SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER FOR UT1

XII : English core MM: 50

Read the passage and answer the questions. (8m)

1. The art of conversation, like any art, is a skill of elegance, nuance and creative
execution. I happen to believe that there is an art to everything we do, and why not?
Without flair and panache most things become a drudgery. Why settle for drudgery
when you can have art?

2. When it comes to the art of conversation, we ve all met people who seem to have the
knack for it. They can talk to anybody about anything and they seem to do it with
complete ease. And while it s true that there are those who are born with the gift of the
gab, luckily for the rest of us, conversation skills can be developed and mastered.

3. Conversation is a form of communication, however, it is usually more spontaneous

and less formal. We enter into conversations for purposes of pleasant engagement in
order to meet new people, to find out information and to enjoy social interactions. As far
as types of conversation, they vary anywhere from intellectual conversations and
information exchanges to friendly debates and witty banter.

4. While there is more to having good conversation skills than being a comedian, a
dramatic actor, or a great story teller, it is not necessary to become more gregarious,
animated, or outgoing.

5. Instead, you can develop the ability to listen attentively, ask fitting questions, and pay
attention to the answers all qualities essential to the art of conversation. With diligent
practice and several good pointers, anyone can improve his or her conversation skills.

6. People who are genuinely interested in others are usually interesting themselves.
Why? Because they are more open to learning about and understanding new things.
Showing interest also encourages the other person to be relaxed and share information
more freely. Display attentiveness by keeping good eye contact and listening actively.

7. If you happen to be shy and need time to warm up before you share your own views,
you can ask open-ended questions or encourage the other person to elaborate on their
insights. This kick-starts the conversation and before you know it you are engaged in a
good conversational flow.

8. To start a conversation, go up to someone and introduce yourself. It is both polite and

necessary to start off things smoothly.

9. When the occasion calls for it, you can offer a handshake and then smile and make
eye contact. Being friendly puts the other person at ease and opens the door for him or
her to introduce themselves.
10. The art of conversation, like any skill, takes practice. Period. Do not expect to be
adept after your first few attempts. It will take practice as well as exposure to many
different social situations.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

1. Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option:

The art of conversation is a skill of 1

(a) uniformity and compatibility

(b) friendliness and consensus

(c) assertion and ease

(d) sophistication and creativity

2. Comment on the writer's reference to conversation skills as something you are 'born'
with. 1

3. Mention reasons why people enter into conversation. 2

4. Provide the word that conveys the opposite of witty as used in paragraph 3.
1

5. The writer would not agree with the given statements based on paragraphs 3 to 5,
except 1

(a) Conversations are meant only for purposes of research.

(b) It is important to be outgoing to be a good conversationist. (c) Conversational skills

can be improved with regular practice.

(d) Attentive listening is important only while debating.

6. According to the author, showing interest in others leads to interesting conversation.

Based on your understanding of paragraphs 5 and 6, list one way how a good listener
can make the other person speak more freely. 1

7. One can warm up before one shares one's views by............................................

1

SECTION B : WRITING SKILL

Q.2. Your school is planning to conduct an inter-class seminar on the topic "The
Importance of Mental Health to create awareness in adolescents. As the head of the
organising committee, draft a notice in about 50 words to inform all students about the
seminar and invite registrations from classes XI-XII. Include other necessary details. Put
your notice in a box. (4)
Q3. Despite being an essential component of road safety infrastructure, many people
do not respect zebra crossings and fail to follow traffic rules, which results in hazardous
situations on the roads. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily, sharing your
concern, and examining the reasons for such behaviour. Provide suggestions for
spending awareness of rules and etiquettes involved, and ways to ensure adherence.
You are Soma Baruah, a concerned city resident.
(5)

OR

You are Hitesh/Henna, a 'blog' writer. You are also a voracious reader and keep abreast
of the current topics of the day. Reading about the trends in Digital Marketing, you
decide to write an article on "Digital Marketing has gained tremendous momentum in
the past couple of years. Use the following cues along with your own ideas to compose
this article. Invent necessary details. (120-150 words) Use given cues .

DIGITAL MARKETING

• Connects with customers

• Hands-on experience.
• Cost effective
• Allows you to get creative
• Easy to target right audience
• Access to global markets

Section C Literature

Q4. Read the given extract and answer the questions given:

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 mast appropriate option

A Only (i)

B (ii) and (iii)

C. (i), (iv) and (v)

D. Only (iii)

2. 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.

3. What quality of the villagers can be inferred through these lines?

A gullible

B. futuristic

C. hypocritical

D. ambitious

4. Complete the following analogy correctly. Do NOT repear from used example greedy
good doers, alliteration

5. 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 fabe

C. (2) is the reason for (1).

D. Both (1) and (2) cannot be inferred from the c

vi. Fill in the blank with an appropriate word, with reference to the extract

... calculated to soothe them out of their wits' implies that 'them' are
being..................................................

Q5. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
(4)

The clerk figured the fare - he glanced at my fancy hat band, but he figured the fare - and
I had enough for two coach tickets, one way. But when I counted out the money and
looked up, the clerk was staring at me. He nodded at the bills. "That ain't money, mister,"
he said, "and if you're trying to skin me, you won't get very far. and he glanced at the
cash drawer, beside him. Of course the money was old-style bills half again as big as
the money we use nowadays and different looking.

(1) Why did Charley ask for two tickets?

(ii) Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option:

When Charley offered money to the booking clerk, the latter stared at Charley because
the booking clerk

(a) thought it wasn't money

(b) did not trust Charley

(c) thought Charley was trying to tease him.

(d) thought that Charley had given him less money

iii) Select the option that best describes Charley in this extract. He is

(a) a cheat

(b) gullible

(c) an opportunist

(d) an escapist

(iv) 'If you're trying to skin me' suggests........................

Q6. Read the given extract and answer the questions given

What a thunderclap these words were to me! Oh, the wretches that was what they had
put up at the town. hall! My last French lesson Why. I hardly knew how to write! I should
never learn any more! I must stop there. then! Oh, how sorry I was for not learning my
lessons, for seeking birds eggs, or going sliding on the Sar 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. Who are called as Wretches?

ii. “There so usually great bustle and noise when school began, but it was all very quiet.”
Which of the following describes Franz emotions most accurately?

A shock and awe

B. disappointment and anxiety

C. confusion and distress

D. curiosity and uncertainty

iii. In The Last Lesson', which of these would most likely NOT be M Hamel's thought on
the day of the last lesson?

A. "If only these students had realised the importance of their language earlier."

B. "Why do they seem so unaffected, do they not know what has happened yet?"

C. "I can't teach them French anymore, let me at least tell them the importance of
holding on to our language.”

D. "Perhaps I should have been more considerate with these children, maybe they
would have learned better."

iv. "What a thunderclap these words were, for me!” What were the words that shocked
and surprised the narrator?

v. What made the narrator change his attitude towards his teacher?

vi. Based on the lesson, deduce what kind of teacher M. Hamel was?

Q7. Answer the following questions in 40-50 words each. (2×2=4)

Q1. What attributes of Subbu raised him to the status of No. 2 at Gemini Studio ?
Substantiate your answer with evidence from the text.

Q2. "Through the years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine art." What does 'it' refer
to here? Why has it been called a fine art?

Q.3 'It's easy to judge others and give advice, but much more difficult to apply it to
ourselves. Elaborate with reference to the character of Sam in The Third Level.

Q4. Comment on the writing style of the author, Kalki in The Tiger King.

Q8. Answer the following in 120-150 words. (5 marks)

Compare and contrast the themes of loss and resilience in "The Last Lesson" by
Alphonse Daudet and "Lost Spring" by Anees Jung.

Q9. Answer the following in 120-150 words. (5 marks)

"Tiger population became extinct in the forests of Pratibandapuram." Tiger King is a

typical example of man's dominance over nature. As a member of your school Eco Club,
write an article for your school magazine on how man should follow the policy of 'Live
and Let Live'. You may begin like this.

The noblest principle, man should follow in his life is co-existence..........