. You are Praveen Chopra, Secretary of the Health Club of your school. You are pained to see a television programme showing how oil spills and pollutants in the sea has largely affected marine life. In order to highlight the hazards of environmental pollution you decide to write an article for a local daily. (Word limits 200 words).
10. The Beggar Menace at important tourist spots is on the increase. Write an article in 200 words for a newspaper suggesting suitable measures to cure this problem.
11. Though we are celebrating International Women’s Day every year to pay respect to the women, the newspapers reveal several atrocities committed against women. You strongly feel the need for women empowerment. Write an article on the topic `women empowerment` without exceeding word limit [200 words]
12. The news items of children being under trauma after taking part in reality shows were a revelation to you. Bring out the harmful effects of the glamour and glitter of these reality shows as it is robbing the children off their childhood. Write an article on reality shows highlighting the harmful effects need for awareness among public - not to be waylaid by the instant success and the glamour promised. [word limit-200 words]



Writing skills (Section B) Hints

1. Notice (Question 1 to 4)
Format -2 Marks
[Name of organization,Title,Date,Name,Designation]
Content-3 Marks
(The wh questions give the skeleton form of the answer)
What is being organized?
Who is organizing?
Which is the target group?
When is it being held?
Where is it being held?
Additional information
Whom to contact

Circular Q. (5)

Meant for wider circulation, more or less in the form of an official letter.
Name of organization
Circular Letter
Date:
Sub.____________________
Sir/Madam,
Content
Sd /-
Name
Designation

2. Advertisement

a. Classified Advt.:
Brief & concise, dealing with just what is required, short words and phrases used, written in a box
Ques.1 Situation vacant
Begin with wanted/required, name of company,post and no. of vacancies,age and sex of candidate, qualification and experience,other details (optional), mode of applying, contact Address & ph. no.
Ques.2 Missing pet : Name,breed,age, colour of skin, identifying features,missing since when/from where,reward,address & ph no.

b. Commercial Advt./Display Advt.: (More elaborate & decorative with pictures/
cartoons /Match stick drawing.
Decorative & varied font size used, catchy slogans used, special offers or discounts to be mentioned, Address & Ph.no. to be written. Highlight the main topic & centralize it in the page.
3. Poster Writing
Posters. centralize the main topic,Matchstick drawing/ Cartoons permitted
Font size of letter differ from idea to idea
Catchy Slogans used
Mention Issuing Authority (Issued by)

4. Invitation & Replies

(1) Invitation & Replies can be informal & formal
Replies can be either formal or informal acceptance / or formal or informal refusal
(2) Formal Invitation & Replies are written in third person
(3) Formal Invitation is always given a formal reply and an informal invitation an informal reply.
(4) Formal invitation should carry address and phone no and RSVP should be written at the end.
(5) Informal invitation is acknowledged in the first or second person.
(6) Formal acceptance & Refusal should express thanks to the one who has invited and refusal should have reason for refusal written.
(7) Informal invitation and replies are written in the same pattern of an informal letter but remember to thank the one who has invited & give reason for refusal.

5. Report writing

Format - (Title, date, place, name of reporter / agency)
The tense used is Past tense as report is of an event that has already taken place.
Be objective in report writing (I, we, me, etc not to be used)
For events –
What is being conducted?
Where?
When?
Chief Guest
Order of events
Conclusion

6. Factual Description

Format: Title
Description of a place – (Where is it situated, the exterior description followed by interior description, the fixtures, colour scheme, materials displayed etc)
Be objective in factual descriptions.
In a factual description of a process, write it in the order of happening. Here sequential markers are used to indicate the order of happening (words like first, then, next, finally etc. are called sequential markers)
Description of a person or a thing also can be asked as a factual description.

7. Letter Writing
Marks distribution:
Format : 2 Marks (sender’s address, date, addressee’s address, salutation, subject, content, complimentary close, signatory)
Content: 4 Marks
Expression: 4 Marks

8. Article Writing
Marks distribution:
Format : 1 Mark (Title, Name)
Content: 4 Marks
Expression: 5 Marks
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SECTION C –LITERATURE
FLAMINGO

Lesson 1- The Last Lesson
Short Questions

1. Give 2 reasons why Franz thought of running away and spending the day out of doors?
2. What was more tempting than the rule of participles?
3. What was the bulletin board famous for?
4. Describe the usual scene and how was it different that day?
5. Describe the appearance of the master M. Hamel that day?
6. What surprised Franz on entering the classroom?
7. What was the news that came as a thunderclap to Franz?
8. Do you think Franz was upset for not learning his French lessons during the whole year?
9. Give 3 reasons for the presence of villagers in the classroom on the day of the last lesson?
10. What role did the parents and teachers play for the children’s neglect of French language?
11. What was the opinion of M. Hamel regarding French language?
12. Mention a characteristic each required of both from the teacher and the student for effective learning as portrayed in the text.
13. How does M. Hamel evoke feelings of patriotism in the class towards the end of the lesson?
14. Do you think the group of children in the classroom belonged to a heterogeneous age group? If yes substantiate with evidence from the text?

Essays

1. Political enslavement leads to an identity crisis Discuss with reference to the Last Lesson.
2. Do you think either the students or the teacher sincere in their task till the day of the last lesson? Substantiate with evidence from the text?
3. When you have sight you never realize the value of your eyes’ how far is this true with the story `The Last Lesson?’

Lesson 2-The Lost Spring

Short Questions

1. Where does the author meet Saheb every morning?
2. What reason did Saheb give for not going to school?
3. Bring out the contrast drawn between his life in reality and the meaning of his name?
4. What reason does a person give for walking barefoot? What is the author’s personal opinion regarding this reasoning?
5. Bring out the difference in the standard of living of the priests of the past and the present?
6. How does rag picking differ for an adult and for a child?
7. Why does the hole in the shoe not bother Saheb?
8. Was Saheb happy with the newfound job? If not, why?
9. Bring out the horrible condition within the glass blowing industry?
10. Describe the living condition in Firozabad?
11. Why does Mukesh`s grandmother feel it a futile exercise for Mukesh to fight taking up the job in glass blowing industry?
12. Why are they reluctant to form into cooperatives?
13. What all things comprise the vicious circle from where there is no escape?
14. Why is daring a difficult task? What cheers the narrator while talking to Mukesh?
15. Why is Mukesh content to dream only of cars and not of planes?
16. Why are promises to the poor rarely kept?

Essays

1. Do you think the child labour law should be enforced? If the child labour law is enforced approximately how many rag pickers and how many bangle makers would be freed from Seemapuri and Firozabad? Envisage the life Saheb and Mukesh would enjoy if they were freed? How would it be different from the present condition?
2. Bring out from the lesson the pathetic condition of children working in inhuman conditions?
3. Saheb has lost all the joy and freedom by working in the tea stall where he is no longer his own master. Do you think his decision was wise or could he have made a better choice? Or was it still better to leave him at rag picking where he was his own master?
4. Draw the similarities between the life of the rag pickers and the bangle makers as portrayed in Lost Spring

Lesson 3-Deep Water

Short Questions

1. Why the YMCA pool was considered safer when compared to Yakima River?
2. When did his aversion to water begin?
3. What was the misadventure that happened one day?
4. What strategy did he remember as he went down the water?
5. What effect did the drowning in the YMCA pool have on Douglas?
6. Why did he decide to have an instructor to teach him swimming?
7. What method did he adopt to overcome terror?
8. Bring out the significance of the `yellow water` though he has specifically mentioned that the water was as clean and clear as the bathtub before experiencing drowning.

Essays

1. The childhood fear and the way he overcomes it brings about a deeper meaning to the readers. Bring out how the negative traits can be changed into positive traits with reference to the techniques used by Douglas?
2. The tenacity and determination on the part of Douglas helped him to shirk away the fear factor. Discuss.

Lesson 4-The Rattrap

Short Questions

1. Why does the peddler feel that the whole world is a rattrap?
2. How did people usually treat the peddler and what made the crofter different?
3. Breach of trust is the worst crime one can commit? How is it true in the case of peddler?
4. How does the writer bring out the allegory in the lesson when the peddler is trapped in the forest?
5. What made the peddler respond to the name Nils Olof?
6. What made the ironmaster send his daughter to persuade the peddler?
7. What shows that Edla was very observant, quick and sharp by nature?
8. Why does Edla stop the peddler from going away though she knew that he was not the captain?
9. What trait of the daughter is brought out when her father talks about her being worse than a parson?
10. Safety and security is a distant dream even in one’s own home. What makes the peddler safe and secure in the house of ironmaster?
11. What was Edla`sX`mas gift to the peddler?
12. What was the peddler’s gift to Edla?
13. Why does he sign in as the captain?

Essays

1. How were the two hosts’ - the crofter and the ironmaster different from one another?
2. In what way does humour help us to sympathize with the peddler?
3. Is the reader relieved by the way the story ended. Justify your answer
4. The story Rattrap is highly philosophical. Discuss
5. The metaphor of Rattrap highlights human nature. Discuss

Lesson 5 - Indigo

Short Questions

1. What was the positive quality about Rajkumar Shukla? How did he benefit from this quality?
2. What proves that Gandhiji was an unknown figure in Patna?
3. Why were the government servants scared to be acquainted with a person like Gandhiji?
4. What was the first instance of achieving freedom from fear by the peasant community?
5. What made the lawyers shamefaced before Gandhiji?
6. Narrate how the civil disobedience became a triumph for the first time?
7. Why did Gandhiji agree to 25% refund when the actual demand was for 50%?
8. What qualities was he able to make in the Indians by the Champaran episode?
9. Why did he feel that help from the foreigner Mr Andrews was unnecessary?
10. Why does he entrust teachers rather than politicians to make changes in the society?

Essays

1. To think differently is a challenging job but ultimate victory comes to those who are not the usual run of the mill. In what way is this true of Gandhiji in the lesson Indigo?
2. “Freedom from fear is more important than legal justice for the poor” how does he bring home this point in this lesson? State whether Indians have attained freedom from fear even in this post independence era-justify your answer?
3. What are the qualities of a good leader as portrayed by Gandhiji in the lesson Indigo?

Lesson 6 -Poets And Pancakes

Short Questions

1. Through the mention of Robert Clive, how does the narrator bring out the extravaganza of those in power?
2. Why was the Gemini studio known as a breeding ground of national integration?
3. What was the hierarchy that was followed in the make-up room of Gemini studio?
4. Why did people feel that the narrator was doing next to nothing?
5. Why did the narrator pray for crowd shooting all the time?
6. What was the reason for the dejection of the office boy? / [What high hopes did the office boy cradle in his mind?
7. What was Kothamangalam Subbu accused of?
8. What were the similarities and differences between Subbu and the office boy?
9. How does the narrator draw out the creativity of Subbu?
10. Why do you think Subbu had enemies in spite of being a good person at heart?
11. How was the lawyer a different person from the rest in the story department?
12. What was the impression about a communist in the minds of the people of Gemini studio?
13. Though the MRA (Moral Rearmament Army) was called an international circus, how did they differfrom the usual circus group?
14. How did` Jotham valley `influence the Tamil plays?
15. What was the reason behind the Gemini studio welcoming the moral rearmament army with both arms?
16. What shows that the boss knew very little about the poet who was visiting Gemini studio?
17. According to the writer what are the requisites of a prose writer?
18. Who was the editor of `The Encounter `? Why did the narrator feel as if he had met a long lost relative?
19. The boss of Gemini studio had nothing to do with Spender’s poetry but not with his 'God that failed`. Bring out the significance of this line?

Essays

1. Bring out the positive qualities of Subbu?
2. Bring out the humour presented in the lesson` Poets and Pancakes? `
3. The office boy is a depiction of the typical universal character lured by glamour of the tinsel world but dejected. Discuss

Chapter 7- The Interview
Short questions

1. What do the celebrities feel about being interviewed?
2 In what way does the interviewer hold a position of unprecedented power and influence over the person interviewed?
3. What are the chief sources of information about personalities?
4. What makes Eco`s scholarly works different from other scholarly works?
5. What would Eco prefer to be identified with and why?
6. What kind of experience did `Miami vice ` and `Emergency Room ` give Umberto Eco?
7. Was the sale of `Name of Rose ` successful in the U.S? Substantiate your point logically.

Essays

1. Everybody has a right to privacy .do you agree with the views of V.S. Naipaul and others who vehemently attack the system of interview?
2. High light the importance of interview; its drawbacks, positive aspects and reactions of celebrity writers based on the The Interview?
3. In your opinion what is Eco`s attitude towards the interview? Do you sense any difference between his views and other celebrity writers? Has it reflected upon the statement that `our most vivid impressions of our contemporaries are through interviews`. Elucidate?

Lesson 8 – Going Places
Short Questions

1. Sophie flits from one dream to another. What trait of hers is brought out by this action?
2. What made her dissatisfied with her life?
3. The unknown things are always a fascination for human beings. How is it true in the case of Sophie?
4. When Geoff queried whether she told their father about meeting Danny Casey, why was she chastened?
5. Does father believe his daughter’s encounter with Danny Casey? If not, why?
6. What made her heave a sigh of relief when she knew that Geoff had not divulged all what she said?
7. How has Geoff helped in developing her fantasy about Danny Casey?

Essays

1. Fantasy is a pleasant relief at times but at times it can takes a serious turn, which may prove detrimental to mental growth. . Elucidate with reference to the text focusing on the negative impact of fantasizing?
2. Sophie aspires for a romantic touch in her relationship with Danny Casey. What is the root cause of her imagination running wild?
3. What in your opinion is the reason behind her weaving a fantasy, is it a crush for an ace footballer or is it the love for glamour of a celebrity, if not at least the glamour of a person associated with a celebrity. Elucidate
Poetry 1 - My Mother At Sixty Six
1. What did the mother look like? What made the poet feel so?
2. What did she realize with pain?
3. How did she take her mind off the thought?
4. What does ‘sprinting of trees’ and ‘spilling of children’ refer to’?
5. Bring out the contrast portrayed by the scene outside with the state of the poet’s mother.
6. Why is the mother compared to ‘a late winter’s moon’?
7. What is the childhood fear of the poet
8. Though filled with negative thoughts in her mind, outwardly what did the poet reflect? Substantiate your point from the words /phrases from the poem.

2. An Elementary School Classroom In A Slum.

1. The poem begins on a very potent simile about the children’s faces. Explain.
2. Bring out the powerful imagery presented in the first stanza depicting despair and disease
3. Why does the poet use ‘rat’s eye’ for the ‘paper seeming boy’?
4. Describe the powerfully telescopic image drawn by the picturisation of a sick boy.
5. Why is the class described referred to as ‘dim’?
6. Do you agree that the poet has dealt with a universal theme? How far has he succeeded in depicting the role of every individual towards development of the underprivileged?
7. Where does the sweet and young boys’ mind wander? What does it show?
8. What are the things that adorn the walls of the classroom? Why does it have no significance to the children?
9. Why is the ‘window’ depicted as the world of the children?
10. Why is their world far from river capes and star of words?
11. Why Shakespeare is wicked and maps a bad example?
12. What picture comes to your mind with the phrases ‘slag heap’ and ‘skin peeped through by bones’?
13. Why is the mended glass referred to as ‘bottle bits of stones’?
14. Explain: “so blot their map with slums”
15. Why is the slum referred to as ‘catacombs’?
16. What is the significance of the white and green leaves?
17. What can create history?
18. Bring out the various poetic devices used by the poet to drive home the point
19. How far does he succeed in presenting an allegorical representation of haves and have-nots?

3. A Thing Of Beauty

1. In what way is a thing of beauty a joy forever?
2. Even though life is filled with sufferings what gives us the urge to go on and how?
3. What are the different sufferings drawn out by the poet?
4. Name the objects of beauty
5. How does art and Literature inspire man?
6. What is picturised as an immortal drink? What makes it outstanding?
7. Nature acts as a buffer against all the pain and sufferings .In what manner has God provided it to man?

4. Keeping Quiet

1. What does the poet mean by keeping still?
2. In order to achieve stillness what are we to do?
3. The period of stillness would provide a peaceful world. Explain with reference to the text?
4. Why does the poet not want any ‘truck with death’? How is inactivity and death different from stillness he is advocating?
5. Why do we threaten ourselves with death and what is the solution for this threat?
6. Nature is a great teacher. Discuss.

5. A Road Side Stand

1. What was the purpose of the stand?
2. What phrase shows the pride of the villagers? Explain.
3. What protects the cities from being faded in ignominy
4. What are the complaints made by the polished city dwellers?
5. What are the things that are kept for sale?
6. What is the complaint of the poet?
7. Why do the villagers ask for the city money in their hands?
8. What is the false promise made to the villagers?
9. Why are the city dwellers called ‘greedy good doers and beneficent beasts of prey’?
10. What is the significance of the grim picture drawn by economy and statistics?
11. What does non-responsiveness to issues bring forth in the life of villagers?
12. Bring out what the poet envisages for the village folk?
13. Bring out the different poetic devices used by the poet?
14. How does the poet bring out the imbalance in society through this poem?

6. Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

1. Justify the title `Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers`
2. Why is uncle’s wedding band heavy on Jennifer’s hand?
3. What are the characteristics of the tiger depicted in the poem?
4. How does the poet imply the point that art survives the artist?
5. Though aunt Jennifer is a representative of women fighting against masculine authority and power what is the implication of creating a tiger that is extremely masculine and authoritative?

Supplementary Text-Vistas

Lesson 1.The Third Level
1. What was the obvious step taken by Charley?
2. What according to the psychiatrist was a ‘waking dream wish fulfillment’?
3. Why did the psychiatrist feel that Charley wanted to escape from this world?
4. What was Charley’s temporary refuge from reality? What does the author mean by this?
5. What logic was put forward byCharley to prove that he did not need any refuge?
6. How did charley discover the third level?
7. Why does Charley feel that Grand Central is growing like a tree?
8. Why did Charley feel that Grand Central was an ‘exit’ a means of escape? Does this thought have any relevance to his escapade?
9. Why did Charley hide his thoughts that the Grand Central station had always been an exit ---a means of escape from his psychiatrist friend?
10. How did Charley feel that he was neither on the first level nor on the second level but on the third level?
11. What differences did charley find on the third level?
12. What made charley say, ‘and then I knew’?
13. Why do you feel the summer evening of 1894 in Galesburg were longer?
14. What kind of life did the people lead in 1894 in Galesburg?
15. Why did the man at the counter say, “That ain’t money”?
16. Why was Charley not bothered about the premium that he had to pay to get old currency?
17. What is a first day cover?
18. What did Sam’s note read?
19. What did Charley find about Sam?
20. How can you explain that Sam had sent a letter from the third Level?
21. Why has 1894 been repeated throughout the chapter?
22. Why does Charley think that Sam would not find a job in Galesburg in 1894?

Long Questions

1. Do you feel that Charley really had been on the third level or was it just a medium of escape?
2. The writer has mentioned time and again about Charley’s tendency to seek temporary refuge in the world of stamps as well as his dissatisfaction with the world around him. Is this the reason for charley to discover the third level or was it sheer chance that made him discover the third level?
3. Charley seeks temporary refuge in his imagination of the third level. Discuss.
4. Discuss the importance of the presence of the psychiatrist in the lesson.
Chapter 2. The Tiger King
1. What do you understand by “threat of a Stuka bomber”?
2. What was the secret the astrologers had to reveal? How did they behave when compelled to speak the truth?
3. When did everyone stand transfixed in stupefaction’?
4. What incredible matter took place in the court? Why has this been compared to bulletins issued by the war office?
5. How was the tiger king brought up? Does the author suggest anything through this?
6. What justification did the tiger king give before he started out on tiger hunt?
7. Why did the astrologer say that he would cut off his hair?
8. Why does he mention of becoming an insurance agent in particular?
9. Did the maharaja relent to the demands of the English officer? What did he do?
10. Why did tiger population become extinct in his kingdom?
11. Why did the king decide to get married? How far was the marriage successful?
12. What was the important factor that was considered for his marriage?
13. Once the maharaja decided to exempt a village from paying taxes, which he changed later on, and levied double tax on the village. What does this speak about the king?
14. “I have killed the hundredth tiger. My vow have been fulfilled”-was the Tiger King’s vow really fulfilled? What happened on that day?
15. Why was the Maharaja not in a position to gift a real tiger to his son?
16. How did the craftsman fool the king?
17. How did the death of the Tiger King take place?
18. Why does the author say the hundredth tiger took its final revenge?

Long Questions

1. The story` Tiger King` reflects `the whims and fancies of people in power’ Elucidate.
2. Tiger king shows the general behaviour of people towards animals. People like the tiger king are responsible for making some of creatures’ endangered species. Express your views
3. A person like the Tiger King does not believe that in this universe there is equal place for all living creatures. It is a world created by the rich and the powerful to live the way they want. The author brings out this simple truth through this political satire “Tiger King” Elucidate.

Chapter 3. Journey to the End of the Earth

1. How does the author describe the Antarctica?
2. What do you mean by Ecosphere?
3. How did the author feel on reaching the Antarctica?
4. How was the world different six hundred million years ago?
5. “To visit Antarctica now is to be a part of that history”-which history does the author refer to?
6. Why do people lose all earthy sense of perspective and time in the Antarctica?
7. Why does the writer say that the prognosis for human beings is not good?
8. How has man managed to increase global warming?
9. Why should one go to Antarctica to study the earth’s past, and future?
10. How has Antarctica been able to retain its ‘pristine’ nature?
11. What is the aim of the programme students on ice?
12. What are the reasons behind the programmer’s success?
13. Antarctica is the place to see how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions? Comment
14. What are phytoplanktons? What implication does it have on the sustenance of the creatures on this earth?
15. What experience did the author have near the Antarctica circle?
16. “it was nothing short of a revelation everything does indeed connect”-what does the author refer to?

Long Questions.

1. The earth teaches us that if we take care of the small things big things will be taken care of. Explain this with reference to the “Antarctica”
2. We have been successful in increasing the global temperature. What are the consequences?
3. Why is Antarctica the place to go to unearth the mysteries surrounding human life?
4. Why does Tishani Doshi say that the youth have the idealism and strength to do a lot to save the earth?
5. Justify the title` Journey to the End of the Earth’

Chapter 4 -The Enemy

1. What did Dr. Sadao’s father tell him showing the islands visible from seashore?
2. What was his father’s chief concern?
3. Why was Sadao not sent abroad with the troops?
4. Why didn’t Dr. Sadao show his interest in Hanna before knowing that she was a Japanese?
5. Why did Dr. Sadao hesitate to go to the American professor’s house?
6. Why did Dr. Sadao &his wife discover on the seashore.
7. Though, a doctor why did Dr. Sadao & his wife hesitate a moment to help the bleeding & seriously injured man?
8. What did they think would be the best & the kindest thing to do for the injured man?
9. What made the doctor concerned that he was an American soldier?
10. What was the final decision taken by the doctor?
11. Why did they think of handing over the man to the police?
12. . Why did Hanna hesitate to put the injured soldier on his deceased father in law’s bed?
13. What made Dr Sadao attend to the injured soldier
14. Why did Dr Sadao decide to operate on the prisoner of war?
15. “What was the reaction of the servants?Can it be justified?
16. What thoughts came to Hanna’s mind when she was washing the wounds of the soldier?
17. This man” he thought there is no reason under heaven why he should live.” What prompted Dr. Sadao to say this? What does he do after this?
18. What impression do you form of General Takima?
19. What happened on the seventh day, after the doctor and his wife saved the wounded man?
20. What did General Takima tell Dr. Sadao when he heard about the prisoner war?
21. Why did the general assure Dr. Sadao that he would not be arrested?
22. What did general decide to do with enemy?
23. Why do you think Sadao could not sleep properly after his meeting with the General?
24. Why did Sadao stop Hanna from going to the prisoner’s room?
25. How did Sadao help the prisoner to escape?
26. What did Sadao reply when the prisoner thanked him for saving his life?
27. Why do you think Dr. Sadao was unable to kill the American?
28. General Takima forgot what he had assured Dr. Sadao. What does it say about his character?
29. What impression do you form of the prisoner?
30. What are the twomoral implications on which the whole story is built upon ?

Long Questions

1. Dr. Sadao proves himself to be a good human being. He rises above the demarcation made by man. Elucidate
2. The enemy brings out that human qualities are more important in lives than our social obligations .It is in fact the victory of humanity in the moment of crisis. Discuss.
3. Dr Sadao was a true patriot –discuss.
4. Hanna proved to be a real support to Dr Sadao-explain
5. Justify the title The Enemy.`

Chapter 5. Should Wizard Hit Mommy

1. What was the regular routine of Jack in the evening and for saturdays?
2. What were the special features of the stories created by Jack?
3. Why did the ‘rite’ seem futile?
4. Why didn’t other animals play with Roger Skunk?
5. Is there any autobiographical element in the story created by Jack?
6. What was the observation made by Jo about God? What does it speak about her?
7. Why didn’t Jack like to be interrupted by Jo?
8. What did the wizard tell Roger Skunk to do?
9. Why did Roger Skunk`s mother dislike the new smell? What does it reveal about mothers` in general?
10. What did Roger’s mother ask him to do?
11. How did Jo want the story to end?
12. There is difference in opinion about the ending of the story of Roger Skunk. What does John Updike want to say through this story?
13. Why did Jack feel trapped?
14. What picture of Jack do you form from this story?

Long Questions

1. The story “Should wizard hit mommy?” deals with a problem, which is very relevant today. Elucidate.
2. Jack though gave time to his children does not prove himself to be an ideal father. –Discuss
3. Jo though very young voices her own opinion. What impression do you form of the children of today?
4. Justify the significance of the title Should wizard hit mommy`

Chapter 6. On The Face Of It

Short Questions
1. What impression did Derry have when he entered Mr. Lamb’s garden?
2. Why does Derry say, “People are afraid of me?”
3. What did Derry have bitter feelings about other people?
4. What does Derry tell Mr. Lamb when he asked him about his face?
5. What opinion do you form of Mr. Lamb when he says “why is one green growing plant called a weed and another a flower”?
6. What similarity does Mr. Lamb find between him and Derry?
7. Why Mr. Lamb is called `lamey lamb? `
8. “It’s not what you look like it’s what you are inside”- what do you understand from this statement?
9. “It was so cruel”. What does Derry refer to?
10. Why does Mr. Lamb tell Derry that if he went back he would never return?
11. How did Mr. Lamb lose his leg?
12. What does Mr. Lamb tell Derry when he says that he does not like being with other people?
13. Why does Derry say “if I don’t go back there I’ll never go anywhere in this world”?
14. What did Derry find when he returns to Mr. Lamb?

Long Questions

1. “Its not what you look like that matters but its what you are inside” how does the author bring out the truth of this statement through the play On The Face Of It?
2. `On the face of it` highlights the pains and conflicts on one hand and on the other it also shows that physically challenged people can cope with their disability. Elucidate
3. Mr. Lamb is successful in changing Derry’s mindset. How did it become possible?
4. Society is indifferent to the needs of the physically challenged; rather people are cruel to them. Express your views with reference to “On the face of it”.
5. Justify the significance of the title `On the face of it.’

Chapter 7. Memories of Childhood

1. What gave no peace to Zitkala Sa?
2. What does the writer mean by “my spirit tore itself in struggling for its freedom”?
3. How were the Indian girls dressed?
4. Why did the author feel embarrassed in the dining room?
5. Why did the author start to cry when the others were busy eating in the dining room?
6. What was the warning given to the author by her friend?
7. Why did the author object to get her hair cropped?
8. What did Zikala do to avoid cutting her hair short?
9. How did the author feel when her hair was cut short?

Long Question

1. “No, I will not submit! I will struggle first! I answered” what does the author want to say through these words?
2. Zitkala Sa indeed fought before falling a prey to exploitation. How did she put up a brave fight?
3. “For now I was only one of many little animals driven by a herder” when did Zitkala Sa say this and why?

We Too Are Human Beings

Short Questions

1. What does Bama say about untouchability at the onset of the story?
2. What are the things, which did not allow Bama to reach home early?
3. When Bama saw the old man carrying a parcel in a peculiar manner she found it comical. Was it really something comical?
4. How did Bama feel when her brother told her the actual reason for the old man to carry the parcel in a special manner?
5. Which thought infuriated Bama?
6. What did Bama feel would be the right thing for them to do?
7. What had a deep impression on Bama?
8. What did she do when she came to know the reality of casteism?

Long Question

1. How did Bama come to know that casteism existed in society?
2. When Bama understood and realized that being born into a particular caste could bring with it untouchability, how did she react and what did she resolve to do?

Chapter 8. Evans Tries an O Level

Short Questions

1. What was the unusual request received from the Oxford prison by the secretary of the examination?
2. Why they decide to help Evans?
3. What kind of track record did Evans have?
4. Why did Mr. Jackson call Evans ‘scruffy and what did that remind them to do?
5. Why did Evans want to keep his hat?
6. How was Reverend Stuart Mcleery dressed when he came to the jail to invigilate? What did Mcleery carry with him?
7. Why did the governor bug Evans’s cell?
8. Which object in Mcleery’s suitcase puzzled Jackson?
9. How does the coyness of Evans help the governor remove the guards from the room?
10. What had actually happened to the real Mcleery?
11. Why does the governor say that Evans would not be with them the next September?
12. Who has the last laugh in the lesson? Justify.
13. According to you who all might have helped Evans in his escape?

Long Questions

1. The whole government machinery is used by Evans to escape. Discuss the corrupt system used by Evans to succeed in his mission.
Or
How did Evans manage to take the whole machinery for a ride?
2. Justify the title “Evans tries an O` level”
3. The governor, who looked into the intrinsic details and went to the extent of bugging the exam room, is literally taken for a ride what could be the reason and how could he have stopped this escape?
4. In spite of Evans being a prisoner the readers have their sympathy with him rather than with the governor. Discuss.



Important Points for Class XII

Mind your English


Students tend to give priority to other subjects at the cost of English. However, more often than not, this tells on the marks in the subject. Here are a few tips on how to prepare for the English examinations and weed-out common mistakes

General Instructions
• The moment you see the question paper, do not immediately start writing answers. Give 5-10 minutes to read it and thoroughly plan the three hours you have at your disposal
• It is preferred that the paper is attempted according to the serial numbers given in the question paper
• Number your questions and all the parts of it so that it is easier for the examiner to track and allot marks
• Never copy a wrong spelling from the question paper (or even from the blackboard while in the classroom) as this act too will displease the teacher
• While answering, always make it a point to leave a line between parts of the same question. If no space is left, they might be left out for marking
• Don’t misspell words like ‘beautiful’, ‘careful’, ‘hopeful’ with double ‘l’ as all these words carry single ‘l’
• The answers pertaining to notices, advertisements, invitations, etc, should always be written in a blurb, i.e. a box. Therefore, do not forget to take your geometry box, stapler, as well as correcting fluid. Make an effort not to cross out or rewrite. If it happens, please use the correcting fluid.
• Never hand over your paper to the invigilator without revising as it might save five to seven marks owing to silly errors because of writing fast and forgetfulness

Comprehension Passage
• There’s no need to write the entire paragraph or copying exactly
• Never write answers in incomplete sentences or beginning with ‘Because’ and letting the sentence incomplete. Leave a line after writing answer to each part
• All the answers should be to the point, precise, concise and within the word limit
• If the answer is to be written in between the sentence, take care that it’s not begun with capital letter

Note Making
• Read the passage carefully and just formulate the points and sub-headings in your mind. The numbers of subheadings are not to be written in the margin provided for writing question numbers. Write them on the page at the right place
• Sub-headings and points should not be written in complete sentences but in phrases
• Write the main heading in capitals and underline it
• Try to use contractions and abbreviations
• Four to five points should be divided into sub and sub-sub points for better explanation
• Give a key to the abbreviations and contractions at the end

Summary
• One word heading is not preferred as ‘Terrorism’ must be written as ‘Down with Terrorism’
• Summary should be condensed in a paragraph only
• It is better not to go beyond 85 words in a summary that should be specified at the end in brackets. Irrelevant details must not form part of your summary

Composition
• A grasping, suitable and catchy heading is always a boon
• Try beginning with some quote or saying or just simple good and attractive ideas
• Three to four short paragraphs are sufficient that should not contain very long sentences

Advertisements
• The category of the advertisement like ‘Lost and Found’, ‘Vehicles’, ‘Property’, ‘Matrimonial,’ etc, should be mentioned outside the box
• Advertisements have a word limit of 50 words
• First, draft the advertisement and then draw a box, as you know not where you’ll finish
• Don’t write full sentences. Be economical by doing away with prepositions, sentence connectors etc. Give all the important information and do not repeat

Posters
• Huge font is preferred for the heading if possible with a design.
• Information like how, when, where, why, what, who etc, should be contained and bullets to be used to represent these points but without cramming in too many words making it hotchpotch. If possible use statistics
• If required, day, time and venue should be clearly specified
• Notice, advertisement, poster and invitation all have word limit of 50 words. All significant details must be presented artfully, clearly and brightly
• If the notice is in public interest, don’t forget to write in brackets: (In public interest from the department/ ministry of ___)

Invitations
• Invitation for birthday, marriage or some cultural activity is also drafted within 50 words
• Writing format is centralised
• If required, day, time and venue should be clearly specified
• At the end on the left side under RSVP, phone numbers should be given
• If it is a wedding invitation, ‘All the well wishers’ should be written on the right side at the end

Letter Writing
• Today we write everything on the left side in any kind of letter. The first paragraphs should be topical expanding the subject. The second paragraph should discuss the problem dealt with and the third one should have solutions. The fourth one must be conclusive. Date must be written in this format: March 2, 2006
• Never and ever write your address or other address that can be mistaken as your own address. Write a common one like: The Examination Room, Scholars’ Avenue, Educational Road, Academic City etc. Divide your letter into smaller paragraphs
• Usually letters to the editor are common these days. So you must be in the practice of reading the ‘Letters to the Editor’ column of a national daily (a big newspapers)
• Yours is correct; Your’s is not

Report
• The first paragraph of a newspaper/ magazine report must be answer how, when where, why, what and who. Paragraph one should explain the topic, two and three the main event and last, the investigations or findings
• In newspaper reports, headline is followed by the byline as — By a Staff Reporter or By a Staff Correspondent. Name of the newspaper/ agency, place of even and date follow
• All reports must be completed within 125 words

Debate
• A debate should begin like this: Hon’ble judges, teachers, my worthy friends and all the members of this august gathering! This is An Ace Debater of Grammar School, speaking for the motion that — TV viewing is harmful for children
• Arguments should be convincing and as per the topic. You can also confute an earlier speaker.
• It should be written within 150 words in 3-4 paragraphs

Literature
• Read the whole text at least thrice to be thorough. Must score almost full in literature if you aim for Rhodes or any other scholarship
• Be precise, concise and to the point. Don’t write in points but paragraph form
• Don’t answer what is not asked
• While answering, always make it a point to leave a line between parts of the same question. If no space is left, they might be left out of marking
• Follow the word limit as short answers of 1 mark or 2 marks should be answered in 2-3 sentences. Write never a big but brief 2-sentence introduction for long answers
• A good beginning and a proper conclusion will fetch good marks
• Write simple and pleasant English while answering questions and don’t try to be scholarly by using difficult connotations


(The writer is senior English teacher, Modern School, New Delhi)

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Rime of the Ancient Mariner

PART –I

Line 1:
It is an Ancient Mariner

• The poem opens abruptly (suddenly) in the manner of a ballad (which can be sung) without any wasteful description.

• Our attention is immediately drawn to the central figure of the story i.e. the mariner.

Ancient Mariner :

• Ancient conveys the two fold sense of ‘old’ & of ‘old time’.
• An atmosphere of bygone days permeates throughout the whole poem.

Line 2:
Three

• This number has mystical & supernatural associations.

Line 3 :
Long grey beard & glittering eye.

• These are two of the most striking features of the mariner’s appearance.

• Time & again in the course of the poem we are reminded of one or the other of these features.

• They lend a sense of mystery to his personality, at the same time they bring a touch of vividness to the description.

Line-3 & 4 :

• The wedding guest is irritated at being interrupted.

• He is the next of kin & his impatience is quite understandable.

• There is going to be however a change in his attitude.

• He is going to listen to the mariner with a peculiar docility ( not very much opposing).

• This change of attitude suggests how powerful is the impact of the mariner’s story.

Line – 10:
The mariner, totally unheedful of the wedding guest’s impatience, again plunges into the story abruptly. This lends another touch of weirdness to his personality.

Line – 12: Eftsoons.
• This means soon after or immediately. The archaic phraseology is used to suggest the atmosphere of the bygone days. The mariner drops the hand off the wedding guest and holds him only with the glittering eye. The fascination is now complete. The guest is not going to show any further impatience.

Line-15 & 16:
• Mark the complete change in the attitude of the wedding guest. He is now as eager & docile as a 3 year’s child.
• These 2 lines were contributed by William Wordsworth.

Line – 21:
• The story once again begins with an abruptness peculiar to it. This abruptness suggests the rapid pace of the narrator. Notice how vivid is the description of the people gathered on the coast to bid the sailors’ farewell & the sailing away of the ship.
• A critic comments, “ it is indeed a voyage from the world of reality into the world of imagination. But Coleridge’s genius has helped us to believe that the wonders that are to follow are convincing as he has used simple device of giving us a setting of actual possibility.”

Line 23 & 24:
• The objects i.e. the kirk, the hill, the lighthouse top are mentioned in the order in which they disappear from the mariner’s sight.

Line -30:
• The sun is getting more & more overhead everyday. They are approaching the equator.
Line 31 & 31:
• So far no dramatic element has entered the story. So when the wedding guest hears the sound of merry making, he is not able to control or hide his impatience.
• The magic of the glittering eye is probably losing its hold. But once the narrative will begin again, and on a more dramatic note, the listener is all attention.
• He again interrupts the mariner in line 79 but out of fear rather than impatience.

Line 41 to 44:
• The storm is personified here. As the narrative gains intensity the words used become more meaningful.

Line-43:
• The storm is being described as a bird of prey chasing its victim.

Line 45 to 50:
• The ship is presented as a fear stricken person fleeing from his enemy who is closely chasing him.

Line -55: Dismal Sheen.
• Sheen means brightness. But ‘dismal sheen’ suggests cheerless brightness. The mariner could not have liked the brightness of ice in that region of cold and desolate atmosphere; hence to him the brightness of ice appears to be dull & cheerless.

Line -59:
• The ice made fearful noises like an angry monster.
• A critic comments on this & the next few scenes, just as the intense cold forms so marked a contrast with the fiery heat of the coming scene to which all this is but leading, so do these fearful noises, prepare by contrast for fearful silence to follow.

Line-62:
• This description shrouds the albatross with mystery. He suddenly appears on the scene as if from nowhere.

Line- 63:
• In that region of dreary desolation, the albatross is the only representative of life. The words “Christian soul” at once gave him human and divine associations. He is considered to be a bird of good omen and is hailed with great joy & hospitality.

Line 50 – 70:
• A critic comments on these lines in a very interesting manner. He says “The details of the voyage are all chronicled (recorded) with such order & regularity , that there is such a diary like air about the whole thing , that we accept it almost as if it were a series of extracts from a ship’s records.”
• In these lines Coleridge makes the ship enter the polar region, the land of mist & snow , the land where huge monster like icebergs drift about making fearful noises.

Line 74:
Shrouds
• It is a rope reaching from the masthead to the side of the ship to which it is secured. It helped to support the masts.

Line 75: Vespers nine.
• It means evenings.
• Usually vesper is used in the sense of ‘evening prayer’.
• Nine – another mystical number like 3 which has supernatural associations.

Line 78-79:
• This interruption by the wedding-guest is definitely not out of impatience.
• He has seen a look of horror gradually appearing & deepening on the mariner’s face and he is frightened. His exclamation wrings from the mariner an avowal of his crying i.e. he seemed to be rather reluctant in confessing it for fear of the agony it would bring with it.
Line 81
• The first part of the poem concludes with a direct reference to the wanton act of shooting the albatross.
Line 88-89
• The vacuum (emptiness because it was not there) created by the death of the albatross is felt by everyone.
Line 90-95
• The other mariners emphasized the fact that the Albatross was a bird of good omen and the ancient mariner had done something very sinful by shooting it .
Line 96-101
• The fog and the mist having cleared off quite unexpected, the sun rose in its entire glorious splendour. The sailors now changed their opinion about the Albatross.
• They declared him to be a bird of ill omen and applauded the ancient mariner for having shot him. According to the critics’ comments, they thus made themselves accomplices in the crime.
• According to a critic, “the changing, variable attitude of the shipmates is noteworthy. They judge the deed and consider it good or bad, not on its merit or by any standard of right or wrong but simply by the result it brings to them and as often as those omens change, so often do they change. They not only make themselves accomplices in the crime, but they are graceless accomplices without the redeeming feature of consistency.
Line 102-105
• A very fine stanza in which the swift movement of the verse reflects the swift movement of the ship.
Line 103
• As the ship was cutting through the waves, it made a track on the surface of water. The mariner felt that the track followed the ship like a swiftly moving stream.
Line 104-105
• The ship now entered the Pacific Ocean.
• A new phase of the journey has begun. But it has been introduced without any preliminaries. The ancient mariner refers to the silent sea as if it were as known to the wedding guest as to the mariner himself.
Line 106-109
• The poet now wants to convey a touch of stillness. So in this stanza, we have a very slow rhythmic movement of the verse. According to a critic, “each line halts” and the effect created by the whole stanza is a feeling of stagnation and helplessness.
Line 110-115
• The sky is hot like burning copper. The mariner’s guilt begins to be reflected in the external nature. There is always a very close correspondence between the fate of the ship and the moves of nature.
Line 116-117
• Two very famous lines giving a perfect picture of a becalmed ship on a completely still ocean.
Line 122
• The stillness of the sea was so complete that it began to rot. A poetic exaggeration is employed to intensify the horror of the sea.
• Christ – an appeal to Christ for help and mercy. A very ironic situation, for one who so mercilessly shot the Albatross is now begging for mercy.
Line 124-125
• These are two of the most gruesome lines ever written. The full effect can be seen best and appreciated when they are read slowly. It is the repetition of words ‘slimy’ and the addition ‘with legs’ that create the extreme sense of the hideousness of the spectacle.
Line 128
• Witch’s oil – the ingredients used by the witch to prepare her broth. There is a description of such a broth in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Line 131
• The spirit – the avenging spirit of the South Pole, whose anger has been aroused by the shooting of Albatross.
Line 137
• Evil looks – the tongues of the sailors are dry, their throats are parched. So they cannot utter any words. They curse the mariner with their eyes.
Line 140
• Like part one, this part also concludes with a significant reference to the Albatross. The sailors, in order to fix the sole responsibilities of the sins on the mariner, hang the dead Albatross around his neck.

JULIUS CAESAR

Character sketch of Julius Caesar

Caesar, as portrayed by Shakespeare, is a mixture of weakness and strength. In the very opening scene of the play the playwright gives us an impression of Caesar as a political and military strength, though at certain times he tells us that his power is being undermined by certain officers of the state.

Although Caesar shows complete disregard for any kind of superstition yet at certain occasions he reveals to be under the impact of superstitions.

Caesar is fearless but at the same time he has a wavering mind also. When Calpurnia tries to convince him to remain indoors, Caesar fearlessly says that he is ready to accept whatever may be the consequences of stepping out on that day. He very philosophically declares that cowards die many times before their death and the brave never taste of it except once. But when Calpurnia pleads in front of him and bends on her knees, Caesar agrees to follow the words of his wife.

Again when Decius comes and misinterprets Calpurnia’s dream, Caesar is fully convinced and also tempted by the thoughts of being offered the kingly crown, so he decides to get ready to leave the house.

•Here Caesar feels greatly pleased by the flattering interpretation of Calpurnia’s dream .Thus, he appears to have a wavering mind.

Caesar reveals his firmness and his arrogance in the Senate House when Metellus Cimber approaches him with a petition. Caesar firmly rejects the request. Here we admire Caesar’s firmness but we strongly disapprove the arrogant and proud manner in which he speaks to the petitioner. He claims to be one man among countless men as he never changes his mind and never modifies his decisions.

Caesar is also very graceful and dignified in receiving the Senators when they come to his house to fetch him to Senate House. In a very hospitable manner, he offers them to come inside and taste some wine.

Caesar as portrayed by Shakespeare does arouse our admiration because of his strength of character and understanding of human nature but we feel disappointed by his wavering nature, his love of flattery, his arrogance and his boastfulness.


Character Sketch of Marcus Brutus

•When Cassius approaches Brutus and tries to convince and bring him into conspiracy, Shakespeare shows the conflict in his mind due to his love for Caesar and love of freedom .Cassius is able to read the disturbance going on in Brutus’ mind. He targets the mind of Brutus accordingly and succeeds in luring him in the conspiracy party by playing upon his sense of honour and love for freedom and partly also by appealing to him in the name of his ancestors.

•Although Brutus greatly values freedom and wants to safeguard the interest of the common people, yet he is at the same time a dear friend of Caesar.

•Brutus is an idealist who is opposed by the realism and practical sense of Cassius.

•The idealism of Brutus comes out in the course of the play especially when the conspiracy is being planned against Caesar.

•Being an idealist and a visionary with little knowledge of practical realities he fails as a statesman and as a military leader. The lack of political foresight and incapacity to judge the characters of the people whom he has to convince constitute the tragic flaw in him. He shows himself to be too self righteous and self opinionated.

•In dealing with Antony, Brutus shows the same ignorance of the practical reality of life as he had previously when the conspiracy was discussed by him with his fellow conspirators. He shows himself to be more than willing to negotiate with Antony, contrary to the wishes of Cassius and permits him to address the mob. He certainly takes the precaution of himself addressing the mob first, but he then departs, leaving the field free for Antony. He does not foresee the harm which Cassius could and which Antony now does to the cause of the conspirators.


SPEECH OF BRUTUS TO THE MOB:-

•The manner in which Brutus addresses the Roman mob is like a philosopher and not like a politician.

• He tries to appeal to the minds of people not realizing that the mob has only feelings and emotions and no capacity to think.

•In his speech he says that Caesar was ambitious and that it was necessary to kill him in order to prevent him from becoming a dictator and ruling people as if they were his slaves.

•This agreement certainly influences the listeners deeply and emphatically approves the action of the conspirators whereas contrary to this Antony’s speech appealed to the hearts and emotions of the mob and Antony is able to neutralize completely the effect of Brutus’ speech.


TWO MAJOR BLUNDERS COMMITTED BY BRUTUS

One major blunder is that Brutus gives an exhaustive speech to the Roman mob which is beyond their level of understanding.

Another great blunder is committed by him in coming out of the market place immediately after completing his speech and leaving the field clear for Antony. Antony takes full advantage of this and turns the plans of the conspirators upside down.



Antony’s superb oration and its effect upon the mob.


•The speech which Antony delivers to the mob just after Brutus has finished his speech,is a superb specimen of oratory.This speech again shows how crafty he is as the only objective of the speech was to arouse the passions of the mob and to incite them to rebellion against the conspirators and he succeeds fully in this target.

•On the face value Antony seems to be just expressing his grief over Caesar’s death in front of the men. But the ultimate effect of the oration is that the mob feels enraged against the conspirators.

•In the speech Antony points out that Caesar was not at all ambitious that he had the welfare of common people at heart, that the conspirators and specially Brutus have proved ungrateful to Caesar and have committed a severe and a criminal act in murdering him.

•The mob is completely charged by this speech and declares its intentions to cause destruction to the conspirators and also to kill hem. Left alone , Antony feels glad at the result he has achieved and in a brief soliloquy he says that he has been able to set mischief afoot and that the mischief will now take its own course.

Antony’s speech gives an altogether different turn to the events. It is indeed a crucial speech and it marks a turning point in the play.

•Antony proves himself to be a very confident military commander and the victory which he got at the end is as much due to his efforts and initiative in the war as to Octavious Caesar.


Contrast between the funeral speeches of Brutus and Antony.


•Brutus’ speech to the mob is the speech of a philosopher who speaks in a logical manner whereas Antony’s speech is emotional and is intended to stir the feelings and passion of the listeners.
•Brutus’ speech is cold and intellectual. His speech appeals to the intelligence of the listeners and it fails because the listeners in this case are not intelligent enough.
•Brutus’ speech was argumentative and somewhat difficult to understand. His speech is undoubtedly an excellent specimen of reasoning. The logic behind his speech is absolutely clear but again the point remains that logic is something which the common people do not understand. But it does not mean that Brutus is speaking to people who are utterly ignorant. The point is that the people understand his reasoning only to a limited extent. They surrender to his logic only because they have a high opinion about him.

•Brutus fails to understand the mob:
Brutus tries to appeal to the people’s love of freedom. He tries to stir their hatred of tyranny but he does not understand that people at this point in Roman history are not very enlightened and they do not understand the talk about freedom and slavery.

Speech of Antony

The merits of Antony’s speech are:
•Antony knows the psychology of the mob and he appeals directly to this psychology. He does not talk of the principle of freedom or the evil of tyranny and slavery rather he speaks about the wounds which have been inflicted upon Caesar’s body.
•He speaks about the ingratitude of Brutus who was loved as a dear friend by Caesar.
•He talks of Caesar’s will in which he had made the roman mob an heir to his property.
•Antony makes use of several rhetoric devices in the course of his speech. He makes use of irony when he says again and again that Brutus is an honorable man and others too are honorable man.
•He exploits the sympathy of the mob by pointing to each wound on Caesar’s body by connecting it with one or other conspirator.
•Another important difference is that Brutus speaks to the mob in prose, whereas Antony speaks to mob in verse. Antony’s speech makes use not only of rhetorical but also of poetic devices. Therefore Antony imparts narrative quality to his speech and targets the feelings and passion of his listeners.

CLASS IX & X

CHANGES IN THE PATTERN OF THE ENGLISH QUES PAPER FOR SA 2

Question Paper Design SA 2
English Communicative
Classes IX
Code No. 101
The design of the question papers in English Communicative for classes IX & X has
undergone a few changes. They are as under:
Section A - Reading: 20 marks (Question 1-4)
In the existing scheme of the question paper Students answer questions based on four
unseen passages carrying five marks each -all the questions are MCQs.

The change proposed is that students be given two passages (carrying 5+5 marks) out of four which are based on MCQ responses. The other two should require effort on the part of the students to supply the responses.

In the proposed question paper scheme
~ Students will be expected to attempt four passages carrying five marks each.
~ Passage types will include literary, discursive or factual. One out of the four passages will be a poem.
~ Two out of four passages will have Multiple Choice Questions carrying 5+5=10 marks
~ Two out of four passages will have questions wherein students will be expected to supply the responses. This will carry 5+5=10 marks.

Question types will be :
Sentence completion
Gap filling

Note: The weightage given to MCQs to be reduced from the existing 20 Marks in the Reading Section to 10 Marks

Section B--Writing: 20 marks (Question 5-7)-No change
The writing section comprises three writing tasks as indicated below:

Q 5 A short answer question of upto 80 words in the form of a Biographical Sketch (expansion of notes on an individual's life or achievements into a short paragraph)/Data Interpretation,Dialogue Writing or Description (People, Places, Events).
The question will assess students'skill of expressing ideas in clear and grammatically correct English, presenting ideas coherently and concisely, writing a clear description, a clear account of events, expanding notes into a piece of writing , or transcoding information from one form to another. 4 Marks

Q 6 A long answer question (minimum 120 words) in the form of a formal letter/ informal letter or an email. The output would be a long piece of writing and will assess the use of appropriate style, language, content and expression. 8 Marks

Q 7 A long answer question (minimum 150 words) in the form of a diary entry, article, speech,story or debate.

Students' skill in expression of ideas in clear and grammatically correct English, planning,organizing and presenting ideas coherently by introducing, developing and concluding a topic,comparing and contrasting ideas and arriving at a conclusion, presenting an argument with supporting examples, using an appropriate style and format and expanding notes into longer pieces of writing and creative expression of ideas will be assessed. 8 Marks

Important Notes on Format and Word Limit:

Format will not carry any separate marks and in most cases, format will be given in the question paper.
The word limit given is the suggested minimum word limit. No candidate may be penalised for writing more or less than the suggested word limit. Stress should be on content, expression,coherence and relevance of the content presented.

Section C - Grammar: 20 marks-(Question 8-12)

In the existing scheme of the question paper Students answer five questions of four marks each -all MCQs that test various grammatical items in context.

The change proposed is that students be given two questions (carrying 4+4 marks) out of five which are based on MCQ responses. The other three should require effort on the part of the students to supply the responses.

In the proposed question paper scheme:

This section will carry five questions of four marks each
Out of five questions two questions (question 8 and 9) carrying 4 marks each ie total eight marks will have MCQs .The test types for MCQs include:

Gap filling
Sentence completion
Dialogue Completion
Question 10, 11, and 12 will be based on response supplied by students.

These test types which will not be tested as MCQs include

Sentence reordering
Editing
Omission
Sentence transformation

Note : The weightage given to MCQs to be reduced from the existing 20 marks in the
grammar section to 8 marks

Section D - Literature-20 Marks (Question 13-15)

In the existing scheme of the question paper students answer questions based on two extracts out of three for reference to context (Prose/poetry or play) carrying three marks each (Total -6 Marks) -all MCQs.

The change proposed is that students be given one extract for reference to context (carrying 3 marks) out of two which is based on MCQ responses. The other extract should require effort on the part of the students to supply the responses.

In the proposed question paper scheme:

Q13 A) One out of two extracts for reference to context with MCQs (based on poetry / prose/drama).The extract will carry 3 marks.

B) One extract for reference to context (based on poetry / prose/drama) where students will be expected to supply the answer. The extract will carry3 marks. 6 Marks

Q14. Four out of five short answer type questions based on prose, poetry or plays of 2 marks each. The questions will not test recall but inference and evaluation. 8 Marks

Q15. One out of two long answer type questions to assess personal response to text by going beyond the text/ poetry / prose/drama. Creativity, imagination and extrapolation beyond the text and across two texts will also be assessed. 6 Marks

Total No. Existing Weighatage Proposed Weighatage
of Marks to MCQs to MCQs
Section A-Reading 20 Marks 20 Marks 10 Marks
Section B-Writing 20 Marks Nil Nil
Section C-Grammar 20 Marks 20 Marks 8 Marks
Section D-Literature 20 Marks 6 Marks 3 Marks
Total 80 Marks 46 Marks 21 Marks
Percentage 57.5 % 26.25%
Note: The weightage given to MCQs to be reduced from the existing 06 Marks in the
Literature Section to 3 Marks

CLASS IX

SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT II

The Question paper is divided into four sections:

Section A Reading 20 marks
Section B Writing 20 marks
Section C Grammar 20 marks
Section D Literature 20 marks

General Instructions

1. All questions are compulsory
2. You may attempt any section at a time
3. All questions of that particular section must be attempted in the correct order

SECTION A - READING

1. Read the poem given below and complete the summary by filling in the
appropriate word. Supply only one word for each blank. 5

YOUNG, GIFTED BUT BLACK

When Mebula Ramsandra
Was three years old
His mother told him, that if he wanted
To be a big strong man
He'd have to drink all his milk ---
And he did.
When Mebula Ramsandra
Was five years old
His teacher told him
That if he wanted
To go to a grammar school1
He'd have to try harder with his homework ---
And he did.
When Mebula Ramsandra
Was fifteen years old
His lecturer told him
That if he wanted to be a lab technician
He'd have to go to University ---
And he did.
So ten years later
When Mebula Ramsandra
Was twenty-five years old
A big, strong, clever, educated postgraduate -----
The man on the other end of the telephone said
If he wanted to work for him,
He'd have to be big, strong, clever, educated postgraduate ----- and
White.

A young Mebula Ramsandra was advised by his mother to consume (a) _________ if
he wanted to be big and strong. At the age of five his teacher warned him that if he
didn't put in (b) _______ work, he wouldn't be able to go to Grammar School. When he
was in his teens, he was told that he would have to go to University to be a lab (c)
_________. After ten years his job application was rejected because he was (d)
_______. Surely the man on the other side of the telephone was (e) __________.

2. Read the passage and complete the sentences given below. 5

Massage can be a natural tranquilliser. It has been used in virtually every culture
throughout history to relieve aches and pains, unknot tense muscles, and help the body-- and the mind-- to relax. There are several types of the massage, but the most popular are Oriental massage and Swedish massage. The chief difference between them is that some of the strokes in Swedish massage are designed to stimulate a rather than to relax the body.
It is unfortunate that many people who might benefit from massage never try it,
dismissing it as a specialised treatment for athletes or disabled people or as an
unjustifiable indulgence. If you think this way, you are missing out on something enjoyable. Any one can learn to give massage. It is a simple extension of warm human care and touch. Professional masseurs and masseuses offer the benefit of both skill and experience.They should be trained in anatomy and physiology so that they can identify muscles that are in spasm or painful knots that have built up by misuse of the body. Experienced professionals generally understand the requirements of various body types and are able to choose strokes that the beneficial for the individual. During a typical one-hour session the routine builds subtly in intensity and then subsides.

1. Besides relieving pain, massage also (a) __________________________________.
2. While the oriental massage focuses on (b) _________________________________.
some aspects of the Swedish massage are meant for (c) ______________________.
3. Many people associate massage with pleasure, thinking that it is useful only for
(d) ________.
4. To identify painful muscles and knots, masseurs should have knowledge in
(e) ____________.

3 Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by
choosing the answers from the given options. 5

SPACE

"It scares me," said Jack Hills, an astronomer at New Mexico's Los Alamos National
Laboratory. "It really does." He and the rest of the world had good reason to be worried.
Astronomer Brian Marsden, at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics had
just announced that a newly discovered asteroid 1.6 km wide was headed for Earth
and might pass as close as 48,000km in the year 2028. "The chance of an actual
collision is small," Marsden reported, "but not entirely out of the question."
An actual collision? With an asteroid of that size? It sounded like the stuff of science fiction and grade-B movies. But front-page stories and TV newscasts around the world soon made clear that the possibility of a direct hit and a global catastrophe well within the lifetime of most people on Earth today was all too real.
Then suddenly, the danger was gone. Barely a day later, new data and new calculations
showed that the asteroid, dubbed 1997 XF11, presented no threat at all. It would miss
Earth by 1 million Km - closer than any previously observed asteroid of that size but a comfortable distance. Still, the incident focused attention once and for all on the largely ignored danger that asteroids and comets pose to life on Earth.
XF11 was discovered last Dec. 6 by astronomer Jim Scotti, a member of the University
of Arizona's Spacewatch group, which scans the skies for undiscovered comets and
asteroids. Using a 77-year-old telescope equipped with an electronic camera, he had
recorded three sets of images. The digitized images, fed into a computer programmed
to look for objects moving against the background of fixed stars, revealed an asteroid that Scotti, in an e-mail to Marsden, described as standing out "like a sore thumb."

1. The world had reasons to worry because…………………….
a. it could come to an end
b. it would be hit by an asteroid
c. it might be hit by an asteroid
d. the astronomers had predicated a definite collision

2. The news that soon came as a relief was that………………….
a. there was no asteroid
b. the asteroid would disintegrate in space
c. it would cross the earth at a safe distance
d. it would be too small to cause harm

3. The asteroid XF11was discovered when…………………………..
a. Jim Scotti observed the sky
b. Scotti saw it through a telescope
c. Marsden discovered it through the computer
d. Jack Hills observed the sky

4. The astronomer, described the asteroid as standing out "like a sore thumb"
because………………
a. it was not a pleasant sight
b. it was noticeable in an unpleasant way
c. it was threatening and ugly
d. it had become huge as it neared the earth

5. The word in the second paragraph that means disaster is………………….
a. collision
b. dubbed
c. catastrophe
d. danger

4. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by
choosing the answer from the given options: 5

Coded Messages

Arabic mathematicians made tremendous contributions to cryptanalysis - the science
of decoding scrambled messages. Their interest stemmed partially from their religion.
The holy Koran contains revelations made by the Prophet Mohammed. The text
contained dictated messages that the Prophet had received from the archangel Gabriel.
However, these revelations were not necessarily placed in the order in which the Prophet had received them. To deduce the order of the revelations and place them in
chronological context, Muslim scholars determined that some passages contained
words coined more recently, and some contained words that were older.
Then, they counted the frequencies of words in each revelation, paying attention to the frequencies of modern and ancient words. Passages which contained a greater
frequency of modern words were considered to have been written later.
In the ninth century, an Arab mathematician called Al-Kindi employed a similar technique to break encrypted messages - frequency analysis. Letters are ranked according to how commonly they occur. Then, the encrypted message is taken, and the most frequent letter appearing in the code is noted. The code is then compared to the language, and using the correspondence in rank, the encrypted message can be unscrambled. He described this in a book - A manuscript on deciphering cryptographic messages.

1. The art of deciphering scrambled messages has its roots in………………
a. cryptanalysis
b. Arabic language
c. religion
d. Mathematics

2. The Holy Koran documents the messages of …………………..
a. The Prophet Mohammed
b. Archangel Gabriel
c. Arabic hymns
d. Muslim Scholars

3. Placing the text of Koran in a sequential order was done……………..
a. by determining the chronological order of events
b. with the help of Arabic mathematicians
c. by using the frequency of modern and ancient words
d. by breaking the cryptic code contained in the messages

4. Al-Kindi's contribution has been acknowledged in the field of……..
a. encrypting messages
b. cryptanalysis
c. language analysis
d. preparing a manuscript

5. The word in the last paragraph that means 'coding of a clear text' is…………
a. deciphering
b. encrypted
c. revelation
d. scrambled

SECTION - B WRITING -20 MARKS

5. One hundred persons each in three age groups were interviewed on their
musical preferences. All the persons did not have interest in music. Of those
who did like music, there was much variation in their tastes. On the basis of
the information given in the table below about musical preferences of the
people in the three age groups, write a paragraph in about 80 words about the
popular forms of music and how the taste in music differs with age.Age Form 15-20 21-30 31+
Classical 6 4 17
Pop 7 5 5
Rock 6 12 14
Jazz 1 4 11
Hip-Hop 9 3 4
29 28 51

6. While reading a magazine you came across the following article
There is a growing lack of sensitivity and respect for our fellow
creatures. There is talk about the food web and the energy cycles
and ecological balance and how removal of any element disrupts
the whole system, and how this can affect human beings too.
What this approach lacks is the essential interaction with Nature
and with other human beings. Indeed, in many environmental
activities the opposite takes place.
You are an educationist and feel that Environmental Education imparted in
schools, need reorientation. The stress should not be on preserving Nature for
human use, but for protecting animals and plants for their own sake. Based on the
information given above and ideas from the Unit Environment, write a letter to the
editor of a national daily in about 120 words on the subject and give it a suitable title.

7. Look at the picture given below and write in 150 words a story that begins
"I didn't tell my Dad about the green monster I found at the bottom of the garden
because...

SECTION - C GRAMMAR - 20 MARKS

8. Choose the most appropriate option from the ones given below to complete
the following passage. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the
correct blank number. Do not copy the whole passage. ½x8= 4
Since the beginning of human existence, people (a) ______________________ over
the world have expressed their emotions and ideas (b) ________________ the
medium of dance. The word 'folk' means people. Folk dances express the moods
and feelings of (c) ___________________ common people. Different regions
(d) _____________ India have their own dances. (e) ______________ dance is
accompanied by music and songs of the region to (f) ______________ it belongs.
(g)______________ recent times folk dances have gained
(h) ___________________ popularity, partly because of films and television shows.
(a) (i) all (b) (i) in
(ii) whole (ii) into
(iii) much (iii) through
(iv) more (iv) of
(c) (i) the (d) (i) at
(ii) a (ii) of
(iii) an (iii) for
(iv) some (iv) from
(e) (i) Each (f) (i) what
(ii) All (ii) which
(iii) Whole (iii) who
(iv) Many (iv) whose
(g) (i) Of (h) (i) great
(ii) For (ii) for
(iii) In (iii) much
(iv) Until (iv) many

9. Given below are some tips on how to improve your memory. Read the given
hints and complete the passage by filling in the gaps choosing the answers
from the given options. 1 × 4 = 4

How to Improve Your Memory
G Exercise your brain.
G Reduce stress.
G Create vivid, memorable images.
G Repeat things you need to learn.
G Group things you need to remember.
G Try meditation.
There are some simple steps that can help you to improve your memory. The first step
(a) .................................... with things like crossword puzzles, chess etc. The second
step is (b) ..................................... lives because stress can cause us to forget things.
The next step (c).......................................... which will help us to remember things. Another
method involves repeating things that we want to learn and (d)……………………. so
that we do not forget them easily. Finally, the most important method is to try meditation.

(a) (i) being to exercise your brain (ii) is to exercise one's brain
(iii) is to exercise your brain (iv) being exercising the brain
(b) (i) to reduce stress in your (ii) reducing stress in one's
(iii) reduction of stress in one's (iv) to reduce stress in our
(c) (i) is creating vivid and memorable (ii) is to creating vivid and
images memorable images
(iii) creating vivid and memorable (iv) creation of vivid and
images memorable images
(d) (i) to group things together (ii) group things together
(iii) to be grouping things together (iv) grouped things together

10. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line.
Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the
correct question number. Remember to underline the word you have supplied.
½ x8= 4

Often these days we hear and speak of the conquered (a) _______ _________
in nature, 'the taming of a river', 'the war against insects' (b)_______ _________
and so on. Often these phrases being used without consciously (c) ______ ______
attaching any value to them, but those have an (d) _______ _________
underlying attitude of hostile towards Nature and Nature's (e) _______ _________
creatures, a viewpoint which seeming to assume (f) ________ _________
Nature as an enemy that needs to being vanquished. (g) _______ _________
Alternatively, Nature is seen merely as the 'resource' to be (h) _______ ________
'exploited'

11. Look at the words and phrases below. Rearrange them to form meaningful
sentences. Write the correct sentences in your answer sheet. 1×4 = 4
one / fell / day / a / farmer's / will / donkey / into / down / a
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
(a) the / farmer / know / to / didn't / do / cried / animal/the / and / what
(b) invited / he / neighbors / all / help / his / to / him
(c) what / donkey / the / didn't / at first / realize / was / happening
(d) he / everybody's / to / then / amazement / down/ quietened

12. Read the following conversation and complete the passage given below.lx4= 4
Customer: Can I have a small bottle of tomato sauce?
Shopkeeper: Sorry, I have only big bottles.
Customer: When will it be available?
Shopkeeper: I can give it to you tomorrow.
Customer: Thank you, then I will get it tomorrow.
The customer asked the shopkeeper (a) …………………….. . The shopkeeper said
that he only had big bottles of tomato sauce. The customer wanted to know (b)
…………………….. . The shopkeeper said that (c) …………………….. .. The customer
thanked him and said that (d) …………………….. .

SECTION - D LITERATURE-20 MARKS

13.A Read the extract and answer the following questions by choosing the most
appropriate option. 1x3= 3

I touch gently at the windows with my
Soft fingers, and my announcement is a
Welcome song. All can hear, but only
The sensitive can understand.
(a) When the speaker taps at the windows____
(i) people welcome the speaker
(ii) people sing songs in praise of the speaker
(iii) people enjoy the sound made on the windows
(iv) flowers and fields sing a song
(b) Only the sensitive can understand________
(i) the song of the rain
(ii) the joy of the rain
(iii) the rain's sighs
(iv) the rain's affection
(c) The song of the Rain is a/an_______________ poem.
(i) narrative
(ii) autobiographical
(iii) biographical
(iv) satirical
OR
"You are like a child. I can't trust you out of my sight. No sooner is my back turned than
you get that little minx Marie to sell the silver salt-cellars."
(a) The listener got Marie to sell the silver salt-cellars as
(i) he needed the money to pay the rent
(ii) he needed to help Marie pay her rent.
(iii) Mere Gringoire needed money to pay her rent.
(iv) the bailiff had to be paid.
(b) The speaker's tone is ____________
(i) gentle
(ii) furious
(iii) sad
(iv) reproachful
(c) She did not want the salt-cellars sold as ___________________
(i) they had been in their family for years
(ii) she wanted to eat salt out of silver salt cellars.
(iii) they were very rare and expensive
(iv) her mother had given them to her

13B. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow. 1x3= 3
"Good-luck to you, Trevelyan," I said. "And may you get the petunias for your princess!"
(a) Why does the narrator call the listener Trevelyan?
(b) Why does the narrator refer to petunias?
(c) What is the tone of the speaker in the above lines?

14. Answer any four of the following questions. (30-40 words each) 2x4= 8
(a) Private Quelch is equally unpopular among his friends as well as superiors.
Comment.
(b) In what ways is Pescud like the hero of a romantic novel?
(c) In what ways do the parishioners take advantage of the Bishop's kindness?
(d) In what sense are men and women merely players on the stage of life?
(e) Why does the narrator from the poem 'Oh,I wish I'd looked after me teeth' say it
is a 'time of reckonin' for her now?

15. As Harold, write a diary entry about your feelings on learning that your father
is the famous boxer Porky and how your classmates have changed after
learning this. 6
OR
How did the Bishop react on learning about the betrayal by the convict? What
does it reflect about him?