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COMMON II PRE-BOARD EXAMINATION 2015-2016

ENGLISH ( CORE)

Class: XII Time Allowed: 3 hours Maximum Marks 100

General Instructions:

1. This paper is divided into 3 Sections: A , B and C. All the sections are compulsory.

2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary.

Read these instructions very carefully and follow them faithfully.

3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

SECTION -A: READING 30 Marks

1. Read the following passage given below carefully: 12 Marks

1 A few months ago, I looked everywhere for my high school and college certificates

but couldn‟t find them. Then, realising the manner in which I had been storing all

kinds of paper documents – in drawers, under beds, in old suitcases – I got myself two

dozen plastic files in assorted colours. I gave each file a name like “ User Manuals “

or “Property Docs” or Taxes FY 10 to FY 15”. Indeed, there‟s one labelled

“Certificates” too, which had started this process in the first place. By dedicating that

file to my 17 years of getting an education, I hoped my missing school and college

diplomas would somehow find their way to their new home.

2 I‟m not worried anyway. First, I‟ve never lost anything. Things only get misplaced in

our house. Second, who‟d want to see those certificates at this point in my life? I‟m

long past the age when you go for job interviews, or when some young girl might say,

“Daddy doesn‟t believe you are a graduate”.

3 Misplacing is such a comforting word. Why, it suggests that a certain object is not

“irrecoverably lost”. So it will in the future be recovered. Weeks ago, I was in my

study, where I had removed my computer‟s side panel, secured by a single half-inch

screw. I do this occasionally to vacuum dust out. While I was putting the panel back,

the screw slipped out. I saw it fall. I think I even saw it bounce on the tiled floor. But

then it vanished.

4 I looked all over the floor, below the computer desk, below the nearby bookshelf,

even on the veranda net to the room. I then used the vacuum cleaner to suck every

molecule it could from anywhere the screw could have remotely rested. Then, after

covering my face with a towel. I pulled the vacuum cleaner‟s bag out and emptied it.

All it contained was a load of dust bunnies, hair, a few paper clips, and a pearl ear

ring that had been missing from months! Of course I had always, rightly, insisted it

had only been misplaced.

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5 However, no PC screw in VC. And I wasn‟t letting anything – not even a screw-screw

up any work I had to do. I replaced the computer‟s side panel without the screw and it

stayed there in its slot. Weeks later, the misplaced screw hasn‟t made a difference –

I‟m writing this on the same PC.

6 Now, from my long-time understanding of misplaced objects, I know how they are

often finally located. Consider more examples. I was wrapping a gift and couldn‟t

find the cello tape anywhere. So I managed with a small tube of glue. Then, one day,

as I was searching for a misplaced cheque book, I found the cello tape. Another day, I

misplaced my keys (happens regularly). It was nearly time to leave for work when I

realised that my wallet too was missing. (Fortunately, that morning I had not

misplaced my glasses making any searching easier.) That‟s when my wife asked, “Did

you take the sandwiches I packed for you?”

7 “No”, I said and started to look for the foil-wrapped sandwiches, my lunch, which had

surely seen ten minutes earlier. Not in the kitchen, not on the desk, in the hall or the

fridge. By now I had even started mildly suggesting that it was she who must have

misplaced my lunch. Despite that, she charitably took over the sandwich search while

I quietly looked for my keys and wallet. After all she could always make another

sandwich. Finally, she came to the hall looking like she always does when she finds

something I had misplaced. “You‟d kept it next to the bed, my dear,” she said, along

with your wallet and your keys. Here ... you are getting late.”

8 The point I‟m trying to make: If you want to find something you‟ve misplaced, it

usually helps to trick it into being found by looking for something else.

9 It gets a bit more knotty if misplaced things leave the house. Four years ago, my

friend and former editor Ashok Mahadevan had lent me a set of Seinfeld comedy

DVDs. I‟d watched and re-watched them, since he was in no hurry to get them back.

One day, recently, I was visiting Ashok‟s house when he said something funny.

“Ha, ha,” I laughed. “You sound like Jerry Seinfeld.”

Ashok‟s wife Jessica laughed too. “You know, we used to have a whole set of

Seinfeld DVDs,” she then told me sentimentally. “I enjoyed them so much. I have no

idea where they are now. I‟ve asked all my friends .....,”

“They‟re all at my house,” I interrupted, Jessica was delighted.

“But I always knew they were with him,” said Ashok matter-of-factly.

The Seinfeld discs returned to their rightful home the very next week.

10 Jessica claims she‟d asked her husband about them but he‟d had no idea. Ashok can‟t

recall any of that. But, had she questioned him thoroughly about some other missing

object that he had no hand in misplacing, the DVDs might have showed up three years

ago. Why, he‟d then have responded with something like, “I don‟t know a thing about

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your digital camera, but I lent your Seinfeld DVDs to ....” My school and college

certificates are still missing. Actually, I‟m a bit scared to even search. What if I just

end up finding the screw?

On the basis of your understanding of this passage answer the questions by choosing

the best option from the given options: (1 x 4 = 4)

(a) Why is the narrator not worried now?

(i) Because he found his certificates

(ii) Because he knew that he had only misplaced them.

(iii) Because they were not originals

(iv) Because he was sure he would get another copy.

(b) The narrator finds his cello tape while searching for his _________

(i) Misplaced cheque book

(ii) Wallet and keys.

(iii) Sandwiches

(iv) Glue

(c) How did the narrator fix his computer‟s side panel?

(i) With a spare screw

(ii) With a new screw

(iii) He left it like that.

(iv) With a piece of wood

(d) Why did the narrator unscrew the computer panel?

(i) To fix the computer

(ii) To install a new part.

(iii) To clean the computer

(iv) To install a new panel

Answer the following questions about 15-20 words 1 x 6 = 6 Marks

(e) What does the narrator realise on his initial search?

(f) Why is „misplaced‟ a comforting word for the narrator?

(g) How does the use of a vacuum cleaner to find the screw not help?

(h) What was the narrator‟s understanding of misplaced objects?

(i) When, according the narrator does the situation become knotty?

(j) Why is the narrator afraid of looking for his lost certificates?

(k) Find words from the passage which mean the same as 1x2 = 2Marks

(i) Incapable of being regained (Para 3 )

(ii) Difficult (Para 9 )

2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow : 10 Marks

1. The first written public examinations were introduced over 2,000 years ago

with the establishment of the imperial examination system in 606 AD in

China. By the middle of the 19th

century, competitive examinations had been

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introduced in Britain and India to select government officials. Public

examinations in schools have a shorter, but still considerable, history.

2. At present, the examination system in India is characterised by heterogeneity.

They differ in their vintage, organisational design, financial stability,

autonomy, organisational culture and credibility. For instance, the National

Institute of Open Schooling is unique in conducting exams through the

distance mode; the Indian School certificate Examination confines itself to

only private schools; and the West Bengal Board of Madrasa Education is for

Islamic educational institutions only. In a situation where public funds are

involved, the equity, efficiency and transparency of this expenditure need to

be assessed to ensure that the taxpayers‟ money is being spent with due care

and concern. The Amrik Singh report (1997) on reorganising boards

wondered, “Can there also be a system whereby it becomes possible to grade

and categorise the boards in respect of how efficiently and honestly

examinations are organised?”

3 To do so, a set of parameters were chosen to measure effectiveness,

transparency and economic efficiency of the functioning of these

organisations. These include indicators like cost incurred per student, fee

charged per student, number of examinees per employee and number of

affiliated schools per employee. An analysis was made of the boards chosen

on the basis of these parameters. The functioning of a total of 20 boards was

analysed in terms of 18 performance indicators in 2005.

4 The data collected from the states shows that most boards have an operating

surplus. However, the boards seem to be more sensitive to the needs of the

differently abled. All of them have some special provisions for such

candidates. While these provisions vary widely in scope, most provide for a

longer duration of examination and concessions in the examination of

languages. The CBSE along with the Maharashtra board, seems to fare the

best.

5 Another important measure of effectiveness of the functioning of the boards is

the time taken for declaration of examination results. It was found that this

ranged from a mere 26 days in the case of Karnataka Secondary Education

Examination Board in 2005 to 48 days for Class tenth in neighbouring

Maharashtra. The Supreme Court has recently issued directions that results

should be declared within 45 days from the end of examinations. In 2005, 10

of the 20 boards, which provided this information, could not declare results

within 45 days.

6 The reason for such a wide variation in performance in such a vital parameter

was the processes utilised. Boards, which have adopted a centralised system

of assessment in comparison to the earlier system of sending answer sheets to

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examiners, have an obvious edge. Similarly many boards have outsourced the

work of compilation of results faster and used technology extensively. These

boards are also able to declare results faster. In addition, agencies which have

consciously designed question papers with a high proportion of multiple-

choice responses do not need much time for evaluation. In fact, the Karnataka

board has 60 per cent of all the questions as objective type.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer the questions that

follow with the help of given options (1 x 2 = 2)

(a) Where was the first public examinations introduced?

(i) India

(ii) Britain

(iii) China

(iv) Both (i) and (ii)

(b) How have the boards quickened the process of compilation of results ?

(i) By outsourcing

(ii) By reducing the number of questions

(iii) By increasing multiple-choice questions

(iv) Both (i) and (iii)

Answer the following 15-20 words (1x 6 = 6)

(c) How have the Chinese played an important role in enhancing the education

system?

(d) Mention any two distinguishing features of examination in India?

(e) What provisions does the Board make for the differently abled candidates?

(f) What is the time limit fixed by Supreme Court for declaring the results?

(g) What efforts are being made by different Boards to declare the results at the

earliest?

(h) What factors make Karnataka Secondary School Examination Board superior to

the other Boards?

(i) Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following : ( 1x 2 = 2 )

(I) Keep on hold / restrict ( para 2 )

(II) Factor ( Para 6 )

3. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: 8 Marks

1. People being what they are get practical about creating their own currency as long as

it is honoured. In Africa sea shells were used until the 19th

century as money. But

gold, known for its short supply and lasting quality – has been the most popular non-

currency form of money and is a standard for central banks.

2. Now in the age of the Internet, and digital technologies, money is undergoing an

exciting makeover with talk of virtual currencies, mobile wallets and software apps

that pretty much do what gold has been doing for centuries and currency notes have

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been doing for a while. Technologies such as near-field communications are being

used to make the mobile phone an instrument of payment without the customer

having to sign a credit card voucher, thus making it more secure.

3 In general, software apps are being developed to substitute for money in various

ways. Some companies like Starbucks allow „digital tipping‟ of its baristas through a

mobile app. Pre-paid cash cards are being used as swipe instruments where customers

do not need credit cards or even bank accounts. The Net Gen ATM machines will

recognize your face through facial biometric technologies.

4. Bitcoin, the most popular virtual currencies started circulating in 2009. Its current

market value has been estimated at around $8 billion, to 80000 transactions occurring

daily, according to reputed accounting firms. However, Washington‟s Internal

Revenue Service ruled that bitcoin are not currency but more like property – and thus

subject to capital gains tax.

5. Meanwhile other virtual currencies are taking off – and influencing politics. In

Iceland, which saw its banking system more or less wiped off, during the 2008 global

financial crisis, there emerged the eurocoin a new currency now estimated to be worth

$11.37. This currency is aimed at fighting capital controls imposed by the Iceland

government.

6. Crypto currencies are a very important milestone in this fight for liberty from political

control. They bring the hope of a new era of free currencies immune to the meddling

of politicians.

7. In addition, money is undergoing an exciting makeover through innovations galore.

Telecom companies the world over, for instance, with support from their central

banks are offering customers „mobile money‟ as a service. Another innovation that is

much talked about is the mobile wallet and companies are helping their customers

carry the equivalent of cash in their handsets much like one carries travellers‟

cheques.

8. Thus more and more practical solutions are being spawned across the planet to focus

not so much on money‟s „store of value‟ but as a medium of exchange.

(a) On the basis of your reading of the passage make notes on it using headings and sub-

headings. Use recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary (minimum 4) Use a

format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title for it. (5 Marks

(b) Write a summary of the above passage in about 80 words (3 Marks

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SECTION- B: ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS 30 MARKS

4. The Literary Club of your school is organising a debate contest in the school. Draft a

formal invitation in not more than 50 words, inviting Dr. T Balasubramanyam, Professor of

English, Telangana University to be one of the judges for the competition. You are Vivek /

Veena, the Principal of Model Public School, Hyderabad. (4 Marks)

OR

You are Ramesh / Ramani, the owner of an independent house in Vasant Vihar – I, New

Delhi. You plan to sell it off. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words to be

published in “Delhi Times” giving all the relevant details. 4 M

( 4 Marks )

5 Recently you went to your native village to visit your grandparents. You saw that

some of the children in the age group 5-14 years ( the age which they should have been at

school ) remained at home, were working in the fields or simply loitering in the streets. Write

a letter in 120-150 words to the editor of a national daily analysing the problem and offering

solutions to it. You are Harish/ Harini G-118, Mount Kailash, Kanpur. (6 Marks)

OR

You are Rohan/ Radhika, the secretary of the Students‟ Forum of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan ,

Indira Nagar, . You have planned an excursion to Jog Falls during summer vacation. Write a

letter in 120-150 words to The General Manager, Southern Railway, for reservation of coach

for 70 students from Bengaluru to Shimoga and back, supplying all necessary information.

(6 Marks)

6. A number of your classmates (especially those from science and commerce streams)

bunk their classes in order to attend coaching centres. Write a debate in 150-200 words on

“Tuition at coaching centres is not essential”. (10 Marks)

School teachers better equipped

Infrastructure much better at schools

Philanthropic approach

Coaching centres – money minting machines

No infrastructure

Competition oriented education

Schools should reorient their teaching process

OR

Mobile phone of today is no longer a mere means of communication. Music lovers are so

glued to it that they don‟t pay attention to the traffic even while crossing the roads. This leads

to accidents sometimes fatal ones.

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Write a speech in 150-200 words to be delivered in the morning assembly advising the

students to be careful in the use of this otherwise very useful gadget. Imagine you are the

Principal, Daffodils Public School, Hyderabad. (10 Marks)

7. People live a hectic life and hardly get time to interact with each other. Most of the

free time goes in interacting online. The real social interaction has got lost somewhere. Write

an article on “Real Social Interactions or Virtual Social Interactions” in 150-200 words

expressing your views and suggesting measures to change the situation. You are Anuj/

Anjali. (10 Marks)

OR

Prime Minister Narender Modi‟s Cleanlinesss Campaign is a step towards healthier habits

and cleaner surroundings. Write an article on “Clean Individual; Cleaner India” in about 200

words. (10 Marks)

SECTION- C : TEXT BOOKS AND LONG READING TEXT

(40 Marks)

8. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow: (4 Marks)

But after the airport‟s

Security check, standing a few yards

Away, I looked again at her, wan pale

As a late winter‟s moon and felt that old

familiar ache, my childhood fear,

but all I said was see you soon, Amma,

all I did was mile and smile and smile.

(a) What does the poet do after the security check? (1 Mark

(b) What effect did this action have on her? (1 Mark

(c) What do the parting words signify? (1 Mark

(d) Why has the mother been compared to the „late winter‟s moon‟? (1 Mark

OR

...... On their slag heap, these children

Wear skins peeped through by bones and spectacles of steel

With mended glass, like bottle bits on stones.

All of their time and space are foggy slum.

So blot their maps with slums as big as doom.

(a) Who are these children?

(b) Which two images are used to describe these slums? (1Mark

(c) What sort of life do these children lead? (1Mark

(d) What future does the poet predict for these children? (1Mark

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9. Answer any four of the following in 30-40 words each: 3 x 4 = 12 Marks

(a) What do the people of Seemapuri look for in the garbage? What does it mean

to them? (Lost Spring )

(b) Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler? (The Rat trap)

(c) How do we get joy from life which is otherwise full of sorrows ? (A Thing of

Beauty)

(d) Why does Evans cover himself with a blanket? What proves to be a hindrance

in his purpose?

(e) List the two things that take place on the seventh day after the American

soldier was found by Dr. Sadao Why did Hana feel scared of the second?

( The Enemy)

(f) Why does Gandhiji settle for 25% of the refund?

10. Answer any one of the following in 120-150 words:

Describe the circumstances that lead to the bribing of the British Officer by the Tiger

King. What personality traits of the Tiger King does this act highlight? (6 Marks

OR

Describe how Mr. Lamb tried to build Derry‟s courage and confidence.

11. Answer any one of the following in about 125 – 150 words 6 marks

“...... there was terror in my heart at the overpowering force of the waves,” When did

Douglas start fearing water? Describe the experience had further strengthened its

hold on his mind and personality? How did it affect his life? (6 Marks

OR

Sophie lives in a world full of dreams which are beyond her reach. Discuss with

references to “Going Places?” (6 Marks)

12 Answer any one of the following in 120-150 words: (6 Marks

Describe the circumstances that lead to Griffin making himself completely invisible at

„Coach and Horses‟? How does he do it?

13. Answer the following in 120-150 words: (6 Marks

Attempt a character sketch of Dr Kemp ( 6 Marks

*******

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II COMMON PRE BOARD EXAMINATION 2015-16

SUB: ENGLISH CORE CLASS:XII MM:100 TIME: 3HRS

MARKING SCHEME

SECTION A: READING

1. COMPREHENSION PASSAGE

NOTE: No mark(s) should be deducted for mistakes in usage and grammar,

spelling, or word limit. Full marks may be awarded if a student has been able to

identify the core ideas. If a student literally lifts a portion of the given passage as an

answer to a question, no mark(s) to be deducted for this as long as it is relevant.

1 ( a ) ii - Because he knew that he had only misplaced them

( b ) i - misplaced cheque book

( c) iii- He left it like that

(d) iii. - To clean the computer

e) The narrator realises the manner in which he has been storing all kinds

of paper documents, in drawers, under beds and in old suitcases.

f ) ‘Misplaced’ is a comforting word for the narrator as it suggests that

things are not irreversibly lost. Things only got misplaced in his house. It

will be recovered in the future.

g) The use of a vacuum cleaner to find the screw does not help the

narrator as the vaccum cleaner fails to retrieve the lost computer screw.

h) The narrator understands that the misplaced objects are often finally

located. If the narrator looks for something he misplaced in the present he

finds something that he lost earlier.

i) When things leave the house

j) He might not find the lost certificates/ he might find some insignificant

thing he lost earlier

k) (i) irrecoverable

(ii) knotty

2. COMPREHENSION PASSAGE

2. a (iii) China

b (iv) Both (i) and (iii)

c The first written public examinations were the imperial examination

system in China. This led to introduction of competitive examinations

in Britain and India to select government officials.

d Two distinguishing features of examination system in India : vintage/

financial stability/ autonomy/ organisational culture/credibility/

organisational design.

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e The basic parameters to measure effectiveness in functioning of an

organisation include indicators like cost incurred per student, fee

charged per student, number of examinees’ per employee and number

of affiliated schools per employee.

f The Supreme Court fixed time limit for declaring board results as 45

days from the end of examination.

g Some efforts being made by different Boards to declare the results at

the earliest are as follows: Adopting centralised system of assessment,

higher number of multiple-choice questions and not only outsourcing

the work of compilation of results but also using technology.

h The Karnataka Board has 60 per cent objective type questions. This

helped in faster declaration of result, thereby making Karnataka

Secondary School Examination Board superior to other boards.

g (I) confine

(II) parameter

3 NOTE MAKING AND SUMMARISING

Note

If a student has attempted only summary or only notes, due credit

should be given.

1 Mark allotted for the title be given if a student has written the

title either in Q3 (a) or Q3 (b) part

Min. 3 main headings and 3 subheadings to form content . The notes

provided below are only guidelines. Any other title, main points and sub-

points should be accepted if they are indicative of the candidate’s

understanding of the given passage, and the notes include the main points,

with suitable and recognizable abbreviations. Complete sentences not be

accepted as notes (In such cases ½ - 1 Mark may be deduced from marks

allotted to content.)

Numbering of points can be indicated in different ways, and these should

be accepted as long as a consistent pattern is followed.

(a) NOTE MAKING

Distribution of Marks

Abbreviations / Symbols (with/without key ) any four 1 Mark

Title 1 Mark

Content (minimum 3 headings and sub-headings, with proper

indentation and notes ) 3 Marks

Suggested Notes

(a) Title : New Ways with Money

1. Currencies of the past

1.1.Sea shells in 19th

century Africa

1.2.Gold std form with central banks

2. New-Age Money types

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2.1 virtual currencies mobile wallets, software apps

2.2 tech dev (near – field technologies)

2.3 customers secured by nullifying credit card voucher signature

2.4 digital tipping at Starbucks baristas

2.5 facial biometric equipped ATMs

3. Virtual currency makeovers

3.1 Bitcoin: (estd 2009)

3.2 eurocoin of Iceland (estd post -2008 crisis )

3.3. crypto currency free of pol control

4. Attitudinal change towards money

4.1 central banks issuing ‘mobile money’

4.2 virtual money subject to capital gains-tax

4.3 abolishing pol control on money

(b ) Summary

The summary should include all the important points given in the notes.

Content 2 Marks

Expression 1 Mark

SECTION B : ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS

4.LETTER OF INVITATION

Format: 1M

Content – WHAT, WHERE, WHEN- 2 M

Expression :

Grammatical accuracy , spellings 1 M

OR

ADVERTISEMENT

Content and expression 4 Marks

Relevant details

Due credit to be given for the economy of words.

Key to Abbreviations

Std Standard tech dev technological development

Estd established pol political

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5. LETTER WRITING

NOTE: No marks are to be awarded if only the format is given. Credit should be given to

the candidate’s creativity in presentation of ideas.

Format 1 M – Writer’s address, date, receiver’s address, subject, salutation, body,

complementary close and signature.

Content 3M

Expression: 2 M –

coherence and relevance 1 M

grammar and spelling 1 M

Relevant Details to be written

OR

Same as above

6. SPEECH WRITING

Format - Introduction & proper conclusion 1 M

Content 4 Marks

Expression :

Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling (2.5 marks)

Coherence and relevance of ideas and style ( 2.5 marks)

Relevant points to be given due credit

Value points given in question

OR

SAME AS ABOVE

Value Points

Chatting and listening to music has become a fad

Forget the traffic

Accidents/ loss of life

Disruption of traffic

Realize the gravity of situation

Resist temptation

Respect own/ others’ lives

7 ARTICLE WRITING

Format ( Title and writer’s name) 1 m

Content 4 Marks

5

Expression :

Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling (2.5 marks)

Coherence and relevance of ideas and style ( 2.5 marks)

OR

Same as above

Q.7. Virtual interactions

Net friends

Net celebrations

Net games

Lose touch with reality

Become recluse

Real interactions

Warm and close bonding

Shared interests

Helpful relations

Healthier and happier lives

OR

Dirty habits of people

Dirty surroundings

Disease prone

Bad impression on others

Campaign

Cleaner habits and cleaner surroundings

Healthier lives

Project a respectable image to outside world

8. This question has been designed to test the students’ understanding of the text and

their ability to interpret, evaluate and respond to the questions based on the given

stanza. In other words it attempts to test their reading comprehension

(a) looks at her for the last time before boarding the flight.

(b) It fills her with familiar ache

(c) A hope of another meeting with the mother

(d) The dull, weak, pale and aged visage of the mother is compared to late

winter’s moon which looks hazy, obscure and lacks shine and strength. She

CBSE Pre Board Set-II Solved QuestionPaper Class XII English Core

Publisher : Faculty Notes Author : Panel Of Experts

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