Series : WXYZ/S Set – 1

Q.P. Code 1/S/1

Roll No.
Candidates must write the Q.P. Code
on the title page of the answer-book.

ENGLISH (Core)
Time allowed : 3 hours *ENGLISH-CORE* Maximum Marks : 80

• Please check that this question paper contains 19 printed pages.

• Q.P. Code given on the right hand side of the question paper should be written on
the title page of the answer-book by the candidate.
• Please check that this question paper contains 13 questions.
• Please write down the Serial Number of the question in the answer-book
at the given place before attempting it.
• 15 minute time has been allotted to read this question paper. The question paper
will be distributed at 10.15 a.m. From 10.15 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., the candidates
will read the question paper only and will not write any answer on the
answer-book during this period. #

General Instructions :
Read the following instructions very carefully and strictly follow them :
(i) This question paper has 13 questions. All questions are compulsory.
(ii) This question paper contains three sections — Section A : Reading Skills,
Section B : Creative Writing Skills and Section C : Literature.
(iii) Attempt all questions based on specific instructions for each part. Write the
correct question number and part thereof in your answer sheet.
(iv) Separate instructions are given with each question/part, wherever necessary.
(v) Adhere to the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

1/S/1 Page 1 of 19 # P.T.O.

 SECTION A
Reading Skills (22 marks)

1. Read the following passage carefully : 12

(1) Travel, they say, broadens the mind, but who exactly are ‘they’ ? These
mysterious sages seem to know a thing or two about the transformative
power of packing a suitcase and jetting off to distant lands.
As Mark Twain wisely put it, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry
and narrow-mindedness.” Indeed, leaving behind your familiar
surroundings and completely involving yourself in a new culture is like
enrolling in a crash course in the School of Life.

(2) Take, for instance, the confusing world of foreign languages. You might
think you know how to navigate a city because you can book a hotel and
call a taxi, but try finding your way through a maze of winding streets
in an old European town. Suddenly, “Where is the train station ?’’
seems sadly not enough. It’s a humbling experience, much like realising
that ‘piazza’ is Italian for ‘square’ and not a type of pizza. But therein
lies the beauty: each navigational blunder is a lesson, each wrong turn
a new entry in your personal map of life.
(3) Then there are the historical landmarks. Visiting the Colosseum isn’t
just a chance to take an Instagram-worthy selfie; it’s a real-life history
lesson that textbooks can only dream of. As you stand in the shadow of
this ancient arena, you might find yourself daydreaming about
gladiators and emperors, only to be jolted back to reality by a selfie
stick to the face. Travel has a way of making history real, even if it
sometimes includes the odd bruise.
(4) Moreover, travel teaches resilience and adaptability. Missed flights,
lost luggage, and questionable hotel rooms can turn even the most
meticulously planned vacation into a comedy of errors. Yet, these are
the moments that foster growth and creativity. Who knew you could
fashion a comb out of a hotel toothbrush and a bit of resourcefulness.
(5) Travel is a passport to a world of knowledge, where every stamp tells a
story and every journey is a chapter in the grand, unfinished novel of
your life. So, next time you find yourself lost in a foreign city,
remember: you’re not just a tourist; you’re a student of the world, and
the curriculum is as vast as your curiosity.
1/S/1 Page 2 of 19 #
 Answer the following questions, based on the above passage :
(i) According to Mark Twain, how does travel influence people ? 1
(ii) How does the author use the metaphor of ‘crash course in the School
of Life’ to interpret the value of travel ? 1
(iii) The comparison of ‘navigational blunder’ to a ‘lesson’, in the context
of travel, primarily highlights : 1
(A) the inevitability of getting lost while travelling.
(B) the educational value of travel experiences.
(C) the frustration of not knowing a foreign language.
(D) the importance of planning every detail of a trip.
(iv) Provide one textual evidence with reference to paragraph (4) to
prove that travel promotes creativity. 1
(v) The significance of historical landmarks in the context of travel,
according to the passage, is __________. 1
(vi) Give two instances of the author’s resilience and adaptability during
his travels. 2

(vii) Complete the analogy with one word from paragraph (4) : 1

fragility : weakness : : __________ : strength

(A) adaptability
(B) ingenuity
(C) resilience
(D) creativity
(viii) How does the following statement define a traveller ? (paragraph (5)) 1
‘You’re not just a tourist; you’re a student of the world, and the
curriculum is as vast as your curiosity.’
(ix) Reflect on the author’s perspective on travel as an educational
journey. How does this viewpoint of the author challenge
conventional forms of education ? 2
(x) Complete the sentence suitably : 1
The author refers to travel as a passport to the world of knowledge
because __________.

1/S/1 Page 3 of 19 # P.T.O.

2. Read the following passage carefully : 10
(1) Introduction : One of the unfortunate paradoxes of our lives today is
that despite adequate food production and unimaginable advances in
technology, one in three persons worldwide is not getting enough of
the right food to eat and approximately 800 million of seven billion
sleep hungry every night. Not surprisingly, this makes poor diet the
No. 1 risk factor by far, for the global burden of disease.
(2) Findings : Poor diets globally are more responsible for ill health as
compared with the combined effect of drugs, tobacco and alcohol.
Women and children continue to be the most vulnerable, with
156 million stunted children in the world and 40% of women anaemic.
Add to this the fact that the world adds 2,00,000 new people to its
population every day, of which India adds 58,000. This translates to
the need to feed two billion more people by 2050 and to support a
higher demand for major crops, estimated to increase by 50%, from
2·5 to 3·5 billion tonnes.
(3) Purpose : Target 3 for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 is to
“halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer level,
and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including
post-harvest losses”. Food loss is valued at $ 1 trillion globally by the
Food and Agriculture Organisation, enough to feed the 800 million
who sleep hungry every night. The SDGs have put the spotlight on
food loss and waste, prompting discussions on solutions through
better farming practices, technology, information, and consumer
behaviour changes.
(4) Implications : In developed countries, ‘food waste’ occurs more at
the consumer household level, whereas in emerging economies, it is
the supply chain that leads to ‘food loss’ during harvest, storage or
transit, due to poor infrastructure and inadequately aligned
processes. Investment in creating adequate cold storage capacity
alone can significantly reduce food loss. Food loss is also nutrition
loss, productivity loss, and GDP loss. India, for instance, loses 40% of
its food, translating to approximately $ 7·5 billion .
(5) Suggestions : To provide a dignified quality of life, India must
enhance agricultural productivity, diversify crops, and eliminate food
loss and waste with a firm resolve and timely action. Investments in
infrastructure, information systems, technology, and public-private
partnerships are critical. Minimising food loss has the potential to be
transformative in multiple ways.

1/S/1 Page 4 of 19 #
 Answer the following questions, based on the given passage.

(i) Complete the following suitably.

The ‘paradox’ that the author mentions in the introduction refers to
___________. 1

(ii) Analyse why poor diet is the No. 1 risk factor for diseases globally. 1

(iii) What would the following be classified as ? 1

‘This makes poor diet the No. 1 risk factor by far for the global
burden of disease.’
Select the appropriate response.
(A) Primary purpose (B) Secondary objective
(C) Method of analysis (D) Research outcome

(iv) Target 3 for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 is to : 1

(A) produce enough food to feed the 800 million who sleep
hungry every night.
(B) reduce food waste worth $ 1 trillion globally.
(C) reduce per capita global food waste by 50% at all levels.
(D) reduce per capita global food waste by 50% along production
and supply chains.

(v) Discuss the difference in food waste with regard to developed

countries and emerging economies. Answer in about 40 words. 2

(vi) Paragraph (2) includes the words – effect and demand. Classify the
following sentences as ‘effect’ or ‘demand’. 1
Sentence 1 – 156 million stunted children in the world.
Sentence 2 – This translates to the need to feed two billion more
people by 2050.

(vii) Analyse what impact food loss has on a country’s economy. 1

(viii) India can ensure a dignified way of life for its citizens by : 2

(A) ____________________

(B) ____________________

1/S/1 Page 5 of 19 # P.T.O.

 SECTION B
Creative Writing Skills (18 marks)

3. Attempt any one of the two, (a) or (b), in about 50 words. 14=4

(a) You are Pavai/Pushkar, a class XII student of Excel Public School,
Hawapur. As the President of ‘Helping Hands’, the social service
club of your school, you have organised a musical show to raise
funds for flood victims. Write a notice for your school noticeboard,
giving necessary information about the programme. Do not forget to
put your notice in a box.
OR
(b) You are Anuradha/Anirudh, a resident of Avalon Apartments,
Nilashahar. You plan to conduct a two-week course to help the
children of your apartment complex to acquire good communication
skills. Prepare a notice stating the objectives of the course, giving
necessary details, and encouraging the children of the complex to
join the programme. Do not forget to put your notice in a box.

4. Attempt any one of the two, (a) or (b), in about 50 words. 14=4

(a) The Camera Enthusiasts Club is organising a Photography

Exhibition, ‘Echoes of Light Series’, presenting the works of
upcoming artists. It will be held at the National Art Gallery and will
be inaugurated by the renowned artist, Shri Neelesh Gautam. Draft
an invitation card for the exhibition.

OR

(b) You are Shreya/Shailesh of D-159, Moti Vihar, Aarambagh. You

have received an invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony of
the newly opened furniture showroom of your friend, Karan. Write a
formal letter of refusal, regretting your inability to attend the
ceremony.

1/S/1 Page 6 of 19 #
5. Attempt any one of the two, (a) or (b), in 120 – 150 words. 1%5=5
(a) You have read several articles about the increasing concerns over
climate change and its severe impact on the environment. Write a
letter to the editor of a national newspaper, expressing your views
on the issue. Highlight the importance of immediate action and
suggest measures to combat climate change. You may use some of
the given cues along with your own ideas to draft the letter. You are
Surina/Sumant Kumar, a resident of 146A, Prem Nagar, Blue City.

• Issue of climate change : its growing relevance

• Consequences : in what ways we feel the impact
• The role of human activities
• Call for awareness and action
• Possible solutions

OR

(b) You are Bina/Brijesh Mathur from A-45, 100 ft Road, Akashpur. You
read the given advertisement and wish to apply for the post
advertised. Write a job application along with your bio-data.

Jeevan Mala Hospital

Requires
2 full-time Physiotherapists for its Vayupur branch.
Qualifications : Certified physiotherapists from reputed
institutions
Minimum 5 years experience
• Strong communication skills desirable
• Package includes competitive salary, performance bonus,
professional development
Apply to : [email protected]

1/S/1 Page 7 of 19 # P.T.O.

6. Attempt any one of the two, (a) or (b), in 120 – 150 words. 1%5=5

(a) You are Ratika/Ritivik, the team leader of your school’s community
service club. Write an article for your school magazine on the
significance of community service in fostering personal growth,
social responsibility, and a better society. Highlight how community
service helps in addressing social issues, building essential life
skills, and promoting active citizenship. You may use some of the
given cues along with your own ideas.

• Voluntary activities contributing to society

• Builds empathy and compassion

• Enhances teamwork and leadership skills

• Addresses societal issues – environment, poverty, etc.

• Develops responsibility – personal growth

• Encourages active citizenship

OR

(b) You are Barkha/Krishiv, a student of Sarojini Model School, Green

Meadow. Recently, you participated in a student exchange
programme to Germany, where you explored the cultural,
educational and social environment of the country. You visited
museums and ate different kinds of food. Write a report for your
school magazine describing the highlights of the exchange
programme, your experiences and how it contributed to your
personal and academic growth. You may organise your report by the
following :

• Who – What – When – Where – Why – How

1/S/1 Page 8 of 19 #
 SECTION C
Literature (40 marks)

7. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the
given two, (a) or (b) : 1%6=6

(a) Fishermen in the cold sea

would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.

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.
(Keeping Quiet)

(i) Choose the correct option from those given below to complete
the following sentence :
The image of the fishermen here represents : 1

(A) the entire human population.

(B) people of the fishing community.

(C) the big corporations that pollute the seas.

(D) the indiscriminate exploitation of resources by human

beings.

(ii) What will be the outcome when fishermen stop harming

whales ? 1

1/S/1 Page 9 of 19 # P.T.O.

 (iii) What do the ‘hurt hands’ of the man gathering salt
symbolize ? 1
(A) Salt gathering is a very hazardous activity.
(B) Workers of the salt-mining industry are exploited by
their masters.
(C) Exploitation of nature will eventually harm humans too.
(D) Humans are unconscious of their actions.

(iv) Complete the following sentence suitably : 1

According to the poet, fishermen will not harm whales only
when __________.

(v) Select the correct option from those given in the brackets, to
fill in the blank. 1
The excerpt tells us that humans need ____________
(introspection/discussion) to understand the consequences of
their actions.

(vi) The poetic device used in ‘hurt hands’ is the same as the one
used in which of the following options ? 1
(A) The tree groaned under the weight of its fruit.
(B) The red apples looked beautiful in the blue bowl.
(C) He pledged to climb mountains to reach his goal.
(D) The building collapsed like a house of cards.

OR

(b) No, in country money, the country scale of gain,

The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,
Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,
I can’t help owning the great relief it would be
To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.
(A Roadside Stand)

1/S/1 Page 10 of 19 #
 (i) Select the phrase, from the lines given above, that suggests the
following : 1
The essential boost in morale and well-being has till now
remained elusive.

(ii) The tone reflected in the first three lines of this extract is that
of ___________. (expectation/disappointment) 1
(iii) The ‘voice of the country’, in line 3, is a reference to : 1
(A) the general mood and feelings of people living in the
countryside.
(B) the collective complaints and grievances of the urban
communities.
(C) the common opinions and beliefs of the city folk.
(D) the traditional folklore of the rural poor.

(iv) The poet’s attitude towards the country folk is one of : 1

(A) friendliness
(B) callousness
(C) superiority
(D) sympathy
(v) Read the assertion and the reason below, with reference to the
given extract. 1
Assertion : The poet suggests that the country people’s pain
is exploited by those in power.
Reason : The money given to the country people is a
genuine attempt to improve their lives.
Choose the correct option regarding their relationship :
(A) Both the assertion and the reason are true and the
reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(B) Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the
reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(C) The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(D) The assertion is false, but the reason is true.

1/S/1 Page 11 of 19 # P.T.O.

 (vi) The statement ‘put these people at one stroke out of their pain’
by the poet reveals his : 1
1. helplessness
2. cruelty
3. insensitivity
4. frustration
5. ruthlessness
6. compassion
7. exasperation
Choose the correct option :
(A) 1, 6, 7 (B) 3, 4, 5
(C) 2, 4, 5 (D) 1, 4, 7

8. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the
given two, (a) or (b) : 1%4=4

(a) MR LAMB : I’m not fond of curtains. Shutting things out, shutting
things in. I like the light and the darkness, and the
windows open, to hear the wind.
DERRY : Yes. I like that. When it’s raining, I like to hear it on
the roof.
MR LAMB : So you’re not lost, are you ? Not altogether ? You do
hear things. You listen.
(On The Face Of It)

(i) What facets of Mr. Lamb’s nature are brought out in the above
lines ? 1
1. Openness
2. Appreciative
3. Reclusive
4. Hostility
5. Positivity
6. Shyness
7. Cautious
Choose the correct option :
(A) 1, 2, 5 (B) 2, 4, 7
(C) 3, 5, 6 (D) 1, 3, 7
1/S/1 Page 12 of 19 #
 (ii) “So you’re not lost, are you ?” What Mr. Lamb is saying to
Derry in this line is that : 1
(A) he has followed his mother’s instructions carefully.
(B) he has the ability to hear the sounds around him.
(C) he has the ability to reflect on and appreciate nature.
(D) he has come to the right place.

(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the following statement. 1

Derry’s feelings in this extract move from :
(A) bitterness → reluctance → friendliness
(B) shyness → reluctance → disappointment
(C) curiosity → nostalgia → disappointment
(D) curiosity → openness → eloquence

(iv) When he says, “I like the light and the darkness”, the message
that Mr. Lamb is conveying to Derry is __________. 1
OR

(b) “Then certainly I can allow nothing to happen to you,” the General
said with anxiety. His long pale Japanese face became expressionless,
which meant that he was in deep thought. “You cannot be arrested,”
the General said, closing his eyes. “Suppose you were condemned to
death and the next day I had to have my operation ?”

(The Enemy)

(i) “You cannot be arrested.” What could be the reason for this ? 1
(A) Harbouring an American soldier
(B) He was a soldier
(C) He needed to treat the soldiers
(D) The General might need an operation

(ii) Why was the Japanese face without any expression ? 1

1/S/1 Page 13 of 19 # P.T.O.

 (iii) What qualities of the General are revealed in this extract ? 1
1. Compassionate
2. Revengeful
3. Decisive
4. Selfish
5. Powerful
6. Cruel
Choose the correct option :
(A) 1, 3, 5
(B) 2, 4, 6
(C) 3, 4, 5
(D) 1, 2, 6

(iv) Dr. Sadao’s feelings at this point would be of ________.

(anxiety/relief) 1

9. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the
given two, (a) or (b) : 1´6=6

(a) While every other member of the Department wore a kind of

uniform — khadi dhoti with a slightly oversized and clumsily tailored
white khadi shirt — the legal adviser wore pants and a tie and
sometimes a coat that looked like a coat of mail. Often he looked
alone and helpless — a man of cold logic in a crowd of dreamers — a
neutral man in an assembly of Gandhiites and khadiites. Like so
many of those who were close to The Boss, he was allowed to produce
a film and though a lot of raw stock and pancake were used on it, not
much came of the film. Then one day The Boss closed down the Story
Department and this was perhaps the only instance in all human
history where a lawyer lost his job because the poets were asked to go
home.
(Poets and Pancakes)

1/S/1 Page 14 of 19 #
 (i) The legal adviser stood out among the others of the Story
Department because of his __________ (Western/Indian) attire. 1

(ii) Other members of the Story Department wore ‘a kind of

uniform’ because : 1
(A) they were influenced by Gandhi’s ideals.
(B) they also participated in the freedom movement.
(C) it was comfortable attire for the summer months.
(D) the Studio bosses insisted on it.

(iii) Which of the following statements is not true about the legal
adviser ? 1
(A) He had an interest in film-making.
(B) He was a down-to-earth and practical person.
(C) He was on friendly terms with everyone at Gemini
Studios.
(D) He did not have a herd mentality.

(iv) Why were the members of the Story Department called

‘a crowd of dreamers’ ? 1

(v) Choose the correct option to complete the following sentence. 1

The lawyer lost his job because __________.

(A) The Boss was unhappy that the film he had produced
had not done well.

(B) The Story Department, of which he was a part, was

discontinued.

1/S/1 Page 15 of 19 # P.T.O.

 (vi) The word ‘pancake’ has been used in the extract in the same
context, as which of the following sentences : 1
(A) She flipped the pancake perfectly, golden brown and
ready to eat.
(B) After the storm, the tent was pancaked under the weight
of the fallen tree.
(C) She applied a thick layer of pancake makeup for the
stage performance.
(D) The cyclist pancaked onto the pavement after losing his
balance.

OR
(b) When I presented my first Doctoral dissertation in Italy, one of the
Professors said, “Scholars learn a lot of a certain subject, then they
make a lot of false hypotheses, then they correct them and at the end,
they put the conclusions. You, on the contrary, told the story of your
research. Even including your trials and errors.” At the same time,
he recognised I was right and went on to publish my dissertation as a
book, which meant he appreciated it.
At that point, at the age of 22, I understood scholarly books should be
written the way I had done — by telling the story of the research.
This is why my essays always have a narrative aspect. And this is
why probably I started writing narratives (novels) so late — at the
age of 50, more or less.
(The Interview)

(i) What sets Umberto Eco apart from other scholars was that he
wrote his research papers in a (statistical/descriptive) manner.
Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets. 1

(ii) What did the Professor appreciate about Eco’s dissertation ? 1

(A) He had paid great attention to accuracy.
(B) He had made interesting hypotheses.
(C) He had arrived at the right conclusions.
(D) He had presented his research like a story.
1/S/1 Page 16 of 19 #
 (iii) According to the Professor, what was the general pattern of
dissertations submitted by scholars ? 1

(iv) The word ‘dissertation’ as used in the extract does not mean : 1
(A) thesis (B) discourse
(C) treatise (D) synopsis

(v) Choose the correct option to answer the following question : 1

What realisation did Umberto Eco come to at the age of 22 ?
(i) Scholars should avoid false hypotheses.
(ii) Scholars could be successful as novelists.
(iii) Scholars should have a narrative aspect in their work.
(iv) Scholars could never be successful as novelists.

(vi) What prepared Umberto Eco to become a novelist so late in life ? 1

10. Answer any five of the following six questions in 40 – 50 words each : 5´2=10

(i) “He had the courage to hear every lesson to the very last.” What led
Franz to make this remark ? (The Last Lesson)

(ii) What contrast do you notice between the colours of the bangles and
the atmosphere of the place where these bangles are made ?
(Lost Spring)

(iii) Identify instances from the lesson ‘Going Places’ to show that
Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her mind.
(Going Places)

(iv) Discuss any two symbols from the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’.

(v) Discuss two emotions of the mother-daughter relationship that come

across in the phrase ‘smile and smile’. (My Mother at Sixty-six)

(vi) How does the experience at Warm Lake contrast with the earlier
incident at the YMCA pool, and what does this contrast suggest
about the narrator’s growth ? (Deep Water)

1/S/1 Page 17 of 19 # P.T.O.

11. Answer any two of the following three questions in 40 – 50 words each : 2´2=4

(i) Interpret the significance of Charley choosing to go to Galesburg.

(The Third Level)

(ii) What qualities, as a ruler, does the Tiger King display in his
decision to give a three-year tax exemption to a village ? (The Tiger King)

(iii) How does Zitkala-Sa’s reaction to having her hair cut reflect her
feelings about cultural identity and personal autonomy ?
(Memories of Childhood)

12. Answer any one of the following two questions in 120 – 150 words : 1´5=5

(a) In the poems ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ by Adrienne Rich and

‘A Thing of Beauty’ by John Keats, how do the themes of beauty and

art function as mechanisms for coping with pain and suffering ?

Discuss how each poet uses imagery and symbolism to convey the
power of art and beauty in transcending life’s hardships.

OR

(b) In the stories ‘The Rattrap’ by Selma Lagerlöf and ‘Indigo’ by

Louis Fischer, both the rattrap peddler and Rajkumar Shukla face

significant struggles. Compare and contrast their approaches to

handling these challenges. How do their differing circumstances and

decisions reflect their character and the broader social context ?

1/S/1 Page 18 of 19 #
13. Answer any one of the following two questions in 120 – 150 words : 1´5=5

(a) Bama is grateful to her brother for raising her awareness about the
discrimination faced by her community and for guiding her to pursue
education to build her own identity and overcome the stigma
associated with their marginalised status in society. Support your
answer with textual evidence.
(On The Face Of It)

OR

(b) Tishani Doshi, after her transformative experience in Antarctica,

understands the importance of environmental awareness, responsible
stewardship and proactive efforts to combat climate change for the
preservation of the planet. Support your answer with details from the
lesson ‘Journey to the end of the Earth’.

1/S/1 Page 19 of 19 # P.T.O.