Date: 09.12.2023 Max.

Marks: 80
Subject: English Core (Code- 301) Time: 3 hours
SET 2

General Instructions:
1. Please check that this question paper has 9 printed pages.
2. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.
3. The Question Paper contains THREE sections-READING, WRITING and LITERATURE.
4. 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 (22 MARKS)

Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages

1. Read the following text. [12]

Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets
turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. Somehow, it was
hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summer’s day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the
sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men’s stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies
bathed before noon, after their three-o’clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of
sweat and sweet talcum.
People moved slowly then. They ambled across the square, shuffled in and out of the stores around it, took
their time about everything. A day was twenty-four hours long but seemed longer. There was no hurry, for
there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries
of Maycomb County. But it was a time of vague optimism for some of the people: Maycomb County had
recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself.
We lived on the main residential street in town— Atticus, Jem and I, plus Calpurnia our cook. Jem and I
found our father satisfactory: he played with us, read to us, and treated us with courteous detachment.
Calpurnia was something else again. She was all angles and bones; she was nearsighted; she squinted; her
hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard. She was always ordering me out of the kitchen, asking me
why I couldn’t behave as well as Jem when she knew he was older, and calling me home when I wasn’t
ready to come. Our battles were epic and one- sided. Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always
took her side. She had been with us ever since Jem was born, and I had felt her tyrannical presence as long
as I could remember.
Our mother died when I was two, so I never felt her absence. She was a Graham from Montgomery; Atticus
met her when he was first elected to the state legislature. He was middle- aged then, she was fifteen years
his junior. Jem was the product of their first year of marriage; four years later I was born, and two years
later our mother died from a sudden heart attack. They said it ran in her family. I did not miss her, but I
think Jem did. He remembered her clearly, and sometimes in the middle of a game he would sigh at length,
then go off and play by himself behind the car-house. When he was like that, I knew better than to bother
him.
(An excerpt from “TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD” by Harper Lee Copyright (C) 1960 by Harper Lee
Copyright (C))

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Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

(i) What is the setting of the passage described in the first paragraph? (1)
A. A bustling and prosperous town
B. A small and sleepy town
C. A modern and industrial city
D. A coastal resort

(ii) What can we NOT infer about the children's mother in the passage? (1) A.
She was a Graham from Montgomery;
B. She had a heart attack.
C. She and Atticus had a strained relationship.
D. She was much younger than Atticus.

(iii) Can you identify any contrasting tones or emotions in the passage, and if so, what purpose might they
serve in the story? (2)

(iv) How does the passage foreshadow the idea of change and transformation, particularly in the characters'
lives? (2)

(v) How does Calpurnia's personality and relationship with Scout and Jem appear to be described in the
passage? (1)
A. She is kind and gentle with the children.
B. She is strict and authoritative with them.
C. She is their mother. D. She is indifferent and uninvolved with their upbringing.

(vi) Complete the sentence appropriately with a characteristic or its description.

"Calpurnia was all angles and bones.”, based on the information given in the excerpt, what do you infer
from this phrase? (2)

(vii)Select the option that is similar in meaning to the writer’s expression, “Maycomb was an old town, but
it was a tired old town when I first knew it." (1)
A. Maycomb was an aging town, and it had a sense of exhaustion when I first became familiar with it.
B. Maycomb was a historic town, and it exuded a sense of vibrancy when I first became acquainted with it.
C. Maycomb was an ancient town, yet it felt lively and energetic when I first knew it.
D. Maycomb was an ageing town, but it had a youthful and vibrant atmosphere when I first became familiar
with it.

(viii) Read the headlines (A)-(E) given below, which option is right for this passage. (1)
A. "Maycomb: A Thriving and Energetic Town"
B. "Maycomb County: A Modern Urban Centre"
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 C. "Maycomb's Vibrant Streets and Bustling Courthouse"
D. "Maycomb's Abundance of Wealth and Luxury"
E. "Nostalgia and Childhood in Maycomb County

(ix) Give a word from paragraph 1 that means - Oppressively hot; characterized by oppressive heat. (1)

2. Read the following text. [10]

Generation Alpha Stats 2023 (Insights & Trends)
- By Rohit Shewale
People born between 2010 and 2025 are referred to as Gen alpha. Over 2.74 million Generation Alphas are born
each week globally. Every 9 seconds, a member is added to the Gen Alpha family in the United States. The
stats further reveal that over 70% of Gen Alpha parents are Millennials. They are the first generation born in the
21st century and are surrounded by technology right, left and centre! They have a faster adaptation rate to
everything tech as compared to other generations as they are exposed to it since birth.
Let us look at some interesting facts associated with them in this post: Generation Alpha Statistics: At a Glance:
 Over 2.74 million Generation Alpha are born worldwide each week as of 2023.
 The population of Gen Alpha will cross the benchmark of 2.2 billion by the end of 2025. 13% of the
population in the United States is Gen Alpha as of 2023.
 Every nine seconds, a baby is born in the United States, increasing the population of Gen Alpha by 6.66 per
minute.
 Gen Alpha is expected to have a 16% longer life expectancy than the Millennials. The highest number of
Gen Alpha are Born in India, China, and Indonesia.
 84% of the Gen Alpha in the United States use technology in their schools.
 66% of Gen Alpha prefer to buy from companies and businesses that positively impact the world.
What is Generation Alpha? Generation Alpha is used to describe the generation of the people that are born
between the years 2010 and 2025. This term came into the limelight after being used by an Australian Social
researcher, Mark McCrindle, in a 2008 report.
Here are further differences between Gen Alpha and Gen Z.
Parameter Gen Alpha Gen Z
1. Birth year Born between 2010 and 2025 Born between 1995 and 2010
2. Age Younger than 14 years Between 13 and 27
3. Digitalization Will mark a new digital age First generation to witness digitalization
4. Consumer behavior Influences family purchase Influences family purchases after reaching
decisions from a younger age. a certain age.
5. The role played by Born in a world where Grew up with the evolution of Smartphones
social media and smartphones and social media and social media
smartphones are everywhere.

6. Optimism level Highly optimistic Low optimistic

7. Values More likely to be collaborative Like to be independent and
and value inclusivity value individuality.

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 8. Experience Is yet to experience economic Has experienced an economic crisis and a
challenges and new-age student debt crisis
education reforms.

9. Political and social Social and environmental More likely to be politically and socially
engagement awareness from a young age engaged
10. Trust in institutions Have greater trust in technology More skeptical and less trust in institutions
and institutions.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. What differentiates Generation Alpha from Generation Z? Answer in 40 words. (2) ii.
What is the projected life expectancy of Generation Alpha when compared to Millennials? (1)
iii. ‘I have more confidence and belief in the reliability, effectiveness, and honesty of technology and
established organizations such as government bodies, corporations, schools and other institutions.’
Of the two generations who is likely to make this statement?
(1) iv. What does the parameter on values tell you about Gen Alpha?
(1) v. Which of the following is NOT a Gen Alpha trait? (1)
A. Pessimistic
B. Trust in technology
C. Environmental Awareness
D. Apt at using smartphones

vi. Gen Alpha is expected to have a longer life expectancy than the Millennial, why do you think so?
Give two reasons in your own words. (2)
vii. Which is the most appropriate title for this passage? (1) A. "Understanding Generation
Alpha"
B. "The Future of Generation Alpha"
C. "Generation Alpha: A Tech-Savvy and Growing Force Shaping the Future
D. “Gen Alpha Trends"
viii. State whether the given assertion is true or false, and justify your answer. (1)
‘The highest number of Gen Alpha is born in the United States.’

SECTION B – CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS (18 MARKS)

3. Attempt any ONE of two, in about 50 words. [4]

A. St. Mary’s Convent has recently created a charitable organization- Gift a Smile. As Nitin, the Secretary of
the organization draft a notice in not more than 50 words for your school notice board informing the
students about a planned bake sale on 22 December. Invite volunteers for this programme.
OR
B. You are the Secretary of Oceanus Blue, an independent senior living community. Draft a notice for the
community notice board, informing residents of the new in-house doctor available 24/7. Also, include the
news of added facilities such as new wheelchairs bought by the society.

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4. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below in about 50 words. [4]

A. You are Rohit/Rachel, Head Boy/Girl of Arya Public School, Bangalore. Your school is organizing a
felicitation ceremony for the brave hearts who helped rescue three children from a fire in a slum. Create an
invitation, inviting school parents to the ceremony. Include all necessary details.
OR
B. Mr. Thomas, your grandfather has received an invitation from his schoolmate, residing in the same city. The
invite is for the wedding of his son at the church and for dinner afterwards. Your grandfather would love to
attend the wedding but he has dietary restrictions and may not be able to stay back for the dinner. Draft an
appropriate reply accepting the invitation but also giving reasons as to why he cannot stay back for the
dinner. You are Mathew/Mariam.

5. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below in about 120-150 words.
[5]
A. You are Stella / Stephen of 11, MG Road, Pune. You have seen an advertisement in The Hindu for the post
of a Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT). Apply for the job with complete biodata. Write in 125-150 words.
OR
B. Public demonstrations cause a lot of disturbance in the daily routine of citizens. As Moksha/Mohit, write a
letter to the Editor of a leading national daily highlighting the need to discourage such demonstrations and
disturbance by the public on highways, which cause a great loss of time and opportunity for many.

6. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below in 120-150 words. [5]

A. Within a few months, you will be joining college. How do you look at college life? A carefree life with no
worries about completing assigned homework, or is it the beginning of responsible preparation for a
brilliant career? Write an article on what you think of college life. You are Chaya/ Chinmaya.
OR
B. You are Roshini/Rahul. You participated in a Career Counselling Programme organized by Media- Today.
You had the opportunity to listen to media professionals from various media fields. You realised that the
media industry is dynamic and constantly evolving, offering numerous career options. Write a report for the
school magazine on the programme.

SECTION C – LITERATURE (40 MARKS)

Read the given extracts to attempt the questions with reference to context.

7. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given. [6]

A. That for themselves a cooling covert make
‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;

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 An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink (A Thing of Beauty)
i. Pick the quote that matches best with ‘And such too is the grandeur of the dooms we have imagined for the
mighty dead.’
A. In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.
B. When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men.
C. Endings are not always bad, most times they’re just beginnings in disguise.
D. Cowards die many times before their death; the valiant never taste of death but once.
ii. Pick the option that refers to what ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink’ suggests.
1. inspirational deeds of great men
2. a ceaseless series of dreams
3. an infinite source of strength
4. an elixir of life for the upliftment of the soul
5. an eternal source of delight
6. a boundless gift of love
A. 1, 4 and 5
B. 2, 3 and 5
C. 1, 2 and 6
D. 2, 4 and 6
iii. Pick the option that pairs the TRUE statements based on the extract, from the list below.
1. The bushes with fragrant flowers lift the human spirit and bring joy.
2. Death is inevitable and everyone faces it no matter how powerful.
3. Immortality is achieved by man when he drinks the nectar of joy.
4. Legendary heroes and their heroic deeds instil inspiration in us.
A. 1 and 2 B.
2 and 4 C. 1
and 4
D. 2 and 3
iv. The ‘lovely tales’ refers to _________.
v. Identify the rhyme scheme of the given stanza.
vi. Write a note on the contrast evident in the extract.
OR
B. 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 S turned wrong…
i. The ‘polished traffic’ in the extract refers to _________________________________.
ii. Fill in the blank with one word.
The “S’ and ‘N’ signs that have been painted artlessly make the urban rich feel ______.
iii. Explain the first line of the extract.
iv. The passers-by find the sign artless but the landscape ___________.

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 A. animated
B. aesthetic
C. amusing
D. ancient
v. Choose the option that correctly categorizes the given literary devices as per the given analogy. selfish
cars: …............. :: …................: metaphor
A. personification; polished traffic
B. transferred epithet; flower of cities
C. metaphor; pitiful kin
D. oxymoron; greedy good-doers vi. Choose the option that correctly mentions the complaints made by
the poet through this poem.
1. The rich people drive carelessly on the road hitting the poor people on purpose.
2. The city-dwellers remain highly insensitive and offhand towards the poor people.
3. The urban people are unable to understand the struggles of the impoverished people.
4. The goods are not being bought by the wealthy people even at discounted rates. A. 1, 2 B. 2, 3 C. 3, 4
D. 1, 4

8. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given. [4]

A. “At midnight when the town slept in peace, the dewan and his aged wife dragged the tiger into the car and
shoved it into the seat. The dewan himself drove the car straight to the forest where the Maharaja was
hunting. When they reached the forest, the tiger launched its satyagraha and refused to get out of the car.
The dewan was thoroughly exhausted in his efforts to haul the beast out of the car and push it down to the
ground. On the following day, the same old tiger wandered into the Maharaja’s presence and stood as if in
humble supplication, “Master, what do you command of me?” It was with boundless joy that the Maharaja
took careful aim at the beast. The tiger fell in a crumpled heap.
i. Pick the option that uses the same figure of speech as ‘town slept in peace’. A.
His actions really flared up my temper, so I walked out.
B. She is going through a rollercoaster of emotions.
C. My alarm clock yells at me every morning until I get out of bed.
D. The children were screaming and shouting in the fields.
ii. Based on the extract describe the dewan’s attitude. iii. What does the
term "satyagraha" imply in the context of the tiger's behaviour?
iv. Explain the significance of ‘boundless joy’.
OR
B. Students on Ice, the programme I was working with on the Shokalskiy, aims to do exactly this by taking high
school students to the ends of the world and providing them with inspiring educational opportunities which
will help them foster a new understanding and respect for our planet. It’s been in operation for six years
now, headed by Canadian Geoff Green, who got tired of carting celebrities and retired, rich,
curiosityseekers who could only ‘give’ back in a limited way. With Students on Ice, he offers the future
generation of policymakers a life-changing experience at an age when they’re ready to absorb, learn, and
most importantly, act.

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i. If you were to introduce the author of the above given lines to an audience, what would you say?
ii. The potential long-term benefits of engaging young individuals in programs like this are ______
iii. Discuss what ‘limited way’ could mean.
iv. Choose the option that marks the ODD ONE OUT based on your reading of the above extract. A. Sumit
donates 10% of his monthly income to the environment-friendly NGOs.
B. Manmeet and her twin plant a new plant on their birthday every year.
C. Vivek invests in eco-friendly cosmetics that are packaged in plastic containers.
D. Afsana plans to devise a machine that recycles biodegradable wastes from home.

9. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given. [6]

A. What a thunderclap these words were to me! Oh, the wretches; that was what they had put up at the
townhall! My last French lesson! Why, I hardly knew how to write! I should never learn anymore! I must
stop there then! Oh, how sorry I was for not learning my lessons, for seeking birds’ eggs, or going sliding
on the Saar! My books that had seemed such a nuisance a while ago, so heavy to carry, my grammar, and
my history of the saints, were old friends now that I couldn‘t give up. And, M. Hamel, too; the idea that he
was going away, that I should never see him again, made me forget all about his ruler and how cranky he
was.

i. ‘Oh, the wretches!’ conveys

A. Disgust and Contempt
B. Frustration and Fear
C. Sadness and Despair
D. Disapproval and Judgement ii. Why does the impending departure of M. Hamel affect the speaker so
deeply, and what does it illustrate about the theme of the lesson?
iii. Explain the significance of the phrase "My books that had seemed such a nuisance a while ago, so heavy to
carry".
iv. What is the primary realization the speaker has about their last French lesson, and how does it affect their
perspective on education?
A. They realize that their last French lesson was insignificant.
B. They realize that they were an exceptional student.
C. They realize that they should have valued education more, and this realization deepens their appreciation
for learning.
D. They realize that they should have skipped their lessons to have more fun.
v. What do the references to seeking bird's eggs and going sliding on the Saar symbolize in the passage?
vi. ‘That was what they had put up at the town-hall!’, what was put up?

OR

B. “He told me so.”

He muttered something inaudible and dragged himself round in his chair. “This another of your wild
stories?”
“She met him in the arcade,” Geoff said, and told him how it had been.

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 “One of these days you’re going to talk yourself into a load of trouble,” her father said aggressively.
“Geoff knows it’s true, don’t you Geoff?”
“He don’t believe you-though he’d like to.”
i. What is the father's reaction to the story Geoff and his daughter are sharing? A. He is excited and believes
the story.
B. He is curious and wants more details.
C. He is dismissive and questions the story.
D. He is indifferent and pays no attention.
ii. Choose the options that state the characteristic traits of Geoff mentioned in the above lines.
1. rigid
2. stubborn
3. distant
4. invincible
5. reserved
A. 1, 4
B. 2, 5
C. 2, 3
D. 3, 5
iii. Whom had Sophie met at the arcade? Why had she ‘chosen’ to meet only him?
iv. Fill in the blank with one word only.
From the above given extract, it can be deduced that the father and daughter shared a______________
relationship.
v. Father said aggressively, “One of these days you’re going to talk yourself into a load of trouble”, did this
prediction come true? Elucidate.
vi. Why does Sophie say, “Geoff knows it’s true, don’t you Geoff”?

10. Answer any FIVE of the following six questions in about 40-50 words.
[10]

i. Why did Gandhiji tell the court that he was involved in a 'conflict of duties'?
ii. I laughed and said, “Well, Mr.Terror, what do you think you can do to me?” Narrate the context in which
this question was asked.
iii. How does the story "The Rattrap" challenge conventional notions of identity and social status? iv.
Analyze the role of contrast in the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six.
v. How would you evaluate Mukund Padmanabhan as an interviewer?
vi. Discuss the significance of the make-up room in the chapter, ‘Poets and Pancakes’.

11. Answer any TWO of the following three questions in about 40-50 words. [4]
i. “Where there is oppression, there will be resistance.” Comment on this statement with reference to the story
‘We Too Are Human Beings’.
ii. Do you think Derry’s mother is protective of him? Justify your opinion with textual evidence. (On the Face
of It). iii. Pearl S Buck depicts the Japanese way of life and traditions through Dr Sado’s father. Elucidate.

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12. Answer any ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. [5]
A. The story "Deep Water" explores the protagonist's fear of drowning and the impact it has on his life. The
poem "My Mother at Sixty-Six" reflects on the fear of losing a loved one and the impending reality of
death. Though both are faced with fear connected with death, the impact of this fear on both is vastly
different. Elucidate.
OR
B. Nature forms a major theme in both ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and ‘Keeping Quiet’. Write out a dialogue between
Keats and Pablo Neruda about their ideas of nature, and how nature helps find solutions to all that ails
humankind.

13. Answer any ONE of the following two questions in about 120-150 words. [5]

A. The king in the story 'The Tiger King' was driven by the single purpose of staying alive based on the
prophecy that the hundredth tiger would kill him. He hunted tigers out of fear.
Imagine that you are living in the Tiger King's times, and he has killed seventy tigers at this point. As
someone who cares about animal welfare, write a letter to the king convincing him to stop hunting tigers.
You may begin this way:
My sincerest greetings to his majesty, I am Rajan, a subject of your kingdom, and I am writing to you today
because….
OR
B. Imagine Zitkala-Sa and Bama meet each other. They both share their experience of being from marginalised
communities. They reflect on instances of oppression they faced and how those instances proved to be the
source of strength to fight against such oppression. Write down their discussion in a creative way, with
reference to their experiences.

**********

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