PRE-BOARD EXAMINATION, DECEMBER 2022

Class: XII English Core (184) M.M. 80

Time: 3 Hours

General Instructions:
1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.
2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections – READING, WRITING and LITERATURE
3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part. Write the correct question
number in your answer sheet to indicate the option/s being attempted.

SECTION A: READING SKILLS (20 Marks)

Q1. Read the passage given below. (10)
1. A fisherman, enfeebled with age, could no longer go out to sea, so he began fishing in the river. Every
morning he would go down to the river and sit there fishing the whole day long. In the evening he would
sell whatever he had caught, buy food for himself and go home. It was a hard life for an old man. One hot
afternoon while he was trying to keep awake and bemoaning his fate, a large bird with silvery feathers
alighted on a rock near him. It was Kaha, the heavenly bird ‘Have you no one to care for you, grandpa?’
asked the bird ‘Not a soul’. ‘You should not be doing such work at your age’, said the bird ‘From now on I
will bring you a big fish every evening. You can sell it and live in comfort’. True to her word, the bird
began to drop a large fish at his doorstep every evening. All that the fisherman had to do was take it to the
market and sell it. As big fish were in great demand, he was soon rolling in money. He bought a cottage
near the sea, with a garden around it and engaged a servant to cook for him. His wife had died some years
earlier. He had decided to marry again and began to look for a suitable woman.
2. One day he heard the royal courtier make an announcement. Our king has news of a great bird called
Kaha,’ said the courtier. ‘Whoever can give information about this bird and help catch it, will be rewarded
with half the gold in the royal treasury and half the kingdom!’ The fisherman was sorely tempted by the
reward Half the kingdom would make him a prince!
3. ‘Why does the king want the bird?’ he asked ‘He has lost his sight,’ explained the courtier. ‘A wise man
has advised him to bathe his eyes with the blood of Kaha Do you know where can she be found?’ ‘No…I
mean …no, no…’ Torn between greed and his sense of gratitude to the bird, the fisherman could not give
a coherent reply. The courtier, sensing that he knew something about the bird, informed the king. The
king had him brought to the palace.
4. ‘If you have information about the bird, tell me’, urged the king. ‘I will reward you handsomely and if you
help catch her, I will personally crown you king of half my domain’. ‘I will get the bird for you,’ cried the
fisherman, suddenly making up his mind ‘But Kaha is strong. I will need help’. The king sent a dozen
soldiers with him. That evening when the bird came with the fish, the fisherman called out to her to wait.
‘You drop the fish and go and I never get a chance to thank you for all that you’ve done for me,’ he said
‘Today I have laid out a feast for you inside. Please alight and come in’. Kaha was reluctant to accept the
invitation but the fisherman pleaded so earnestly that she finally gave in, and alighted. The moment she
was on the ground, the fisherman grabbed one of her legs and shouted to the soldiers hiding in his house
to come out. They rushed to his aid, but their combined effort could not keep Kaha down.
5. She rose into the air with the fisherman still clinging onto her leg. By the time he realised he was being
carried away, the fisherman was too high in the air to let go. He hung on grimly, and neither he nor Kaha
were ever seen again.

1.1 Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(i) Why was the king desperately looking for Kaha, the bird?

(ii) Why did the bird volunteer to bring fish for the old man?
(a) The old man was inexperienced at fishing.
(b) The bird took pity on the old man and wanted to help him.
(c) The bird had caught more fish than required.
(d) The bird wanted to make the old man rich.

(iii) What led the courtier to sense that the fisherman might know something about Kaha?
(a) The courtier had observed Kaha alight at the fisherman’s house every evening.
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 (b) The courtier had seen the fisherman talk to Kaha.
(c) The fisherman fumbled when asked about Kaha.
(d) Word went around that the fisherman was in contact with Kaha.

(iv) Which of the following is NOT TRUE about Kaha?

(a) Kaha was a very considerate bird.
(b) The blood of Kaha was precious.
(c) Kaha was a strong bird.
(d) Kaha saved the fisherman from the king’s wrath.

(v) Whom did the king send with the fisherman to catch Kaha?

(vi) Comment on the reason the fisherman stammered when asked if he knew about the bird.

(vii) Rolling in money means ________________.

(viii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate inference.

The bird _________________ along with the fisherman clinging on to her leg.

(ix) Select the option that conveys the opposite of ‘take off’ from words used in Para 1.
(a) Go out (b) Go down (c) Alight (d) Rolling

(x) Pick out the word/phrase from the passage opposite in meaning to ‘released’. (Para 4)
(a) Catch (b) grabbed (c) Both (a) & (b) (d) Neither (a) nor (b)
Q2. Read the passage given below. (10)
1. Andy Dehart is a shark expert and TV presenter who lives in the United States of America. He has had a
lifelong interest in sharks and is always trying to look for ways to educate the public about them. Many
people think that sharks have little or no intelligence, but Andy points out that recent studies have shown
that many shark species possess powerful problem-solving abilities and social skills. “Sharks do not
want to attack humans,” he asserts. “There is no shark species that eats humans as part of its regular
diet. In most shark attack cases. The shark leaves after realising that it has mistakenly bitten a human and
not its intended prey.”

2. In Andy ’s opinion, all shark fishing should be stopped until the shark populations have had time to grow
again. We then need to do a better job of managing the fishing of sharks. However. Even if the direct
fishing of sharks is stopped, many will still be killed when they are caught up in the nets of boats fishing
for other species of fish.
3. When Andy was a boy, his father worked for a national oceanic organisation, and Andy travelled with him
all over the Caribbean. He grew up by the coast and he has been connected with the sea for as long as he
can remember. He also lived near one of the best aquariums in America. Andy then went on to build a
career working with sharks in an aquarium environment. More recently, he has been involved with
television and the making of programmes about the sharks.
4. Andy and his wife had their first child two years ago. They were amused and amazed to see what extent
their work with animals has proved to be useful in bringing up their daughter. They know how to observe
her behaviour and teach her how to do things by rewarding her.

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5. Andy loves sharks and is very passionate about their survival and protection. He feels extremely lucky to
have had opportunities working at the National Aquarium and the television station which presents the
Nature Channel. He never wastes a moment in either place that could be spent educating people about
sharks. He does admit that it is probably not possible for everyone to love sharks as he does. However,
he does hope to persuade people personally or through the media to respect sharks and the critical role
they play in our environment. His main objective is to keep spreading awareness that sharks are not
dangerous man-eaters but essential creatures in our oceans, as they provide ecological balance and help
to control other species.

2.1 Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(i) Cite a reason that shows sharks may be intelligent.

(ii) How can you confirm Andy’s belief that sharks only attack humans by mistake?

(iii) Based on the following statements, choose the correct option.

Statement 1: Andy and his wife knew how to teach their daughter by rewarding her.
Statement 2: Their work with animals benefitted them in their daughter’s upbringing.

(a) Statement (1) is true and (2) is false. (b) Both statement (1) and (2) are false.
(c) Statement (2) is the reason for (1). (d) Statement (1) is the cause of (2).
(iv) According to the graph, how many sharks were caught in 1990?
(a) 650,000 (b) 700,000 (c) 700 (d) 800

(v) How does Andy hope to educate people about sharks?

(a) Through his work at the national Aquarium.
(b) Through the media.
(c) Through the Nature Channel.
(d) All of the above

(vi) The word in Para 5 which means the opposite of ‘safe’ is _______________.

(vii) Even after the ascending trend, the number of sharks caught show maximum variation in
_______________.

(viii) How long has Andy been interested in sharks?

(a) Since he was a boy. (b) Since he had an encounter with a shark.
(b) Since he had a daughter. (d) Since he saw a show about sharks on TV.

(ix) Based on the reading of the text, comment on the main objective of Andy.

(x) Which word in the given passage means the same as having, showing, or caused by strong
feelings or beliefs?
(a) passionate (b) essential (c) awareness (d) objective

SECTION B: CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS (20 Marks)

Q3. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. (5)
(A) You are Samar/Smriti of Lotus International School, Jodhpur. Your school has decided to
contribute to controlling traffic near your school and requires the names of volunteers from IX
to XII. Write a notice to be displayed on the notice board. (50 words)
OR

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(B) You are Dhruv/Nidhi, the Student Editor of your school magazine, ‘The Buds’. Write a notice in
not more than 50 words to be placed on your school notice board, inviting short stories, articles,
poems, etc. from students of all classes for the school magazine. Give all the necessary details.
Q4. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. (5)
(A) Your school is planning to organise a talk on the ‘Importance of Promoting Art Education’ at
various levels. You plan to invite The Director, Delhi School of Art, as a Key Note Speaker. As
CCA Coordinator of Vidya Mandir Vidyalaya, draft an invite for the same giving all the necessary
details. (50 words)
OR
(B) You are Dr. stanzin, a certified art therapist from Leh. You have been invited by G.D. Public
School, Jammu, to conduct a seminar for students on ‘Art Therapy the Way Forward’. This
seminar is to introduce students to the usefulness of art in analysis, using appropriate format
and fluency, appropriacy of style and tone dealing with personal and social problems. Write
your reply, in about 50 words accepting the invitation.
Q5. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. (5)
(A) Along with air and water pollution, our cities are also under an attack of noise pollution.
Marriage processions, DJs during wedding receptions, loud music from neighbourhood flats,
etc., are all sources of noise which is not good for the old, the ailing, and the students. Write a
letter in 120-150 words to the Editor of a local newspaper describing the problem and making a
request to the concerned authorities to solve it You are Karan/Karuna, M 114, Mall Road, Delhi.
OR
(B) You see a classified advertisement in the newspaper inviting applications for the post of Sales
Executive in a reputed bank. Write a letter with bio-data in about 120-150 words to the HR
Manager, HSBC Bank, Lajpat Nagar New Delhi, applying for the post advertised. You are
Avani/Aviral of 120, Kirti Nagar, Delhi.
Q6. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. (5)
(A) India is a land of diversity. One way in which it makes us feel proud of it is the number of
festivals we enjoy Write an article in 120-150 words on 'Festivals of India'. You are
Karuna/Karan.
OR
(B) MMD School, Nashik, recently organised a science symposium on the topic: "Effect of Pollution
on Quality of Life”. You are Amit/Amita Raazdan, editor of the school magazine. Write a report
on the event for your school magazine. (120-150 words)

SECTION C: LITERATURE (40 Marks)

Q7. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given below. (6)
(A) The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,
Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
At having the landscape marred with the artless paint
Of signs that with N turned wrong and 5 turned wrong
Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,
Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,
Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,
You have the money, but if you want to be mean,
Why keep your money (this crossly) and go along

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 (i) What is polished traffic referred to?
(a) The airplanes flying towards city.
(b) The cars and other vehicles speeding towards outskirts of the city.
(c) The cars and other vehicles speeding towards city.
(d) The cars and other vehicles speeding towards villages

(ii) What was wrong with the signs?

(iii) Select the option that displays the attitude of the people in 'a mind ahead
(a) callous (b) healthy (c) compassionate (d) polite

(iv) What was said crossly?

(a) The farmer cursed poor people for not stopping and buying something from the stand.
(b) The farmer cursed wealthy city people for not stopping and buying something from the
stand.
(c) The farmer cursed middle-class people for not stopping and buying something from the
stand.
(d) The farmer cursed everyone for not stopping and buying something from the stand.

(v) Which word in the poem suggests the local quality of the produce?
(a) Wild berries (b) Wooden quarts (c) Silverwarts (d) Artless paint

(vi) Write a suitable word to complete the analogy

Wild.... Wooden: alliteration :: polished traffic : __________________

(B) Aunt Jennifer's finger fluttering through her wool

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull
The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand.

(i) How would you describe Aunt Jennifer based on the above extract?

(ii) Why uncle's wedding band sits heavily on Aunt Jennifer's hand?

(iii) Pick the option that displays the image which correctly corresponds to the type of task Aunt
is engaged in

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

(iv) Which of the following is an example of alliteration?

(a) Finger fluttering through the wool
(b) Upon Aunt Jennifer's hand
(c) Ivory needle hard to pull
(d) Massive weight of Uncle's wedding band

(v) Read the statements given below.

Choose the option that accurately describes the given statements.

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 Statement I: The poem is a manifesto against the institution of marriage.
Statement II: Aunt Jennifer represents all women artists.
Statement III: The poem embodies an alternative for women to express their repressed
desires through art.

(a) Statement I is True, Statement II is False, Statement III cannot be inferred.

(b) Statement I and III are False, Statement II cannot be inferred.
(c) Statement I and II are True, Statement III cannot be inferred.
(d) Statement I is False, Statement II cannot be inferred, Statement III is True.

(vi) What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?

(a) She is indifferent to her. (b) She sympathises with her.
(c) She loves her. (d) She is cruel towards her.

Q8. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given below. (4)
(A) In the afternoon the second thing happened. Hana, working hard on unaccustomed labour, saw
a messenger come to the door in official uniform.

(i) Which day did two things happen?

(a) The day the war broke.
(b) The day of the arrival of the American prisoner.
(c) The day Japan won the war.
(d) The seventh day after the arrival of the American prisoner.

(ii) What was the second thing that happened that very day?

(iii) What problem did the General have?

(iv) Why was Hana working in spite of having servants?

(a) The servants were on leave.
(b) The servants had gone to buy groceries.
(c) The servants had left the job.
(d) The servants had died.

(B) In my anguish I moaned for my mother, but no one came to comfort me. Not a soul reasoned
quietly with me, as my own mother used to do; for now, I was only one of many little animals
driven by a herder.

(i) Why was ‘I’ in anguish?

(a) Her hair was being cut by her mother.
(b) Her hair was being cut by school authorities.
(c) Her mother didn’t allow her to go out.
(d) School authorities-imposed restrictions on her.

(ii) Whom does ‘I’ miss?

(iii) Why does ‘I’ feel like being treated like animals?

(iv) Pick up a word from the extract, similar in meaning to ‘make a low sound because of being in
pain’.
(a) moan (b) quality (c) anguish (d) herder

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Q9. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given below. (6)
(A) On Saturday they made their weekly pilgrimage to watch United. Sophie and her father and little
Derek went down near the goal-Geoff, as always, went with his mates higher up.
United won two-nil and Casey drove in the second goal, a blend of innocence and Irish genius,
going round the two big defenders on the edge of the penalty area, with her father screaming for
him to pass, and beating the hesitant goalkeeper from a dozen yards. Sophie glowed with pride.
Afterward, Geoff was ecstatic.

(i) Their visit to the match was like a 'weekly pilgrimage' refers to:
(a) strong bond as a family. (b) love for a fixed routine.
(c) similar feelings of devotion. (d) excitement for the match.

(ii) Based on the following statements, choose the correct option.

Assertion: "Geoff, as always, went with his mates higher up."

Reason 1: Geoff was not very close to his family and lived in his own world.
Reason 2: Geoff was rude and indifferent towards everyone around him and did not care
about anyone at all.

(a) Reason 1 and Reason 2 both can be inferred from the assertion.
(b) Reason 1 can be inferred but Reason 2 cannot be inferred from the assertion.
(c) Reason 1 cannot be inferred but Reason 2 can be inferred.
(d) Reason 1 and Reason 2 both cannot be inferred.

(iii) 'Sophie glowed with pride.' Her pride is the result of _________________.

(iv) Choose the option listing the situation in which one could be ‘ecstatic’.

Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3 Scenario 4

Going to an old age Being seated next to Going to a dog show Coming home and
home and listening to your favourite pop and losing your pet finding that there are
them share stories singer during a short there. 11 messages from
from the past. flight. your principal in your
email inbox.

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

(v) The match on Saturday was witnessed by ________________.

(vi) The author of the chapter, “Going Places’ is

(a) Umberto Eco (b) Louis Fischer
(c) Danny Cassey (d) A.R. Barton

(B) ‘Not everyone can do that of course. Your non-fictional writing, your scholarly work has a
certain playful and personal quality about it. It is a marked departure from a regular academic
style.

(i) Who is the speaker of the above lines?

(ii) Who is he talking to?

(a) A famous actor (b) A famous director
(c) A famous writer (d) A famous editor

(iii) Umberto’s regular academic style is _____________.

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 (iv) Umberto has followed ____________ in his doctoral dissertation.
(a) narrative and experimental (b) fictional
(c) descriptive (d) factual

(v) What facts are being showcased in the interview held between Eco and Padmanabhan?
(a) He takes pride in being an academician, a university professor first.
(b) Being a novelist is secondary thing for him.
(c) He uses his free time for writing novels.
(d) All of the above.

(vi) Umberto has written _____________ novels.

Q10. Answer ANY FIVE of the following in about 40-50 words. (2x5=10)
(i) How is the mother tongue important to a person? What does M. Hamel, the teacher say about it?
(ii) What does Neruda mean by 'an exotic moment without rush' in his poem, 'Keeping Quiet?
(iii) Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
(iv) Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of a mere 25%?
(v) Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter moon’?
(vi) Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.
Q11. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words. (2x2=4)
(i) How does Mr. Lamb react when Derry enters his garden?
(ii) ‘Students on Ice’ is a program that prepares global citizens. Discuss.
(iii) How did the Tiger King manage to kill the hundredth tiger?

Q12. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 120-150 words. (5)
(i) Imagine that peddler and the crofter meet after a few years. Create the exchange of dialogues
between the two.
(ii) Imagine Sophie's father finds out about Sophie's going to the canal to meet Danny Casey which
leads him to think that she has lied to everyone about the whole affair. He is infuriated and
prohibits Sophie from going anywhere except to school.
As Geoff, write a diary entry disapproving of your father's punishment by citing your reasons for
being sympathetic to Sophie. You may begin this way:

2 September 1940
Monday

I cannot get myself to stand with my father in his tirade against Sophie. Sure, she is not the
most...

Q13. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 120-150 words. (5)
(i) The play 'On the Face of It’ depicts the unusual behaviour of the people towards the physically
disabled, which makes them feel lonely. Comment.

(ii) In the story The Third Level, Charley wants to go to Galesburg, Illinois in the year 1894. If you
had an opportunity to go to another time and place, where would you like to go? Why? How
would Sam analyze your choice of alternate time and place?

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*** GOD BLESS YOU ***

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