Carmel Convent School

New Delhi
Final Examination
2020-2021
ENGLISH
Class: XI A, B, C Total Marks: 80
Date: 17/2/2021 Time: 3.5 Hours

This Question Paper contains 9 questions and is divided into two sections.

Section A - Objective (30 Marks)

Section B - Subjective (50 Marks)

SECTION A

Q1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (10 X 1 Marks)

1 .So let us begin a new remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and
sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to
negotiate. And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both
sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law,
where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.

2. All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first
one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on
this planet. But let us begin.

3. In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our
course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to
give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to
service surround the globe.

4. Now the trumpet summons us again; not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a
call to battle, though embattled we are; but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle,
year in and year out, “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation”—a struggle against the common
enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself. Can we forge against these enemies a
grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life
for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?

5. In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of
defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility; I
welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any

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other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light
our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

6. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can
do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but
what together we can do for the freedom of man.

7. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same
high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only
sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love,
asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on Earth God’s work must truly be our
own.

(i) The central idea that Kennedy expresses in the speech is that Americans (1)
(a) are better off now than they have been in any other generation
(b) have lost their faith and should renew it.
(c) are selfish and should do more for the benefit of mankind
(d) should defend freedom and fight tyranny.

(ii) Kennedy uses the metaphor of a “beachhead” and “jungle” in the first paragraph to (1)
(a) paint a visual presentation to entertain his audience.
(b) emphasize the difficulty of the battle he wants people to fight in a memorable way.
(c) compare politics to ecology.
(d) suggest that jungles are more prevalent than beaches.

(iii) The second paragraph serves mainly to……….. (1)

(a) urge a call to arms.
(b) set realistic expectations.
(c) reveal criticism for the prior generation.
(d) detail Kennedy’s own personal opinion.

(iv) In paragraph 4, “common” most nearly means………… (1)

(a) universal.
(b) ordinary.

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(c) unimportant.
(d) unnecessary.

(v) The question marks that end the final sentences of paragraph 4 have primarily which
effect? (1)
(a) They invite the readers to see themselves as active participants in the fight against tyranny.
(b) They are placed there to soften the message that Americans cannot independently fight wars.
(c) They allude to the idea that some questions, such as how Americans should behave, have no
concrete answers.
(d) They help to criticize previous generations for leaving the work of freedom unfinished.

(vi) According to Kennedy, which of the following is somewhat unique to this generation of
Americans? (1)
(a) The opportunity to defend their freedom by fighting abroad.
(b) Their ability to have a clean conscience.
(c) The opportunity to defend freedom at a time when it is most severely threatened.
(d) Their ability to fight tyranny.

(vii) Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? (1)
(a) “Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and
West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind?” (Paragraph 4, Sentence 2)
(b) “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of
defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger.” (Paragraph 5, Sentence 1)
(c) “I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other
generation” (Paragraph 5, Sentence 3)
(d) “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can
do for the freedom of man.” (Paragraph 6, Sentence 2)

(viii) In paragraph 6, the use of the phrase “my fellow Americans” is likely intended to (1)

(a) unite the audience with Kennedy in a fight towards a common goal.
(b) recruit the audience to vote for Kennedy for president.
(c) to highlight the differences between Kennedy and the audience.

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 (d) encourage the audience to join the military to fight for freedom.

(ix) What idea does Kennedy mention in the final paragraph that is not discussed elsewhere in
the passage? (1)
(a) Citizenship
(b) The world outside America
(c) Religion
(d) Justice

(x) Overall, the tone of the passage can BEST be described as (1)

(a) logical and calculated.

(b) emotional and esoteric.
(c) desperate and intellectual.
(d) moralistic and impassioned.

Q2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (10 X 1 Marks)

1. When plastic waste is burnt, a complex weave of toxic chemicals is released. Breaking down
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) — used for packaging, toys and coating electrical wires — produces dioxin,
an organochlorine which belongs to the family of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). A recent
Dioxin Assessment Report brought out by the United States Environment Protection Agency
(USEPA) says the risk of getting cancer from dioxin is ten times higher than reported by the agency in
1994.

2. Yet the Delhi government is giving the green signal to a gasification project which will convert
garbage into energy without removing plastic waste. Former transport minister Rajendra Gupta, the
promoter of this project, says this is not necessary. He claims no air pollution will be caused and that
the ash produced can be used as manure. An earlier waste-to-energy project set up in Timarpur
failed. The new one, built with Australian assistance, will cost ₹ 200 crore. It will generate 25
megawatts of power and gobble 1,000 tonnes of garbage every day.

3. “Technologies like gasification are a form of incineration,” says Madhumita Dutta, central
coordinator with Toxics Link, New Delhi. Incineration merely transfers hazardous waste from a solid
form to air, water and ash, she points out. Toxins produced during incineration include acidic gases,
heavy metals as well as dioxins and furans. “The ‘manure’ will be hazardous and a problem to
dispose,” says Dutta.

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4. Municipal solid waste contains a mix of plastics. Breaking down this waste emits hydrochloric acid
which attacks the respiratory system, skin and eyes, resulting in coughing, vomiting and nausea.
Polyethylene generates volatile compounds like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, both suspected
carcinogenic. Breathing styrene from polystyrene can cause leukaemia. Polyurethane is associated
with asthma. Dioxin released by PVC is a powerful hormone disrupter and causes birth defects and
reproductive problems. There is no threshold dose to prevent it and our bodies have no defence
against it.

5. “Even the best run incinerators in the world have to deal with stringent norms, apart from
contaminated filters and ash, making them hugely expensive to operate,” says Dutta. In Germany, air
pollution devices accounted for two-thirds the cost of incineration. Despite such efforts, the European
Dioxin Inventory noted that the input of dioxin into the atmosphere was the highest from incineration.

6. How has global plastic waste disposal method changed over time? In the chart we see the share of
global plastic waste that is discarded, recycled or incinerated from 1980 through 2015. Prior
to1980recycling and incineration of plastic was negligible; 100 percent of it was discarded. From 1980
and 1990 the rate of incineration and recycling respectively increased on average by about 0.7
percent per year. In 2015, an estimated 55 percent of global plastic was discarded, 25 percent was
incinerated and 20 percent recycled.

7. “India does not have the facility to test dioxin and the cost of setting one up is prohibitively
expensive,” says Dutta. Besides, Indian garbage has a low calorific content of about 800 cal/kg, since
it has high moisture and requires additional fuel to burn. Toxics Link calculates that the electricity
generated from such technology will cost between ₹ 5-7 per unit, which is six times higher than
conventional energy. India has chosen a dioxin preventive route and burning of chlorinated plastics is
prohibited under Municipal Solid Waste and Biomedical Rules. Nearly 80 per cent of Indian garbage
is recyclable or compostable. Resident associations, the informal sector and the municipal

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corporation can make Delhi’s garbage disappear in a sustainable manner. “Instead, the government
promotes end of pipeline solutions,” says Dutta.

(i) Dioxine causes (1)

(a) Cancer (b) heart attack (c) hypertension (d) sickness

(ii) Which of the following statements ARE NOT TRUE according to the passage? (1)

1. India has adopted a preventive measure under which burning of chlorinated plastics is
prohibited.
2. USEPA says that the risk of getting cancer from dioxin is hundred times higher than
reported by the agency in 1994
3. Incineration merely transfers hazardous waste from solid form to air, water and ash.
4. Hydrochloric acid attacks the digestive system, nose and eyes which results in diabetes
and nausea.

(a) 2&4 (b) 1&3 (c) 3&4 (d) 1&2

(iii) Garbage can be converted into energy by……… (1)

(a) gasification (b) gratification (c) a chemical process (d) incinerators

(iv) Based on the graphical chart included in the passage choose the option that correctly states
the ratio between discarded waste to recycled global plastic waste in 2015. (1)

(a) option 1 (b) option 2 (c) option 3 (d) option 4

(v) Before 1980, how much global plastic waste was discarded? (1)

(a) 40% (b) 60% (c) 80% (d) 100%

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 (vi) Based on the given graphical representation of data in the passage, choose the option that
lists the statements that are TRUE. (1)

1. In the year 2015, incinerated plastic waste disposal was at 80%

2. In the year 1980, the share of discarded plastic waste was 100 %
3. Discarded plastic waste was 60% in the year 2010.
4. Recycled plastic waste in the year 2000 was less than 70%
(a) 1&3 (b) 2&3 (c)1&4 (d) 3&4

(vii) Former transport minister Rajendra Gupta claims that during gasification, ash produced can
be used as ……… (1)

(a) fuel (b) manure (c) pesticide (d) none of these

(viii) Converting waste to energy project will consume how much energy? (1)

(a) 20 megawatts (b) 200 megawatts (c) 250 megawatts (d) 25 megawatts

(ix) The word ‘gobble’ as used in para 2 of the passage most nearly means (1)

(a) settle (b) select (c) swallow (d) consume

(x) The word ‘negligible’ as used in para 6 of the passage most nearly means (1)

(a) careless (b) insignificant (c) considerable (d) astounding

Q3. Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option in each case.

(10 Marks)

(i) The story ‘We are not Afraid to Die’ foregrounds which of the following lessons? (1)

(a) Importance of spending quality time with your family

(b) Importance of being adventurous and taking calculated risks
(c) Importance of being optimistic and persevering during times of trouble

(ii) The tone of the poem ‘A Photograph’ is? (1)

(a) Melancholic (b) Ironical (c) Celebratory

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(iii) What was the purpose of the protagonist’s visit to Mrs. Dorling’s house? (1)

(a) She was concerned about her health

(b) She wished to deposit her mother’s valuables at her place for safekeeping.
(c) She wished to collect her mother’s belongings from her

(iv) Why did the sparrows sit quietly around the grandmother’s dead body? (1)

(a) They were waiting for the grandmother to feed them

(b) They were paying their respects to the kind woman.
(c) They were waiting for Singh’s mother to throw pieces of bread for them.

(v) Which of the following happened prior to a tremendous explosion flooding the Wavewalker? (1)

(a) the author was tossed around the deck like a rag doll
(b) author noticed an enormous cloud towering atop the ship
(c) the starboard side of the ship bulged inwards

(vi) Which of the following items was not part of the pharaoh’s funerary treasures buried alongside
King Tut? (1)

(a) ritual resins

(b) gold artefacts
(c) linen undergarments

(vii) Howard Carter was not responsible for ? (1)

(a) discovering Tut’s tomb and recording his funerary treasures

(b) disfiguring Tut’s mummy by severing nearly every major joint
(c) discovering that beneath the resin that caked his chest, Tut’s mummy was missing a breast
bone and front ribs

(viii) Which of the following does not characterize childhood? (1)

(a) easy and naïve trust in people

(b) reasoned independent thinking

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 (c) blindness to the hypocrisy of adults

(ix) Why can the poet find nothing to say about ‘this circumstance’? (1)

(a) she regrets not having accompanied her mother on the sea- holiday.
(b) she is deeply pained by the vacuum her mother’s death has created in her life.
(c) because with the passing of time, the poet has reconciled and come to terms with her
mother’s death.

(x) How can we be good ‘stewards’ for our planet? (1)

(a) by pursuing maximum economic and technological development

(b) by enforcing compulsory sterilization to control the population boom.
(c) by pursuing development that does not endanger the availability of natural resources for
the next generation.

SECTION B - SUBJECTIVE TYPE

WRITING

Q3. Read the passage given below: (6 Marks)

Slap! Swat! How do those annoying mosquitoes find you? Is it your wonderful personality or is
it something else which attracts them? And why are you so rarely able to swat them before
they fly off to another feast?

There are about 3,500 species of mosquitoes in the world. Not all of them are in your back
yard, although sometimes it seems that the summer evening air is filled with them. There are
about 200 species of mosquitoes in the United States –– about 80 species have been
identified in Florida, which is an ideal breeding area. The word “mosquito” means “little fly” in
Portuguese. Mosquitoes are members of the scientific order Diptera, the “True Flies.” Like
other “True Flies,” they have wings. But they are different from some True Flies; their wings
have scales. These tiny scales help eliminate the effects of friction. This helps the mosquitoes
skim quickly and efficiently through the air, making them almost impossible to swat. The
familiar high–pitched, annoying buzz of the mosquito comes from the sound of its wings
beating 600 times per second!

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 If you want to control the spread of these pesky insects, it is important to know how they live
and breed. As you will see, much of their life is spent in water, so getting rid of standing water
plays a large role in controlling mosquitoes. There are four stages in the lifetime of a mosquito:
egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Mosquito eggs need water to hatch. Different species of
mosquitoes prefer different places to lay their eggs. Some prefer to lay their eggs in standing
water, such as water in old tires or buckets. Others like to lay their eggs in areas with a lot of
organic material, like leaves and grass, so they lay their eggs in marshes and swamps. Some
prefer fresh water; some like saltwater.

Mosquito larvae are called “wigglers” because they move with jerking movements of their
bodies. They spend most of their time under the surface of the water, feeding on leaves and
grass. They must have air to stay alive, so they wiggle to the surface. The larvae shed their
skin four times as they grow and progress to the third stage, which is the pupa. Mosquito
pupae also need air to stay alive. They continue to feed on grasses and leaves under the
surface of the water, but they must come up for air. After several days in the pupa stage, the
pupae mature into adult mosquitoes. Adult mosquitoes emerge after several days of growth.
Some mosquitoes reach maturity in as few as 5 days, but most require 10–14 days before
they reach maturity. Variations in maturity time is due to differences in species and differences
in the temperature of the environment. Adult mosquitoes mate within a few days of their
emergence as adults. They eat fruit, nectar, and any other sources of sugar they can find.
Female mosquitoes need blood in order for their eggs to develop. After the female has her
meal of blood, she rests for two or three days before she lays her eggs. The cycle of eating
and laying eggs continues for one or two weeks, which is the lifetime of a mosquito.

Now you know that it is the female mosquitoes which bite you. But how do they find you ––
their meal of blood? Mosquitoes seek out warmth and movement –– both properties of human
beings and other animals. They also seek carbon dioxide, which is exhaled by humans and
other animals. So while it is not exactly your wonderful personality which attracts them, the
social activities of conversation and laughter –– which involve movement and the exhalation of
carbon dioxide –– are what attract these annoying little insects!

(A) On the basis of your reading the above passage make notes, using headings and
subheadings. Use recognisable abbreviations (wherever necessary- minimum four) and a
suitable format. Supply an appropriate title. (3 Marks)

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(B) Write a summary of the passage in about 100 words. (3 Marks)

Q4.You are Ramni, the owner of an independent house in D- Block, Mayur Vihar-I, Delhi. You plan to
sell it off. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words to be published in a national daily, giving
all relevant details. (3 Marks)

Q5. You are Ramni of H.No. 20, Jawahar Nagar, Jaipur. Two months ago you bought a desert cooler
from M/s Rakesh Electronics, Jaipur. Now you discover that it is not working properly. Write a letter to
the Manager complaining about the malfunctioning of the unit, asking them to repair and if needed
replace it against warranty. (5 Marks)

Q6. Your school recently organized a seminar for students of classes 6 -11 on the responsible use of
social media. As Ramni, the Cultural Head of the school, write a report on the same in about 150-200
words. (6 Marks)

LITERATURE

Q7. Read the extracts given below and briefly answer the questions that follow: (6 Marks)

(i) The King heard this. The King saw red

In fact he nearly lost his head;

But being a just and placid king
He said this is a tricky thing.
(a) What made the King “see red”? (1)

(b) The use of which of the two adjectives used to describe the King strikes you as inappropriate in
the given context? Why? (1)

(c) How did the King resolve the “tricky” situation? (1)

(ii)The funny thing is that in spite of everything, I do rather like him. I can’t help it.

(a) Who is the speaker of these lines? Who does ‘him’ refer to? (1)

(b) What reasons could the speaker have to dislike ‘him’? (1)

(c) What makes the speaker like ‘him’ in spite of everything? (1)

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Q8. Answer the following in 30-40 words: (4x3 Marks)

(i) “The hope of the people would die in their hungry hutments unless population control is given
topmost priority”. Why does Nani Pakhivala say this? How can the population boom be controlled?
OR

Kushwant Singh’s grandmother was “not even sentimental” when she bid adieu to him at the railway
station. Is the unsentimental goodbye the result of diminishing affection for Singh?

(ii) Do Aram and Mourad return the horse because they were conscience- stricken/ because they
were afraid? Give a reasoned answer.
OR
Why was Elsa surprised to find Albert reading a book on geology? What can you infer about Albert’s
attitude towards education from this instance?

(iii) Why had the author’s mother allowed Mrs Dorling to carry her prized possessions with her? What
made the author (as a child) suspicious of Mrs Dorling?

OR

Besides medical knowledge, what else contributed to Dr. Andrew’s success in reviving and
resuscitating Susan Morgan’s still born child?

(iv) What needs to change for the father-son bond to be harmoniously restored?

OR

Justify the title of the poem ‘The Voice of the Rain’.

Q9. Answer the following questions in 150-200 words: (2x6 Marks)

(i) “The play Mother’s Day appeals for a better and more humane treatment of mothers.” Justify.

OR

The story Ranga’s Marriage depicts how the social ethos of Hosahalli village underwent rapid change
due to the increasing influence of English language and western education. Comment.

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(ii) The novel The Canterville Ghost does not read like a typical Gothic novel. Comment.

OR

Sir Simon told Virginia she was much nicer than the rest of her “horrid, rude, vulgar and dishonest
family”. Why was he so critical of the other Otises?

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