PERIODIC ASSESSMENT- II 2023-24
Grade XII Total Marks 80
Subject English Duration 3 Hours
Name Date /12/2023
General Instructions:
1. This Question Paper has 3 Sections A, B & C.
2. This question Paper consists of objective and subjective types of 13 questions.
3. Figures in the right hand margin indicate maximum marks for the questions.
4. The maximum time to answer the paper is given at the top of the question paper
Section A: READING SKILLS (22 marks)
Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages
1.Read the following passage carefully. 12 marks
1 Ghost nets aren’t supernatural, but they are legitimately scary. A ghost net is a fishing net that’s been lost
or abandoned in the ocean. They are one particularly appalling part of the global ghost fishing problem,
which includes fishing gear abandoned in the water. Any net or line left in the ocean can pose a threat to
marine life. Just because a net is no longer used by fishers doesn’t mean it stops working. These nets
continue to trap everything in their path, presenting a major problem for the health of our oceans and marine
life.
2 Ghost nets entangle sea turtles, dolphins and porpoises, birds, sharks, seals and more, apart from catching
fish. The nets keep animals from moving freely, cause injuries and keep mammals and birds from rising to
the surface for air. Since hundreds of animals can be caught in a single net, this threat is monumental. The
ghost nets harm coral reefs too—breaking corals, exposing them to disease and even blocking the reefs from
needed sunlight.
3 Ghost nets are also a major contributor to the ocean plastics’ crisis. Most modern nets are made of nylon
or other plastic compounds that can last for centuries. According to a 2018 study in Scientific Reports, ghost
nets make up at least 46 percent of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Those abandoned fishing lines and nets
that do breakdown never go away; they just become smaller pieces of plastic. Marine animals mistake this
microplastic for food and eat it, which can harm internal organs, keep them from eating and expose them to
toxic chemicals.
4 Exorcising ghost nets from our oceans will require commitment, cooperation and innovation. Many groups
are working to remove ghost nets from the sea and are collaborating with local fishers and governments
around the world to identify target areas and remove as many nets as possible. In 2015, a single World
Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)-led mission in the Baltic Sea hauled up 268 tons of nets, ropes and other
material.
5 To stop these nets from becoming ghosts in the first place, conservation organisations advocate for fishing
gear that can be traced to its owner so anyone dumping nets can be fined and refundable deposits on nets to
encourage returning or recycling rather than littering. Tools like sonar reflectors that can make ghost nets
easier to find and working with small-scale fisheries to develop more sustainable fishing gear and practices
are other suggestions. It is only by attacking this problem from all sides, together with conservation partners,
fishers and supporters, can we banish ghost nets and protect our oceans.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option.
(i) Ghost nets have been named so because they -
A. cause much harm to the marine life.
B. are functional though not in use by fishers.
C. are not owned by anyone.
D. act as a snare for all animals in oceans.
(ii) Comment on the writer’s reference to the ghost nets in paragraph one, as a health problem for the
oceans.
(iii) List the two ways being entangled in a ghost net is likely to impact a walrus. (Clue: Think about the
type of animal a walrus is)
(iv) Select the option that conveys the opposite of ‘negligible’, from words used in paragraph two.
A. unimpressive
B. monumental
C. exposing
D. threat
(v) The writer would agree with the given statements based on paragraph three, EXCEPT:
A. Most ghost nets take a few years to completely disintegrate.
B. Ghost nets contribute to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
C. Most ghost nets provide nutrition to marine animals, upon disintegration.
D. Ghost nets can curtail freedom of marine animals.
(vi) Some records share that fishing nets used to be made of common rope using natural fibres, prior to the
1960s. Based on your understanding of paragraph three, list one major advantage that these had over the
fishing nets being used in present times.
(vii) Why is it fair to say that commitment and innovation have to go hand-in-hand to rid the oceans of ghost
nets?
(viii) Complete the given sentence with an appropriate inference, with respect to the following: The writer
quotes the example of the WWF-led mission in the Baltic Sea (Paragraph 4), in order to..............................
(ix) How can the solutions, suggested in paragraph five, best be described?
A. practical
B. presentable
C. popular
D. prejudiced
(x) Select the most suitable title for the above passage.
A. The Scary Side of Ghost Nets
B. Ghost Nets – A Result of Human Dominance
C. Ghost Nets – A Menace to Marine Life
D. Ways to Tackle the Problem of Ghost Nets
2.Read the following text: 10 marks
1. It is generally accepted that leadership development should be a part of the education system's
responsibility for preparing individuals to participate in a democratic and progressive society. Many schools,
colleges and universities, across nations, provide their students with leadership courses, curricular programs
and co-curricular programs that are designed to develop students’ formal knowledge about leadership as
well as opportunities and experiences to develop students as leaders and actually practise leadership. Yet,
only a handful of studies have sought to understand leader development from the students’ point of view,
with students describing their own experiences and what they learned from them in their own words.
2. A 2014 descriptive study sought to understand student leadership with research through key events via the
following research questions: Research Question 1: What key events do student leaders in college, report as
significantly impacting their development as a leader? Research Question 2: What lessons do student leaders
in college, report learning as a result of the key events they have experienced? Research Question 3: Are
certain key events more likely to be linked to particular lessons? Approximately 130 students were contacted
and the 72 interested, were interviewed. Two members of the research team were present for each 15–45-
minute interview. One member served as the primary interviewer while the second ran the audio equipment.
The results for lessons learned (Table 1), were varied, but there were a few that were frequently quoted.
3. This study described the rich array of leadership lessons that students are learning through their
experiences. It revealed that student leaders are learning foundational leadership skills and competencies that
have positively impacted how to accomplish work, how to work with others and how to be both supported
by and support others.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. 1x10
(i) Does the following statement agree with the information given in paragraph 1?
The researcher believes that educational institutions have ideal resources to study impact of leadership
skills on young adults.
Select from the following:
True - if the statement agrees with the information
False - if the statement contradicts the information
Not Given - if there is no information on this
(ii) Do you think the researchers of the study aimed to change the students’ outlook towards the
development of leadership skills, directly or indirectly? Support your answer with reference to the text.
(iii) Select the option that displays the most likely reason for including Research Question 3 in the 2014
study.
In order to find out if...
A. learning opportunities shape students’ overall personality.
B. leadership lessons are the result of the designed learning opportunities.
C. all learning opportunities cater to a specific lesson.
D. certain lessons are common in more than one learning opportunity.
(iv) Complete the sentence based on the following statement. More than 50% of the identified student
respondents were keen to participate in the 2014 study.
We can say this because ....
(v) Select the option that displays the key event designed with “Balancing Roles” (Table 1) as the
objective.
A. Students will be able to debate the issue at hand, with different teams.
B. Students will be able to manage the responsibilities of a mentor, planner researcher and presenter.
C. Students will be able to surmount minor problems and focus on the final goal.
D. Students will be able to explain concepts and clarify them for peers.
(vi) Complete the given sentence by selecting the most appropriate option. The 2014 study attempts to
understand student leadership by focussing on .
A. experiences that shaped students’ overall personality.
B. lessons gained by students as they grew up.
C. relationship of key events with particular lessons.
D. students in leadership roles.
(vii) The lessons for ‘Individual competencies’ had a range of responses. Give one reason why having the
least number of responses for ‘Decision Making’, is a matter that needs attention.
(viii) Complete the given sentence by selecting the most appropriate option.
The concluding sentence of the text makes a clear case for by listing it as a core competency for student
leadership.
A. collaboration
B. flexibility
C. hard work
D. observation
(ix) Complete the sentence appropriately with one/ two words.
In the context of “Working with Others” in Table 1, the lesson of ‘Conflict’ refers to ......
(x) Based on the reading of the text, state a point to challenge the given statement.
When theoretical knowledge about leadership suffices, it is a waste of funds by educational organisations,
to organise leadership camps and programmes.
SECTION B: CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS (18 marks)
3.Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 50 words. 4 marks
(a) Recently your school held a Seminar on Conservation of Water as a part of World Water Day
celebrations. As the School Pupil Leader of Maryland School, Gurgaon, write a report in 100-125 words for
a local daily. Sign as Pritham/Priya.
(b) Advertisements have become a big business. They are promoted by celebrities drawn from various fields
like films, sports, etc., leaving their influence on all people specially the young. Write an article in 150-200
words on ‘The Impact of Advertisements on the younger generation’.
4. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 50 words. 4 marks
(a) Write a letter to the Manager, Furniture World, Chennai, complaining about the poor quality of office
furniture you recently purchased from them. Give details of the nature of complaint, date of purchase, details
of an invoice, etc. and seek immediate repair/ replacement. You are Mr. S.Reddy, Principal, P.S. Public
School, Chennai.
(b) Write a letter to the Editor, ‘The Hindu’, Chennai about rash and reckless driving by the people in your
city, suggesting preventive measures. You are Kamal/Kanwar of 10, Mount Road, Velacherry.
5.Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 120 – 150 words. 5 marks
(a) Write a letter to the Editor, ‘The Hindu’ about the mosquito menace due to stagnant water in your
locality. Give suggestions to improve the situation. You are Raman/Renu, living in Rajaji Nagar,
Tirunelveli.
(b) You are Ramesh/Rani, Sports Secretary, Government Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh. Last
Monday an inter-school twenty-over cricket match was played on your school ground. Write a report in 100-
125 words on the match.
6. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 120-150 words. 5 marks
(a) Increase in the number of vehicles causes pollution and traffic jams. Write an article in 150-200 words
for ‘The New Indian Express’, Delhi, highlighting the urgent need to solve these man-made problems,
giving suitable suggestions. You are Madhav/Madhuri.
(b) Write a report in 100-125 words on ‘No Tobacco’ campaign organized by your school in the academic
session 2023-24. You are Deep/ Deepa, Cultural Secretary, Anupam Senior Secondary School, Meerut.
SECTION C
LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING TEXT (40 marks)
7.Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given - 6 marks
(a) It is in the news that all these pitiful kin
Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in
To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,
Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore,
While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,
Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits
That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,
And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,
Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.
(i) What is the tone of the poet in the above lines?
(i) aggressive
(ii) tolerant
(iii) sarcastic
(iv) resigned
(v) sentimental
Choose the most appropriate option.
A. Only (i)
B. (ii) and (iii)
C. (i), (iv) and (v)
D. Only (iii)
(ii) Identify the phrase from the extract, that suggests the following:
No one bothers to take ‘their’ consent before pushing the promise of a better life, their way.
(iii) What quality of the villagers can be inferred through these lines?
A. gullible
B. futuristics
C. hypocritical
D. ambitious
(iv) Complete the following analogy correctly. Do NOT repeat from used example.
greedy good doers: alliteration :: ................................... oxymoron
(v) On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to (1) and (2) given below.
(1) The city dwellers make promises for the betterment of the villagers.
(2) The city dwellers have ulterior motives.
A. (1) is true but (2) is false.
B. (2) is true but (1) is false.
C. (2) is the reason for (1).
D. Both (1) and (2) cannot be inferred from the extract.
(vi) Fill the blank with an appropriate word, with reference to the extract.
‘… calculated to soothe them out of their wits’ implies that ‘them’ are being .
OR
(B) Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green
They do not fear the men beneath the tree:
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
Aunt Jennifer's fingers 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) Denizens of the world of green refer to
(a) huntsmen
(c) uncle
(b) Aunt Jennifer
(d) tigers
(ii) Choose the option that displays the same poetic device as used in the second line of the extract.
(a) heart of stone
(c) silver spoon
(b) trees sprouting
(d) white murder
(iii) The men setting beneath the tree are_____
(iv) What quality of uncle can be inferred through these lines?
(a) compassionate nature
(b) courageous
(c) confident
(d) dominating
(v) The tigers in the extract are symbolic of
(a) creativity and courage
(b) confidence and gentleness
(c) cruelty and fear
(d) aggression and starving
(vi) Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across-
(a) the screen. (b) the fields
(c) the embroidered tunic (d) the cage
Which of the following is the most appropriate choice?
(a) (1) and (2)
(b) (1), (2) and (3)
(c) (2) and (4)
(d) (1) and (3)
(8) Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 6 marks
(a) A girl from the countryside, she hadn't gone through all the stages of worldly experience that generally
precede a position of importance and sophistication that she had found herself catapulted into. She never
quite recovered from the terror she felt that day. That was the end of a brief and brilliant acting career the
legal adviser, who was also a member of the Story Department, had unwittingly brought about that sad end.
While every other member of the Department wore a kind of uniform. khadi dhoti with a slightly oversized
and clumsily tailored white khadi shirt the legal adviser wore pants and a tie and sometimes a coat that
looked like a coat of mail. Often, he looked alone and helpless....
(Poets and Pancakes)
i. Select the option that completes the given sentence appropriately.
'Stages of worldly experience' in the given context would refer to__
A. good education to gain knowledge.
B. situations that require one to be street smart.
C. smaller, not so important roles in acting.
D. training in soft skills.
ii. Select the suitable word from the extract to complete the following analogy:
sealed: closed :: propelled:
iii.Select the correct option to fill in the blank.
The harm done to the actress was a/an___
A. well-planned act.
B. unintentional act.
C. act of jealousy.
D. act of male dominance.
iv.Based on the above extract, choose the statement that is TRUE for the legal adviser.
A. He disliked the actress from the countryside.
B. He acted after thinking through things carefully.
C. He did not gel well with others in the Department.
D. He was always dressed smartly.
v. Identify the textual clue that allows the reader to infer that the writer is sympathetic
towards the professional fate of the actor. (Clue: a phrase).
vi. Complete the sentence with an appropriate explanation, as per the extract.
The writer uses the word 'uniform' to refer to the outfits of the Department members because just like a
uniform.....................................
OR
(b) Some might make quite extravagant claims for it as being, in its highest form, a source of truth, and, in
its practice, an art. Others, usually celebrities who see themselves as its victims, might despise the interview
as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives, or feel that it somehow diminishes them, just as in some
primitive cultures it is believed that if one takes a photographic portrait of somebody then one is stealing that
person's soul. (The Interview)
(i) What is the most likely reason some people consider the practice of interview to be an art?
This could be because it requires-
A. fluency of words.
B. sensitive and careful handling.
C. creativity and imagination.
D. probing and focusing on details.
(ii) Rewrite the sentence by replacing the highlighted phrase with its inference.
Celebrities feel that an interview diminishes them.
(iii) On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given
below.
(1) Celebrities don't consent to be interviewed.
(2) Interviews intrude the privacy of celebrities.
A. (1) Can be inferred from the extract but (2) cannot..
B. (1) cannot be inferred from the extract but (2) can.
C. (1) is true but (2) is false.
D. (2) is the reason for (1).
(iv) Rationalise, to support the given opinion:
To say that an interview, in its highest form, is a source of truth, is an extravagant claim.
(v) Replace the highlighted word with its antonym from the extract
Some celebrities hate the idea of having to give an interview because it makes them feel like supporters.
(vi) The author's views on interview, in the extract, can best be described as statements based on-
A. facts
B. hypothesis
C. beliefs
D. superstitions
9.Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 4 marks
(a) DERRY: You're... peculiar. You say peculiar things. You ask questions I don't understand.
MR LAMB: I like to talk. Have company. You don't have to answer questions. You don't have to stop here
at all. The gate's open.
DERRY: Yes, but...
MR LAMB: I've a hive of bees behind those trees over there. Some hear bees and they say, bees buzz. But
when you listen to bees for a long while, they humm....and hum means 'sing'. I hear them singing, my bees.
DERRY: But....I like it here. I came in because I liked it..... when I looked over the wall. MR LAMB: If
you'd seen me, you'd not have come in.
DERRY: No.
(On the Face of it)
(i) List the playwright's purpose of using ellipses (...) in this extract.
(ii) Select the option that best describes Derry and Mr. Lamb in the extract.
A. Derry: introvert; Mr. Lamb: friendly
B. Derry: friendly; Mr. Lamb: weird
C. Derry: fearful; Mr. Lamb: domineering
D. Derry: open minded; Mr. Lamb: charming
(iii) Which of the following best summarises Mr. Lamb's attitude towards the bees?
A. Beauty is being true to yourself.
B. There is a kind of beauty in imperfection.
C. Beauty is the promise of happiness.
D. The beauty of the world lies in the details.
(iv) Derry says, "I came in here because I liked it...." What was the one significant thing Derry might have
liked about the place, as per the extract?
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, curiosity-
seekers who could only 'give' back in a limited way. With Students on Ice, he offers the future generation of
policy-makers a life-changing experience at an age when they're ready to absorb, learn, and most
importantly, act.
(Journey to the End of the Earth)
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately, with reference to the extract. The writer refers to the educational
opportunities as 'inspiring' because ....
(ii) Which of the following would NOT be 'a life changing experience'?
A. Being given the lead role in a play.
B. Going on an adventure trip.
C. Playing a video game.
D. Meeting a great leader, you admire.
(iii) Select the most suitable title for the given extract.
A. Adventure with a Mission.
B. Adventure - The Spice of Life
C. The Wanderlust
D. Students of the Future
(iv) Why does the writer refer to 'act' as more important than 'absorb' or 'learn'?
10.Answer ANY FIVE of the following six questions in about 40-50 words 10 marks
(a) If the Christmas spirit is about selflessness, forgiveness and becoming 'better' versions of ourselves
amongst other things, Edla Willmansson is the epitome of this spirit. Justify with two points of evidence
from The Rattrap.
(b) Describe the difficulties faced by Gandhi at Champaran.
(c) Why did Jansie discourage Sophie from having dreams?
(d) What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead?
(e) Why didn’t the ‘polished traffic’ stop at the roadside stand?
(f) How was Gandhiji able to influence the lawyers at Champaran?
11.Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words. 4 marks
(a) “I felt like sinking to the floor,” says Zitakala-Sa. When did she feel so and why?
(b) What was the objective of the ‘Students on Ice Programme’?
(c) Who was Derry? What did he suffer from?
12.Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 120-150 words. 5 marks
(a) Have you ever stopped at a roadside stand? What have you observed ?
OR
(b) Their mother sighed. Sophie watched her back stooped over the sink and wondered at the incongruity of
the delicate bow which fastened her apron strings.’
The prose selection, Going Places includes this telling comment about Sophie’s mother.
In Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, we are told that -
‘The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s Hand.’
Imagine a conversation between Sophie’s mother and Aunt Jennifer. Create this exchange with reference to
the two extracts given above.
You may begin the conversation like this …
Sophie’s mother: Your embroidery is so beautiful. Do you love tigers?
13.Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120 – 150 words. 5 marks
(a) On returning home, Tishani Doshi writes her thoughts reflecting on how her decision to enrol for the
Students on Ice programme has been the single most important decision of her life that has completely
transformed her. Imagine yourself to be Tishani and express these thoughts
.
You may begin like this:
I can’t thank my stars enough for having cashed in on the opportunity of...........
OR
(b) What is the bond that unites the two—the old Mr. Lamb and Derry, the small boy? How does the old
man inspire the small boy?
