Aissps class 11 English

1. Read the comprehension carefully 10 marks

INDOOR POLLUTANTS

1. Call it a blessing or a curse of Mother Nature, we have to breathe in over 10,000 litres of
air in a day (more than four million litres in a year) to remain alive. By making it essential
for life, God has wished that we try to keep the air we breathe clean. Everyone can see the
food that is not clean and perhaps refrain from eating it, but one cannot stop breathing even
if one can feel the air to be polluted.
2. Several harmful and noxious substances can contaminate the air we breathe. Generally,
much is said and written about outdoor air pollution, most of which is due to vehicular and
industrial exhausts.
3. Given the fact that most of us spend over 90% of our time indoors, it is most important to
recognise that the air we breathe in at home or in offices can be polluted. It can be a cause
of ill-health. Air pollutants that are generally present in very low concentrations can
assume significance in closed ill-ventilated places.
4. The indoor air pollution can lead to allergic reactions and cause irritation to the skin, the
eyes and the nose. But as is logical to assume, the brunt of insult by pollutants is borne by
the lungs. It can lead to the development of fresh breathing problems, especially in those
who have allergic tendencies, or it can worsen the existing respiratory illnesses like asthma
and bronchitis.
5. There can be several sources of indoor air pollution. Tobacco smoke is one of the most
important air pollutants in closed places. “Passive smoking” or environmental tobacco
smoke (ETS) pollution can lead to all the harmful effects of tobacco smoking seen in the
smokers in their non-smoking companions. ETS as a health hazard has been unequivocally
proven and is also getting social recognition now. One can occasionally see signs
displaying the all-important message: “Your smoking is injurious to my health” in offices
and homes. The children of smoking parents are among the worst affected persons.
6. The exposure of young children to ETS leads to increased respiratory problems and
hospital admissions as compared to non-exposed children. Several studies, including those
done at the PGI, have shown an increased risk of lung cancer among women exposed to
passive smoking. ETS also worsens the existing lung diseases like asthma and bronchitis.
It may be responsible for the development of asthma in children.
7. The next most important source of indoor air pollution is the allergens. House dust mites
(HDM) are very small insects not visible to the naked eye and are the commonest source
of allergy in the house. They are ubiquitous and thrive in a warm and moist atmosphere.
They breed very fast and are very difficult to eradicate. Modem houses present ample
breeding spaces for them in the form of carpets, curtains, mattresses, pillows, etc.
8. Exposure to HDM can be prevented by the frequent washing of linen and by encasing the
mattresses and pillows in a non-permeable cover. Pets form an important part of life for
some of us. But they can add plenty of allergens to our indoor atmosphere. Cats are
notorious for doing this. Fine particles from feline fur can remain stuck to the upholstery
and carpets for a long time* even after the removal of the animal and lead to the worsening
of asthma and skin allergies. Fortunately, owing to religious and social customs cats are
not very popular pets in India. Dogs, however, are quite popular and can be as
troublesome. Pets should be kept out of the bedrooms and washed frequently. To remove
the fur particles one has to use vacuum cleaners as the ordinary broom and mop are not
effective.
 9. Moulds, fungi and several other microorganisms thrive in damp conditions and can lead to
allergies as well as infections. Humidifiers in the air-conditioning plants provide an ideal
environment for certain types of bacteria and have led to major outbreaks of pneumonia. It
is important to clean regularly the coolers, air-conditioners and damp areas of the house
such as cupboards, lofts, etc to minimise this risk.
10. Toxic gases can also pollute the indoor environment. Biomass fuels (wood, cowdung, dried
plants) and coal, if burned inside, can lead to severe contamination by carbon monoxide
(CO): The poor quality of stoves and other cooking or heating appliances that cause
incomplete combustion of LPG can also lead to the emission of CO or nitrogen dioxide.
Formaldehyde (a gas) can be released from adhesives that are used for fixing carpets,
upholstery and also in making plywood and particleboard.
11. The gases are very toxic in high concentrations as may be encountered during industrial
accidents, but even in very minimal amounts, as may be prevalent in homes and offices,
they can cause irritation to the skin or the eyes, rashes, headache, dizziness and nausea.
Improving the ventilation is an important preventive measure, besides trying to eliminate
the source that may not be always feasible.
12. Other indoor pollutants are toxic chemicals like cleansing agents, pesticides, paints,
solvents and inferior-quality personal-care products, especially aerosols. Very old
crumbling pipes, boilers, insulation or false roofing can also be important sources.
Asbestos is a hazardous product that can cause cancer in humans.
13. It is important to realise that the air we breathe at home may not be clean always andwe
must try to eliminate the source of pollution. We should give due consideration to
ventilation.
Questions:
Choose the most appropriate option: (1 x 4 = 4 marks)

(a) The Almighty wants that human beings…………………

1. should try to breathe clean air

2. should not pay attention to pollutants
3. must ignore ETS
4. should become passive smokers
(b) The toxic gases cause …………………

1. rashes
2. headache
3. dizziness
4. all of the above
(c) Air conditioning plants become the cause of …………………

1. allergies
2. pneumonia
3. heart attack
4. infection
(d) Asbestos is a hazardous product because it can

1. cause cancer in humans

 2. cause respiratory problems
3. prove fatal to the children
4. none of these
Answer the following questions briefly: 1 x 4 = 4

(a) What is essential for our life? How?

(b) Why should we pay attention to the quality of air we breathe indoor?
(c) Name eight important sources of indoor air pollution.
(d) What do you understand by ETS? How is it harmful? Give two instances.

Find words in the passage similar in meaning as: 1 x 2 = 2

(a) make impure (Para 2)

(b) clearly and unmistakably (Para 5)

2. Read the comprehension carefully 8 marks

1. Today, when we pick up a daily newspaper, we invariably find an increasing incidence of

vandalism, fraud, theft, robbery, rape, child abuse, battered spouses, murders, hate crimes,
genocide (now termed as “ethnic cleansing”) along with a multitude of other senseless
violent acts that have become disturbingly common. These are not the actions of people
who like themselves.
2. The solution to a great many problems, whether personal, national or global, lies in
improving our feelings about ourselves both as individuals and members of society. When
the significance of good self-esfeem is well understood and it achieves the prominence it
deserves, a transformation will begin, for as the people will learn they are deserving of
self-respect, their respect for others will automatically increase
3. Most of our behaviour has been shaped by our parents, caregivers and authority figures who
played an important part in our early upbringing and were responsible for crystallizing our ideas
about ourselves and the world. While everyone has self-esteem, only a small percentage of us
have high self-esteem. High self-esteem denotes that we accept ourselves unconditionally exactly
as we are, we appreciate our value as a human being. When, on the other hand, we have low self-
esteem, we believe that we have little intrinsic worth.
4. We believe our personal value is in direct proportion to the value of our accomplishments. If we
cannot accomplish certain results, we tend to feel low about ourselves. Some of us try too hard
and become workaholics and over-achievers. With few genuine feelings of self-worth, we try to
create some and prove that we are somebody by our successes and achievements. Because our
desire for perfection is so great, we tend to set unrealistic goals and place unreasonable demands
on ourselves. Failing, rather than encouraging us to have more realistic aspirations, only leads to
a mere punishing round of self-blame and a resolve to drive ourselves harder next time. If we do
finally achieve our goals we are disappointed; despite everything we have done, we still feel
empty inside.
5. Vulnerable to the opinions of others, we desperately try to gain their recognition and approval
sometimes through risky and dangerous behaviour. Thus we are at the mercy of our emotions,
instead of controlling them, we permit them to control us. Since we allow circumstances to
influence our feelings, we are inclined to be moody. The insecurity we feel as a result of
devaluing ourselves makes us react with jealousy, envy and possessiveness. Fear makes us greedy
 and acquisitive, and feelings of self-hate alternate with those of futility, unhappiness and
depression.
6. Sound self-esteem is the basis for all self improvement. As human beings, our potential
is limitless, our abilities inexhaustible, and the possibilities for creative and constructive changes
are endless. But, we won’t experience satisfactory progress towards our goals or make any lasting
improvements unless we believe we deserve the good we want. Conditions in our lives will
improve permanently only when we believe we are entitled to something better. So improving our
self-esteem inwardly is the vital ingredient for improving our lives.
Answer the following questions briefly 8 marks
1 What is the importance of good self esteem?
2 What is remarkable in high self esteem?
3 What does sound self esteem ensure?
4 Whom will conditions in our lives improve permanently?
3 Read the passage carefully 8 marks
The term earthquake is applied to any tremor or shaking of the ground. Many earthquakes are so gentle as
to pass almost unrecognised, others are sufficiently pronounced to excite general alarm, while some
spread enormous destruction. Destructive earthquakes are usually confined to limited regions. The usual
phenomena recorded in well-known earthquakes are first a trembling, next one or more severe shocks,
and then a trembling which gradually dies away. In most cases, each shock lasts only a few seconds, but
the tremblings that follow may continue for days, weeks, or even months. Noises of various kinds usually
accompany an earthquake. They have been likened to the howling of storm, the growling of thunder, the
clanking and clashing of iron chains, or the rumbling of heavy wagons along a road. Such noises are
conducted through the ground, or thev may travel through the sea or air, and are often heard at great
distances from the place where the shock is felt. Some earthquakes, however, are not accompanied by
these noises. At the time of the terrible shock which destroyed Riobamba in Ecuador on February 4, 1797,
a complete silence reigned.
Many changes are produced on the earth’s surface by earthquakes. They cause landslips and cracks in the
earth, which will sometimes alter the drainage system of a country. They are frequently accompanied by
great seawaves, which will often sweep rocks and sand great distances inland. Permanent elevations and
depressions of land are sometimes caused. After the great earthquakes of 1750, the coast of Chili was
found to have been permanently raised from three to four feet. Well-known examples of permanent
depressions are those of the Runn of Kutch and the coastlands near Chittagong, which suddenly sank
during the Bengal earthquake of 1762.
Earthquakes are the most common in volcanic and mountainous regions, and many of them are no doubt
due to volcanic action. These appear to originate in the sea, and may be due to the flashing into steam of
the water which finds its way down through cracks to the underlying heated rocks. Others appear to
originate in volcanoes themselves, being due to the explosion of vapours which expand. Many other
causes are ascribed, of which two may be mentioned. Some earthquakes may be due to the collapse of
hollows beneath the ground, and others again to the snapping of strata which has been subjected to too
great a strain. It is noticeable that most earthquakes occur during the cold months of winter.
Among destructive earthquakes in modern times may be mentioned the one that altered the Straits of
Messina between Italy and Sicily in 1908, and the terrible upheaval in Japan in 1925, which destroyed
whole towns and caused the death of thousands of people.
1 Make notes of the contents of the passage you have read. Use a format you consider suitable. Use
recognizable abbreviations where necessary. Give a suitable title to the passage. 5
2.Make a summary of the passage. 3
Grammar
Complete the paragraph given below with the help of the options that follow.
Do any four of the following. 4 marks
A doctor had the habit of talking to the trees (1) ______ the roadside as he took (2) _______ walks
in the evening. He would (3) _________ to kiss the trees lovingly and whisper kind words to (4)
________. This was an odd (5) _________ beautiful sight.
1. in / above/by
2. at/to/in
3. Him/that/them
4. An/but/the
5. a/an/the
Rearrange the followings 3 marks
1.Scientists have discovered / that may pave way/ for sustainable ways/ to clean up oil spills /a
unique oil-eating bacteria /in the Mariana Trench, the /deepest part of the earth’s oceans,/ a finding
2.to/ Taplow/ being encouraged by/ against/ Frank/ speak out/ was/
Crocker

3. been/ Ambassador/ has/ Tendulkar/ named as the Rio Olympics’

Brand/ Sachin
Writing

1. You are Vikram/Sonia, an Hon’s graduate in history with specialization in Medieval India. You are
well acquainted with places of historical interest in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. You are looking for the
job of tourist guide. Write an advertisement in about 50 words for the situations wanted column
of a local newspaper. Your contact no. 999751234. 3 marks

Or

You are Keshav/Karuna, interested in purchasing a house in Bengaluru. Draft in not more than 50 words
an advertisement to be published in the classified column of a local daily giving the details of your
requirement.

2 Prepare a graceful poster for the Inter-School Poetic Recitation contest that the Hindi Sahitya Sabha of
your school is organising to celebrate the birthday of Munshi Prem Chand. 3 marks

3.You are Anshu/Anita. You have secured 95 per cent marks in English. Your English teacher has
persuaded you to share the secret of your success with your schoolmates. You decide to deliver a speech
‘English is an extremely scoring subject’ in the morning assembly. Write the speech in about 150-200
words. 5 marks

4.You are Chetan Sharma, a commerce graduate from Delhi University. You are seeking a suitable job. You
came across an advertisement in The Times of India, experienced young and dynamic graduates as sales
assistants in a reputed company. Apply for the said job with detailed Resume to Box No. 8365, C/o The
Times of India, New Delhi. 5 marks

Literature

1.Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 3 marks

Silence surrounds us. I would have

Him prodigal, returning to

His father’s house, the home he knew,

Rather than see him make and move

His world. I would forgive him too,

Shaping from sorrow a new love.

1 Name the poem and the poet.

2 What does the father not want his son to do?

3 What would the father do to shape a new love from sorrow?

or

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

I descend to lave the droughts, atomies, dust-layers of the globe,

And all that in them without me were seeds only, latent, unborn;

And forever, by day and night, I give back life to my own origin,

And make pure and beautify it.

1 What does ‘I’ do day and night?

2 What is the origin of ‘I’?

3 What does ‘I’ do for its origin?

2 Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 3 marks

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

A Flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky in the morning we said our goodbyes. Extended banks
of cloud-like long French loaves glowed pink as the sun emerged to splash the distant mountain tops
with a rose-tinted blush. Now that we were leaving Ravu, Lhamo said she wanted to give me a farewell
present. One evening I’d told her through Daniel that I was heading towards Mount Kailash to complete
the kora, and she’d said that I ought to get some warmer clothes. After ducking back into her tent, she
emerged carrying one of the long-sleeved sheepskin coats that all the men wore. Tsetan sized me up as
we clambered into his car. “Ah, yes,” he declared, “drokba, sir.”
We took a short cut to get off the Changtang. Tsetan knew a route that would take us south-west, almost
directly towards Mount Kailash. It involved crossing several fairly high mountain passes, he said. “But no
problem, sir”, he assured us, “if there is no snow.” What was the likelihood of that I asked. “Not knowing,
sir, until we get there.”

1 What did the clouds in the morning sky resemble as the sun emerged?

2 Explain any one possible inference that can be drawn from Lhamo’s gesture of giving the protagonist a
long-sleeved sheepskin coat as a farewell present in the passage.

3 Identify the line from the text that bears evidence of the fact that the protagonist’s association with
Lhamo and Ravu is not a recent one.

or

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

My grandmother always went to school with me because the school was attached to the temple. The
priest taught us the alphabet and morning prayer. While the children sat in rows on either side of the
verandah singing the alphabet or the prayer in a chorus, my grandmother sat inside reading the
scriptures. When we had both finished, we would walk back together. This time the village dogs would
meet us at the temple door. They followed us to our home growling and fighting with each other for the
chapattis we threw to them. When my parents were comfortably settled in the city, they sent for us. That
was a turning-point in our friendship. Although we shared the same room, my grandmother no longer
came to school with me. I used to go to an English school in a motor bus. There were no dogs in the
streets and she took to feeding sparrows in the courtyard of our city house.

1 What role did the temple dogs play in the speaker’s childhood, and how did this change when they
moved to the city?

2 What significant event marked a turning point in the narrator’s friendship with their grandmother?

3 Pick evidence from the passage that suggests there was a significant change in the Author’s daily
routine and environment when they moved to the city.

3 Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 4 marks

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

And then, as by a miracle, the pigmy chest, which his hands enclosed, gave a short, convulsive heave,
another… and another… Andrew turned giddy. The sense of life, springing beneath his fingers after all
that unavailing striving, was so exquisite it almost made him faint. He redoubled his efforts feverishly.
The child was gasping now, deeper and deeper. A bubble of mucus came from one tiny nostril, a joyful
iridescent bubble. The limbs were no longer boneless. The head no longer lay back spinelessly. The
blanched skin was slowly turning pink. Then, exquisitely, came the child’s cry.

Complete the sentence appropriately.

1 The author’s purpose in giving minute details of the signs of life in the child is to _______________.

2 In the given extract, which of the following organs shows the sign of a ‘miracle’ in the child’s body?
Limb

Skin

Nose

Eye

3 Which trait about the doctor could be discerned in the lines, “Andrew turn giddy” and “it almost made
him faint”?

4 Choose any one line from the given extract that shows the sign of life in the baby.

Or

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

That year we lived at the edge of town, on Walnut Avenue. Behind our house was the country:
vineyards, orchards, irrigation ditches, and country roads. In less than three minutes we were on Olive
Avenue, and then the horse began to trot. The air was new and lovely to breathe. The feel of the horse
running was wonderful. My cousin Mourad who was considered one of the craziest members of our
family began to sing. I mean, he began to roar.

Complete the sentence appropriately.

1 The phrase “ he began to roar” suggests that ________.

2 List ant two sensory details present in the extract.

3 Identify a line from the extract that supports the fact that the narrator and his cousin resided in a rural
area.

4 What is the central idea of this extract?

A boy’s joyful ride with his cousin

A boy’s dark secret

A boy’s school picnic

A boy’s narrow escape from a fatal accident

4 Answer any two of the following questions in 40-50 words: 3*2=6

1 What do you think are the reasons for the extinction of languages? (Discovering Tut)

2 To what is the bird’s movement compared? What is the basis for the comparison?(The Laburnum Top)

3 How do social interactions kill a child in a childhood?

5 Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 40-50 words 3 marks

1 Under what circumstances did the narrator’s mother allow their valuable possessions to be carried
away? Answer in the context of the The Address.
2 Who was Doris? What was it that surprised her about her mother?

6 Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. 6 marks

1 Gangadharpant could not help comparing the country he knew with what he was witnessing around
him. Briefly explain in context of the plot,The Adventure.

2 The poet Shirley Toulson has paid a tribute to her mother. Similar instances can be seen in The Portrait
of a Lady. This made you think that writing about a loved one is much better than building their statues
or drawing their portraits. Comment.

7 Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. 6 marls

1 Narrate The Tale of Melon city in your own words.

2 Give a brief character sketch of Mrs. Pearson.