Class XII - English Practice Paper - 4 - Answers

Subject: English Core

Class XII

Time Allowed: 3 hours

Max. Marks: 80

General Instructions:

1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.

2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections-READING, WRITING and 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

1. Read the passage given below:

(1) A fisherman, enfeebled with age, could no longer go out to sea, so he began fishing in the river. Every morning he would go down to the river and sit there feeling the whole day long. In the evening he would sell whatever he had caught, buy food for himself and go home. It was a hard life for an old man. One hot afternoon, while he was trying to keep awake and bemoaning his fate, a large bird with silvery feathers alighted on a rock near him. It was Kaha, the heavenly bird. ‘Have you no one to care for you, grandpa?’ asked the bird. ‘Not a soul’. ‘You should not be doing such work at your age’, said the bird. ‘From now on I will bring you a big fish every evening. You can sell it and live in comfort’. True to her word, the bird began to drop a large fish at his doorstep every evening. All that the fisherman had to do was take it to the market and sell it. As big fish were in great demand, he was soon rolling in money. He bought a cottage near the sea, with a garden around it, and engaged a servant to cook for him. His wife had died some years earlier. He had decided to marry again and began to look for a suitable woman.

(2) One day he heard the royal courtier make an announcement. ‘Our king has news of a great bird called Kaha,’ said the courtier. ‘Whoever can give information about this bird and help catch it, will be rewarded with half the gold in the royal treasury and half the kingdom!’ The fisherman was sorely tempted by the reward. Half the kingdom would make him a prince!

(3) ‘Why does the king want the bird?’ he asked ‘He has lost his sight,’ explained the courtier. ‘A wise man has advised him to bathe his eyes with the blood of Kaha. Do you know where can she be found?’ ‘No…I mean …no, no…’ Torn between greed and his sense of gratitude to the bird, the fisherman could not give a coherent reply. The courtier, sensing that he knew something about the bird, informed the king. The king had him brought to the palace.

(4) ‘If you have information about the bird, tell me,’ urged the king. ‘I will reward you handsomely and if you help catch her, I will personally crown you king of half my domain’. ‘I will get the bird for you,’ cried the fisherman, suddenly making up his mind. ‘But Kaha is strong. I will need help’. The king sent a dozen soldiers with him. That evening when the bird came with the fish, the fisherman called out to her to wait. ‘You drop the fish and go and I never get a chance to thank you for all that you’ve done for me,’ he said ‘Today I have laid out a feast for you inside. Please alight and come in’. Kaha was reluctant to accept the invitation but the fisherman pleaded so earnestly that she finally gave in, and alighted. The moment she was on the ground, the fisherman grabbed one of her legs and shouted to the soldiers hiding in his house to come out. They rushed to his aid, but their combined effort could not keep Kaha down.

(5) She rose into the air with the fisherman still clinging onto her leg. By the time he realised he was being carried away, the fisherman was too high in the air to let go. He hung on grimly, and neither he nor Kaha were ever seen again.

Based on your understanding of the above passage, answer the questions given below:

(i) Why was the king desperately looking for Kaha, the bird?

(A) The king wanted a pet bird.

(B) A wise man advised the king to capture the bird for good luck.

(D) The king was blind and required Kaha’s blood for his eyes.

(ii) Why did the bird volunteer to bring fish for the old man?

(A) The old man was inexperienced at fishing.

(B) The bird took pity on the old man and wanted to help him.

(D) The bird wanted to make the old man rich.

(iii) What led the courtier to sense that the fisherman might know something about Kaha?

(A) The courtier had observed Kaha alight at the fisherman’s house every evening.

(B) The courtier had seen the fisherman talk to Kaha.

(C) The fisherman fumbled when asked about Kaha.

(D) Word went around that the fisherman was in contact with Kaha

(iv) Which of the following is not true about Kaha?

(A) Kaha was a very considerate bird.

(B) The blood of Kaha was precious.

(D) Kaha saved the fisherman from the King’s wrath.

(v) Whom did the king send with the fisherman to catch Kaha?

Ans. The king sent his soldiers to catch Kaha.

(vi) Comment on the reason the fisherman stammered when asked if he knew about the bird.

Ans. He was torn between the king’s reward (greed) and his gratitude towards the bird.

(vii) Rolling in money means __________.

Ans. to have a large amount of money

(viii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate inference.

The bird _____________ along with the fisherman clinging on to her leg.

Ans. flew away

(ix) Select the option that conveys the opposite of ‘take off’ from words used in Para 1.

(A) Go out

(B) Go down

(C) Alight

(D) Rolling

(x) Pick out the word/phrase from the passage opposite in meaning to ‘released’ (as used in Para 4). (A) Catch

(B) Grabbed

(C) Both (A) and (B)

(D) Neither (A) nor (B)

II. Read the passage given below:

(1) Andy Dehart is a shark expert and TV presenter who lives in the United States of America. He has had a lifelong interest in sharks and is always trying to look for ways to educate the public about them. Many people think that sharks have little or no intelligence, but Andy points out that recent studies have shown that many shark species possess powerful problem-solving abilities and social skills. “Sharks do not want to attack humans,” he asserts. “There is no shark species that eats humans as part of its regular diet. In most shark attack cases. The shark leaves after realising that it has mistakenly bitten a human and not its intended prey.”

(2) In Andy’s opinion, all shark fishing should be stopped until the shark populations have had time to grow again. We then need to do a better job of managing the fishing of sharks. However. Even if the direct fishing of sharks is stopped, many will still be killed when they are caught up in the nets of boats fishing for other species of fish.

(3) When Andy was a boy, his father worked for a national oceanic organization, and Andy travelled with him all over the Caribbean. He grew up by the coast and he has been connected with the sea for as long as he can remember. He also lived near one of the best aquariums in America. Andy then went on to build a career working with sharks in an aquarium environment. More recently, he has been involved with television and the making of programs about sharks.

(4) Andy and his wife had their first child two years ago. They were amused and amazed to see to what extent their work with animals has proved to be useful in bringing up their daughter. They know how to observe her behaviour and teach her how to do things by rewarding her.

(5) Andy loves sharks and is very passionate about their survival and protection. He feels extremely lucky to have had opportunities to work at the National Aquarium and the television station which presents the Nature Channel. He never wastes a moment in either place that could be spent educating people about sharks. He does admit that it is probably not possible for everyone to love sharks as he does. However, he does hope to persuade people personally or through the media to respect sharks and the critical role they play in our environment. His main objective is to keep spreading awareness that sharks are not dangerous man-eaters but essential creatures in our oceans, as they provide ecological balance and help to control other species.

Based on your understanding of the above passage, answer the questions given below:

(i) What evidence is there that the sharks may be intelligent?

(A) Their problem-solving and social skills

(B) Their social skills

(D) Their oceanic organization

(ii) Select the option that displays the most likely reason for Andy to believe that sharks only attack humans by mistake?

(A) They don’t eat humans as a part of their diet.

(B) They leave after realizing that they have mistakenly bitten humans.

(D) All of these

(iii) How did Andy’s work help him and his wife when bringing up their daughter?

(A) They knew how to teach her things by rewarding her.

(B) They taught her by reprimanding her.

(D) Connection of animals to the daughter’s keenness.

(iv) According to the graph, how many sharks were caught in 1990?

(A) 650,000

(B) 700,000

(D) 800

(v) How does Andy hope to educate people about sharks?

(A) Through his work at the National Aquarium.

(B) Through the media.

(D) All of these.

(vi) The word in Para 5 which means the opposite of ‘safe’ is _____________.

Ans. dangerous

(vii) Even after the ascending trend, the number of sharks caught show maximum variation in _____________ .

Ans. the years between 1990 to 2000

(viii) How long has Andy been interested in sharks?

(A) Lifelong

(B) Since he was a boy

(C) Both (A) and (B)

(D) Neither (A) nor (B)

(ix) Based on the reading of the text, comment on the main objective of Andy.

Ans. His main objective is to keep spreading awareness that sharks are not dangerous man-eaters but essential creatures in our oceans, as they provide ecological balance and help to control other species.

(x) Which word in the given passage means the same as having, showing, or caused by strong feelings or beliefs?

(A) Passionate

(B) Essential

(D) Objective

III. SECTION B: CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS [20 Marks]

(All the names and addresses used in the questions are fictitious. Resemblance, if any, is purely coincidental.)

1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below: [1 × 5 = 5]

(A) An interclass drama competition is to be held in St. Stephen’s School, Visakhapatnam. As Akash, Head Boy of the school, draft a notice to be put up on the notice board inviting entries. Provide all necessary information in about 50 words.

(B) You are Rachael/Rueben, President of the Wellness Cell of your school. You decide to organize a workshop, to raise awareness of the importance of mental health. This workshop would be conducted by the school counsellor. Write a notice in about 50 words, informing the students of class XI-XII about the workshop.

Ans.

2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. [1 × 5 = 5]

(A) Your friend, P.V. Sathish, has invited you to attend the wedding of his sister, Jaya. You find that you have an important paper for the pre-board examination on the day of the wedding. Thus you cannot attend the event. Write a formal reply in about 50 words to the invitation expressing your regret. You are Punit / Punita Vij, M-114, Fort Road, Chennai.

Ans.

(A) M-114, Fort Road

Chennai – 600009

03 March 2019

Dear Satish,

It was a great pleasure to receive the invitation to attend your sister Jaya’s wedding. It is good news to hear and thanks for inviting me. But I feel sorry to inform you that I won’t be able to attend the same as my pre-board examination in Physics is scheduled on the same day as the wedding. Please convey my best wishes to Jaya and her fiancé.

Yours lovingly,

Punit

(B) Sunrise Global School, Agra is going to organize a one-act play competition in their school auditorium. You have decided to invite the noted stage artiste, Nalini to grace the occasion. Draft a formal invitation for her in about 50 words. You are Karuna/Karan, Cultural Secretary.

Sunrise Global School,

Agra

Ms. Nalini

27, Kamla Nagar

Agra

Dear Madam,

Our school is going to organize an Interhouse oneact play competition in our school auditorium on 10 March, 20xx from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The theme of the competition will be ‘Save Our Planet Earth’. We shall be highly obliged if you could spare some of your precious time to grace the occasion. I hope that you will accept this humble request and will confirm your program at the earliest.

Thank you

Yours sincerely

Karuna

(Cultural Secretary)

3. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. [1 × 5 = 5]

(A) When cricket teams go abroad the members are allowed to take their wives and even friends along with them. Does this fact distract them or help them to focus on their game in a better way? If it is good, why don’t we allow our athletes to enjoy the same privilege? Write a letter to the Editor of a national daily in 120– 150 words giving your views on the issue. You are Navtej/ Navita, M–144 Mount Kailash, Kanpur.

Ans.

M –114 Mount Kailash

Kanpur

April 12, 20xx

The Editor

The Times of India

New Delhi

Subject: Should sportsmen be accompanied by family and friends when they go abroad officially?

Sir

It has become a common practice for all the cricketers these days to take their family and friends along with them whenever they go abroad for their official trips. I wonder if this is fair.

I believe that this distracts them from their goal as they will be more occupied with family and friends rather than focusing on their practice sessions and game. I am afraid the trips will be more like funfilled holidays rather than official tours and this will definitely affect their performance. And let us not forget that their performance depends on the country’s pride and dignity.

On the other hand, if the officials feel that it actually helps them in focusing on their game, then may we ask why the same privilege is not given to our athletes. The rules should be the same for everyone and there should be no discrimination between sportsmen.

I hope that the sports bodies will take the issue under consideration and give it serious thought, as the presence of family and friends will boost the morale of our sportsmen.

Thank You

Yours sincerely

Navtej

(B) You are Shobha/Sushil from 56. A Block, Saket, Agra. Write an application along with a personal resume in 120–150 words in response to the following advertisement: Wanted an experienced hockey coach having B.P. Ed. Degree for our school. Apply to the Principal, Agarsen Public School, Agra with a detailed resume by 15 March 2019.

Ans.

56, A–Block

Saket

Agra

10 March 20XX

The Principal

Agarsen Public School

Agra

Subject: Application for the post of Hockey Coach

Sir,

In response to the advertisement published in ‘The Times of India’ dated 10 March, 20xx for the post of a Hockey Coach in your institution, I offer my candidature for the same.

I am a young and energetic person having four years of experience in the same field. I assure you that I will work with dedication and sincerity.

Kindly find enclosed herewith my certificates, testimonials, and resume which enlists my educational and professional qualifications along with other details.

If my application is considered worth pursuing, I would be available for Interview according to your convenience.

Yours truly

Sushil Kant

Encl: Resume

4. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. [1 × 5 = 5]

(A) The tendency to use violence at the slightest provocation and thus to solve personal and general problems is growing among people in our society. This is not a civilized way of dealing with problems. Violence solves no problem; it must be shunned.

Write an article in 120 -150 words on the topic, ‘Don’t take law into your own hands.’

You are Shan/Shobha.

You may use the given cues along with your own ideas.

Problems

• increase in the number of cases of violence in all spheres

• no respect for the law or each other

• no fear of consequences Reasons

• stressful lifestyle

• hype given by media

• growing intolerance

• mob mentality

Solutions

• the responsible role of schools/parents/media in spreading awareness

• effective policing

• stricter laws, stricter implementation

• encourage de-stressing alternatives

Ans.

Don’t Take Law into Your Own Hands

– by Shobha

There have been instances that criminals being caught red-handed by the public are thrashed by them before the police arrives on the scene. Similarly, if criminals are apprehended by the police, the public expects the latter to thrash them publicly to send a strong message to other criminals.

The tendency to use violence at the slightest provocation and thus to solve personal and general problems is growing among people in our society. This is not a civilized way of dealing with the problems. Violence solves no problem; it must be shunned.

Nowadays, people think that they have the solution to every problem and that is through violence. Violence, the act of causing physical harm to another person willingly, has often been categorized as being an uncivilized, unjustified act. It is mostly known that attacking or inflicting harm upon another person is “wrong”. We need a society where justice prevails, not one where every individual seeks it with a knife in their hand. There is a constitution in place and laws are strictly defined. We can’t just do what we feel is right. Because if everyone decides to pull out a gun, society will go for a toss and everyone will have their own justifications for what they do. We do need a society where justice prevails and law and order is maintained.

If all solutions were as easy as violence, then why would there be so many laws and courts to give justice to the aggrieved? Taking a mutual decision in personal matters is alright but interrupting in matters that are court matters, is not correct. If all decisions could be taken by public opinion, then there would be no need of courts. Lawyers hold their position only because of their knowledge of the law and the capability to differentiate between lawful and unlawful practices. These days even the public who catch a criminal red-handed do not wait for the police to arrive, but start beating him on spot, which sometimes even lead to the death of the person. In these cases, the police miss out on the criminals’ statement and cannot punish him as per the law.

As civilization progresses, such acts of the law enforcers and public approval of such acts only lead one to believe that the judiciary does not exist. Instant rustic justice is not the answer to crime, but quick judicial disposal is. However, with such heavy pendency of cases in courts all over the country, getting timely justice is a far cry. But can we still approve such acts of justice by the public or police?

(B) An NGO, ‘Health for All’ organized a health check-up camp in a slum at Amritsar. You are Ruchika/Raunak, and you visited the camp. Write a report covering arrangements such as registration, check-up, tests carried out, etc.

You may use the given cues along with your own ideas.

• what

• purpose

• when

• where

• arrangements

• registration, check-up, tests, reports

• follow-ups and treatment

• people’s satisfaction

• feedback was given by visitors

Ans.

HEALTH FOR ALL

-by Raunak

Amritsar,

12th May, 20xx

A complete health check-up camp was organized by an NGO in the slum of Amritsar on 11 May 20XX. The camp aimed to make the slum-dwellers aware of their ailments or other health problems so as to come up as healthy beings.

The program started at 9 am in a local school nearby. A team of five doctors, along with paramedical staff, reached the venue in time. They first started the registrations where the persons were supposed to tell their age and general health. Next, there were different counters where normal medical check-up, eye-test, etc. were done. The main focus was on making the people aware of illnesses caused by not taking care of hygiene and sanitation. They provided information to individuals about any kind of diseases they might be suffering from. Free medicines were distributed among the people and they were also made aware of the importance of followup. The program was a huge success as they were given information about healthy food habits and clean and healthy surroundings in a lecture by Dr. Gautam.

The response of the slum dwellers was overwhelming and they promised to follow the health-safety points given by the team.

SECTION C: LITERATURE

IV. Read the given extracts to attempt the questions with reference to context.

1. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given. [1 × 6 = 6]

(A) …….. but soon,

Put that thought away and

Looked out at young

Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling

Out of their homes, ……

(i) What thought did the poet put away?

(A) The impending death of mother.

(B) The ominous plane crash.

(D) None of these.

(ii) The poet saw___________ when looked out of the car.

Ans. trees rushing by and merry children running out of their homes,

(iii) Identify the phrase from the extract that suggests ….fleeting time.

Ans. Trees sprinting

(iv) Which word in the passage is an antonym of ‘miserable’?

(A) Thought

(B) Sprinting

(C) Merry

(D) Spilling

(v) When the poet wishes to avert her attention from the reminder of aging and death, she chooses to look at “young” trees and “young” children, signifying youth and life. This striking sharp contrast accentuates ____________.

(A) the poetess’s talent to shift the tone from depression to excitement

(B) the poetess’s ability to be observant

(D) the poetess’s desperate attempt to escape the harsh realities of life

(vi) The image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’ depict happiness and _____________. (A) spontaneous overflow of life

(B) activity

(D) exaggeration of thoughts

(B) What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity

Life is what it is about;

I want no truck with death,

If we were not so single-minded

about keeping our lives moving –

and for once could do nothing

Perhaps a huge silence

might interrupt this sadness

of never understanding ourselves

and of threatening ourselves with

Death

(i) The poet’s intention in the first line is to:

(A) give warning to the readers.

(B) give right direction to the readers.

(D) give a clarification to the readers.

(ii) ____________ best explains the stand of the poet in the expression: I want no association with death.

Ans. I want no truck with death.

(iii) Select the option that aptly describes the tone of the poet in the expression: “If we were not so single-minded.

(A) Regretful

(B) Critical

(D) Friendly

(iv) According to the poet, who is to blame for the condition of threatening ourselves with death?

Ans. We ourselves are to be blamed for the condition of threatening ourselves with death. Failing to understand ourselves is the underlying problem.

(v) The tone of the poet in the expression “perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness” is ____________.

(A) unsure yet optimistic

(B) sure and confident

(D) hopeful but not confident

(vi) The essence of this poem is based on ____________.

Ans. introspection

2. Answer ANY ONE of the two extracts given: [4 × 1 = 4]

(A) ‘What shall we do with this man?’’ Sadao muttered. But his trained hands seemed of their own will to be doing what they could to stanch the fearful bleeding.

(i) Who was Sadao?

(A) Japanese army captain.

(B) Japanese surgeon.

(D) American spy.

(ii) Why was the man bleeding?

Ans. The man was bleeding because he had a gun wound on the right side of his lower back.

(iii) What did Dr. Sadao do to stop the bleeding?

(A) Bandaged the wound.

(B) Packed the wound with sea moss.

(D) None of these.

(iv) What did Sadao and his wife decide to do later?

Ans. Sadao being a doctor couldn’t leave an injured man to die.

(B) DERRY: What do you do all day?

MR LAMB: Sit in the sun. Read books. Ah, you thought it was an empty house, but inside, it’s full. Books and other things. Full.

DERRY: But there aren’t any curtains at the windows.

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.

DERRY: They talk about me. Downstairs, when I’m not there.

(i) According to Mr. Lamb, what does the idea of being ‘lost’ signify?

Ans. According to Mr. Lamb, the idea of being lost signifies that one who is closed off to nature and its wonders is ‘lost’.

(ii) Read the following analysis of Mr. Lamb’s character based on the given extract. Choose the option that fills in the given blanks most appropriately: Mr. Lamb’s (i) ____________ and daily activities reflected the values the kind of person he was. His openness, inquisitiveness, and his (ii) ____________ to nature were embodied in his work and words. Being close to and experiencing (iii) __________ was not only significant to him, but was at the heart of finding meaning and (iv) ________ in life.

(A) (i) preferences; (ii) attainment; (iii) nature; (iv) direction

(B) (i) choices; (ii) loyalty; (iii) the world; (iv) hope

(D) (i) sermons; (ii) proximity; (iii) life; (iv) value

(iii) Choose the option that best describes the sequence of Derry’s emotions in the above extract:

(A) shyness – friendliness – reluctant acceptance

(B) inquisitiveness – nostalgia – mild sadness

(C) curiosity – measured delight – disappointment

(D) defiance – excitement – grouchy insecurity

(iv) “You do hear things. You listen.” Choose the option that captures the difference between hearing and listening. hear: listen:: _________: _________

(A) shut in: shut out

(B) smile: laugh

(D) chance: attend

3. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given [1 × 6 = 6]

(A) ‘If at the end of the day we can feed our families and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would rather live here than in the fields that gave us no grain,’ say a group of women in tattered saris when I asked them why they left their beautiful land of green fields and rivers.

(i) Who are ‘we’ in the above lines?

(A) Refugees living in Seemapuri.

(B) Refugees living in Firozabad.

(D) Refugees of South India.

(ii) Identify the textual clue that tells the reader ‘we’ are migrants.

Ans. The sentence ‘we would rather live here than in the fields that gave us no grain’ tells the readers that ‘we’ are migrants.

(iii) Why are they not willing to go back to their homeland?

(A) They have no relatives there.

(B) They have no means of living there.

(D) They love India.

(iv) Which word in the passage means ‘old and torn’?

Ans. tattered

(v) What does the title ‘Lost Spring’ symbolize?

(A) Lost blooming childhood.

(B) Lost spring season.

(D) Lost age.

(vi) Complete the sentence with an appropriate explanation as per the extract.

The children are forced to live a life of exploitation because __________________

Ans. of extreme poverty

(B) My breath was gone. I was frightened. Father laughed, but there was terror in my heart at the overpowering force of the waves. My introduction to the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool revived unpleasant memories and stirred childish fears. But in a little while I gathered confidence. I paddled with my new water wings, watching the other boys and trying to learn by aping them. I did this two or three times on different days and was just beginning to feel at ease in the water when the misadventure happened.

(i) Choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.

Statement 1: The author’s father laughed to mock his son’s inability to swim.

Statement 2: The author wanted to swim just to prove to his father that he can swim.

(A) Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false.

(B) Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true.

(C) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot be inferred.

(D) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be inferred.

(ii) “My introduction to the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool revived unpleasant memories and stirred childish fears.” It can be inferred that this was a clear case of __________.

(A) suppression

(B) oppression

(D) repression

(iii) The misadventure that took place right after the author felt comfortable was that ____________

Ans. a bully tossed him into the pool for the sake of fun.

(iv) Choose the option that describes the equipment used by the author while learning to swim.

(A) Option 1

(B) Option 2

(D) Option 4

(v) What is the theme of the story “Deep Water”?

Ans. The theme of the story is victory in facing the fear. ‘Deep Water’ deals with the childhood fear of Douglas. The story focuses on the fact that childhood fears must never be treated lightly.

(vi) Name the writer of the chapter.

(A) Anees Jung

(B) Kamala Das

(C) William Douglas

(D) Louis Fischer

V. Answer ANY FIVE of the following in 40-50 words each: [2 × 5 = 10]

(i) What words did M Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class? What did they mean?

Ans. Before dismissing the last class in French, M Hamel became emotional. He could not say anything to his students though he wanted to say a lot. So he turned towards the blackboard and wrote ‘Vive La France!’ It means ‘Long Live France’.

(ii) What does Neruda wish fishermen and war-mongers to do?

Ans. Fishermen should not harm whales in the sea. War-mongers who destroy the environment use poisonous gases, and firearms. They must stop the business of killing, as whales and men are essential part of the environment.

(iii) Why are the young trees described as sprinting?

Ans. The poet is driving to the Cochin airport. When she looks outside, the young trees seem to be running past them due to the speed of the car. The poet presents a contrast—her ‘dozing’ old mother and the ‘sprinting’ young trees. The young trees running spiritedly in the opposite direction stand in sharp contrast to the poetess’ aged and pale-looking mother. The sprinting trees depict the image of youthfulness. They are full of energy and symbolize vitality and life, whereas the old mother’s inactivity represents end of life. The sharp contrast brings out theme of the poem.

(iv) How will ‘Keeping Quiet’ protect one’s environment?

Ans. ‘Keeping Quiet’ will protect our environment, as it will give everyone time to introspect and to think about the consequences of their actions. Human beings will not harm other creatures and all wars will come to an end. Man will not indiscriminately exploit nature for his vested interests and harm himself.

(v) Describe the irony in Saheb’s name.

Ans. Saheb’s full name was Saheb–e–Alam. It means the ‘Lord of the Universe. However, the irony was that the poor boy was not even his own master. He was a rag–picker and a refugee from Bangladesh whose family had settled down in Seemapuri after their fields were destroyed by storms and floods. Instead of being a lord, he wandered on the roads along with other barefooted poor boys like him.

(vi) Despite his philosophical insights, the vagabond fails to resist temptations. What would you attribute this to? Explain with reference to any instance from the text.

Ans. The metaphor of the rattrap highlights the theory of crime and punishment.

Crimes, such as theft or giving in to temptation, are compared with bait and subsequent imprisonment in a trap. Moreover, in spite of knowing the fact, people fail to resist temptations owing to their smartness to befool others. The vagabond also could not resist the temptation and stole the thirty Kronor bills.

However, the human predicament forms the basis of the story where the story of the rattrap serves to bring out a lesson in moral values. That’s why Edla’s kindness again reformed the peddler’s ways.

VI. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each: [2 × 2 = 4]

(i) Where had Dr. Sadao first met his wife? What had been his initial reaction?

Ans. Sadao had met Hana at an American professor’s house. The professor and his wife had been kind people. They wanted to do something for their few foreign students. At Professor Harley’s house that night, Sadao met Hana, a new student, for whom he developed a liking. But later Sadao waited to fall in love with her until he was sure that Hana was Japanese.

(ii) Why did Derry insist that he would go back to Mr. Lamb?

Ans. Derry developed a new vision of life under Mr Lamb’s guidance. He became positive and looked happy. Derry no longer cared about his face and looks. He was more concerned with himself, what he thought and felt, what he wanted to see and find out and hear. He knew that if he did not go back to Mr Lamb’s garden then, he would never go anywhere in the world again. He wanted the world. He no longer wanted to shun it or avoid the people.

(iii) Why is Antarctica the place to go to understand the earth’s past, present, and future?

Ans. Antarctica is the only place on earth that has not supported the human population. Therefore, it remains almost as pure, as it used to be millions of years ago. There we can observe how a little change can affect the environment.

Besides, half–a–million–year–old carbon records lie trapped in its layers of ice.

Therefore, if we want to study the Earth’s past, present, and future, Antarctica is the right place.

VII. Answer ANY ONE of the following in 120-150 words: [1 × 5 = 5]

(i) 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.

Ans. The story revolves around the theory that life is one big rattrap This implies that if one takes something wrongfully, the person will end up getting trapped in life as a consequence. The peddler felt that the whole world was a big rattrap that sets baits for people. The peddler earned his living by petty thievery.

The crofter had treated the peddler with hospitality, and had even reposed his trust in the poor vagabond. Still the peddler robbed him and was quite pleased with his smartness. However, the fear of getting caught haunted him. So, he avoided the public highway and turned into the woods. His reaction reveals that he was feeling guilty for having stolen the crofter’s money. His heart was filled with remorse and self-loathing for his act of weakness. However, his thoughts are perhaps also a way of justifying his crime.

Nevertheless, he turns over a new leaf when he receives compassion and trust from the ironmaster’s daughter. The protagonist believed till then in the dismal side of human nature.

Edla saw the peddler for the first time when she came to fetch him home. She noticed at once that the man was afraid. She guessed that he was either a thief or a runaway culprit. Despite this, she requested him to stay. She was spontaneous and friendly, and coaxed the peddler into spending the Christmas with them. He also accepted the fur coat, and wore it over his rags. Edla expressed her surprise about his miserable plight and noticed that there was nothing to show that he was an educated man. When in the church, she realized that he was a thief; she never once expressed her fear. Her trust and compassion helped in reforming the peddler.

The peddler’s first “true” Christmas at the ironmaster’s house made him to change his ways and honour people’s trust in him. The story validates the concept that compassion revolves around humankind and the consideration of others. The peddler makes amends by returning the money he had previously stolen from the old man who had sheltered him. The tale also throws light on the value of second chance, stating that everyone should get another chance in life.

(ii) Why is the Champaran episode considered to be the beginning of the Indian struggle for Independence?

Ans. The Champaran episode was a landmark in the Gandhian style of fighting against the British. It grew out of an attempt to make the sufferings of poor peasants less severe.

The peasants of Champaran were in great fear of the British government because they were forced to plant 15% of their holdings with Indigo and surrender the entire produce to the landlord. When synthetic indigo came, the landlords released them after demanding compensation from them. The innocent peasants agreed without realising what they were doing. When Raj Kumar Shukla told Gandhiji about it, Gandhiji visited Champaran and realized that the peasants were greatly in fear of the British. He realized that it was necessary to liberate them of their fear of British. After the Civil Disobedience Movement, the farmers also got encouraged and realised that they too had rights and defenders as well. It was a spontaneous demonstration around the courthouse which made everyone realise that it was the beginning of the Indian struggle for independence. Everyone also realized that they could stand against the British, and they could not order them around in their own country. That is why the Champaran episode is considered to be the beginning of the Indian struggle for independence.

VIII. Answer ANY ONE of the following in 120-150 words: [1 × 5 = 5]

Apparent illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection. Discuss with reference to ‘The Third Level’.

Ans. It is true that apparent illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection. A good number of scientific inventions sounded ridiculous and absurd till some brilliant minds gave them a concrete shape. Before the Wright Brothers invented the first airplane, nobody could have dared to believe that man could fly. There are many other examples of inventions which were conceived in dreams but now are part of our everyday reality. All this emphasizes that fantasies of one point of time that seem illogical may turn out to be revolutionary things that change the future of the mankind. It would not be far-fetched to think about railway stations fitted with timemachine devices from one era to another. It is just a matter of time.

The Tiger King left no stone unturned to disprove the astrologer’s prediction but to no avail. Imagine a conversation with the Tiger King and the hunter who killed the 100th tiger, moments before his death. Create this exchange in 100-120 words.

Ans. The Tiger King had resolved to kill one hundred tigers. For ten years, he killed seventy tigers in his kingdom. Then the tigers became extinct in the forests of Pratibandapuram. Then the Maharaja married a girl from a state which possessed a large tiger population. Each time he visited his father–in–law, he killed five or six tigers. In this way, he was successful in killing ninety–nine tigers. However, the last tiger caused the greatest problem. There was news of a tiger being in a village, but the tiger did not appear. Finally, the clever Deewan brought one from People’s Park in Madras. The king was informed and he went for the kill. He aimed at the tiger, but the tiger fell down unconscious after being hit. The tiger was finally killed by the village hunters and in this way, the hundredth tiger was actually not killed by the King

Class XII – English Practice Paper – 4 – Answers