SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER 11

(Detailed Answers)

ENGLISH CORE
Class 12th
1. 1.1 (i) (b) Conserving Libraries (ii) (c) highly acidic
(iii) (a) they provide the knowledge base to society (iv) (c) 150 years
1.2 (i) The collections in libraries are in danger of disintegration because the paper used for printing books is
manufactured from wood pulp which is highly acidic, and therefore inherently unstable.
(ii) Wood pulp was developed as a raw material for paper due to popular demand for paper and the commercial need
for an economic method of production.
(iii) Until the 1850s, paper was produced from linen or cotton rags, which proved to be relatively long-lasting.
(iv) The wood pulp used for manufacturing paper contains lignin, which causes discolouration of paper.
(v) The aims to be considered for developing the programmes for preserving the knowledge in the books which are
likely to disintegrate are to improve the physical condition of library collections through chemical methods and to
transfer the contents of existing books to another medium like microfilm or optical disk.
(vi) The libraries, printing and publishing industries can save their collections by widespread adoption of paper which
is of archival quality.
1.3 (i) pursuits (ii) key

2. 2.1 (i) (a) Living on the banks of a nahar or canal

(ii) (b) a Sanskrit and Persian scholar
2.2 (i) The family name changed from ‘Kaul’ to ‘Nehru’ when the author’s ancestor was allotted a jagir with a house
situated on the banks of a canal or nahar by the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar. Thus, ‘Nehru’ was attached to his
name. In later years ‘Kaul was dropped from the family name and they became Nehrus.
(ii) The author’s younger uncle was accused of kidnapping on his journey from Delhi to Agra because his younger
sister, who was accompanying him, was very fair and some English soldiers thought that she was an English girl.
(iii) The uncle managed to escape punishment because his knowledge of English delayed matters for some time
before someone known to him passed by and saved him.
(iv) The author as a small child felt lonely in the midst of a large family of cousins because all his cousins were much
older than him. They were students at the high school or the university and considered him too young for them to
play with.
(v) The author could be a spoilt son of rich parents because he was an only child for the first 11 years, his two sisters
being much younger than him.
(vi) The author received his early education through governesses and private tutors, as he was not sent to any
kindergarten or primary school.
2.3 (i) vanished (ii) journeying
3. (a) Title Usefulness of Robots
Notes
I. Shape of robot
(i) Depends on job prfd
(ii) 40% industrial robots used in automobile assembly lines
■ perform rtn tasks usually work at fixed spot
■

■ have vrstl arms with multiple joints & grippers

II. Advantages of using robots
(i) 20% more efficient in rtn prdn work than humans
■ take no breaks ■ don’t get bored with rptv work
(ii) exempt from safety requirements
(iii) can be used in hzds locations
■ nuclear power plants ■ mines
(iv) useful for exploration of outer space
■ used in space programmes
Key to Abbreviations
Abbreviations Words
prfd performed
rtn routine
vrstl versatile
& and
prdn production
rptv repetitive
hzds hazardous

(b) Summary
The shape of a robot is based on the job it performs. Most robots used on production assembly lines
operate at a fixed location and have very versatile arms. They are 20% more efficient than humans in routine
production work, as they do not get bored with repetitive work. They are exempt from safety requirements,
thus being used in hazardous locations like nuclear power plants and mines. They are economical in outer
space exploration and are included in space programmes.

4. DAV Public School

NOTICE
25th September, 20XX
Grandparents Day
The International Day of Older Persons is observed on October 1 each year. Let all our students
actively participate in it by inviting our grandparents for a celebratory function to be held in the
school auditorium on that day at 10 AM. We will hold a small entertainment programme for them
first. Then we will present bouquets of flowers to each of them. The function will conclude with a
tea party. All students whose grandparents are expected to come may give their names to the
undersigned by 29 September, 20XX.
Jeet, Class XII
(Head Boy)
 or

Think Act Save

Save the Environment
PLEASE SWITCH OFF THE
LIGHTS AND FANS BEFORE YOU
LEAVE
Issued by
Delhi Electricity Board

5. 16, Shivpuri
Modinagar - 201204
18th June, 20XX
The Editor
Amar Ujala
Meerut
Subject Problems due to Long Power Cuts in Shivpuri, Modinagar
Dear Sir
Through the esteemed columns of your newspaper, I want to highlight the problems faced by residents of
Shivpuri locality in Modinagar due to long power cuts in our area.
Not only do such power cuts disrupt our working due to the manpower remaining idle, as machines and electrical
appliances do not work, but also these cuts disrupt the studies of students, especially if they occur after darkness
falls. Further, everybody suffers due to the heat and high humidity during this season when these cuts happen.
They can be harmful for health also, as people can get heatstroke if they do not take care.
The UP Vidyut Nigam should find out the reasons for these power cuts and resolve them urgently so that the
residents do not suffer any further.
Yours sincerely
Manish Rastogi
or
Sahara International School
Manesar - 122051
10th June, 20XX
The Chairman
Delhi Bus Company, Delhi - 110044
Subject Requirement of School Buses for Transportation of Students
Dear Sir
We have a requirement of six school buses for transportation of our primary school students to the school from
their homes in Gurugram, Manesar and nearby areas. The capacity of the buses should not exceed 50 students
per bus. Adequate security for the children while travelling in the bus is required. The normal primary school
timings are 8 AM to 1 PM in summer and 9 AM to 2 PM in winter, but these are flexible and so your buses should be
available when required. We can negotiate a contract for monthly payment of the transportation charges to your
company.
We hope that you will give a positive response to our enquiry and personally meet us to finalise the arrangement.
Yours sincerely
Afzal Khan
(Principal)
Mobile no 98005XXXXX
6. Chennai Express Derails: Many Trapped in Bogies
by Neerav, Staff Reporter
Bhubaneswar, 3rd July. Three bogies of the Chennai Express train derailed at 4 AM last night near Rampur halt,
about 50 kilometres from Bhubaneswar. This reporter was travelling in the B-3 compartment of the train and was
awakened from deep slumber due to the jerk. Immediately we realised that our lives were in danger, as we our
compartment had derailed on a bridge over a rivulet and it could fall down the culvert due to its weight.
Along with other alert passengers, I managed to force open the door of our compartment and helped all
passengers to come out. Some of them had fallen down from the upper berths and injured themselves. They had
to be lifted by three or four people to take them out. It was totally dark outside and so we had to use our cellphone
torches to find our way to the river bank.
The train driver had called for help and soon there was another relief train near us. By this time the sun had risen
and we could see the damage. First aid was given to the people requiring it and then the relief train took us to
Bhubaneswar. There were no deaths, but 24 passengers had to be hospitalised in Bhubaneswar due to fractures
and other serious injuries.
or

The Advantages of Technology and its Adverse Effects

by Saurav Taneja
Technology is developing very fast and teenagers are hooked to the gadgets which development of technology
has thrown up. The latest smartphones, iPods and various forms of computers are the latest craze that our
affluence has thrown up. Their advantages are many. They have improved our communications so much that
instant messaging is the ‘hot’ item much in use. We have easy connectivity with the rest of the world, we can
exchange information faster and we also have a global vision. All these advantages of technology have improved
our lives and made them more interesting.
However, technology also has adverse effects on our lives. As we are forced to spend more time with our
gadgets, we start leading a sedentary lifestyle and neglecting outdoor sports and games. This leads to obesity,
as our eating habits change to more consumption of snacks which are mostly containing fat. This also impacts
the academic performance of students, as they spend less time on studies. There is a social impact also of
technology. People have stopped paying social visits to friends and relatives, as now nobody has the time to talk
to each other because of being busy with our gadgets.
Thus, it is time that we balance our time between our gadgets and other aspects of our lives so that we can benefit
from the advantages of technology without suffering from its disadvantages.

7. Worthy Chairperson, Members of the Jury and dear students. Today, I, Sameer, will speak in favour of the motion
‘Standard of living can be raised, but only at a great cost’.
First, let us define the term ‘standard of living’. It may be defined as the degree of wealth, contentment, material
goods and obligations accessible to a person or a community.
Raising the standard of living necessitates availability of more goods, improved lifestyle, lessened prices and
extended job opportunities. All these changed can be brought by more industrialisation, which has been going
on for the last few centuries all over the world. It is quite apparent that the developments of the past few centuries
have shaped our lives remarkably. The development of luxurious apartments to dwell in, exotic cars to explore the
whole world, and the latest technology to fascinate us has all been feasible at a great cost to our environment.
Exploitation of natural resources has primarily contributed to availability of abundant raw materials for the
industries set up through industrialisation. This has depleted the resources in the world and only a limited amount
of resources are now available for use in future.
Moreover, increased production has produced untreated wastes which are often discarded into water bodies and
landfills, thus ultimately polluting them. In turn, this action has facilitated transmission of air and water-borne
diseases affecting the health of the public at large.
In the nutshell, I conclude that the standard of living can be raised, but only at a great cost.
Thank you.
 or
Respected Principal Sir, teachers and dear friends. I am Manju of Satluj House. I will speak on the topic ‘Road
Rage – A Deadly Threat’.
First of all, let us understand what road rage means. It is the loss of temper by drivers of vehicles on the roads due
to some incident which may or may not involve an accident. Maybe you got angry at another driver because he
overtook you from the left side, or some driver may have turned without giving a suitable signal. But you should
not lose your temper at them.
Driving on city roads has become stressful due to traffic congestion, which may lead to people losing their temper
at others. The only methods to avoid road rage are very simple. First, let us avoid reckless driving. Then nobody
has the right to get angry at you. Obey the traffic rules strictly, respect others’ rights and be calm when provoked
by others. Exercise tolerance when somebody gets angry at you. Try to explain to them calmly and quietly what
mistake they have made. This will ensure a positive response from the other side. Clapping occurs with both
hands in use, so let us cooperate to prevent road rage.
Thank you.

8. (i) The poem is ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ and the poet is Adrienne Rich.
(ii) She is ‘ringed’ with ordeals because marriage has brought with it a host of family responsibilities by which
she is ‘ringed’ or surrounded. She feels so burdened by her marital constraints that they seem like an ordeal
to her.
(iii) Aunt Jennifer is quite weak and submissive, whereas the tigers are strong, bold and powerful. She is bound
by the constraints of her married life, while the tigers are free to move about in the green woods.
(iv) The figure of speech used in the first line of the extract is transferred epithet. Aunt Jennifer is terrified, not her
hands, but the feeling of the Aunt has been transferred to her hands.
or
(i) The poem is ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’ and the poet is Kamala Das.
(ii) The childhood fear is the fear of losing her mother. As a child, the poet was insecure, as she was afraid of
losing her mother and at this point she feels the same as she thinks her mother will die soon.
(iii) The poet’s parting words, “See you soon, Amma” suggest hope, not only for herself, but also for her mother,
that they would meet again.
(iv) The figure of speech used in the last line of the extract is repetition of the word ‘smile’ to emphasise that the
smile lasted for a long time.

9. (i) The poet writes about two kinds of wars, those against humanity and those against nature. Wars
against humanity will not leave any victors as there are no survivors to celebrate the victory. Wars against
nature, called as ‘green’ wars, will be fought with fire and gas. Their effect will be total destruction of the
environment.
(ii) Mukesh has the courage to dream of a bright future as a motor mechanic, away from his traditional work as
a bangle maker. He is totally different from Saheb, who has accepted his profession as a rag picker. Saheb
has no ambition to rise above this.
(iii) After the instructor had trained Douglas to swim, he put himself to the test by swimming on Lake Wentworth.
But here a little of his terror returned, but he challenged the terror by swimming across the Warm Lake and
discovered that he had conquered his fear.
(iv) Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode as a turning point in his life because it was the first successful
civil disobedience movement for him. It wiped out the mortal fears of the Britishers from the hearts of the
farmers.
(v) Derry’s mother is quite sceptical of Mr Lamb. She considers him to be an eccentric. She claims that she has
heard many things about Mr Lamb and some people have also warned her against him. That is why she
doesn’t want Derry to meet Mr Lamb.
(vi) Judewin warned Zitkala-Sa that the whit people were going to cut her hair. Zitkala’s-Sa reaction was one of
horror and she said that she would not give up without struggling.
10. The qualities we should inculcate in life include, first, awareness of our rich tradition. Indian culture has developed
over thousands of years and we should be aware of our past traditions so that we are not overawed by current
events. We should be aware of how the influence of various types of rulers of the Indian sub-continent has shaped
our current cultural mix. Next, we should take pride in our language and culture. We should know our mother
tongue very well and be aware of the nuances of the language.
Further, our culture should be well-ingrained in us. However, we should refrain from boasting about our language,
which is also known as linguistic chauvinism. Further, we should participate in and promote discussions and
debates in regional languages to promote them. However, we may have a flexible approach, meaning that we
should learn Indian languages alongside foreign languages.
or
Sophie is far away from reality, whether it is in her ambitions, or her brother Geoff's life, or her meeting with Danny
Casey. All of these are a figment of her imagination. She is confident of becoming an actress and then having a
boutique on the side, though she has neither a decent house nor any material comfort.
Sophie notices her brother Geoff fidgeting with a part of his motorcycle. He was an apprentice mechanic but she
imagined that he visited mysterious and distant places that she had never seen. She imagined herself riding there
behind Geoff and the world appreciating them. This is definitely far from reality
Sophie had never met Danny Casey, a football star, but she told her family that she had met him in Royce’s arcade
looking at the clothes, where he had come and stood beside her. But her father knew it to be another one of her
wild stories. In fact, she believed in her fantasizing to such an extent that she walked by the canal, going and
sitting on a wooden bench to wait for Danny. After a while of waiting, she imagined him coming. She also
imagined her own excitement. When quite some time had passed, she began accepting the fact that he was not
coming.
These incidents confirm that Sophie is far away from reality.

11. Bama strolled in the marketplace instead of going home immediately after school because she liked to watch the
interesting sights in the marketplace. She took between half an hour and one hour to cover a distance of which
could easily have covered in ten minutes walk from her school to her home. The sights that she enjoyed seeing
there included the performing monkey, the snake which the snake charmer kept in his box and the cyclist who did
not get off his bike for three days, all the time pedalling furiously from daybreak, and other interesting activities.
The pongal offerings being cooked in front of the Maariyaata temple, the dried fish, sweets and fried snacks stall,
the street lights that demonstrated changing colours – all these interested her.
The hunter gypsy with his wild lemurs, people selling needles, clay beads and tools for cleaning out the
ears mesmerised and bound her. The street play, puppet shows, political parties with people giving long
speeches, the coffee clubs and the process of cooling the coffee, nothing escaped her notice. The various
seasonal fruits and vegetables that were displayed also attracted her. Thus, Bama would enjoy seeing all these
sights.
or
The negligence of the prison officers proved to be a boon for Evans in various ways. When Evans began the
German lessons, the Governor did not conduct a check on the teacher, because the teacher was Evans’ friend
and helped plan his escape. At the time of the exam, the invigilator was frisked very casually because nobody
noticed that he was actually wearing two black fronts and two dog collars; one of each of them would be used by
Evans later on to disguise himself as the invigilator.
Then, when Stephens attended the Governor’s call, he left Evans unattended so that he could disguise himself.
Then Stephens did not suspect anything when he found some changes in the invigilator while he was being led
out of the prison. Lastly, nobody checked on the actual identity of the injured man lying in Evans’ cell.
Finally, the Governor became relaxed when he caught Evans at the Golden Lion Hotel. This negligence enabled
Evans to make his final escape.
12. The Invisible Man, also known as Griffin, had planned with Mr Marvel that they will get his books back from the
Coach and Horses Inn. The plan went well and Mr Marvel was able to remove the books from his room at inn.
However, Mr Huxter suspected Mr Marvel of the thievery and started chasing him. His chase was brought to a halt
by Griffin. However, the whole village also started chasing him. Mr Marvel had Griffin’s precious books. If he would
have been caught, Griffin would have suffered a major setback. Hence, Griffin, taking advantage of his invisibility,
started hurting the pursuers. Initially he wanted to help Mr Marvel’s escape but then he lost his temper. He started
hitting and throwing people for the mere pleasure of causing harm to them. Then he broke all the windows of the
‘Coach and Horses’ and thrust a street lamp through the parlour window of Mrs Gribble. The streets of Iping were
left deserted, all kinds of stuff lay scattered and no soul was to be seen. Thus he left the village of Iping in ruins
or
Chapter 1 of the book describes the first theft of which Silas is falsely accused in Lantern Yard. The impact of this
false accusation and the treachery of his friend William is that he is banished from Lantern Yard. He goes and
settles in Raveloe. He has lost complete faith in humanity and religion so that he spends the rest of his life, until the
second robbery he experiences, in isolation and quietly hoarding his gold.
The life of Silas becomes defined by solitude and avarice alone. The first robbery was one that he was accused of,
though he did not commit it. The second robbery is one that he himself suffers, as it is his gold this time that is
taken. However, it is clear that the impact of this robbery is massively different. Far from forcing him to withdraw
from society and become isolated, as the first robbery caused him to do, the second robbery actually makes him
dependent on society and helps him to interact with people and move towards being accepted by Raveloe.
So, considering the two robberies, the first is different from the second in that it drives Silas away from humans,
whereas the second drives him into the community from which he had been isolated earlier.

13. Scientist Known to Griffin Like Griffin, Dr Kemp is also a scientist, and both had studied in the same college. So
Griffin knows him. He was a tall and slender young man with flaxen hair and a moustache, which is almost white.
He stays in his two storey house in Burdock.
Ambitious’ Calm and Sensible He is ambitious which is clear from the fact that he wanted recognition for his
achievements. He is also a speculative philosopher. The night that Griffin comes into his house as an invisible
man, Dr Kemp is working on a remote speculation of social conditions of the future. He is a very calm and sensible
man. He doesn’t get scared by the invisible intruder. He keeps his cool when the murder threat has arrived. He
risks his own life to get Griffin arrested, by calling the police, which shows that he is also very brave.
Poor Sense of Judgement However, his sense of judgment sometimes is poor. He sent the maid alone to deliver
the note to the police and also ran away, when Griffin was being chased, leaving the two policemen behind.
or
Opium Addict Molly Farren is Godfrey’s first wife and Eppie’s mother. Godfrey had married her secretly in
a moment of weakness. But, because she is an opium addict, Godfrey has told her that he would rather die than
acknowledge her as his wife. Molly is addicted to opium and knows that this, not Godfrey, is the primary reason for
her troubles.
Seeks Revenge from Godfrey She resents Godfrey’s wealth and comfort and believes that he should support
her. The belief that he repented his marriage, and suffered from it, only aggravated her vindictiveness. She seeks
revenge from Godfrey for not allowing her to live with him by planning to go in her dingy rags, with her faded face,
their little child and disclose herself to the Squire as his elder son’s wife. Molly has been planning for a long time to
surprise Godfrey and the assembled society on the night of the Red House dance with the sight of their child.
Opium Takes Her Life However, the demon opium to who she was enslaved, body and soul took away her life.
She died before reaching Godfrey’s home on New Year’s eve, leaving behind her daughter, Eppie.