INDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOL, G.K.
ROAD,HARUR
CLASS : XI & XII TIME :45 min
SUBJECT : ENGLISH MARK : 25
I. Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
1. How Ceylon Achieved Political Independence
Political independence came to Ceylon in a way that was quite different from Burma.
Unlike Burma, Ceylon did not experience Japanese occupation, revolutionary
enthusiasm, or a sudden break from its past. The country did not have a liberation
movement like the one led by the Indian National Congress. There was no civil
disobedience, no noncooperation, and no imprisonment of national leaders. Instead,
Ceylon gained independence through peaceful negotiations.
2. The Unique Path to Independence
Since there was no struggle in Ceylon, the usual outcome of a struggle—the
strengthening of national unity through sacrifice—was absent. Ceylon‟s path to
independence was through peaceful negotiations, which was not entirely beneficial. A key
reason for this unique approach was the advanced level of Westernization in Ceylon
compared to other colonies. Ceylon had been under colonial rule for nearly 450 years,
first by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally the British. This long period of
colonization led to the emergence of a highly Anglicized upper class, educated in
Christian missionary schools that were increasingly modeled on British lines. These
individuals were so similar to their colonial rulers in their outlook, manners, and social
habits that they were often referred to as “brown sahibs.” The negotiations between these
Ceylonese and the British were almost like discussions between members of the same
social club.
3. The Role of the Anglicized Elite
After the First World War, this elite group formed the Ceylonese National Congress,
hoping it would grow strong like its Indian counterpart. However, the Congress collapsed
a few years before Ceylon gained independence. During British rule, Ceylonese leaders
did not feel the need to make radical or egalitarian appeals for public support, and
nationalism did not take root among the masses. This lack of mass support made the
British feel confident that these leaders could handle more political responsibility.
QUESTIONS
On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions. (5)
a. The Ceylonese struggle for freedom was marked by__________________
(i) civil disobedience (ii) revolutionary fervor
(iii) terrorist activities by nationalists (iv) peaceful negotiations
b. What is often the usual outcome of a liberation struggle according to the author?
(i) Strengthening of national solidarity through national sacrifice
(ii) It leaves much bitterness between rulers and the ruled
(iii) It increases divisive forces in the post-independence polity
(iv) People receive practical training in governance
c. The Anglicized upper class of Ceylon emerged from:
(i) The successors of the native rulers
(ii) Schools founded and run by Christian missions in Ceylon
(iii) The mixed descendants of British and Ceylonese people
(iv) The children of English officials and administrators in Ceylon
d. Why did nationalism fail to take root among the masses in Ceylon?
(i) The Ceylonese were not politically conscious
(ii) English education made them reluctant to oppose their colonial rulers
(iii) Ceylonese leaders did not make radical or egalitarian appeals for public
support
(iv) All of these
e. Who were referred to as “brown sahibs” in Ceylon?
(i) The Englishmen serving in Ceylon
(ii) The native peasantry of Ceylon
(iii) The Anglicized upper class educated in schools modeled on British lines
(iv) Those born from inter-race marriages
II. Write the tasks as directed 3x1=3
You are Josely Mathew, the President of the School Book Club. The club is organising
a drive for promoting reuse of study materials and books. Draft a notice in about 50
words for the school notice board, addressing students of classes X-XII, informing
them about this drive and urging them to contribute to the endeavour. Mention how
the donated books would benefit a charitable cause.
III. Grammar 4x1=4
State the type of clause in the underlined phrase by ticking the correct option:
(a) Keep ringing the bell till I tell you to stop.
(a) Adjective clause (b) Adverb clause
(c) Noun clause (d) None of these
(b)Choose the correct option and rearrange the following words or phrases to
make meaningful sentences.
the/complaint/from/one/principal/school/a/received/of/our/parents/today/the/of
(A) Today, one of our parents received a complaint from the Principal of the school.
(B) Today, the Principal of our school received a complaint from one of the parents.
(C) The Principal of our school today, received a complaint from one of the parents.
(D)From one of our parents of school today,received the complaint from a Principal.
(c) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
following line, from a news report:
The current scenario is affecting the central and state economies to the extent
wherein many businessmen had to bear heavy losses in their businesses.
OPTIONS ERROR CORRECTION
(a) scenario scene
(b) is affecting has affected
(c) economies economy
(d) to bear to borne
(d) As soon as Gordon Cook turned, he saw an enormous wave rolling towards his
ship. (Rewrite using "No....sooner...than")
(A) No sooner than Gordon Cook turn, he saw an enormous wave rolling towards
his ship.
(B) Gordon Cook turn no sooner than he saw an enormous wave rolling towards
his ship.
(C) No sooner did Gordon Cook turn than he saw an enormous wave rolling
towards his ship.
(D) Gordon Cook no sooner than turn, he saw an enormous wave rolling towards
his ship.
IV. Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow.
(Extract Based) 4x1=4
(i) Who said “The mummy is in very bad condition because of what Carter did in
the 1920s”?
(a) Carter (b) Zahi Hawass
(c) an anatomy professor (d) A Egypt Historian
(ii) "I work in empty spaces". Choose the option that most accurately captures
Eco's idea of empty spaces.
1. Management of time 2. Organisation of space
3. Philosophical inclination 4. Command of thought
OPTION
(a) Options (1) and (2) (b) Options (3) and (4)
(c) Options (1) and (3) (d) Options (2) and (4)
(iii). “What is the meaning of „This child is built to my design Yet what he loves I
cannot share‟?”
(a) his son looks like him and they share everything with each other
(b) His son looks like him yet they don‟t have anything to share
(c) his son doesn‟t look like him
(d) neither does his son looks like him nor he understand him
(iv) On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to
(1) and (2) given below.
(1) Aunt Jennifer is painting her tigers.
(2) Aunt Jennifer's creations reflect her deepest desires.
OPTION
(a) (1) is true but (2) is false (b) (2) is true but (1) is false
(c) (2) is the reason for (1)
(d) Both (1) and (2) cannot be inferred from the extract.
V. Answer any Three the following questions in about 40-50 words each. 3×2=6
1. What was the child suffering from? (Birth)
2. Why do you think Gaffdhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-
point in his life? (Indigo)
3. What did the speaker learn about the existence of Heaven and Hell? (Childhood)
4. „Akademik Shokalskiy‟ was heading towards Antarctica, why? (Journey to the End Of
the Earth)
VI. Letter to Editor. (3)
Though there is a movement like „Sarvashiksha Abhiyan‟ and enrolling of underprivileged
children in schools, there are still many children, like the one in the picture, who do not
go to school, rather have never seen a school. It is indeed disturbing. You decide to write
a letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing your views and the steps to be taken.
KEY (XI – XII) ENGLISH
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a. (iv) peaceful negotiations
b. (i) Strengthening of national solidarity through national sacrifice
c. (ii) Schools founded and run by Christian missions in Ceylon
d. (iii) The Anglicized upper class educated in schools modeled on British lines
e. (iii) Ceylonese leaders did not make radical or egalitarian appeals for public support
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a. (b) is correct.
b. (b) is correct.
c. (b) is correct.
d. (c) is correct.
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a. (b) Zahi Hawass
b. (c) Options (1) and (3)
c. (b) His son looks like him yet they don‟t have anything to share
d. (b) (2) is true but (1) is false
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1. What was the child suffering from? (Birth)
As soon as the doctor saw the child, he knew that it was a case of suffocation, the
condition caused by lack of oxygen and excess of carbon dioxide in the blood. It is
accompanied by paleness of the skin, weak pulse, and loss of reflexes.
2. Why do you think Gaffdhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-
point in his life?(Indigo)
The Champaran episode began as an attempt to ease the sufferings of large
number of poor peasants. He got spontaneous support of thousands of people. Gandhi
admits that what he had done was a very ordinary thing. He declared that the British
could not order him about in his own country. Hence, he considered the Champaran
episode as a turning- point in his life.
3. What did the speaker learn about the existence of Heaven and Hell? (Childhood)
As the speaker grew to be mature, he acquired reasoning power. He realized
that Hell and Heaven could not be found in Geography books or Atlas. Since they
could not be located anywhere in the world map, he concluded that they did not exist.
He would believe only what he could see and find.
4. „Akademik Shokalskiy‟ was heading towards Antarctica, why? (Journey to the
End Of the Earth)
„Akademik Shokalskiy‟, a Russian Vessel was heading towards Antarctica with a
troop of 52 peoples, to study and research the history of humankind under the
guidance of Canadian Geoff Green.
