CBSE CLASS 12 ENGLISH -- READING AND WRITING --WITH HINTS TO SOLUTION 9

 SECTION – A

Reading – 20 Marks

Q.1 Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. I was only a year and some months younger than Valodya; we grew up,

studied and played together. No distinction of elder and younger was

made between us. But just about the time I am speaking of I began to

realize that I was no companion for him, either in age, in interests or in

ability. It even seemed to me that Valodya himself was aware of his

superiority and was proud of it. This idea (it may have been a wrong

one) was inspired by my vanity which suffered every time I came in

contact with him. He was better than me in everything; at lessons, in

arguments and in manners, and all this took me farther from him and

caused me moral anguish which I could not understand. When Valodya

was given a tucked linen shirt for the first time I was unhappy for not

having a shirt like that. I am sure I would have felt happier if I was

convinced that every time he arranged his collar it was not done to

annoy me.

2. What tormented me most was that it sometimes seemed to me Valodya

understood what was going on inside me but tried to hide it. But perhaps

my sensitiveness and tendency to analyse deceived me in this case. It

may be Valodya did not feel at all as I did. He was impulsive and his

enthusiasm in different hobbies did not last long.

3. He would suddenly develop a passion for pictures, himself take up

painting, spend all his money buying them and beg them of his drawingmaster, of papa and of grandmamma. Then it would be a craze for curios

to decorate his table, collecting them from every room in the house, or a

mania for novels which he obtained on the sly and read all day and

night. I could not help being impressed by his hobbies but I was too

proud to imitate him and too young and not independent enough to

choose a hobby for myself. But there was nothing I envied so much as

Valodya’s happy large heartedness which showed itself most strikingly

when we quarreled. I always felt that he was behaving well but I could

not do likewise.

4. Once when his passion of ornaments was at its height, I went up to his

table and accidentally broke an empty bright-coloured little scent bottle.

“Who asked you to touch my things?” demanded Valodya coming into

the room and seeing how I had upset the symmetry of the different

treasures on his table. “And where is the scent bottle? You must

have…..”

5. “I knocked it over by accident and it broke. What does it matter?”

“Do me the favour-never dare touch my things again”, he said, putting

the pieces of broken flask together and looking at them sorrowfully.

“And you please don’t issue orders” I retorted, “that’s all.” And I

smiled, though I did not feel in the least like smiling.

“Yes, its nothing to you but it does matter to me,” pursued Valodya,

jerking his shoulder, a gesture he had inherited from pap. “He goes and

breaks it and then laughs, the nasty little brat!”

“I am a little brat; and you’re big but you’re stupid.”

“I am not going to quarrel with you,” said Valodya, giving me a slight

push, “go away.”

“Don’t push!”

“Get away!”

“Don’t push, I tell you!”

Valodya took my word and tried to drag me away from the table; but I

was beside myself by now; I got hold of the leg of the table and tipped it

over. “There now!” And all his china and glass ornaments crashed to the

floor. “You disgusting little boy!” cried Valodya, trying to save some of

his falling treasures.

“Well, now it is all over between us,” I thought as I left the room, “we

have quarreled for good.”

6. As soon as afternoon lessons were over I left the room. I was too scared,

uncomfortable and ashamed to be alone with my brother. After our

history lesson in the evening I took my exercise books and started

towards the door. As I passed Valodya, though I wanted to go up to him

and make friends I scowled and put on an angry expression. At that

moment Valodya raised his head and, with a meaningful smile, looked

me full in the face. Our eyes met and I knew that he understood me; but

some irresistible feeling made me turn away.

7. “Nicky!” he said in a most natural voice without a scrap of pathos.

“Don’t be cross any more. Forgive me if I offended you.” And he held

out his hand. Something that came higher and higher seemed to be

pressing my chest and stopping my breath but this only lasted a second;

tears came to my eyes and I felt better. “Forgive….m-me, Val-dya,” I

stammered, squeezing his hand. Valodya looked at me as if he could not

make out at all why there should be tears in my eyes.

- Leo Tolstoy

(Excerpts from his autobiographical novel ‘Boyhood’ originally written in

Russian, translation by C.J. Haqar)

On the basis of your reading of the above excerpt, answer the following

questions briefly:-

(a) Why did Nicky feel that he was not an apt companion for Valodaya?

(b) About which aspect of Valodya’s personality was Nicky most upset?

(c) Why did Nicky feel uncomfortable and ashamed to be alone with his

brother ?

(d) What did Nicky do to show that he was sorry for all that he had done in

the morning?

(e) Was the narrator repentent for his behavior? How do you know?

(f) What does Valodaya’s behavior show about his character?

(g) Choose the correct option:

Which of the following is NOT true for Valodaya?

(i) He was fond of reading.

(ii) He was inclined towards painting.

(iii) He was reckless with money.

(iv) He liked collecting curios and works of art.

(h) “I am a little brat, and you’re big but you are stupid.”

This line highlights that Nicky –

(i) was disrespectful towards his brother

(ii) was impulsive and volatile, but loved his brother

(iii) was jealous of his brother

(iv) was unapologetic towards his brother

(i) Choose the synonym of pride (para 1)

(i) vanity

(ii) superiority

(iii) anguish

(iv) distinction

(j) Choose the antonym of comforted (para 2)

(i) deceived

(ii) tormented

(iii) impulsive

(iv) enthusiasm

(k) Choose the right answer which explains the underlined phrase:

We have quarreled for good

(i) It is very good

(ii) Forever

(iii) For good reason

(iv) For good things to follow

(l) “Something that came higher and higher seemed to be pressing my

chest,” implies

(i) his brother towered over him.

(ii) he was in a state of confusion.

(iii) his brother tried to overpower him.

(iv) he felt choked with emotions.

Q.2 Read the poem given below and answer the questions that follow:

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

By Maya Angelou

The free bird leaps

on the back of the wind

and floats downstream

till the current ends

and dips his wings

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage

can seldom see through his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill

of the things unknown but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill for the caged bird

sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn

and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill

of things unknown but longed for still

and his tune is heard on the distant hill

for the caged bird sings of freedom.

On the basis of your reading of the poem, answer the following

questions in 50-60 words each.

a) What is the grave of dreams and why does a caged bird stand on it?

b) Why does a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see

through his bars of rage?

c) Who are referred to as free bird and caged bird in the poem? Why?

d) Is the situation of the caged bird relevant to the contemporary times?

SECTION - B

Creative Writing Skills and Applied Grammar – 30 Marks

Q. 3 Attempt any two of the following three questions in 120-150 words each.

a) Describe an influential person and explain why you feel this person is a

positive role model.

b) Water is the force behind agriculture, industries, trade and commerce.

Lately, India has been facing severe scarcity of this vital resource. Write

an article for your school magazine on the need for water conservation.

You are Rajiv/Ragini.

c) Technology appears to create global network, bringing people together.

But, it also replaces real life communication, thus bringing social

isolation. Write your views on the impact of technology on human

connections for an e-journal. You are Sourabh/Surabhi.

12 marks

(6 x 2)

Q. 4 Attempt any one of the following two questions in 150-180 words.

a) It is seen that public property is often defaced and damaged. The

infrastructure (public transport, subways, roads, gardens) provided by

the government helps the nation develop and it’s the responsibility of

each citizen to ensure that it remains unharmed. Write a speech voicing

your concerns over the need to have a sense of ownership and national

pride. You are Rati/Rahul.

b) You are Malini/Manoj. Write an article to be published in a leading daily

urging all parents to give their time and moral support to their children,

especially the adolescents who face multiple pressures in this crucial

phase of their lives. Many of your friends are getting expensive gifts

from their parents, but not their attention and time.

10 marks

(10 x 1)

Q. 5 Transform the following sentences as per the given instructions.

a) I am reading a book at the moment. It is very interesting. (combine the

sentences using the beginning given)

The book ___________________

b) The fire alarm has been sounded by him. (transform to active voice)

c) “What do you mean by these words?”, asked the teacher angrily.

(transform to indirect speech)

d) Though he was powerful, he was lonely. (rewrite as a compound

sentence)

e) The teacher insists that the students write neatly. (Rewrite the sentence

using ‘writing’)

f) Open the window. (rewrite using the beginning given)

Would _________

g) The soldiers who were victorious were honoured by the President.

(rewrite as a simple sentence)

h) She was so tired that she could not finish the task. (rewrite the sentence

using ‘too’)On the basis of your reading of the above excerpt, answer the

following questions briefly.

(a) felt that Valodaya was far superior to him in everything – in

arguments, manners and lessons

(b) Nicky thought Valodaya understood what was going on inside him

but he tried to hide it.

(c) felt guilty of breaking the precious things, didn’t know how to

reconcile with his brother, embarrassed about his bad conduct

(d) overwhelmed with the onslaught of emotion, eyes filled with tears, he

cried out his apology

(e) yes, scared, uncomfortable, guilt-ridden, ashamed to be alone with

his brother

(f) large-hearted, avoided getting into fights, generous, well mannered,

forgiving

(g) (iii) He was reckless with money

(h) (ii) was impulsive and volatile, but loved his brother

(i) (i) vanity

(j) (iv) tormented

(k) (iii) For good reason

(l) (iv) He felt choked with emotions

12 marks

Q.2 Attempt any two of the following three questions in 120-150 words

each.

(a) the bird has no freedom, its feet are tied, wings are clipped, its

dreams are unachievable, it has given up on the dream of flying freely,

its dreams are now ‘dead’…hence, it stands on its dead dreams now.

(b) tight cage, with bars, heavily guarded, can hardly view the outside of

the cage, due to its anger and frustration at being imprisoned, it doesn’t

see beyond the cage.

8 marks

(c) free bird - free individual, free to live life on own terms

 caged bird – oppressed, subjugated individuals, deprived of freedom

(d) yes, victims of political and social injustice, women not allowed full

freedom to pursue dreams and ambitions, people ill-treated based on

social class and ethnicity.

SECTION – B

CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS – 20 MARKS

Q.3 Attempt any two of the following three questions in 120-150 words

each.

(a) Credit to be given to the candidate’s creativity in the presentation of

ideas, appropriate use of language, and skills of reasoning.

 The marks may be divided as –

 Content – 3 marks

 Organization – 1 marks (fluency, coherence, logical flow)

 Expression – 2 marks (vocabulary, originality of ideas,

grammatical accuracy)

(b) Format 1 (heading + name of contributor)

 The marks may be divided as –

 Content – 3 marks

 Expression – 2 marks (grammatical accuracy, vocabulary,

coherence, fluency)

 Value Points - Reason for water shortage, global concern,

reckless use and misuse of scarce resources, conservation should

be everybody’s concern (local & global), steps that can be taken

by individual and community

(c) Format 1 (heading + name of contributor)

 The marks may divided as –

 Content – 3 marks

 Expression – 2 marks (grammatical accuracy, vocabulary,

coherence, fluency)

 Value Points – Advent of technology in private and public lives,

after effects of social isolation, cases of depression and

maladjustment, the effect of family lives

12 marks

Q. 4 Attempt any one of the following two questions in 150-200 words.

(a) The marks may be divided as –

 Format - 1 mark (opening address, salutation, conclusion)

 Content – 5 marks

 Expression – 4 marks (2 marks for grammatical accuracy,

spelling, vocabulary + 2 marks for coherence, relevance,

fluency)

 Value Points – Huge investment in public amenities, pride of a

10 marks

nation, involvement of all stakeholders for its upkeep and

ownership, global image, etc.

(b) The marks may be divided as –

 Format - 1 mark (heading, name of contributor)

 Content – 5 marks

 Expression – 4 marks (2 marks for grammatical accuracy,

spelling, vocabulary + 2 marks for coherence, relevance,

fluency)

 Value Points – Communication gap, peer pressure, increase in

financial status, family bonds weakening

Q. 5 (a) The book I am reading at the moment is very interesting.

(b) He sounded the fire alarm.

(c) The teacher asked angrily what did he mean by those words.

(d) He was powerful, but he was lonely.

(e) The teacher insists on the students writing neatly.

(f) Would you please open the window.

(g) The victorious soldiers were honoured by the President.

(h) She was too tired to finish the task.