PRACTICE PAPER(2022-23)

CLASS : 12th (Sr.Secondary) Code No: B

Roll No

ENGLISH (CORE)
ACADEMIC/OPEN
Time allowed : 3 hours Maximum Marks : 80
• Please make sure that the printed pages in this question paper are 11 in number
and it contains 14 questions.
• The Code No. and Set on the right side of the question paper should be written
by the candidate on the front page of the answer-book.
• Before beginning to answer a question, its Serial Number must be written.
• Don’t leave blank page/pages in your answer-book.
• Except answer-book, no extra sheet will be given. Write to the point and do not
strike the written answer.
• Candidates must write their Roll Number on the question paper.
• Before answering the questions, ensure that you have been supplied the correct
and complete question paper, no claim in this regard, will be entertained after
examination.
General Instructions:

1.This question paper is divided into four sections: A, B, C and D.

2.All the sections are compulsory.

3.Attempt all the parts of a question together.

4.Stick to the word limit wherever prescribed.

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 SECTION-A (READING SKILLS)

1. Read the following passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 1x4=4
New Year is the time for resolution. Mentally, at least most of us could compile formidable lists of
'do's and don'ts. The same old favourites recur year in and year out with monotonous regularity. We
resolve to get-up early each morning, eat healthy food, exercise, be nice to people we don't like and
find more time for our parents. Past experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are
beyond attainment. If we remain deep rooted liars, it is only because we have so often experienced
the frustration that results from failure. Most of us fail in our efforts, at self- improvement because
our schemes are too ambitious and we never have time to carry them out. We also make the
fundamental error of announcing our resolution to everybody so that we look even more foolish
when we slip back into our bad old ways. Aware of these pitfalls, this year I attempted to keep my
resolutions to myself. I limited myself to two modest ambitions, to do physical exercise every morning
and to read more in the evening.

An overnight party on New Year's Eve provided me with a good excuse for not carrying out either of
these new resolutions on the first day of the year, but on the second, I applied myself diligently to the
task. The daily exercise lasted only eleven minutes and I proposed to do them early in the morning
before anyone had got up. The self-discipline required to drag myself out of bed eleven minutes
earlier than usual was considerable. Nevertheless, I managed to creep down into the living room for
two days before anyone found me out. After jumping about on the carpet and twisting the human
frame into uncomfortable positions, I sat down at the breakfast table in an exhausted condition. It
was this that betrayed me. The next morning the whole family trooped in to watch the performance.
That was really unsetting but I fended on the taunts and jibes of the whole family good- humouredly
and soon everybody got used the idea. However, my enthusiasm waned. The time I spent at exercises
gradually diminishes.

Little by little the eleven minutes fell to zero. By January 10th, I was back to where I have started
from. I argued that if I spent less time exhausting myself at exercises in the morning would keep my
mind fresh for reading when I got home from work. Resisting the hypnotism effect of television, I sat,
in my room for a few evenings with my eyes glued to a book. One night, however, feeling cold and
lonely, I went downstairs and sat in front of the television pretending to read. That proved to be my
undoing, for I soon got back to the old bad habit dozing off in front of the screen. I still haven't given
up my resolution to do more reading fact, I have just bought a book entitled 'How to Read a Thousand
Words a Minute'. Perhaps it will solve my problem, but I just have not had time to read it.

Questions:

(i) What were the writer's two resolutions?

(a) Physical exercise in the morning

(b) Read more in the evening

(c) Both (a) and (b)

(d) Not to make more resolutions

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(ii) How much time did the daily exercise last initially?

(a) 10 minutes

(b) 8 minutes

(c) 11 minutes

(d) 5 minutes

(iii) How many days did the narrator continue his resolution?

(a) 8 days

(b) 9 days

(C) 10 days

(d) 7 days

(iv) Which book did the narrator buy?

(a) How to read a thousand words a minute

(b) How to be a good reader

(c) How to be firm on your resolutions

(d) The importance of exercising

OR

Many of us believe that 'small' means insignificant. We believe that small actions and choices do not
have much impact on our lives. We think that it is only the big things, the big actions and the big
decisions that really count. But when you look at the lives of all great people, you will see that they
built their character through small decisions, small choices and small actions that they performed
every day. They transformed their lives through a step-by-step or day-by-day approach. They nurtured
and nourished their good habits and chipped away at their bad habits, one step at a time. It was their
small day-to-day decisions that added up to make tremendous difference in the long run. Indeed, in
matters of personal growth and character building, there is no such thing as an overnight success.

Growth always occurs through a sequential series of stages. There is an organic process to growth.
When we look at children growing up, we can see this process at work; the child first learns to crawl,
then to stand and walk, and finally to run. The same is true in the natural world. The soil must first be
tilled, and then the seed must be sowed. Next, it must be nurtured with enough water and sunlight,
and only then will it grow, bear fruit and finally ripen and be ready to eat. Gandhi understood this
organic process and used this universal law of nature to his benefit.

Gandhi grew in small ways, in his day-to-day affairs. He did not wake up one day and find himself to
be the "Mahatama'". In fact, there was nothing much in his early life that showed signs of greatness.
But from his mid-twenties onwards, he deliberately and consistently attempted to change himself,
reform himself and grow in some small way every day. Day-by-day, hour-by-hour, he risked failure,

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experimented and learnt from mistakes. In small and large situations alike, he took up rather than
avoid responsibility. People have always marvelled at the effortless way in which Gandhi could
accomplish the most difficult tasks. He displayed great deal of self-mastery and discipline that was
amazing. These things did not come easily to him. Years of practice and disciplined training went into
making his successes possible. Very few saw his struggles, fears, doubts and anxieties, or his inner
efforts to overcome them. They saw the victory, but not the struggle. This is a common factor in the
lives of all great people: they exercised their freedoms and choices in small ways that made great
impact on their lives and their environment. Each of their small decisions and actions, added up to
have a profound impact in the long run. By understanding this principle, we can move forward, with
confidence, in the direction of our dreams. Often when our "ideal goal looks too far from us, we
become easily discouraged, disheartened and pessimistic. However, when we choose to grow in small
ways, taking small steps one at a time, preforming it becomes easy.

Questions:

(1) The main idea in the first paragraph is that:

(a) Big things, big actions and big decisions make a person great

(b) Small actions and decisions are important in one's life

(c) Overnight success is possible for all of us

(d) Personal changes are not important

(ii) What does the writer mean by saying 'chipped away at their bad habits?

(a) Steadily gave up bad habits

(b) Gradually criticized bad habits

(c) Slowly produced bad habits

(d) Did not like bad habits

iii) Which of the following statements is true in the context of the third paragraph?

(a) Gandhi became great overnight

(b) Gandhi showed signs of greatness in childhood itself

(c) Every day Gandhi made efforts to change himself in some small way

(d) Gandhi never made mistakes

(iv) What is done by great people to transform their lives?

(a) They approach life on a day-by-day basis

(b) They build character in small ways

(c) They believe in performing everyday

(d) All of these

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2. Read the following passage carefully and make notes on it using headings and sub headings.

Supply an appropriate title also: 4+1=5

Whether work should be placed among the causes of happiness or among the causes of unhappiness
may perhaps be regarded as a doubtful question. There is certainly much work is not, to most people,
more painful than idleness. There are, in work, all grades; from more which is exceedingly irksome,
and an excess of work is always very painful. However, work is not, to most people more painful than
idleness .There are in work, all grades, from more relief of tedium up to the profoundest delights,
according to the nature of the work and the abilities of the worker. Most of the work that most of the
people have to do is not interesting in itself, but even that work has certain great advantages. To
begin with, it fills a good many hour of the day without the need of deciding what one shall do. Most
people, when they are left free to fill their own time according to their own choice, are at a loss to
think of anything sufficiently pleasant to be worth doing. And whatever they decide on, they are
troubled by the feeling that something else would have been more pleasant here. To be able to fill
leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization and at present very few people have reached this
level.

Moreover, the exercise of choice is tiresome in itself. Except, to people with unusual initiative, it is
positively agreeable to be told what to do at each hour of the day, provided the orders are not too
unpleasant. Most of the idle rich suffer unspeakable boredom. At times they may find relief by
hunting big game in Africa or by flying around the world, but the number of such sensations is limited,
especially after youth is past. Accordingly, the more intelligent rich men work nearly as hard as if they
were poor. Work, therefore is desirable, first and foremost as a preventive of boredom, although
uninteresting work is as boring as having nothing to do. With this advantage of work, another
associated advantage is that it makes holidays much more delicious when they come. Provided that a
man does not have to work so hard as to impair his vigour, he is likely to find far more zest than an
idle man would possibly find. The second advantage of most paid work and some of unpaid work is
that it gives chances of success and opportunities for ambition. In most work, success is measured by
income and while our capitalistic society continues, this is inevitable. However dull work too,
becomes bearable, if it is a means of building up a reputation. Continuity of purpose is one of the
most essential ingredients of happiness and that come chiefly through work.

SECTION B: GRAMMAR/WRITING SKILLS

3. Attempt any two from each sub-part:

(a) Change the form of narration: 1x2=2

(i) He said, “I shall go there.”

(ii)She said, “Kamla do you like this book?”

(iii) The priest said, “Truth wins in the long race.”

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(b) Supply articles wherever necessary: 1x2=2

(i) It was………………unique sight.

(ii) I read…………………..Gita everyday.

(iii) He was struck by…………………….arrow.

(c) Fill in the blanks with suitable modal auxiliary verbs given in the bracket: 1x2=2

(i) She………………………. swim very well. (can/shall)

(ii) You……………………….work hard this year.(must/would)

(iii)……………………….I, come in, Sir?.(May/Will)

(d) Change the voice: 1x2=2

(i) Where did they see you?

(ii) Could you solve this sum?

(iii) Summon the peon.

(e) Use the correct form of verbs given in brackets: 1x2=2

(i) He……………………….(not come) back yet.

(ii) Last Saturday, I……………………(stay) at home.

(iii) Ice………………….(melt) above 0° Celsius.

4. Attempt any two of the following: 3x2=6

(a) You are the Secretary of the NSS unit of your school. Write a notice for your school notice board,
inviting volunteer for an NSS camp.

(b) You are working for an advertising agency. Draft an attractive advertisement for a Company which is
launching a new Herbal Shampoo. Imagine the details.

(c) Design a poster for promoting education for girls.

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5. Attempt any one of the following: 5

(a) Write a report to be published in the local newspaper about the poor sanitation condition in your
residential area.

(b) Write a paragraph of about 100 words on “The Role of Newspapers”.

6. You are Sruthi/Shira staying at R.K.Puram, Secunderabad. Your locality being away from
the main city, the poor bus service adversely affects the life of residents. Write a letter to the
Editor, Deccan Chronicle, highlighting the problems faced by the residents and also giving a
few possible solutions. 5

SECTION -C : (A) MAIN READER(PROSE)

7. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 1x5=5

Stephen Spender! Suddenly the book assumed tremendous significance. Stephen Spender the
poet who had visited Gemini Studios! In a moment I felt a dark chamber of my mind lit up by a hazy
illumination. The reaction to Stephen Spender at Gemini Studios was no longer a mystery. The boss of
the Gemini Studios may not have much to do with Spender’s poetry. But not with his god that failed.

Questions:

(1) Who was Stephen Spender?

(a) English Poet
(b) English Essayist
(c) The editor of a daily magazine
(d) All of the above

(2) Which book is referred to in given passage?

(a) “The Encounter”
(b) “The God that Failed”
(c) “The god of Small Things”
(d) “The Brave New World”

(3) Which English poet visited the Gemini Studios when the writer worked there?
(a) Alfred Tennyson
(b) Stephen Spender
(c) Andre Gide
(d) Richard Wright

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 (4) The boss of Gemini Studios may not have any concern with………………… .
(a) God that failed
(b) Subbu’s Poetry
(c) Other Writers
(d) Spender’s Poetry

(5) How did the dark chamber of writer’s mind lit up ?

(a) With the name of Gemini Studio in a book
(b) With the name of Stephen Spender in a book
(c) With the name of Subbu in a book
(d) With the name of his friend in a book

OR

Health conditions were miserable. Gandhiji got a doctor to volunteer his service for six months. Three
medicines were available – castor oil, quinine and Sulphur ointment. Anybody who showed a coated
tongue was given a dose of castor oil; anybody with malaria fever received quinine plus castor oil;
anybody with skin eruptions received ointment plus castor oil.

Questions:

(1) Where were the health conditions miserable?

(a) In Ranchi
(b) In Patna
(c) In Calcutta
(d) In the Champaran Village

(2) What was given to the one who showed coated tongue?
(a) Quinine
(b) Castor Oil
(c) Sulphur Ointment
(d) Quinine and Castor Oil

(3) What was given to the one with malaria fever?

(a) Quinine and Sulphur Ointment
(b) Quinine
(c) Sulphur Ointment and Castor Oil
(d) Quinine and Castor Oil
(4) What was given to the one with skin eruption ?
(a) Quinine
(b) Quinine and Castor Oil
(c) Quinine and Sulphur Ointment
(d) Sulphur Ointment and Castor Oil

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 (5) What did Gandhiji do for the sick villagers?
(a) He helped them as doctor
(b) He got them a doctor
(c) He got them a shopkeeper
(d) He helped them as a nurse

8. Answer any of the following: 5

Reproduce in your own words what Little Franz did or thought in his way to school.

OR

What did the writer see when Mukesh took him to his home in Firozabad?

9. Answer any five of the following: 2x5=10

i. Why did Douglas go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire?

ii. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
iii. How was Gandhi ji treated at Rajendra Prasad’s house?
iv. Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey?
v. What did the publisher think of “The Name of the Rose”?
vi. What was pancake and what was it used for?

SECTION -C : (B) MAIN READER(POETRY)

10. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow: 1x5=5
……………………… and looked out at young
trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of there homes,but after the airport’s
security check,standing a few yards

away, I looked at her again, wan,pale.

Questions:

i. Name the poet and the poem.

ii. What did the poet notice about the trees and children?
iii. When did she look at her mother again ?
iv. How did the mother look?

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 v. Find the word from the stanza which means as same as:
(a) Running fast, (b) Coming Out

OR
Of the all the unhealthy and o’er darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes, inspite of all
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits
Questions:

i. What does, the poet mean by “o’er darkened ways”?

ii. What does ‘all’ refer to in the phrase “in spite of all”?
iii. What does some shape of beauty do?
iv. What idea does the poet want to convey in these lines?
v. Name the poem and the poet?

11. Answer any two of the following: 3x2=6

i. Why does the poet urge us to keep quiet?

ii. How can the condition of slum children be improved?
iii. What were the various things put up for sale at the roadside stand?

SECTION D: SUPLLEMENTARY READER

12. Answer any one of the following: 5

How did the hundredth tiger take its revenge upon the Tiger King?

OR

What did the Japanese General decide to do about the injured American Soldier?

13. Answer any two of the following: 3x2=6

i. How does Evans escape from the jail?

ii. What is unique and special about Antarctica?
iii. Describe the Roger Skunk? What was his main problem?

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14. Read the questions given below and choose the correct option: 1x3=3

i) Who is the writer of “The Third Level’?

(a) Jack Finney

(b) Pearl S. Buck

(c)Susan Hill

(d) Colin Dexter

ii) Whose words made a deep impression on Bama ?

(a) Her father’s

(b) Her brother’s
(c) Her uncle’s
(d) Her friend’s

iii) What did Maharaja buy for his son?

(a) A little wooden tiger

(b) A toy
(c) A horse
(d) A tiger

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