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KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN, JABALPUR REGION SET-A

PRE-BOARD EXAMINATION-1 2023-24

ENGLISH CORE (CODE NO. 301)

CLASS-XII

Time : 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks: 80

General Instructions:

1. 15-minute prior reading time will be allotted for reading of the question paper.

2. The Question Paper contains THREE Sections-A-READING, B-CREATIVE


WRITING SKILLS and C-LITERATURE

3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part. Write the correct
question number in your answer sheet to indicate the option/s being attempted.

Section A: READING SKILLS (22 marks)


1. Read the following text. 12
(1) A scholar is refused admission to a good school primarily because
of his weak interactive skills. It is indeed pathetic that though
English is spoken fluently and used every day, yet none is satisfied
with their abilities. A learner feels he cannot express himself the way
he wants to. And he fails miserably to connect with his own hidden
talent.
(2) The Education system, in its endeavors to make Curriculum
relevant and life-oriented has, as a matter of fact, fallen short of its
standards. It is oblivious of the fact that the most applied and
practical subject- English is devoid of practical afflatus. English is at
cross roads. Both aspects of Education: the cultural that empowers
a learner to grow and the productive aspect that makes him do
things, is relegated to the background curriculum thus stands
lopsided. It fails to provide full range of services and cannot tap
teachers' expertise. No proper moves and strategies have been
formulated to make it unique English courses are mushrooming and
alluring advertisements clips are often spotted.
(3) With the onset of the new millennium, demands of the Educational
System to sensitize itself to changing societal needs has also
increased manifold. The new race of human beings has to be
served New Curriculum that caters to the Unity of Thought, Action
& Deed and help evolve an integrated human personality A
Comprehensive Curriculum alone can enhance their understanding
of four basic skills.
(4) Acquiring the skill of English is no Catwalk and English is no
Science where results are verified; but it means Construction;
ingenuity at work. The Architecture that it builds can never be
complete if it is divorced from learning by doing
(5) There are a number of Projects like Phonetics, News-reading,
Indian literature, Poetry composition, Interview skills, biography-
launch, etc. which can help a pupil to experiment till he finds a
medium that helps free flow of thoughts, to think critically and
creatively and emerge as literary competent. As long as there is
proper feeding, English will live in their hearts and reign in their
minds. Sooner or later, they will be blessed with a marathon for
actionable learning that shall make a multidimensional impact on
them. "Within the enclosure (pupils) lies the potential for a new
beginning and within this exciting beginning lies an astonishing
future for him."
(6) English cannot be conferred so easily and so soon. We need to take
control of English. There is a grave need to designate English,
without the slightest hesitation, a practical status if at all, we want a
remarkable future. The lack of efforts in learning English and the
general feeling of not being interested in learning the English
language that are plaguing the system should be urgently
addressed. Should not we all battle against this abuse?
Answer the following questions based on the passage above.
(i) Why was scholar refused admission to a good school? (2)
(a) weak knowledge (b) weak interactive skills
(c) Both (d) none of these
(ii) What kind of curriculum, the Education system tries to make? (1)
(iii) Name two aspects of Education. (2)
(iv) State true or false: (1)
English courses are mushrooming and alluring advertisement clip
are rarely spotted.
(v) A Comprehensive Curriculum alone can enhance their (1)
understanding of ………… basic skills.
(a) six (b) four (c) five (d) None of these
(vi) What has to be served to new race of human beings? (2)
(a) Action (b) Unity of thought (c) Deed (d) All of these
(vii) (vii) The most applied and practical subject. English is devoid of (1)
(a) Purpose (b) Communication skills
(c) Practical inspiration (d) Art skills
(viii) Two aspects of education discussed in the passage are cultural (1)
and ……………..
(a) productive (b) unproductive
(c) social (d) psychological
(ix) Pick out the word which means the opposite of the word ‘repelling’ (1)
as given in the passage
(a) mushrooming (b) exciting (c) alluring (d) plaguing
2. Read the following text. 10
(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 practice
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 2020 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.
Table 1
Lessons learned Responses
Identity
Self-Identity 58
Leadership Identity 54
Professionalism 30
Balancing Roles 19
Individual Competencies
Delegation 17
Decision Making 15
Adaptability/Flexibility 38
Resilience/Persistence/Hard Work 18
Taking Initiative 36
Accountability/Responsibility 2
Big Picture 27
Learning to Teach, Learn 18
Support Systems
Developing and Using Support Systems 36
Being a Support System 28
Working with Others
Communication 59
Teamwork 26
Conflict 21
Diversity 32
Inspiring and motivating others 17
Other working with others 30
Getting the job done
Task skills 55
Environment 34
(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.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
(i) Does the following statement agree with the information given in (1)
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 (2)
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 (1)
Research Question 3 in the 2020 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 (1)
than 50% of the identified student respondents were keen to
participate in the 2020 study.
We can say this because___________.

(v) Select the option that displays the key event designed with (1)
"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 (1)
option.
The 2020 study attempts to understand student leadership by
focusing 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. (2)
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 (1)
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
SECTION B: CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS (18 Marks)
Note: All details presented in the questions are imaginary and
created for assessment purposes.
3. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 50 words. 4
A. You are Amit Singh, the Corporator of ward 66. The ward committee
is organizing a drive for promoting reuse of old clothes. Draft a
NOTICE in about 50 words, for the ward notice board, addressing
all residents of ward no. 66, informing them about this drive and
urging them to contribute to this attempt. Mention how the donated
clothes would benefit a charitable cause.
OR
B. As the college student council President of Presidency College,
Karnataka, draft a notice in not more than 50 words for the college
notice board, informing the final year students about the change in
dates for the business quiz- 'GYAN-2023. Do convey your
apologies for the above. You are Ajay Singh
4. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 50 words. 4m
A. The Students' Council of your school has planned a Career
Guidance Day on the occasion of International Career Day.
Acclaimed Career Counsellor, Dr Amrita Tandon will preside as
Chief Guest and Keynote speaker. Draft an invitation in not more
than 50 words inviting parents to be a part of the event. Give all the
necessary details. You are Bhavit/Bhavna, President, Students'
Council, Harmony Public School, Kanpur, UP.
OR
B. You and your parents have received an invitation from your cousin
for House warming ceremony to be held in Nainital on 11th of
Nov,2023. All of you would be delighted to attend. Draft a reply to
your cousin accepting the invite and sharing your excitement while
congratulating him.
5. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 120-150 words. 5
A. You are Prakash/Prateeksha, residing at B-12 Anand Apartment,
Sector 22, Chandigarh. Write a job application to the following
advertisement in approximately 120-150 words.

SITUATION VACANT
Tata Motors, Gurgaon, requires a Chief Marketing Officer.
Postgraduate degree, minimum 7 years valid experience.
Apply with bio-data to General Manager, Corporate House.
Ph.9718954XXX
OR
B. There is a flood of advertisements on TV channels these days.
Useless commodities and even superstitions, beliefs are being
promoted through the glamorous and exaggerated presentation.
Write a letter to the Editor, New Indian Express, in approximately
120-150 words, about the negative influence such advertisements
have on the minds of the people. You are Radha/Ramesh of Mayur
Vihar, Lucknow.

Clues
• television became a fulcrum of our lives
• false promises - a transformation from dark to light
complexion, weak children become energetic, dull and
weak people become leaders, etc.
• plays on the psychology of consumers
• neglect the importance of self-help, independence,
confidence and hard work
• makes people regressive instead of progressive
• the only thing matters - willpower, determination and
perseverance
6. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 120-150 words. 5
A. Playing outdoor is very essential for the child's growth, however due
to the lack of attentiveness of parents and neighbors the child
kidnappers get a clear way to abduct innocent kids playing
outdoors. As a columnist for ‘Town Mirror’, draft an article in about
120-150 words, on the theme of the importance of child safety in
vicinity. Explore possible reasons for the prevailing situation and
include suggestions for addressing it. Support your ideas with clues
given below.

Clues:
• Children play outdoor: Risk accelerates while playing
hide and seek.
• Parents at work put the child to be without vigilance.
• Parents and family members sleeping during day time.
• Family members and neighbors busy in T.V. or Mobile
phones during their leisure time.
• Lack of training given by the family members to children.
• Lethargic police department with lack of vigilance
OR
B. You are Mohan Tiwari, a Staff Correspondent, ABC Times. Write a
report, using the given clues along with your own ideas in 120-150
words, about a daylight burglary in a jewelry shop in West Delhi.

Clues:
• daylight daring burglary in a West Delhi jewelry shop- M.L.
Jewelers
• goods and jewelry worth 4 lakhs stolen
• according to onlookers and manager, a couple entered at 12
pm.
• lady checking necklaces, man pulled out a revolver
• onlookers watched helplessly; thieves ran away before an
alarm raised.
• police arrived half an hour later, description of two burglars
recorded
SECTION C: LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND
SUPPLEMENTARY READING TEXT (40 Marks)
7 Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY 1X6=6
ONE of the two given
A. Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
(Keeping Quiet)
(i) Which of these uses the same poetic device as used in the fourth 1
line of the given extract?
(A) The boy ran at lightning speed.
(B) The little joys of life are necessary.
(C) The absence of his presence was felt.
(D) The hooter buzzed when the shooter shot.
(ii) From the extract, identify the line or phrase that suggests the 1
following:

Humans are involved in the exploitation of natural resources.


(iii) Based on the extract, which one of these, best describes the 1
poet?
(i) prudent
(ii) spiritual
(iii) visionary
(iv) methodical

(A) (i) and (ii)


(B) (i) and (iii)
(C) (ii) and (iv)
(D) (ii), (ii) and (iv)
(iv) Complete the sentence appropriately in no more than TWO words 1
When the poet says that people who participate in wars 'would put
on clean clothes' he means that they should ………………………..
(v) Based on the extract, select the correct option with reference to 1
(1) and (2).

(1) Not every win is a triumph.


(2) Self-reflection is crucial to evolution.

(A) (1) is the result of (2)


(B) Both (1) and (2) are true
(C) Both (1) and (2) are false
(D) (1) is a hypothesis based on (2)
(vi) Which of these is an appropriate title for the extract? 1
(A) Standing in Solitude
(B) Looking for Prosperity
(C) The Desire for Renewal
(D) The Road to Uncertainty
OR
B. When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
(Aunt Jennifer's Tigers)
(i) Read the statement given below: 1
Aunt Jennifer's plight is best explained by her hands, they hold
both her freedom and the instrument of her imprisonment. Choose
the option that best explains the above statement, as per the
extract.
(a) Aunt Jennifer's hands are terrified, but when she is dead, her
tigers will roam free.
(b) Aunt Jennifer knits her desires, but is overpowered by the
wedding ring she wears.
(c) Aunt Jennifer's tigers are proud and unafraid, but she is
mastered by ringed ordeals.
(d) Aunt Jennifer makes panels of tigers when she has time from
her responsibilities.
(ii) Aunt Jennifer is still ringed with ordeal means that __________ . 1

(iii) Which of the following CANNOT be inferred from the given extract? 1
(a) Aunt Jennifer's tigers will keep her alive in everyone's
memory.
(b) Aunt Jennifer feels oppressed and constricted in her marriage.
(c) Even in death, Aunt Jennifer cannot escape patriarchal
subjugation.
(d) Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance as a lasting symbol of her
desires.
(iv) What makes the tigers "proud and unafraid"? 1
(a) They embody the grandeur and supremacy of animals in the
wild.
(b) They symbolize authority and are 'topaz denizens of green'.
(c) They represent Aunt's repressed desires for freedom and
power.
(d) They are a product of Aunt's imagination and colonial
experience.
(v) (iv) Choose the option that DOES NOT reflect the movement 1
implied by 'prancing'.
(a) bounding (b) frolicking (c) strutting (d) shuffling
(vi) Pick the option that displays the image which correctly corresponds 1
to the type of task Aunt is engaged in.

(a) Option (1) (b) Option (ii) (c) Option (iii) (d) Option (iv)
8. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE 1X4=4m
of the two, given.
A. You think……………… 'Here's a boy.' You look at me....... and
then you see my face and you think. ‘That’s bad. That's a terrible
thing. That's the ugliest thing I ever saw. ’You think, 'Poor boy.' But
I'm not. Not poor.' Underneath, you are afraid. Anybody would be.
I am When I look in the mirror, and see it, I'm afraid of me.
(On the Face of It)
(i) Who is the speaker in the lines above? 1
(A) Derry (B) Susan (C) Mr. Lamb (D) Jack
(ii) The speaker felt that his face was __________________. 1

(iii) What happened to the speaker's face? 1


(A) His face was destroyed in war
(B) His face was destroyed in a car accident
(C) His face was destroyed in an accident and acid fell on his face
(D) His face was destroyed in a fight
(iv) What was the speaker's reaction when he looked at his face? 1
(A) He was speechless (B) He was amazed
(C) He was astonished (D) He was petrified
OR
B. The chief astrologer placed his finger on his nose in wonder. A baby
barely ten days old opens its lips in speech! Not only that, it also
raises intelligent questions! Incredible! Rather like the bulletins
issued by the war office, than facts. The chief astrologer took his
finger off his nose and fixed his eyes upon the little prince.
(i) Why was the chief astrologer wonder-struck? 1
(A) He had the habit of getting surprised.
(B) He was listening to a strange voice.
(C) He was listening a ten-day old baby speak clearly.
(D) He was listening to war cries.
(ii) What did the chief astrologer find incredible? 1
(A) Voice from the baby (B) Question from the baby
(C) Answer from the baby (D) Statement from the baby
(iii) What is the most likely opinion of chief astrologer about bulletins 1
issued by war office?
(A) Praise (B) Appreciation
(C) Contempt (D) Neutral
(iv) How was the little prince later known? 1
(A) Bull king (B) Cow king (C) Tiger king (D) Lion king
9. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY 1x6=6
ONE of the two given.
A. "I will learn to drive a car," he answers, looking straight into my eyes.
His dream looms like a mirage amidst the dust of streets that fills
his town Firozabad, famous for its bangles. Every other family in
Firozabad is engaged in making bangles. It is the centre of India's
glass-blowing industry where families have spent generations
working around furnaces, welding glass, making bangles for all the
women in the land it seems. Mukesh's family is among them. None
of them know that it is illegal for children like him to work in the glass
furnaces with high temperatures, in dingy cells without air and light;
that the law, if enforced, could get him and all those 20,000 children
out of the hot furnaces where they slog their daylight hours, often
losing the brightness of their eyes. Mukesh's eyes beam as he
volunteers to take me home, which he proudly says is being rebuilt.
(Lost Spring Stories of Stolen Childhood)
(i) The simile 'dream looms like a mirage amidst the dust of streets' 1
indicates that his dream was __________.
(a) a reality, yet seemed distant. (b) lost in the sea of dust.
(c) illusory and indistinct. (d) hanging in the dusty air.
(ii) 'I will learn to drive a car,' he answers, looking straight into my 1
eyes.
This sentence highlights that Mukesh was______________
1. determined 2. fearless 3. hopeful 4. valiant
5. ambitious 6. stern
(a) 1 & 5 (b) 2 & 4 (c) 2 & 5 (d) 3 & 6
(iii) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE with reference to 1
the extract?
(a) Children work in badly lit and poorly ventilated furnaces
(b) The children are unaware that it is forbidden by law to work in
the furnaces.
(c) Children toil in the furnaces for hours which affects their
eyesight.
(d) Firozabad has emerged as a nascent producer of bangles in
the country.
(iv) Every other family in Firozabad is engaged in making bangles 1
indicates that _______________.

(a) bangle making is the only industry that flourishes in Firozabad


(b) the entire population of Firozabad is involved in bangle making.
(c) majority of the population in Firozabad is involved in bangle
making.
(d) bangle making is the most loved occupation in Firozabad.
(v) The bangle makers cannot understand that working in the Bangle 1
factory is illegal for children because ________________.

(vi) Mukesh's eyes beamed with _____________ when he took the 1


author home.
OR
B. Saul Bellow, who has consented to be interviewed on several
occasions, nevertheless once described interviews as being like
thumbprints on his windpipe. Yet despite the drawbacks of the
interview, it is a supremely serviceable medium of communication.
“These days, more than at any other time, our most vivid
impressions of our contemporaries are through interviews,” Denis
Brian has written. “Almost everything of moment reaches us
through one man asking questions of another. Because of this, the
interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and
influence.”
(i) How would you describe Denis Brian’s opinion on interviews? 1
Choose the most appropriate
option.
(i) appeasing (ii) utilitarian (iii) approving (iv) praising
(a) Options (i) and (ii) (b) Options (iii) and (iv)
(c) Options (ii) and (iii) (d) Options (i) and (iv)
(ii) According to Saul Bellow, interviews are like thumbprints on his 1
windpipe. What emotion
might best describe such an image?
(a) sadness (b) happiness (c) pain (d) fear
(iii) Denis Brian states that the interviewer occupies a position of 1
power and influence as ___________
(a) Everything reaches us through one man asking questions of
another.
(b) The interview is a supremely serviceable medium of
communication.
(c) Our most vivid impressions of our contemporaries are through
interviews.
(d) Interviews are like thumbprints on the interviewee’s windpipe.
(iv) The use of the word “serviceable” implies that interviews are 1
_________

(a) significant (b) powerful (c) advanced (d) useful


(v) The word ‘consented’ here means____________ 1
(a) agreed (b) disagreed (c)refuse (d) ignored
(vi) ‘Contemporaries’ are the people who ………................... . 1
10. Answer ANY FIVE of the following six questions in about 40- 2x5=10
50 words
(i) "What a thunderclap these words were to me!" What were those 2
words and what was their effect on Franz?
(ii) Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water? 2
(iii) How does Eco find the time to write so much? 2
(iv) Why was the Moral Re-Armament army welcomed at the Gemini 2
Studios?
(v) Explain the irony in the expression: 'beneficent beasts of prey'. (A 2
Roadside Stand)
(vi) What makes the poet believe that a thing of beauty can never 2
pass into nothingness? (A Thing of Beauty)
11. Answer ANY TWO of the following three question, in about 2x2=4
40-50 words.
(i) What does 'the third level' symbolize? 2
(ii) Why does the author feel that the 'prognosis' for the human being 2
is not healthy?
(iii) What did Dr. Sadao do to get rid of the man? 2
12. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 5
120-150 words.
A. Imagine Gandhi were to deliver a speech to students in present day
India showing them the path to becoming responsible world leaders.
Based on your understanding of Gandhi's own leadership skills,
write a speech, as Gandhi, addressing the students about the
qualities that every leader and politician should nurture.
Start likewise:

Dear students, you are all leaders of social change. I see many
bright and enthusiastic faces that assure me that our future is in
good hands. I have learnt from my own
experience.......... (continue)………...
OR
B. How would you compare the peddler's actions in relation to the
crofter and Edla? Would you say kindness does not always beget
kindness, and that the conditions for receiving kindness are
important for it to truly transform people? Elaborate. Provide
relevant textual details to support the analysis.
13. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 5
120-150 words.
A. There are moments in life when we have to make hard choice
between our role as private individuals and as citizens with a sense
of national loyalty. Discuss with reference to the Enemy. Do you
justify the hard choice that Dr. Sadao made between his national
loyalty and personal/professional morality? Why?
OR
B. The astrologer’s prediction about the death of the Tiger King came
to be true. Do you agree
with this statement?

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