ISC

MODEL SPECIMEN
PAPERS
ENGLISH–I
 ISC/12
Indian School Certificate Examination

Model Specimen Papers

ENGLISH–I

Edited by
Atish Chakraborty

(Three hours)
(Candidates are allowed additional 15 minutes for only reading the paper.
They must NOT start writing during this time.)
The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].
(You are advised to spend not more than 50 minutes on Question 1,
40 minutes on Question 2, 30 minutes on Question 3 and 1 hour on Question 4).
(You should begin each answer on a fresh page.)

(All Rights Reserved)

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 CONTENTS

Model Specimen Paper 1 ………………………………………………………………………………… 5–14

Model Specimen Paper 2 (Unsolved) ………………………………………………………………… 15–17

Model Specimen Paper 3………………………………………………………………………………… 18–24

Model Specimen Paper 4 (Unsolved) ………………………………………………………………… 25–27

Model Specimen Paper 5 ………………………………………………………………………………… 28–37

Model Specimen Paper 6 (Unsolved) …………………………………………………………………… 38–41

Model Specimen Paper 7 ………………………………………………………………………………… 42–51

Model Specimen Paper 8 (Unsolved) …………………………………………………………………… 52–54

Model Specimen Paper 9 ……………………………………………………………………………… 55–63

Model Specimen Paper 10 (Unsolved) ………………………………………………………………… 64–66

Model Specimen Paper 11 ……………………………………………………………………………… 67–76

Model Specimen Paper 12 (Unsolved) ………………………………………………………………… 77–79

Model Specimen Paper 13 ……………………………………………………………………………… 80–85

Model Specimen Paper 14 (Unsolved) ………………………………………………………………… 86–88

Edition : 2017

ISBN : 978-93-86769-04-6

ISC Model Specimen Papers are available in the following subjects :

HINDI BIOLOGY BUSINESS STUDIES
ENGLISH-II MATHEMATICS COMMERCE
PHYSICS COMPUTER SCIENCE ACCOUNTS
CHEMISTRY ECONOMICS BIO-TECHNOLOGY

COMPLETE COURSE IN HINDI : XI & XII COMPLETE COURSE IN ENGLISH-II : XI & XII

146·00
 MODEL SPECIMEN PAPER-1
Question 1.
Write a composition (in approximately 450-500 words) on any one of the following
subjects : [30]
(You are reminded that you will be rewarded for orderly and coherent presentation of
material, use of appropriate style and general accuracy of spelling, punctuation and
grammar.)
(a) Imagine that you visited a remote village untouched by the influence of technology.
Describe the village, the people, their routine and at least one person you met there.
How did you feel at first ? What were your feelings when you had to return ?
Ans. A VISIT TO A REMOTE VILLAGE
I am excited ! It is going to be my first journey into the real world. My make belief world
was now getting geared up for this challenge.
This journey to Kambaska village, a remote area in the Garo Khasi hills, was soon to be
my destination. The survey on influence of technology, taken up by us, team of journalists
was the reason behind it.
All set I was for this enthralling journey. With hardly rail routes to reach this village, I
underwent a lot of hitch-hiking, bus-travelling and cart-rides. It was tiring but fun too.
The summer rains made walking into woods difficult, but it was thrilling all the way. My
first job as a journalist.
The cart-rider dropped me close to the nuclear yet small village in the afternoon hours.
The canopied tall trees above me and wet leaves on the ground, the smell of wet earth, the
sun playing truant amongst the leaves, was a beautiful sight. It felt ethereal.
Far amongst the trees, I saw smoke and was happy to find a few huts build close to each
other. A few children almost naked were playing in the puddles of rainwater. I
reminisced my childhood days.
I was welcomed by an old man who was the head of the village clan. He asked me the
reason for being there and then there was no stopping. Since I knew Garo language,
communication with them became very easy. I was offered lunch, given a charpai to sleep
under a canopied hut, and I dozed off soon. I awoke to the chirrupings of birds and the
cock’s crowing. A new day had started. I saw the women ready with their wooden stoves
to prepare food. The kids were up, playing here and there and the men had left for work.
The old men sat around the big Banyan tree, sharing their experiences of life.
And yes! I realised there was no mobile, radio, I-pad or T.V. in their lives. Even they were
living a life without electricity. Technology had not influenced their lives, yet they were
still happy and satiated a lot.
They spent time with each other. Soon I saw a group of children running towards a young
man, who was carrying something with him. He laughed and then sat down with the kids
happily opening a book and reading out to them. I watched the children’s faces and heard
the narration quietly.
He was Sohana, an educated boy of 22 years, living there with his family.
As he saw me watching him, Sohana came forward and that’s when I knew I had a friend
in this wilderness. He showed me around the village, the forest and what made him stay
back here. Sohana replied, “The life of technology filled in cities gave me everything but
with no parents around and no way to stay connected with them brought me back. He
studied in Shillong for 8 years at his maternal place and decided that knowledge must
reach his home, family and friends too.
I was surprised to see what changes this young innovative mind had brought in me.
Children were making wood-carvings, which were sold back in the city. The youngsters
were busy making compost from dead leaves, plants and decaying food. The men were
involved in organic food and vegetable plantations, women collected herbs and dried
6 | ISC Model Specimen Papers, XII

them. A huge pit was dug at one side of the huts where water was collected. It acted as a
water hole for all.
Sohana had changed the life of so many. With no influence of technology this village and
its members were much more educated and innovative in their way of life.
The four day stay came to an end soon. The trips with Sohana unravelled what selfish city
goers had become. There was no community in cities but wonderful spirit of camaraderie
here. I felt very belitted. Google had not reached here but the villagers of Kambaska had
googled out their life and aims in detail.
I left the place and all members with a heavy heart, not because I was feeling bad but with
the unselfish love and gifts that I was loaded with. I had learnt my first lesson of life and
shall remember it always.
(b) You were waiting at the ATM booth of Focus Bank, when a white car drew up and four
men with masks rushed into the bank. Narrate how an attempted bank robbery was
foiled by an alert security guard.
Ans. SECURITY GUARD SAVES THE DAY
Demonetization wretched havoc on all of us. Scared of losing out of any cash, next day, in
the morning I rushed to an ATM booth close by. The early morning user habit had done
one good. It was empty with the security guard dozing away. I knocked and waited for
him to come out.
Before I could reach the door, a white car came to a screeching halt and four masked men
rushed towards the booth. They threw me out of the way uncaringly. The security guard
who had walked out a few minutes before, to attend to his nature’s call, hearing the noise
chose to stay away. All I could say ‘a coward’ he was!
I gathered myself up and was too a coward to fight against these four men with guns.
I knew what their intention was. It was a day light looting of the ATM. The money scare
had just started, I tried to run here and there looking for help but the morning joggers just
whisked away, ignoring my request. I decided to be brave, I picked up the log next to me,
and attacked one of them, who stood at the door. His strong arms pushed me so hard in
retaliation to the blow.
I lost balance and fell with a thud. Feeling weak with the sudden blow, through the corner
of my eyes, I saw some movement behind the booth. The men busy with uprooting the
ATM machine were unaware of something brewing up. Haiting to be a game spoiler, I
kept quiet feigning that I was hurt, I lied down.
Suddenly, a group of men with sticks and bats pounced on to the door and the men at
work catching them in surprise, hurting them with some strong blows. Pulling away their
weapons that made them have the eight men pounced and handcuffed them with ropes.
The police van pulled up and the men were carried away. Our hero appeared, the security
guard Ramu, who intelligently spoiled the masked men’s plans. When questioned how it
all happened, his story revealed his presence of mind and plan of action. He had seen the
men coming but moved away quietly ignoring it. He was aware that fighting with them
single-handedly would be a foolish act, so he quietly went to every house, made everyone
aware of things but requested all to be patient. He called up the police from the PCO and
asked all to get bats and sticks for attacking the men. And the rest was good. All ended
well.
As a gift for his bravery, all of us decided to contribute some money and the policeman on
duty promised to get him a gun when on duty to safeguard himself and bank property
henceforth.
Focus bank ATM stayed put and all the money too. I finally withdrew some money and
left with a thousand rupee note to the valiant hero Ramu.
I knew it was not enough, but he was indeed braver than me.
 English-I | 7

(c) ‘Today’s youth is more practical and less swayed by emotions.’ Argue for or against the
given statement.
Ans. TODAY’S YOUTH IS MORE PRACTICAL AND LESS SWAYED BY EMOTIONS
(I) FOR THE MOTION
A recent incident in my family forced me to pen down my thoughts. My maternal uncle
and aunt, old enough not to be left alone, do find themselves along in Khandwa. Their
kids are well settled in the USA, as famous doctors. An urgent call to the USA one day by
aunt made the difference.
Uncle, a diabetic fell in the park while, he was taking his morning walk. The worried aunt
called up her son. The son quietened her down and said he will do something. The
mother was crying helplessly over the phone. With the help of neighbours, uncle was
taken to the nearest city hospital. Frequent calls to the son to come soon fell on deaf ears.
The mother was broken that the son didn’t care about them anymore.
I reached the hospital, within an hour of the incident. How! nobody knows only I do. I
took charge of things, money, doctors and everything.
Everyone who came to meet uncle and aunt, sympathesised and questioned them about
their son and they had no answers. That brings us to the discussion of. “Is today’s youth
more practical and less emotional”. Didn’t the son feel any pain for his father? Was he so
selfish to come down to help his father in this situation ? These queries crossed our mind.
But let’s pause and think why was I there ! Who sent me ?
It was the early morning call from US that forced me to be at uncle’s side. The RTGS
transfers, constant call to doctors and their instant availability at the hospital, the constant
messages on whatsapp tell us a different story. It was all lived, planned and executed by
Bhaiya from US. He didn’t loose his presence of mind, he maintained balance, kept
himself calm and diligently handled all immediate help to get the first medical aid to
uncle. I here say he was not emotionless but yes he was practical. Covering under emotion
would have made him weak and incapable of making such decisions that helped to save
uncle’s broken leg and slip disc situation.
With this I agree vociferously, that today’s youth is more practical and less emotional. If
they need to help their family in times of need, its not their physical presence but the
presence of proper health aid, support and money to save the situation. Making a long
journey and not providing instant help could have led to disastrous results.
So I firmly believe that it is better to be practical than be emotional. It is a real world with
real problems and to save our dears, one needs to be a source of help, even though not
being around.
(II) AGAINST THE MOTION
We are the most coddled generation in history and it is apparent in both our work ethic
and our outlook on life. We expect things to be hand-delivered or spoon-fed to us.
Everything is too convenient for our generation. We understand that our parents want to
give us the life they never had, but that may just be the reason of making this generation
of our softer and emotional, away from the ingenious ability of practically handling things
out.
By receiving everything at one place we spent our time in useless things which deviates
us from our goals. A big misconception in this new generation is the idea that getting rich
quick is actually a feasible feat. But in reality, success takes time and hard work, nothing
comes easily in this world. Such a softer generation! When someone criticizes us with the
intention of helping us, improve as human beings, we either get angry or sad. This spoon-
feeding has led to blocking of our imaginations and we just see what the world shows us,
we become weak and get panicked, and turn to find help and support instead of facing
the obstacles. Sometimes we overreact and take sudden decisions without thinking
properly.
Since elementary school, we had our teachers and parents rewarding us for every minor
thing that we did - did well on a test, here’s a sticker; good report card, parents buy us a
8 | ISC Model Specimen Papers, XII

present. This made us to seek attention for everything that we do and now no task can be
done without seeking some sort of reward for it.
We are one of the laziest generations in history. Although we are smart and really skilled,
our downfall starts at the very point where we do not seem to work well in environments
that don’t keep us interested. We always look for the easy way out. We constantly wait
until the last minute to get things done and we always find something more interesting to
do than the duties we are obligated to get done.
Time out is our punishment whereas older generations got beatings. We have all heard
stories that our grandparents and parents have told us of how they used to be physically
rebuked for their mischief and misdeeds. Nowadays, it’s considered child abuse if you lay
a hand on your child and also beating the kids for their betterment, make the kids
misunderstood their parents or elders and the results are bad.
We live in an era where we have to be extremely cautious with what we say because
people have become way too sensitive. More terms have been labeled as offensive in this
generation than at any time before. We are easily one of the softest and very emotional
generations in history and it’s time we highlight this issue, before it gets too out of hand.
(d) Sacrifice.
Ans. SACRIFICE
A word with many connotations. Negative and positive. Sacrifice can be giving away or
taking away just to give happiness. The end is one-happiness for oneself.
A sacrifice will give us happiness according to the holy scriptures. But does it do so? Do
we find happiness by offering/sacrificing a poor animal to appease the Gods and shower
their blessings on us? Do we find this practice sacrifice or a slaughter? Sacrificing in the
name of God is easy for a coward that man is, but the real sacrifice to me lies in man rising
himself in sanity, humility and dignity, giving away something dear to him or her that
may give happiness to someone else. Someone rightly stated- “People who sacrifice and
give up their life and happiness for others are martyrs”. And they existed! Our freedom is
what we owe to these selfless sacrifices. They are also like us, they also feel fear, they also
want to live long, but still, out of love for the country, for the people in it, they sacrifice
themselves for us to live peacefully.
Sacrificing an animal to attain your own happiness is cowardice. In the name of religion
much has been done. But happiness is a way of life; it comes back to you if you give it.
Sacrifices can never beget the happiness for yourself, but happiness of others who you
love, will definitely give one happiness. I would like to put ‘the mothers’ as example, in
fact mothers are the best example of this aspect. They sacrifice for their kids, for their
whole family, for God. They are the most beautiful and incredible things that God has
ever provided us with, as they live for others but not for their own, they try to spread
happiness by giving their best and sacrificing their independence, for others that is why
they are considered next after God.
The Sages sacrifice worldly pleasures to attain unity with the Almighty. But today such
acts of sacrifice are acts of cowardice, running away from responsibility and attaining
eternity in all wrong. The word sacrifice loses its meaning here.
To conclude, sacrifices can be made out of love, due to greed, under fear or because of
other reasons and in every case one loses something for making other(s) happy or please.
If made with a good intention, the good would surely return to the person or else bad
intentions would lead to bad ultimately.
(e) ‘It is easier to preach than to practise.’ Express your views on the given statement.
Ans. IT IS EASIER TO PREACH THAN TO PRACTISE
Well, the above statement is a fact, that is very prevalent in today’s world but was not
before (a few decades ago), when the world’s population and the hosting countries were
evolving.
I firmly believe that years ago when man was fighting for his rights to live happily,
respectfully and healthily, preaching such facts was very much practiced by all. Those
 English-I | 9

who preached the goodness of healthy living, practiced the same and made others realize
that problems could be resolved. Progress and well being could only be achieved when all
is practiced what was preached by others or themselves. It was this that led to changes in
life socially and politically, problems were resolved and solutions widely accepted.
Goodness that prevailed then made faith, in preaching good things effectively.
People who preached and practiced the same became leaders, role models and harbingers
of change. The change around their lives reinforced their belief that we must practice
what we preach and the result indeed will be profitable/generous. But sadly today with
increasing of corruption, malpractice and dearth of good and genuine people, this
statement has lost its significance. With changing times and the chameleon trait bring
dominant in us humans for our survival false promises and statements are given away.
Leaders and role models are no longer looked in respect, because what they preach now is
not practiced in spirit by them. It’s just words that are spoken and not meant to be
believed and acted upon.
Only a man/woman who understands by his/her view or opinions exhibits grit and
determination, will practice what he preaches. It is indeed easier to preach than to
practice. People in today’s world are manipulative and convincing. Very few are genuine
preachers, who practice what they state. As a grown up individual I myself realize that
the statement is true today. Men of such grit and determination to speak the right and
stay and put on it are no longer found in big numbers. Men/women are masters of their
own selfish needs, wants and ambitions which keep changing according to time. Sigmund
Freud a great psychologist once rightly stated, ‘human beings are great deceivers of others
and can camouflage things with outmost clarity’.
(f) Write an original short story beginning with the following words :
‘Everything went horribly wrong that evening ……’
Ans. EVERYTHING WENT HORRIBLY WRONG THAT EVENING……
Everything went horribly wrong that evening…all looked forward eagerly to this day. It
was the College Reunion, 1992 batch at my farmhouse. We woke up to a wonderful,
breezy though bright morning. The warmth made me feel warm too, it warmed my heart.
It would be great to relive the past after so many years. I thought nothing had changed
amongst us all, only the surname did!
Everyone was busy. My hired men, me and my growing daughters with their wonderful
dad. Every detail was planned well and I knew my husband, a manager to perfection
would see to it. The constant ringing of the phone, incoming messages and noises kept us
all on our toes. Getting the sprawling garden was a mammoth task. Working out in the
garden under the sun was nice but a dark cloud hovered above my head. I crossed my
fingers.
With all ready and the countdown starting we got ready. The first bell excited us all. My
guests had arrived; the drinks ready to be served; the barbeque burning; the coal and
wood all laid out, the Elvis Presley song loud and clear. It was such a beautiful
atmosphere with all my old schoolmates back together with me. We were cracking jokes,
singing songs and laughing a lot, remembering our old days. Amidst the fun and noise I
decided to look at the barbeque. A droplet fell on my head and it did not stop, to my
dismay it had started to rain. I stood outside watching the wood, coal and tables with
linen getting soaked. I felt broken. ‘Hell had struck the part!’
I rushed indoors. Seeing me wet all reacted with a loud sigh. All the hard work was in
rain. The barbeque, the tables and chairs, the snacks and drinks all laid out in the garden,
getting wet in the inopportuned rain. All went horribly wrong but in a few seconds all
changed. The crowd of young hearted oldies ran out to play in the rain. It felt wonderful
seeing them not bothered of the spoils. They said that they wanted fun and that they shall
get in plenty.
Food was fried and warmed in the kitchen, the music was played louder, steps faster and
so was the laughter with hugs and hurrahs! The warm hug of yesteryears made me
realize, all was not lost. Though everything went horribly wrong, but the evening party
10 | ISC Model Specimen Papers, XII

that ventured into late night, was loaded with love, happiness and wonderful memories
to be released and reminisced forever.
Question 2.
As a reporter you have visited a number of hospitals in your city. Write a newspaper
report entitled ‘City Hospitals’, based on the following points : [20]
Buildings and infrastructure—maintenance of the hospitals—quality of services—
doctors—nursing staff—waiting period for treatment—emergency facilities—other
facilities available—medical equipment—overall opinion.
Ans. CITY HOSPITALS
Most city hospitals, government and private, have inadequate infrastructure and the
buildings do not meet the minimum criteria in terms of space and build quality. The
rooms are small and crowded with modifications made to accommodate extra beds even
if they do not have permission for such additions. There is hardly any maintenance
because the rooms are damp and there are lumps of paint and cement peeling off from the
walls and ceilings. Cleaning is done only once a day and the stench from the toilets is
unbearable because they are used both by the patients and their visitors.
Even the food served to the patients is of poor quality because it is either too spicy or too
watery. No care is taken to provide nutrition to the patients. The utensils are hardly
cleaned and one can easily find oil stains in them even after washing.
The quality of services is very poor because the nursing and support staff do not respond
on time. In fact, at times they even refuse to look at the patients during night duty. Most
of them are even reluctant to push injections and never bother about accuracy of readings
for the different tests that are done on the patients.
The doctors attached to such hospitals are more interested in getting these patients
referred to their private clinics and fleece their relatives like anything. They tend to visit
the hospitals only once a day, or even a week, and devote time only in summarily
checking them. Only in case of major surgeries do they refer patients to bigger hospitals
with better facilities. Sometimes, there are allegations of doctors making guinea pigs of
patients by experimenting on them. This is done to test the effects of newer and more
powerful medicines for the use of which, pharmaceutical companies provide them with
hefty commissions.
There are also unending queues in getting patients admitted to hospitals and securing
beds as there is a racket being run by all the service-providers so that relatives of patients
can be overcharged and fleeced. Even in case of emergencies, relatives have to fill up
forms and deposit advances before their near ones can be admitted. The emergency
facilities are also inadequate in most hospitals either because of shortage of staff or poor
condition of equipments.
The overall opinion is that right from the ambulance driver to the doctor and the
owners/directors of hospitals are corrupt and uncaring. Their only concern seems to be in
minting money by taking advantage of the haplessness of the patients and their relatives,
as well as by accepting huge commissions from pharma companies.
However, all is not bleak because there are good doctors and good hospitals where
treatments are done either for free or for nominal costs. Such hospitals are generally run
by philanthropic societies or trusts endowed by the rich and famous.
Question 3.
Answer sections (a), (b) and (c).
(a) In each of the following items, sentence A is complete, while sentence B is not.
Complete sentence B, making it as similar as possible to sentence A.
Write sentence B in each case . [10]
Example : (0) (A) He always obeys his teachers.
(B) His teachers ……………………
Answer : (0) His teachers are always obeyed by him.
 English-I | 11

(1) (A) Not only did he buy a desktop but also a laptop.
(B) Besides ……………………
Ans. Besides buying a desktop, he also bought a laptop.
(2) (A) The heavy showers of rain revived the plants.
(B) The plants ……………………
Ans. The plants were revived by the heavy showers of rain.
(3) (A) The men were forced to work although the light was poor.
(B) In spite of ……………………
Ans. In spite of poor light, the men were forced to work.
(4) (A) No sooner did we see a flash of light in the sky than we heard a loud explosion
near us.
(B) As soon as ……………………
Ans. As soon as we saw a flash of light in the sky, we heard a loud explosion near us.
(5) (A) As she has not brought a pen, she is writing with a pencil.
(B) Not ……………………
Ans. Not having brought a pen, she is writing with a pencil.
(6) (A) Mumbai is the most vibrant city in India.
(B) No ……………………
Ans. No city in India is as vibrant as Mumbai.
(7) (A) Their dog is too friendly to be an effective guard dog.
(B) Their dog is so ……………………
Ans. Their dog is so friendly that it cannot be an effective guard dog.
(8) (A) Sameer said, “Ramesh, can you help me with my homework ?”
(B) Sameer ……………………
Ans. Sameer asked whether Ramesh could help him with the homework.
(9) (A) All nooks and corners were checked.
(B) No nook or corner ……………………
Ans. No nook or corner was left unchecked.
(10) (A) How long I shall stay is doubtful ?
(B) The ……………………
Ans. The length (duration) of my stay is doubtful.
(b) Fill in each blank with a suitable word. (Do not write the sentence.) [5]
(1) If we set _________ early, we can return before sunset.
(2) He left the company for good and set _________ his own business.
(3) The teacher jumped _________ a conclusion and punished the child.
(4) Ramesh jumped _________ my offer of a job.
(5) I am a simple man and have no use _________ much money.
(6) My father lost the use _________ his right arm in an accident.
(7) Rahul decided to carry _________ with tennis and give up volleyball.
(8) Dinanath is a good worker and is always ready to carry _________ his master’s orders.
(9) Reena agreed _________ me when I proposed a meeting.
(10) The four sisters could not agree _________ themselves.
Ans. (1) out (2) up (3) to (4) at (5) of
(6) of (7) on (8) out (9) with (10) amongst
(c) Fill in the blanks in the passage given below with the appropriate form of the verb
given in brackets. Do not write the passage, but write the verbs in the correct order. [5]
The other day we ________ (1) (discuss) the setting up of a Debating Club in our school.
We _________ (2) (talk) about the club and how many students _______ (3) (be) interested
12 | ISC Model Specimen Papers, XII

in it. Then we _______ (4) (begin) to talk about the rules and regulations _______ (5)
(govern) the club. None of us could _________ (6) (agree) and we began _________ (7)
(argue). Finally, our English teacher________ (8) (have) to be informed and she _______ (9)
(come) and _________ (10) (break) up the meeting.
Ans. (1) discussed (2) talked (3) were (4) began (5) governing
(6) agree (7) arguing (8) had (9) came (10) broke
Question 4.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions (a), (b) and (c) that follow :
(1) My father and I left the hall and made our way out to walk across to
headquarters. There were street lights round the square, but underfoot the
cobblestoned ground was dark and lumpy. My father tripped on the uneven
surface and went down on one knee, trying not to fall entirely.
(2) At exactly the same moment there was a loud bang and sharp zinging sound 5
and a scrunch of glass breaking.
(3) I bent over my father and saw that his eyes were stretched wide and his mouth
grim with pain.
(4) “Run”, he said. “Run for cover. For God’s sake, Ben! That was a gunshot!”
(5) We were halfway across the square, easy immobile targets. He struggled to get 10
to his feet and told me again to run and for once I disobeyed him.
(6) “Stay down,” I told him.
(7) “You don’t understand…” His voice was anguished.
(8) “Are you bleeding ?”
(9) “What ? I don’t think so. I twisted my ankle.” 15
(10) People ran out of the hotel, drawn by the bang that re-echoed around the
square. There was confusion and people saying, “What happened, what
happened ?” and hands stretching down to my father to help him up. When he
was well surrounded he finally took my arm. Putting his left foot down caused
him much discomfort. 20
(11) “That noise…” a woman said.
(12) Heads nodded. “It sounded like… Was it … a gun ?”
(13) “But where ? There’s no one here with a gun.”
(14) Everyone looked round, but it was far too late to see the rifle, let alone the
person shooting. My father put his arm round my shoulders for support and 25
indicated that we should set off.
(15) We walked in a procession to the headquarters and my father called the police.
(16) I went to the open door, looking across the square to the hotel.
(17) I remembered the zing of the bullet. If the bullet had been aimed at my father,
and if he’d stumbled at the exact second that the trigger was squeezed and if 30
the bullet had smashed some glass so that I heard the tinkle, then why was
every pane of the window in the headquarters intact ?
(18) I told myself that the whole thing had been a coincidence and turned to go
back inside, and saw for an instant a flash of light on broken glass down on the
ground. 35
(19) It was a window of the shop next door that had been hit.
(20) Zing. Ricochet. Smash. The straight line could have been deflected by the
curve of a cobblestone.
(21) The police arrived at headquarters, and it was nearly two o’clock when I
finally closed and bolted the doors and switched off the lights. 40
(22) My father moved himself into one of the single beds in the bedroom. I lay on
the second, not at all sleepy.
 English-I | 13

(23) My father said, “Ben, why didn’t you run ?”

(24) I answered, “I didn’t want you to get shot.”
(25) “So you stood in the way…’ 45
(26) After a while. I said, “I’d say it was a .22 rifle with a high-velocity bullet.
Hitting you in the body, it quite likely won’t kill you. You need to hit the head
or the neck to be lethal. All I did was shield your head.”
(27) There was a silence. Then he said, “I’d forgotten you could shoot.”
(28) “I was in the school team. We were taught by one of the country’s best 50
marksmen.” I smiled in the dark. “You paid for it, you know.”
—Adapted from Penalty by Dick Francis
(a) (i) Given below are four words and phrases. Find the words which have a similar
meaning in the passage : [4]
(1) unmoving (2) full of severe pain and agony
(3) complete, not damaged (4) protect
Ans. (1) immobile (2) anguished (3) intact (4) shield
(ii) For each of the words given below, write a sentence of at least ten words using the
same word unchanged in form, but with a different meaning from that which it
carries in the passage : [4]
(1) feet (line 11) (2) square (line 17)
(3) second (line 30) (4) head (line 47)
Ans. 1. All the metrical feet used in the English poetry have exactly one stressed and one or
two unstressed syllables.
2. Avinash was blamed full square for the fiasco at the Annual Function of the school.
3. The second day of the test match between India and Australia saw the fall of 19
wickets as both the teams witnessed unprecedented batting collapses.
4. Sayani’s selection as the Head Girl of the school was absolutely surprising.
(b) Answer the following questions in your own words as briefly as possible :
(i) What two things happened simultaneously when Ben and his father were walking
to the headquarters ? [2]
Ans. When Ben and his father were walking towards the headquarters, the two things that
happened simultaneously were that the latter tripped on the uneven surface of the
cobblestoned ground and at the same instant there was also a loud bang and a sharp
zinging sound with a scrunch of glass breaking.
(ii) What did Ben see when he looked at his father on the ground ? [3]
Ans. When Ben looked at his father on the ground, the former’s eyes were stretched wide and
mouth grim with pain.
(iii) Why did Ben’s father tell him to run and why did Ben disobey him ? [2]
Ans. Ben’s father asked Ben to run because the former was aware that a gun had been fired and
both father and son were easy targets because of their immobility. Ben chose to disobey
his father because he did not want to leave his father alone in that painful and critical
condition.
(iv) What was Ben’s logical answer to his father explaining why he did not obey him ?
[3]
Ans. Ben’s logic for disobeying his father was that the shooter had used a .22 rifle with a high-
velocity bullet, which was quite likely not to kill his father if the bullet hit the latter’s
body. For a lethal shot, the bullet needed to hit the neck or the head and Ben was just
shielding the head.
14 | ISC Model Specimen Papers, XII

(c) Describe the incident of the shooting in not more than 100 words (Paragraphs 1 to 10).
Failure to keep within the word limit will be penalized. You will be required to :
(i) List your ideas clearly in point form. [6]
(ii) In about 100 words, write your points in the form of a connected passage. [6]
Ans. (i) (a) Father and son left the hall to walk across to headquarters. In spite of street lights
round the square, the cobbled road was dark and lumpy.
The father tripped and went down on his knee.
(b) Simultaneously, there was a loud bang, a sharp zinging sound and a scrunch of
glass breaking. Father’s eyes were wide opened and mouth was grim with pain.
He asked Ben to run for cover because it was the sound of a gunshot.
(c) Being halfway across the square they were easy immobile targets. Ben disobeyed
his father for once. Ben’s father’s ankle was twisted. People ran out from the hotel
because of the sound.
(d) Amidst the confusion, his father was helped to his feet. It was too late to see the
gunman. They walked in a procession to headquarters and the police was called.
(e) Ben looked at the square from the open door and wondered how all the glasses of
the headquarters were intact and noticed the broken window of the shop next
door. When queried by his father as to why he disobeyed the latter’s order.
(f) Ben informed him that his training as a marksman in school made him observe
that the gun was a .22 rifle with a high-velocity bullet that could not kill even if
one was hit in the body. For a lethal strike, one needed to hit the head or the neck.
(ii) They walked through the cobbled, dark and lumpy road although there were street
lights. As father tripped there was a bang, a sharp sound and a scrunch of glass
breaking. Father grimaced from a twisted ankle but asked Ben to run, for it was a
gunshot. Ben disobeyed—being halfway across the square, they were sitting ducks.
People from the hotel helped father to his feet. Later, Ben noticed the broken shop
window next door and informed his father about the .22 rifle with a high-velocity
bullet, harmless unless it hit the head or the neck. [97]
●●
 Oswal ISC Model Specimen Papers
English -I Class-XII 2018 Examination

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