CBSE Question Paper 2016 class 12 English Core

General Instructions:
(i) This paper is divided into three sections: A, B, and C. All the sections are compulsory.
(ii) Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them faithfully.
(iii) Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

Section – A
(Reading)

Q.1. Read the passage given below:

(a) Maharana Pratap ruled over Mewar only for 25 years. However, he accomplished so much grandeur during his reign that his glory surpassed the boundaries of countries and time turning him into an immortal personality. He along with his kingdom became a synonym for valour, sacrifice and patriotism. Mewar had been a leading Rajput kingdom even before Maharana Pratap occupied the throne. Kings of Mewar, with the cooperation of their nobles and subjects, had established such traditions in the kingdom, as augmented their magnificence despite the hurdles of having a smaller area under their command and less population. There did come a few thorny occasions when the flag of the kingdom seemed sliding down. Their flag once again heaved high in the sky thanks to the gallantry and brilliance of the people of Mewar.
(b) The destiny of Mewar was good in the sense that barring a few kings, most of the rulers were competent and patriotic. This glorious tradition of the kingdom almost continued for 1500 years since its establishment, right from the reign of Bappa Rawal. In fact only 60 years before Maharana Pratap, Rana Sanga drove the kingdom to the pinnacle of fame. His reputation went beyond Rajasthan and reached Delhi. Two generations before him. Rana Kumbha had given a new stature to the kingdom through victories and developmental work. During his reign, literature and art also progressed extraordinarily. Rana himself was inclined towards writing and his works are read with reverence even today The ambience of his kingdom was conducive to the creation of high quality work of art and literature. These accomplishments were the outcome of a longstanding tradition sustained by several generations.
(c) The life of the people of Mewar must have been peaceful and prosperous during the long span of time; otherwise such extraordinary accomplishment in these fields would not have been possible. This is reflected in their art and literature as well as their loving nature. They compensate for lack of admirable physique by their firm but pleasant nature. The ambience of Mewar remains lovely thanks to the cheerful and liberal character of its people.
(d) One may observe astonishing pieces of workmanship not only in the forts and palaces of Mewar but also in public utility buildings. Ruins of many structures which are still standing tall in their grandeur are testimony to the fact that Mewar was not only the land of the brave but also a seat of art and culture. Amidst aggression and bloodshed, literature and art flourished and creative pursuits of literature and artists did not suffer. Imagine, how glorious the period must have been when the Vijaya Stambha which is the sample of our great ancient architecture even today, was constructed. In the same fort, Kirti Stambha is standing high, reflecting how liberal the then administration was which allowed people from other communities and kingdoms to come and carry out construction work. It is useless to indulge in the debate whether the Vijaya Stambha was constructed first or the Kirti Stambha. The fact is that both the capitals are standing side by side and reveal the proximity between the king and the subjects of Mewar.
(e) The cycle of time does not remain the same Whereas the reign of Rana Sanga was crucial in raising the kingdom to the acme of glory, it also proved to be his nemesis. History took a turn. The fortune of Mewar – the land of the brave, started waning. Rana tried to save the day with his acumen which was running against the stream and the glorious traditions for some time.
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage answer each of the questions given below with the help of options that follow:

(a) Maharana Pratap became immortal because:
(i) he ruled Mewar for 25 years.
(ii) he added a lot of grandeur to Mewar.
(iii) of his valour, sacrifice and patriotism.
(iv) both (ii) and (iii)

(b) Difficulties in the way of Mewar were:
(i) lack of cooperation of the nobility.
(ii) ancient traditions of the kingdom.
(iii) its small area and small population.
(iv) the poverty of the subjects.

(c) During thorny occasions:
(i) the flag of Mewar seemed to be lowered.
(ii) the flag of Mewar was hoisted high.
(iii) the people of Mewar showed gallantry.
(iv) most of the rulers heaved a sigh of relief.

(d) Mewar was lucky because:
(i) all of its rulers were competent.
(ii) most of its people were competent.
(iii) most of its rulers were competent.
(iv) only a few of its people were incompetent.

Answer the following questions briefly:

(e) Who is the earliest king of Mewar mentioned in the passage?
(f) What was Rana Kumbha’s contribution to the glory of Mewar?
(g) What does the writer find worth admiration in the people of Mewar?
(h) How could art and literature flourish in Mewar?
(i) How did the rulers show that they cared for their subjects?
(j) What does the erection of Vijaya Stambha and Kirti Stambha in the same fort signify?
(k) Find words from the passage which mean the same as each of the following:
(i) surprising (para 4)
(ii) evidence (para 4)

Ans: a) ii
b) iii
c) i
d) iii
e) Bappa Rawal is the earliest king of Mewar as mentioned in the passage.
f) Rana Kumba gave new stature to the kingdom through victories and development work. Literature and art also progressed during his time. He himself was inclined towards writing and his works are read even today.
g) According to the writer, the loving and pleasant nature of the people of Mewar is worth admiration.
h) Amidst aggression and bloodshed, art and literature flourished in Mewar, as it was the land of the brave.
i) The rulers showed that they cared for their subjects by allowing people from other communities and kingdoms to come and carry out construction work.
j) The erection of Vijaya Stambha and Kirti Stambha in the same fort signify the closeness between the king and the subjects of Mewar.
k) (i) astonishing
(ii) testimony

2. Read the passage given below:

(a) To ensure its perpetuity, the ground is well held by the panther both in space and in time. It enjoys a much wider distribution over the globe than its bigger cousins, and procreates sufficiently profusely to ensure its continuity for all time to come.
(b) There seems to be no particular breeding season of the panther, although its sawing and caterwauling is more frequently heard during winter and summer. The gestation period is about ninety to hundred days (Whipsnade, ninety-two days). The litter normally consists of four cubs, rarely five. Of these, generally two survive and not more than one reaches maturity. I have never come across more than two cubs at the heels of the mother. Likewise, graziers in the forest have generally found only two cubs hidden away among rocks, hollows of trees, and other impossible places.
(c) Panther cubs are generally in evidence in March They are born blind. This is a provision of Nature, against, their drifting away from the place of safety in which they are lodged by their mother, and exposing themselves to the danger of their being devoured by hyenas, jackals, and other predators. They generally open their eyes in about three to four weeks.
(d) The mother alone rears its cubs in seclusion. It keeps them out of the reach of the impulsive and impatient male. As a matter of fact, the mother separates from the male soon after mating and forgets all about their tumultuous union. The story that the male often looks in to find out how the mother is progressing with her cubs has no foundation except in what we wish it should do at least.
(e) The mother carries its cubs about by holding them by the scruff of their neck in its mouth. It trains them to stalk, and teaches them how to deliver the bite of death to the prey. The cubs learn to treat all and sundry with suspicion at their mother’s heels. Instinctively the cubs seek seclusion, keep to cover and protect their flanks by walking along the edge of the forest.
(f) I have never had an opportunity to watch mother panther train its cubs. But in Pilibhit forests, I once saw a tigress giving some lessons to its little ones. I was sitting over its kill at Mala. As the sun set, the tigress materialized in the twilight behind my machan. For about an hour, it scanned and surveyed the entire area looking and listening with the gravest concern. It even went to the road where my elephant was awaiting my signal. The mahout spotted it from a distance and drove the elephant away.
(g) When darkness descended upon the scene and all was well and safe, the tigress called its cubs by emitting a low haa-oon. The cubs, two in number and bigger than a full-grown cat, soon responded. They came trotting up to their mother and hurried straight to the kill in indecent haste. The mother spitted at them so furiously that they doubled back to its heels immediately. Thereafter, the mother and its cubs sat under cover about 50 feet (15 m) away from the kill to watch, wait, look, and listen. After about half an hour’s patient and fidgetless vigil the mother seemed to say ‘paid for’. At this signal, the cubs cautiously advanced, covering their flanks, towards the kill. No longer did they make a beeline for it, as they had done before.
(h) The mother sat watching its cubs eat. and mounted guard on them. She did not partake of the meal.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow:

(a) To protect its cubs the mother panther hides them
(i) among rocks
(ii) in the branches of the trees
(iii) behind the tree trunks
(iv) at its heels

(b) The male panther:
(i) is protective of its cubs
(ii) trains its cubs
(iii) watches the progress of the mother
(iv) is impulsive and impatient

Answer the following questions briefly:
(c) How many cubs does the mother panther rarely deliver?
(d) What may happen if the panther cubs are not born blind?
(e) Why did the mahout drive his elephant away?
(f) Why did the tigress spit at its cubs?
(g) From the narrator’s observation, what do we learn about the nature of the tigress?
(h) Why does the panther not face the risk of extinction?
(i) Find words from the passage which mean the same as each of the following:
(i) moving aimlessly (para 3)
(ii) came down / fell (para 7)

Ans: (a) i
(b) iv
(c) The mother panther rarely delivers five cubs.
(d) If the panther cubs are not born blind, they may drift away from the place of safety, and expose themselves to the danger of being devoured by hyenas, jackals and other predators.
(e) The mahout drove his elephant away, as he had spotted the tigress from the distance. The tigress was scanning and surveying the area, so that she could give some lessons to its young ones.
(f) The tigress spat at the cubs, so that they double back to their heels.
(g) The tigress is very protective of her cubs. She rears the cubs in seclusion and keeps them out of the reach of the impulsive and impatient male. The tigress also trains them to stalk. She also guards on them, while they are eating.
(h) The panther does not face the risk of extinction, as it enjoys a wide distribution over the globe. It also procreates sufficiently to ensure its continuity for all time to come.
(i) (i) drifting
(ii) descended

3. Read the passage given below:

People tend to amass possessions, sometimes without being aware of doing so. They can have a delightful surprise when they find something useful which they did not know they owned. Those who never have to change house become indiscriminate collectors of what can only be described as clutter. They leave unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years in the belief that they may one day need them.
Old people also accumulate belongings for two other reasons, lack of physical and mental energy, and sentiment. Things owned for a long time are full of associations with the past, perhaps with the relatives who are dead, and so they gradually acquire a sentimental value.
Some things are collected deliberately in an attempt to avoid wastage. Among these are string and brown paper, kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened. Collecting small items can be a mania. A lady cuts out from newspapers sketches of model clothes that she would like to buy if she had money. As she is not rich, the chances are that she will never be able to afford such purchases. It is a harmless habit, but it litters up her desk.
Collecting as a serious hobby is quite different and has many advantages. It provides relaxation for leisure hours, as just looking at one’s treasure is always a joy. One doesn’t have to go out for amusement as the collection is housed at home. Whatever it consists of – stamps, records, first editions of books, china – there is always something to do in connection with it, from finding the right place for the latest addition to verifying facts in reference books. This hobby educates one not only in the chosen subject, but also in general matters which have some bearing on it.
There are other benefits also. One gets to meet like-minded collectors to get advice, compare notes, exchange articles, to show off one’s latest find. So one’s circle of friends grows. Soon the hobby leads to travelling, perhaps a meeting in another town, possibly a trip abroad in search of a rare specimen, for collectors are not confined to one country. Over the years one may well become an authority on one’s hobby and will probably be asked to give informal talks to little gatherings and then, if successful, to larger audiences.

(a) On the basis of your understanding of the above passage make notes on it using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary-minimum four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it.
(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words.

Ans: TITLE– Collecting- A Hobby
Notes
1) Collecting possessions- Unaware
Reasons
i. no change of house
ii. need of unwanted objects someday
iii. Sentimental value
iv. avoid wastage

Disadvantages
i. mania
ii. messiness
2) Collecting as a hobby- stamps, records, china

Advantages
i) Relaxation
ii) treasure
iii) amusement at home
iv) always something to do
v) educates in chosen subject and general matters
vi) meet like-minded collectors
b) There are various reasons to collect things. Some do it out of old age, others because of sentimental value. Those who never have to change house become collectors of unwanted objects, which leads to a clutter. But, collecting as a hobby can have many benefits like passing time creatively and educatively, and one does not have to go out for amusement. A person gets to meet like-minded people and also gets to travel a lot. It gives him self-confidence, and over the years, fame.

Section – B
(Writing Skills)

4. Principal, Sunrise Global School, Agra requires a receptionist for her school. Draft a suitable advertisement in about 50 words to be published in the classified columns of a national newspaper giving all the necessary details of qualifications and experience required in the receptionist.

Ans:

Or

Water supply will be suspended for eight hours (10 am to 6 pm) on 6th of March for cleaning of the water tank. Write a notice in about 50 words advising the residents to store water for a day. You are Karan Kumar/Karuna Bajaj, Secretary, Janata Group Housing Society, Palam Vihar, Kurnool.
Ans:

5. Yesterday you went to Sunrise Hospital, Market Road, New Delhi taking with you the victim of a hit and run accident. There were chaotic conditions in the causalty department. The injured was attended to after a lot of precious time had been lost. Write a letter of complaint in 120-150 words to the Medical Superintendent. You are Karan/Karuna, M114, Mall Road, Delhi.
Ans:
M114, Mall Road
Delhi
1 March 2016
The Medical Superintendent
Sunrise Hospital
Market Road
New Delhi
Subject: Complaint against chaotic conditions in casualty department
Sir/ Madam,

It is very unfortunate on my part to write this letter. I came across a victim of a hit and run accident yesterday. I rushed the victim to your reputed hospital. But due to the chaotic conditions in the casualty department, the patient received the first aid after five precious hours.
Through this letter, I intend to draw your attention towards the disordered conditions of the casualty department. As you know that most of the patients that are brought in the casualty department are the ones requiring immediate medical aid at the appropriate time. Considering the problems faced by the patients and their family members on a regular basis, I request you to make the necessary changes at the earliest because every life is precious. Your efforts would be much appreciated.

Thanking you in anticipation
Your truly
Karan

Or

Lack of job opportunities in the rural areas is forcing people to migrate to cities. Every big city thus has a number of slums in it. Life in these slums is miscerable. Write a letter in 120-150 words to the editor of a national newspaper on how we can improve the living conditions in these slums. You are Karan/Karuna, M114, Mall Road, Delhi.
Ans:
M114, Mall Road
Delhi
1 March 2016
The Editor
The Times of India
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
Delhi
Subject: The living conditions in slum areas
Sir,

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the attention to one of the gravest situations these days, the living conditions in slums. The living conditions of the slum areas in metropolitan cities are due to the high density of population. Migration, from villages to cities, can be one of the major causes for this grievance.
Owing to the fact that our villages are running out of job opportunities, village people are compelled to migrate to the cities. But our ‘cities’ are incapable of giving shelter as well as food to these many migrants. The lack of space, water, food and job gave rise to the slum areas. The houses in these areas are single room tenements with no ventilation. People use common latrines and water taps. Often, they bathe and defecate in open places. They do not have the access to safe drinking water. The lanes are narrow and the sewage water stagnates in open drains, which emit a bad odour. This stagnated water leads to several diseases, which do not get treated by doctors due to lack of money as well as a lack of proper facilities.
I wish to utilise this space to request our Government to take positive steps to improve the living conditions in slums. Moreover, NGOs and street play groups can start a cleanliness and literacy drive in these areas. I hope the concerned authorities will look into this matter. Their efforts would be highly appreciated.

Yours truly,
Karan

6. ‘The policy of reservation of seats for admission to the professional courses is good for the deprived sections of society.’ Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against the motion.
Ans: Debate on Reservations – For the motion
The caste system in India has been well-entrenched from time immemorial. The history of India saw discrimination against several lower castes groups. They were often subjected to inhumane treatment and injustice by the upper castes groups. Keeping in mind the atrocity faced by these groups for so many years, the Government of India decided to adopt the policy of reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SC), Schedules Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) groups to the educational and professional courses. This topic has been highly debatable and contentious.
The policy of reservation was introduced by Britishers in 1933. After the independence of India, the Mandal Commission made major changes in 1979 in favour of the deprived sections of our society. As pointed out by my friend that this policy promotes inequality, but I think that the reservation policy was made to bridge the gap between all the sections of the society. It was an attempt to create a more egalitarian society. Since these groups were historically discriminated and were the victims of societal oppression, this policy was introduced to rectify the historical wrong. In other words, the policy of reservation is only a corrective and defensive mechanism to protect and promote minorities.
Because every human being has the right to be educated and live a life of dignity, reservations provide them with a platform to rise from their current status of poverty or backwardness. Most of my fellow participants are pointing out that this policy is against the right to equality. But on the other hand, I see these reservations are the policy of positive discrimination in order to bring the backward classes in the mainstream by reserving their opportunities.

Or

Write a speech in 150-200 words on ‘Benefits of early rising’ to be delivered by you in the morning assembly of your school. You are Karuna/Karan, Head Girl/Head Boy.
Ans: Benefits of Early Rising
Good morning everyone
Respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends, I, Karuna, the Head girl of your school, is going to give a short speech on the benefits of early rising.
I am sure you must have heard ‘Early to bed and early to rise keeps a man healthy, wealthy and wise’. Rising early in the morning is the secret of health and happiness. An early start to the day means you have more energy through the day.
Our mother nature likes us to work during the daytime and to rest at night. This is the reason early risers are proactive and better participants. They can plan their entire day ahead. The morning time is the ideal and quietest time to study. Two hours of studying in the morning time is equal to four to five hours of studying the same topic in the evening. Early risers can also devote some quiet time for meditation or introspection. They can fetch an hour of exercising in the fresh air. Fresh air is the most effective medicine. The birds chirping in the garden, the smell of flowers and the freshness of dew drops can surely be a great start to your day. They can spend a good time socialising with friends and family. They can play some outdoor game or have a relaxed breakfast.
Lastly, it has been observed that people who get up early in the morning achieve their goals easily as compared to the late risers. This is because they have more time to concentrate and focus on their goals and plans. So, it has been rightly said that ‘the early bird catches the worm’.

7. India is a land of diversity. One way in which it makes us feel proud of it is the number of festivals we enjoy. Write an article in 150-200 words on ‘Festivals of India’. You are Karuna/Karan.
Ans: Festivals of India
By Karuna
The heterogeneous nature of India is perfectly exemplified in the form of its festivals. India is a land of diverse culture and religion. It is the only country that willfully withstands the slogan ‘Unity in Diversity’. There is a catalogue of festivals that are celebrated wholeheartedly by the Indian population. Ranging from Diwali, Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi till Eid and Christmas, the people of India relish a diverse array of festivals.
The varied festivals, not only reveal the religious diversity but also the cultural amalgamation, existing in the country. The festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Pongal and Onam are celebrated in some parts of India and yet they are considered major festivals of the country. The best part about the festivals in India is that they are based on a variety of factors such as change of season, harvest, movement of the moon and the uniqueness lies in their propagation of same virtues, that of tolerance, sacrifice and victory.
The diverse nature of India makes it a melting point of culture and festivity. To rejoice the festivals of multiple religions and cultures is a joy to be celebrated.

Or

Rising pollution, fast and competitive lifestlyle, lack of nutritious food etc. have caused health woes for a large section of our population. Providing health care used to be a charitable and ethical activity. Today it has become commercialized, a money spinning business. Write an article in 150-200 words on ‘How to provide proper health care to the common man’. You are Karan/Karuna.
Ans: How to provide proper health care to the common man
By Karuna
With an increase in population, pollution level and lack of nutritious food, health care facility has become one of the basic amenities of our lives. Gone are those days when the health care services were provided from the ethical and charitable point of view. Today, the health care sector forms one of the major market sectors.
The commercialisation of health care has led to the emergence of privately owned hospitals. No doubt, these hospitals have better facilities, better technology, better infrastructure, better nursing and provide better accessibility. They have improved the quality of services. But every coin has two aspects. These hospitals charge so much of fees, recommend unnecessary tests and medicines. They have become a profit-making machine. Not everyone can afford treated from a private hospital. These hospitals can be a boon for the rich people but are a curse for the poor people.
While providing health care services, we must not consider only one strata of the society. The incompetence or inability of our Government is one of the causes behind commercialisation of health care services. In order to ensure proper health care to the common people, our government can bond with the private hospitals. They can implement strict rules and provide treatment to the poor people at subsidised rates. The government can tie with private hospitals in order to improve their structural improvements.
It is said that ‘prevention is better than cure’. Awareness can be spread among the public regarding the methods of preventing and controlling diseases. People should be made aware of the importance of sanitation and hygiene. The government should seek to supply safe drinking water to all the areas. It can also carry out free vaccination and immunisation programs to counter infectious diseases and injuries.
Health care is a service and not a business. Our government should intervene and make sure that this service reaches the common man.

Section – C
(Literature)

8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness, but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
(a) Whose loveliness will keep on increasing?
(b) Identify the phrase which says that ‘it’ is immortal.
(c) What is a ‘bower’?
(d) Why do we need sweet dreams, health and quiet breathing in our lives?
Ans: (a) The loveliness of a thing of beauty keeps on increasing with the passage of time.
(b) The phrase ‘it will never pass into nothingness’ expresses the idea that ‘it’, which is beauty, is ‘immortal’.
(c) The poet has compared a thing of beauty with a ‘bower’. Just as a quiet bower gives peace to the mind, similarly a thing of beauty fills our mind with tranquility.
(d) The world is filled with negative elements which make our lives dull and depressing and bereft of hope. To counter this depression, we need sweet dreams, health and quiet breathing in our lives, which comes from a thing of beauty.

Or

Old
familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,
but all I said was, see you soon,
Amma,
all I did was smile and smile and
smile… … …
(a) What does the phrase, ‘familiar ache’ mean?
(b) What was the poet’s childhood fear?
(c) What do the first two lines tell us about the poet’s Feelings for her mother?
(d) What does the repeated use of the word, ‘smile’ mean?
Ans: (a) The phrase ‘familiar ache’ refers to the emotional pain and ache that the poet feels due to the realisation that her mother has grown old and has become frail and pale like a corpse. The ache also refers to the familiar ache of the childhood that revisits the poet.
(b) The poetess feels the same pain that she used to feel as a child when scared of losing her mother or her company.
(c) The first two lines express a deep sense of realisation and an emotional reminiscence, that the poetess is undergoing. She feels it could be the last time she is seeing her mother as her mother has grown old.
(d) The ‘smile’ on the poetess face exhibits the helplessness that she is undergoing. She fails to express her fear or love in words to her mother. She only manages to smile helplessly.

9. Answer any four of the following in 30-40 words each:

(a) Describe the irony in Saheb’s name.
(b) Why was Gandhiji opposed to C.F. Andrews helping him in Champaran?
(c) Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment.
(d) What does Stephen Spender want to be done for the children of the school in a slum?
(e) When he was only ten days old, a prediction was made about the future of the Tiger King. What was ironic about it?
(f) What was his father’s chief concern about Dr. Sadao?
Ans: (a) Saheb’s name meant “lord of the universe,” and ironically this lord ran about barefoot across the city, searching garbage bins and was abject to extreme poverty.
(b) Gandhi opposed to C.F. Andrew helping him in Champaran because of the following possible reasons:
(i) he wanted to mould ‘a new free Indian’ and wanted them to stand on their own feet.
(ii) he didn’t want Indians to take the help of an Englishman in their struggle for freedom. So he taught a lesson in self-reliance.
(c) The trembling hands of Aunt Jennifer because of the weight of the ‘wedding ring’ shows that she still is a victim of male chauvinism. Even her death won’t free her from her ordeal as she will still be wearing the ring that symbolizes her failed marriage.
(d) The poet wants the children to be taken out from the slums they are living in and venture into the outside world. He wants them to be taken where they not only get the opportunity to study from books and to play in the open field. The poet wants freedom for the slum children from the present confines.
(e) The astrologers declared that the death of the prince would come from the tiger. It was terrifying to hear the prince utter the words “Let tigers beware!”. He then decided to kill one hundred tigers, and later received the title of ‘Tiger King’. This proves the irony of the prophecy made when he was only ten days old.
(f) Sadao’s education was the chief concern of his father. He sent Sadao to America at the age of twenty-two learn medicine and surgery. Sadao came up to his father’s expectations. It made his father proud to see his son come back not just as a doctor, but also as a well-knew scientist in Japan.

10. Answer the following question in 120-150 words:

Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it. Describe how regretful M. Hamel and the village elders are for having neglected their native language, French.
Ans: A language of a country is the identity of that nation. M.Hamel, in his last lesson, tells his students about the beauty of their language, French, which is now being replaced by German because of the orders that have come from Berlin. He says that it is the most beautiful language in the world. He describes it as the clearest and the most logical of all the languages. The teacher elaborates the beauty of his county’s language. He says that during colonial rule when the colonial power tries to enforce political and cultural dominance by imposing their own language if the natives are attached to their native language, their identity remains intact. They could say to have the key to their prison as long as they are holding fast with their language. These words of Mr. Hamel create a sense of reverence in the hearts of the village elders, who have come to thank him for his forty years of faithful service, for their language and regretted not paying sincere attention towards it.

Or

Teachers always advise their students to dream big. Yet, the same teachers in your classrooms find fault with Sophie when she dreams. What is wrong with Sophie’s dreams?
Ans: We all are asked to dream big in our lives by our teachers and people around us. A life without dreams would be dull and monotonous. But, living life completely on dreams and separating the self from the reality is harmful. Sophie knows that the fantasies that she creates in her mind can never be a part of her real life, yet she creates her own dream world and even tries to involve the people around her in her fake world. She willingly leads herself into believing things that might not be true or simple, made up in her mind. For human beings, fact and fiction do not belong to water-tight compartments because often the lines between the two become blurred in our mind. Sophie thinks of having a boutique and becoming a fashion designer. This imagination of hers shows her desire to move above her social status. But meeting Danny Casey, an Irish footballer, in her imagination, and even involving her brother Geoff in this unreal situation shows the destructive aspect of her dreams.

Last Year Question Paper Class 12 English Core 2016