SUBJECT: ENGLISH (CORE)

CLASS: XII
SESSION 2022-23
PERIODIC ASSESSMENT II
SECTION A- READING COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
One unseen case-based passage with verbal/visual inputs like statistical data, charts etc.
Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions will be asked
SECTION B- ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS
WRITING SHORT COMPOSITIONS : WRITING INVITATIONS AND REPLIES
SECTION C- LITERATURE
1. FLAMINGO (Reader)
POEM: KEEPING QUIET
PROSE: DEEP WATER
2. VISTAS (Supplementary Reader)
PROSE : THE THIRD LEVEL

BLUE PRINT
Max.Marks: 30 Time:1 hour
General Instructions:
1. The Question Paper will contain THREE sections-READING, WRITING and
LITERATURE.
2. You should attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

S.NO. SECTION SPECIFICATION MARKS

Q1 Reading Skills Comprehension 9
Q2 Advanced Writing Skills Invitations & Replies 6
Q3 Literature Short Answer Questions 10
Poetry ( Keeping Quiet) 2 Marks each
Flamingo (Deep Water)
Vistas ( The Third Level)

Q4 Literature Long Answer Question 5 5

Poetry ( Keeping Quiet) Marks
Flamingo (Deep Water)
Vistas ( The Third Level)
Total 30
 REVISION MATERIAL
SECTION A- READING

A.1. Read the following passage carefully :

Conference series LLC Ltd organises a conference series of 1000+ global events inclusive of
300+ conferences, 900+ upcoming and previous symposiums and workshops in USA, Europe
and Asia with support from 1000 more Scientific societies and publishes 700+ open access
journals which contain over 30000 eminent personalities, reputed scientists as Editorial board
members. Recycling and Waste Management Convention 2018 proudly invites contributors
across the globe to 9th World Convention on Recycling and Waste Management during
October 22-23,2018 in Osaka, Japan, which includes prompt keynote presentations, oral
talks, poster presentations and exhibitions. We are delighted to say that it is the 9th World
Convention on Recycling and Waste Management which will be held in a beautiful city of
Osaka, Japan and hence we invite you all to attend and register. 9th World Convention on
Recycling and Waste Management is mainly based on the theme “Advocating Waste
Disposal and Recycling Practices for Clean and Green Environment.” We warmly welcome
all the participants— leading scientists, researchers and scholars of the world to attend the
convention. We provide a platform for young researchers and students to present their
research through oral presentations through which they can develop a foundation for
collaboration among young researchers. The organising committee aims at setting a platform
for all the budding scientists and researchers to present their real-time work and share their
views and aspects related to the theme of the conference. The organising committee is
gearing up for an exciting and informative conference programme including plenary lecture,
symposia, workshops on a variety of topics, poster presentations and various programmes for
participants from all over the world.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY NINE questions from the twelve that follow.

(a) What theme is being highlighted after reading the given passage?
(i) Efficient means of reducing garbage
 (ii) Efficient ways of waste disposal
(iii) Various techniques to be employed to recycle the goods
(iv) Both (ii) and (iii)

(b) Which notion in the conference has been emphasised to be deployed?

(i) Waste management
(ii) Recycling of goods
(iii) Waste disposal management
(iv) Reshaping Earth’s future

(c) On observing the pie-chart, which two types of waste have been recycled at the rate of 4%?
(i) Furniture and used electronics
(ii) Branches and wood and sharp shelters
(iii) Furniture and hazardous waste
(iv) All of the above

(d) On observing the chart, which type of waste is generated the most?
(i) Confidential documents
(ii) Paper waste
(iii) Miscellaneous
(iv) Plastic or metal or glass

(e) Which of the following activities contribute collectively towards paper waste recycled percentage?
(i) Plastic or metal or glass and metal
(ii) Confidential documents and plastic or metal or glass
(iii) Miscellaneous recycled waste and confidential documents
(iv) None of the above

(f) What does the given data represent?

(i) The types of waste that haven’t been generated
(ii) The amount and degree of recycled waste
(iii) The increasing trend of recycling and waste management
(iv) Both (ii) and (iii)

(g) What has been considered as an efficient means to reduce landfill area?
(i) Sorting of waste
(ii) Recycling or composting waste
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) None of the above

(h) What are the main reasons of waste management and recycling it?
(i) To not over-exploit the resources
(ii) Reducing the dump of landfill area
(iii) Leaving behind the quality of environment free from pollution
(iv) All of the above

(i) Which other type of waste is recycled at the same rate as that of used electronics?
(i) Miscellaneous goods
(ii) Hazardous waste and sharp shelters
(iii) Branches and wood
(iv) None of the above

(j) Which convention session was conducted on recycling at waste management in 2018?
(i) 9th Convention
(ii) 8th Convention
 (iii) 18th Convention
(iv) 29th Convention

(k) Which activity has been considered as the second nature to us?
(i) Sorting of waste
(ii) Recycling of waste
(iii) Waste management
(iv) Implementing steps framed and deployed in convention

(l) How can the success of waste management be achieved?

(i) Recycling goods
(ii) Choosing the correct type of goods in order to reduce waste
(iii) Making a small contribution towards protecting environment
(iv) All of the above
Answers :

a) (iv) Both (ii) and (iii)

b) (iii) Waste disposal management
c) (ii) Branches and wood and sharp shelters
d) (ii) Paper waste
e) (ii) Confidential documents and plastic or metal or glass
f) (iv) Both (ii) and (iii)
g) (iii) Both (i) and (ii)
h) (iv) All of the above
i) (i) Miscellaneous goods
j) (i) 9th Convention
k) (ii) Recycling of waste
l) (iv) All of the above
A.2. Read the following passage along with the table and answer the given question below :-

What makes a university stand apart from the rest of universities? Is it the quality of students
enrolled and faculty engaged in teaching, or the infrastructure? These certainly have a role to
play as the university strives to gain excellence, but are not the primary driver. A close
scrutiny of the table toppers in the INDIA TODAY-MDRA survey of India’s
best universities reveals that they all have one thing in common-the constant endeavor to
innovate and adapt to the growing needs of the local, provincial, national and global
environment.
Indian universities don’t produce Nobel winners because our higher education institutes have
lagged behind in the area of research. Of course, funds do play a role in promoting research,
and Researchers agree that a socially relevant research project will always attract funds, either
from government or private parties.
The meagre investment in research results in poor research output numbers and low quality of
human workforce. According to the Economic Survey of India 2016-17, the number of
researchers per 100,000 people was only 15 in India, compared to 111 in China, 423 in the
US and 825 in Israel. As a direct consequence, India is a laggard in terms of the number of
patents or peer reviewed publications. The 2017 report of World Intellectual
Property Organization(WIPO), revealed that where China and Japan had filed 1,381,594 and
318,479 patents, respectively, India had filed only 46,582. It’s no denying the fact that two
Chinese universities find place among the top 20 global universities in the 2019 QS World
University rankings.
Indian universities, primarily the professional ones, also face the criticism that they are too
 focused on B churning out job-ready students. Yet, Employability leaves a lot to be desired A
2019 report by Aspiring Minds, A job skills assessment company, says that over 80 per cent
of our engineers are produced in Indian Universities whereas many Indian Universities
literates are found jobless because of low correlation between the curriculum taught and
practical tasks to be performed during job tenure.

1. Which factor is the primary driver as the universities strives to gain excellence?
a) Constant Endeavour to innovate and adopt
b) Quality of students
c) Excellent infrastructure
d) Faculty engaged

2. Why do India University not produce Nobel winners?

a) Lack of government support.
b) They lag behind in research.
c) Because of lazy workforce
d) Outdated study methodology.

3. ________plays in promoting research.

a) Project
b) Society
c) Education
d) Funds

4. WIPO stands for _______

a) World Intelligence Property Organisation.
b) World Intellectual Property Organisation.
c) World Intelligence Priority Organisation
d) World Intellectual Proprietary Organisation.
5. How many total numbers of Universities are there in the Universe of Universities?
a) 907
b) 908
c) 709
d) 399

6. Are demand to be universities a part of the universe of universities?

a) No
b) Yes
c) Can’t say
d) Not at all

7. How many language Universities are mentioned?

a) 70
b) 83
c) 10
d) 13

8. Universities find place among top 20 global universities in 2019________ rankings.

a) World universities
b) India today
c) United States
d) Forbes study

9. Primarily Indian universities are which type of university?

a) Traditional
b) Autonomous
c) Professional
d) Centrally planned

10. According to a report by Aspiring Minds, which professionals, a job assessment

company produces?
a) Doctor
b) Spokesperson
c) Space researches
d) Engineers.

A.3. Read the following passage along with the table and answer the given question below :-
1. India has already commissioned two nuclear power stations, one at Tarapur and the other at
Rana Pratap Sagar. Each one has the installed capacity of producing 420 M. W. of electricity.
Two other stations, one at Narora and the other at Kalpakkam, are operational. This energy
will be able to meet the power shortage throughout the country. lf industries work at their full
capacity, production will be higher and so per capita income will increase and inflation will
be neutralised.

2. With the help of controlled nuclear explosions, artificial dams can be made. In fact for
building a dam there should be two huge mountain walls enclosing a deep valley just near the
course of a river. These conditions are not available at all the places. So with the help of
controlled nuclear explosions mountains can be blown up. This can also help in laying roads
in the mountainous areas. In fact, some of the borders of India have mountainous terrain and
the movement of the army is quite difficult. So even for the sake of national security it is
necessary to have roads in those areas.

3. With the help of radiation the shelf life of vegetables and fruits can be increased. In the
tropical countries like India, it is necessary that the perishable fruit stuffs are preserved for a
long time. Radiation can check the sprouting of onions and potatoes which are much in
demand in foreign countries. Similarly fruits like bananas and mangoes which have much
export potential can be preserved for a very long time. The texture and taste of the fruit do not
undergo any change.

4. Nuclear technology can also be harnessed for medical purposes. It is said that radioactive
iodine is used for detecting the disease of the thyroid glands. Similarly, India has been able to
prepare, with the help of UN experts, radiated vaccine which can immunise sheep from
lungworm disease, which used to take a heavy toll of sheep every year.

5. Properly processed nuclear fuel is also used for artificial satellites in space. Weather
satellites can predict cyclones and the rainfall with extreme accuracy. Communication
satellites can help in conveying the message to very long distances. In a huge country like
India, communication satellites are necessary.

6. Radiation is also used for preparing the mutant seeds. Many varieties of rice and some
cereals have been prepared at Tarapur laboratory. This will increase our agricultural
production and help India to become economically better off. So for India it is necessary to
make peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions by choosing the
correct option.
(i) India is building nuclear power stations to ............. .
(a) become rich
(b) become self-reliant
(c) increase industrial production
(d) help the poor

(ii) Controlled nuclear explosions can be used to blow up ........... .

(a) roads
(b) dams
 (c) mountains
(d) seas

(iii) In the line, “…has already commissioned”, the word ‘Commissioned’ DOES NOT refer
to
(a) be opened or established
(b) create something new
(c) a rank conferred by a commission
(d) bring (something newly produced) into working condition.

(iv) Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that lists the uses of
nuclear energy.
(a) 1,3 and 6
(b) 2,4 and 5
(c) 1,3,5 and 6
(d) Only 5

(v) Select the option that is true for the two statements given below.
1. With the help of controlled nuclear explosions, artificial doms can be made.
2. With the help of radiation the shelf life of vegetables and fruits can be increased.
(a) (1) is the result of (2)
(b) (1) is the reason for (2)
(c) (1) is independent of (2)
(d) (1) is true (2) is false

(vi) Radiation is helpful in ............ .

(a) growing vegetables
(b) growing fruits
(c) growing onions
(d) preserving fruits

(vii) Which of the following is the use of weather satellite?

(a) Predicting average temperature
(b) Predicting rainfall and cyclones with accuracy
(c) Predicting heat waves
(d) Predicting ozone gaps
ANSWERS
(i) (c) India is building nuclear power stations to increase industrial production.

(ii) (c) Controlled nuclear exposions can be used to blow up mountains.

(iii) (b) The word commissioned does not refer to ‘creating something new’.

(iv) (c) ‘Creation of artificial dams, increasing self life of food, medical facilities and weather predictions are uses of nuclear energy.

(v) (c) Statement (1) is independent of statement (2).

(vi) (d) Radiation is helpful in preserving fruits.

(vii) (b) Weather satellite is use for predicting rainfall and cyclones with accuracy.

SECTION B- ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS

B.1. You are Krish Ahuja. You are opening an exclusive showroom of kids apparel. Draft a formal
invitation to be sent to some close friends and relatives on the opening ceremony of the
 showroom.
B.2. Suman/Suresh has cleared the Pre-Medical Pre-Dental entrance examination. The family is elated at
the achievement and they decide to have a get-together for all friends. Draft an informal invitation for
the get-together.
You are Sumit s/o Sri M K Puri of Rohini, New Delhi. Your father wants you to draft a formal
invitation to be sent on the occasion of your grandfather’s 75th birthday. Prepare the invitation in 50
words. Give necessary details
Namita/ Namit has come out successful in the XII class examination. She/he has decided to have a
party for her/his friends. Draft an invitation in about 50 words giving details of venue, time and date.

SECTION C- LITERATURE
C.1 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Fishermen in the cold sea

Would not harm whales
And the man gathering salt
Would look at his hurt hands.
a)Name the poem from which the above extract has been taken. Also name its poet.
b)Who does man cause injury to?
c)How can man stop harming others?
d)Comment on the title of the poem.

It would be an exotic moment

without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

a) What would be an exotic moment for the poet?

b) Explain:’ without rush without engines.’
c) Explain: ‘sudden strangeness.’
d) How can man experience this exotic moment?
e) What does ‘it’ refer to?
f) Who is the poet addressing to?
g) What would be the moment like?
h) What does ‘exotic’ mean?

C.2 Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each

 KEEPING QUIET
Q.1 Why does Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still ?
Q.2 How can suspension of activities help ?
Q.3 How will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us ?
Q.4 How can there be life under apparent stillness ? How does the poet prove it ?
Q.5 How is 'stillness' not equal to total inactivity? Why does Neruda say : 'I want no truck
with death' ?
Q.6 Which sadness is Pablo Neruda worried about in his poem?
Q.7 Do you think the poet, Pablo Neruda advocates total inactivity and death? Why/Why not?
Q.8 What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda’s attitude
towards these wars?
DEEP WATER
1. Fear is the stumbling block to success unless challenged. Douglas proves it by overcoming his fear
of water. Grit and courage of Douglas helped him do that. “Braving the odds is the key to success”.
Comment.
2. “Practice makes a man perfect”. Douglas tries hard to reach to the level of perfection by
perseverance . “Never, never, never give in” Churchill. Comment.
3. Douglas was tossed into the deeper end by a big bruiser of a boy. Bullying is a common
phenomenon of present times. Even in Indian schools it is commonly witnessed. Do you think it is the
moral duty of every senior to support and protect the juniors. Write a note on Bullying; a threat to
development of a child.
4. “What though the field be lost all is not lost, the unconquerable will and the courage never to
submit or yield” John Milton Strong will power sustains even in the worst circumstances. Strong will
power helped Douglas to overcome his fear of water . Write an article on “Role of strong will power
in attaining success”.
5. Even after becoming a swimmer Douglas was not satisfied whether he had overcome his fear of
water. He decided to achieve it through self learning. “The goal may be distant but awake, arise &
stop not till the goal is reached.” Swami Vivekananda. Write an article in 100 words on self learning
helps in building the self confidence and a complete personality.
6. Fear of water remained with Douglas even as years rolled by. He did not want to live with his
handicap and so tried his level best to overcome this fear. Refusal to live with a handicap paves the
way for greater achievement. Comment.
7. What is the misadventure that William Douglas speaks about?

THE THIRD LEVEL

1. Who was Charley? What was his problem?
2. “That ain’t money , mister.” When did the ticket-clerk utter these words?
3. Who was Sam? What was his observation about Charley’s present problem?
4. How did Charley contradict the psychiatrist’s opinion?
5. Who wrote the letter ? Why do you think so?
6. What had Sam written in his letter to Charley?
7. Why couldn’t Sam go back to his old business in Galesburg?
8. What is the issue discussed in the lesson?
9. What does the ‘third level’ symbolize?
10.Do you think that Charley is the representative of modern men on rat race? Why /Why not?
11. Why could not Charley reach the third level again?
12.Why did Charley run back from the third level?
13. Why does Charley say that grand station is growing like a tree in the story The Third level?
C.3 Answer the following question in about 100-120 words.

DEEP WATER
1.Deep Water is a story about the Conquest of fear. Discuss.
2. A big boy pushed Douglas into the deep end of the swimming pool which could have led to his
death. Concerns regarding bullying and ragging persists in many teenage groups. Quoting examples
from the text, discuss the problem of bullying and its effects on the victims. Also suggest ways to deal
with this problem
THE THIRD LEVEL
1. Comment on the ending of the story ‘The Third Level”.
2. Do you think the title ‘The Third Level’ is appropriate?
3. Bring out the contrast between the world Charlie lived in and the one that he strays into.
4. What devices does Jack Finney use to portray Charley’s transition from reality to fantasy, seem
probable and plausible?
5. ‘The Third Level” is a true predicament of modern living, the pulls and pressures of life. How far is
it true?