CBSE 12th English Core Sample Paper 09 Page 1
Sample Paper 09
English core (301)
Class-XII Exam 2024-25
Time Allowed : 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks : 80
General Instructions :
Read the following instructions very carefully and strictly follow them :
i. This question paper has 13 questions. All questions are compulsory.
ii This question paper contains three sections :
Section A : Reading Skills
Section B : Creative Writing Skills
Section C : Literature.
iii. Attempt all questions based on specific instructions for each part. Write the correct
question number and part thereof in your answer sheet.
iv Seperate instructions are given with each question/part, wherever necessary.
v. Adhere to the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.
SECTION A - READING SKILLS 22
1. Read the following passage carefully: 12
1. India’s handloom industry is one of the oldest and most important cottage industries
in the country. It plays a vital role in preserving traditional textile art and providing
employment to millions of weavers across rural and semi-urban areas. Each region of India
has its unique weaving techniques, patterns, and fabrics that reflect the local culture
and heritage. For instance, the bright, intricate designs of Kanjeevaram silk sarees from
Tamil Nadu are distinct from the geometric patterns of the Assamese Mekhela Chador.
2. The handloom industry is largely decentralized, with weavers working out of their homes
or in small cooperative societies. This gives the industry a flexible structure, allowing
artisans to work independently and create personalized, handcrafted textiles. Many
families have passed down their weaving skills for generations, preserving the cultural
identity of their communities. The connection between the weavers and their craft is
deeply personal, with each piece of fabric representing a blend of tradition and creativity.
3. Despite its cultural significance, the handloom sector faces several challenges. With
the rise of mechanized textile mills and mass-produced clothing, handwoven fabrics
have become more expensive and less accessible to the average consumer. This has led
to a decline in demand, leaving many weavers struggling to make a sustainable living.
Additionally, competition from cheaper synthetic fabrics and the lack of market access
for rural weavers have further impacted the industry’s growth.
4. In recent years, there has been a growing movement to revive the handloom industry
through government initiatives, fashion collaborations, and consumer awareness
campaigns. By promoting the use of handloom products and supporting sustainable
fashion, many organizations hope to create a new market for handwoven fabrics. This
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shift towards conscious consumption has the potential to preserve traditional weaving
techniques while providing fair wages and better working conditions for weavers.
5. The future of India’s handloom industry depends on balancing the preservation of
its cultural heritage with the modernization of its production methods. Sustainable
practices, coupled with innovative marketing strategies, can help the industry thrive in
a competitive market, ensuring that the art of handloom weaving continues to flourish
for generations to come.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
i. According to paragraph 1, how does India’s handloom industry contribute to preserving
culture? 1
ii. How does the decentralized nature of the handloom industry benefit weavers, as
mentioned in paragraph 2? 1
iii. Read and complete the following sentence suitably. 1
The phrase “a flexible structure” in paragraph 2 suggests that the handloom industry allows
weavers to work independently and craft unique products.
Choose the correct response from the two options to complete the sentence.
The handloom industry has a flexible structure because _____.
(A) it enables weavers to work from home and follow traditional methods
(B) it allows consumers to access mass-produced textiles
iv. Complete the following with ONE example, with reference to paragraph 3 : 1
The decline in demand for handwoven fabrics is caused by _____.
v. Why does the writer mention government initiatives in paragraph 4? 1
Because
(A) It highlights efforts to revive the handloom industry by creating a new market.
(B) It explains how handloom weavers benefit from modern textile mills.
(C) It describes how mass production has improved the handloom sector.
(D) It shows how mechanized factories are outcompeting weavers.
vi. Provide ONE textual evidence with reference to paragraph 3, to support the following : 1
Weavers face difficulties in competing with synthetic fabrics. 1
vii. In the line, ‘The future of India’s handloom industry depends on balancing the
preservation of its cultural heritage with the modernization of its production methods’
(Paragraph 5), what does the phrase ‘balancing the preservation of its cultural heritage’
suggest about the challenges the industry faces? 2
viii. Complete the analogy with ONE word from paragraph 4 : 1
weaving: craftsmanship :: handlooms: _____
(A) flexibility (B) tradition
(C) production (D) sustainability
CBSE 12th English Core Sample Paper 09 Page 3
ix. Why is it fair to say that the statement ‘the handloom industry is essential to preserving
India’s cultural heritage’ in paragraph 1 uses factual language? 1
(A) It refers to the historical importance of handwoven textiles in Indian culture.
(B) It explains how mechanized textile mills are improving the industry.
(C) It compares the handloom industry to mass-produced clothing.
(D) It describes the impact of handloom products on rural areas.
x. Assess the potential challenges or benefits of modernizing India’s handloom industry, as
suggested in paragraph 5. 2
2. Read the following carefully. 10
1. India’s demographic advantage is evident with an average age of just 27 in 2020, meaning
that the country is predominantly youthful. However, despite this, the unemployment
crisis persists. The primary cause is the lack of alignment between the skills that the
youth possess and the demands of new industries, despite the rapidly expanding range
of career options and job roles.
2. One of the key reasons for this skill gap is that many Indian students are only aware of
a limited set of career options, even though 250 career paths exist across the country. A
recent survey conducted by Mindler, an online career-counseling platform, revealed that
students are only familiar with seven career options, leaving them unaware of the diverse
opportunities that could better suit their skills.
3. The survey was conducted among 10,000 participants aged 14-20 and revealed that 93%
of students were aware of only seven career paths: law, engineering, medicine, accounts
and finance, design, computer applications and IT, and management. The figure
included highlights the common career options considered by students, with engineering
as the most preferred at 23.53%, followed by accounts and finance (11.81%), computer
applications and IT (9.56%), and medicine (8.08%).
4. Despite 250 available career paths in 40 domains covering 5,000 job types, Indian
students are largely unaware of the options beyond the most common careers. This lack
of awareness could jeopardize the potential benefits of India’s youthful demographic,
preventing the country from reaping the rewards of its demographic dividend.
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5. Parents and teachers can play a critical role in expanding their children’s awareness of new
career options. By staying informed and making use of available tools, parents can provide
guidance that aligns with their child’s strengths, rather than pushing them toward the most
familiar career choices.
6. If parents utilize career counseling and technology effectively, they can make better-
informed decisions regarding their children’s future careers, helping them achieve personal
and professional growth.
Answer the following questions, based on given passage.
i. Complete the following suitably. 1
In the introduction, the researcher links India’s youthful population with the
unemployment crisis to highlight _____.
ii. What would the following be classified as? 1
To investigate the limited career awareness among Indian students and its effects on
their professional prospects.
Select the appropriate response.
(A) Secondary objective (B) Research outcome
(C) Method of analysis (D) Primary objective
iii. Give two points to support why career counseling is critical in the context of India’s
youth, as described in the passage. 2
iv. Paragraph 3 includes words – ‘career options’ and ‘skill gap.’ 1
Classify the following sentences as ‘career options’ or ‘skill gap’:
Sentence 1: Students are aware of only a limited number of career choices, even though
more options exist.
Sentence 2: Employers are looking for skills that students do not possess, leading to
unemployment.
v. Read the following : 1
Seema prefers to pursue engineering, which is a popular career option among students.
Her neighbor Mohan is interested in accounts and finance, but struggles with deciding
on a career. Arindam, who lives across the street, is unsure of his choices and feels
pressured to choose management as it seems safer.
Select the option that identifies the correct career paths Seema, Mohan, and Arindam are
considering.
(A) Seema – engineering; Mohan – accounts and finance; Arindam – management
(B) Seema – medicine; Mohan – law; Arindam – engineering
(C) Seema – law; Mohan – design; Arindam – IT
(D) Seema – design; Mohan – engineering; Arindam – medicine
vi. Why is the lack of career awareness among Indian students considered a major issue,
despite having access to 250 career options? 1
vii. Analyse how parental involvement and career counseling can help bridge the skill gap
among Indian students. (Paragraph 5) 2
CBSE 12th English Core Sample Paper 09 Page 5
viii. What is the ultimate goal for stakeholders, based on the insights from the study? 1
(A) Increase the number of available job roles
(B) Improve career awareness and counseling for students
(C) Reduce the number of common career choices available
(D) Promote traditional career paths like medicine and law
SECTION B - CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS 18
3. Attempt ANY ONE of the two, (A) or (B), in about 50 words. 1#4 = 4
A. You are Sapna Singh, the Secretary of Cultural Committee of your school. Write a notice
in about 50 words inviting students to participate in the Annual Day of the school to be
organized next month.
O
B. You are Man/Mani, secretary of the History Club of K.V. Sr. Sec. School, Badodhra.
Draft a notice in not more than 50 words informing the students of class XI and XII
about a proposed tour to Rajasthan during the coming summer vacations.
4. Attempt ANY ONE of the two, (A) or (B), in about 50 words. 1#4 = 4
A. Your school is going to hold its Annual Day celebrations on 18th August at Talkatora
Stadium, New Delhi. You want Mr. Arjun Singh, a noted playback singer to be the chief
guest on this occasion. Write a formal invitation in about 50 words requesting him to
preside over the function. You are Raman/Rani, Headmistress, Don Bosco School, New
Delhi.
O
B. You are opening a coaching institute for students of classes IX-XII. Write an informal
invitation, inviting your best friend for its inauguration. Do not exceed more than 50
words. Invent necessary details.
5. Attempt ANY ONE of the two, (A) or (B), in 120-150 words. 1#5 = 5
A. You are Pushpit/Pushpa Pandey of 62 B, Mayur Vihar, Delhi. Write a letter to the
editor of the Hindustan Times about ‘Misuse of Computers, TV and Mobile Phones by
Children’.
O
B. You are Rohini/Rohit. You have seen an advertisement for the post of an English
Teacher in Khetan Public School, Raipur. Write a letter in response to the advertisement
applying for the post. Give your detailed resume. Invent necessary details.
6. Attempt ANY ONE of the two, (A) or (B) in 120-150 words. 1#5 = 5
A. You are extremely disturbed by the growing crime against the elderly people in your
city. Write an article commenting upon the reasons for such crimes and how one can
prevent them. Sign yourself as Khoshali Bhardwaj.
O
B. Write a report in 120-150 words for your school magazine describing the prize distribution
ceremony that was held to honour the academic achievers of class XII of the previous
year.
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SECTION C- LITERATURE 40
7. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two -
(A) or (B). 1#6 = 6
A. “The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint
So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:
Here far from the city we make our roadside stand
And ask for some city money to feel in hand
To try if it will not make our being expand,
And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise
That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.”
(A Roadside Stand)
i. Select the correct option from those given in brackets, to fill in the blank.
The roadside stand was made by the poor people and it was _____ (near/far) from
the city.
ii. Select the phrase that suggests the following.
The poet does not want to accuse the rustics of spoiling the beauty of the landscape.
iii. Read the assertion and the reason below, with reference to the given extract.
Assertion : The poet is more concerned with the emotional pain of unfulfilled promises
to rural people than with the damage to the landscape.
Reason : The rural people believe that money from the city will improve their lives and
fulfill the promises made by the party in power.
Choose the correct option regarding their relationship:
(A) Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation
of the assertion.
(B) Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason is not the correct
explanation of the assertion.
(C) The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(D) The assertion is false, but the reason is true.
iv. Complete the following suitably.
The promise made by the government was that to give _____.
v. Do you think that the promise made by the government was fulfilled?
vi. What wouldn’t be the poet’s complaint?
(A) The hurt to the scenery (B) The beauty of people
(C) The beauty of nature (D) The hurt to the buildings
O
B. Perhaps the Earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.
(Keeping Quiet)
CBSE 12th English Core Sample Paper 09 Page 7
i. Which poetic device has been used in the second line of the extract?
(A) Metaphor (B) Transferred epithet
(C) Alliteration (D) Paradox
ii. Identify the tone of the poem in the first line of the extract.
iii. Select the correct option from those given in brackets, to fill in the blank.
The poet uses a conversational style and personal pronouns ‘you’, ‘we’ and ‘I’ because
he wants us to be _____ (friendly/cruel) with the whole mankind.
iv. Read the assertion and the reason below, with reference to the given extract.
Assertion : The poet believes that silence and stillness can help us understand the cycles
of life.
Reason : The Earth teaches us that even when everything seems dead, it can later prove
to be alive, symbolizing renewal and continuity.
Choose the correct option regarding their relationship:
(A) Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation
of the assertion.
(B) Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason is not the correct
explanation of the assertion.
(C) The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(D) The assertion is false, but the reason is true.
v. Select the phrase that suggests the following:
The poet thinks that he has said what he intended to say.
vi. Complete the following suitably.
The poet wants to convey the message that there is life even in the moment of total
inactivity. This moment of total inactivity leads one to _____.
8. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (A)
or (B). 4#1 = 4
A. DERRY : How could I? You pass people in the street and you might even speak to them,
but you never see them again. It doesn’t mean they’re friends.
MR LAMB : Doesn’t mean they’re enemies, either does it?
DERRY : No, they’re just... nothing. People. That’s all.
MR LAMB : People are never just nothing. Never.
DERRY There are some people I hate.
MR LAMB : That’d do you more harm than any bottle of acid. Acid only burns your
face.
(On the Face of It)
i. Complete the sentence appropriately.
The author’s purpose in using contractions, is to _____.
ii. In the given extract, select the option that best summarises Derry’s attitude towards
others.
(A) His pessimism was hurting him more than acid.
(B) His optimism was hurting him more than acid.
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(C) His acid was hurting him more than his optimism.
(D) His acid was hurting him more than his pessimism.
iii. Derry says, ‘I won’t change’. Why does Derry say so?
iv. How is the line, “DERRY : No, they’re just...nothing. People. That’s all.” How would
you describe Derry and Mr Lamb in the extract?
O
B. My elder brother was there. I told him the story in all its comic detail. I fell about with
laughter at the memory of a big man, and an elder at that, making such a game out of
carrying the parcel. But Annan was not amused. Annan told me the man wasn’t being
funny when he carried the package like that. He said everybody believed that they were
upper caste and therefore must not touch us.
(Memories of Childhood)
i. Complete the sentence appropriately, with reference to the extract.
The story referred in the extract is about _____.
ii. Why was Annan not amused?
iii. Select the most suitable title for the given extract.
(A) The Wise Brother (B) The Unsuspecting Girl
(C) The Caste System (D) The Reality of Castes
iv. Bama’s innocence was lost when she came face to face with the ugly truth of racial
discrimination. Do you agree?
9. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (A)
or (B). 1#6 = 6
A. I swam the crawl, breast stroke, side stroke, and back stroke. Only once did the terror
return. When I was in the middle of the lake, I put my face under and saw nothing but
bottomless water. The old sensation returned in miniature. I laughed and said, “Well,
Mr Terror, what do you think you can do to me?” It fled and I swam on.
Yet I had residual doubts. At my first opportunity I hurried west, went up the Tieton
to Conrad Meadows, up the Conrad Creek Trail to Meade Glacier, and camped in the
high meadow by the side of Warm Lake. The next morning I stripped, dived into the
lake, and swam across to the other shore and back – just as Doug Corpron used to do. I
shouted with joy, and Gilbert Peak returned the echo. I had conquered my fear of water.
(Deep Water)
i. List what theme is followed in the given extract?
ii. What do you think the given extract dealt with?
(A) Doug Corpron (B) Deep Water
(C) Conquering over fear (D) Gilbert Peak
CBSE 12th English Core Sample Paper 09 Page 9
iii. Complete the sentence appropriately.
The lesson focused on the fact that _____ must never be treated lightly.
iv. Pick out an evidence from the text that helps one infer that the protagonist has overcome
his fear.
v. What does the term ‘Mr Terror’ refer to?
vi. Which of the following best suggests the appropriateness of the title?
(A) He even took the services of an instructor.
(B) The author’s fear was a deep-rooted one.
(C) To overcome his fear, he visited oceans.
(D) He was once nearly drowned.
O
B. “The official inquiry assembled a crushing mountain of evidence against the big planters,
and when they saw this they agreed, in principle, to make refunds to the peasants.
“But how much must we pay?” They asked Gandhi. They thought he would demand
repayment in full of the money which they had illegally and deceitfully extorted from the
sharecroppers. He asked only 50 per cent. “There he seemed adamant,” writes Reverend
JZ Hodge, a British missionary in Champaran who observed the entire episode at close
range. “Thinking probably that he would not give way, the representative of the planters
offered to refund to the extent of 25 per cent, and to his amazement Mr. Gandhi took
him at his word, thus, breaking the deadlock”
(Indigo)
i. Why did the servants consider Gandhiji to be another peasant?
ii. The line, “They thought he would demand repayment in full of the money which they
had illegally and deceitfully extorted from the sharecroppers,” can be classified as:
(A) a research (B) an opinion
(C) a fact (D) a theme
iii. Explain any one inference that can be drawn from the line, “The official inquiry
assembled plenty of traces against the big planters, and when they saw this they agreed,
in principle, to make refunds to the peasants.”
iv. Rationalize to support the given opinion, “There he seemed adamant,” writes Reverend
J. Z. Hodge, a British missionary in Champaran who observed the entire episode at close
range.
v. What did the officials think about the refunds to the peasants?
(A) Gandhiji would demand repayment in full of money.
(B) Gandhiji would demand nothing.
(C) Gandhiji would demand repayment in 25%.
(D) Gandhiji would take strict action.
vi. Complete the sentence with ONE word.
The big planters were agreed to refund _____ share.
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10. Answer ANY FIVE of the following six questions in 40-50 words each : 5 # 2 = 10
i. What, according to M. Hamel, was the outcome of the neglect of the French language in
the region? (The Last Lesson)
ii. What are the differences in the ambitions of Saheb and Mukesh? (Lost Spring)
iii. What are the beauties of nature that the poet mentions in ‘A Thing of Beauty’ ? Why
are they an everlasting source of joy?
iv. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool find even the ivory needle hard to
pull. Why? (Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers)
v. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’ ? (Indigo)
vi. How would the innocent be soothed out of their wits? (A Roadside Stand)
11. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions in 40-50 words each : 2#2 = 4
i. What kind of relationship did Dr. Sadao Hoki share with his father? (The Enemy)
ii. Why did the Maharaja order the Dewan to double the land tax? (The Tiger King)
iii. What happened to the narrator’s psychiatrist friend Sam Weiner? What do you deduce
from it? (The Third Level)
12. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. 1#5 = 5
A. What does the poet want to convey through the poem, ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’ ?
O
B. “The Rattrap” is a lesson which shows that basic human goodness can be brought out
by understanding and love. Do you think this is practical in approach?
Imagine yourself to be a motivational speaker who has to address high school students.
Write this address in about 120-150 words.
13. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. 1#5 = 5
A. Dr. Sadao was compelled by duty as a doctor to help the enemy soldier. What made
Hana, his wife, sympathetic to him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff?
You wish to include a cameo for the above statement’s explanation in your upcoming
blog post. (A short description that neatly encapsulates someone or something)
As a part of the research, discuss the statement in relation to ‘The Enemy’ in about
120-150 words.
(The Enemy)
O
B. The title “Journey to the End of the Earth” is quite justified.
Imagine yourself Tishani Doshi, and express your thoughts about its justification.
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