ENGLISH PAPER II

Reading and Literature

Three hours and a quarter

(The first fifteen minutes of the examination are for reading the paper only.
Candidates must NOT start writing during this time.)
Class XII
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instructions:
1. This paper has four sections, Section A for Short Stories, Section B for Essay, Section C for Poetry and
Section D for Drama.
2. In each section, there are two sets of questions: Set 1and Set II. Set I comprises of Question nos. 1a and 1b and
Set II corresponds to Question no.2 across all sections.
3. You are required to answer four sets of questions in all, one set from each section. Your choice must include
one Set II question (question no.2) from any section.
4. The choices offered are between the sets and not among the questions within the sets.
5. The intended marks for each question is given in brackets.
6. You are reminded to mention the section, question set number and question numbers before writing your
response.
7. You should begin each answer on a fresh page.
8. No marks will be awarded for any extra questions attempted.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section A: Short Stories

Direction: From the two sets of questions under this genre, choose one set and write your responses in your
answer sheet. Answer the questions in this section with reference to the story’ The Elephant’ by Slawomir Mrozek

Set I
Question 1a. [1x5]
Direction: Each question below is followed by four responses. Choose the correct answer or response that best fits
the given question and write it in your answer sheet.

i) ………..were a poor substitute for the noble giant.

A. three thousand rabbits
B. three hundred rabbits
C. thirty thousand rabbits
D. three hundred rabbits

ii) The anniversary of the liberation was on

A. 20th July
B. 21st July
C. 22nd July
D. 23rd July

iii) Money saved by manipulating the circumstance could be used to

A. run the zoo
B. help the common task and struggle.
C. buy the animals for the zoo
D. purchase a jet plane

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRHSS/Mid-term examination ’10 This booklet consists of 9 pages. Page 1 of 9
 iv) The director insisted on haste in making the rubber elephant because
A. the zoo was going to be inspected
B. the zoo was going to be inaugurated
C. he was expecting a bonus
D. he was expecting a promotion

v) The rubber elephant was placed next to

A. the railings
B. the monkey‟s cage
C. a large real rock
D. a housing workshop

Question1b. [20]
Directions: Read the following questions carefully. Copy the number of the questions onto your answer sheets
and answer them briefly.

i) „He regarded his animals as stepping stones on the road of his career.‟ Explain [5]
ii) Explain the reasons for the Director suggesting a cheaper elephant? [5]
iii) Whom do you think the author is criticizing in the story? Why? [5]
iv) What happened to the elephant in the end of the story? [5]

Set II
Question 2. [25]
Directions: Read the following questions carefully. Copy the number of the questions onto your answer sheets
and answer them accordingly.

i) Analyze the impact on children and the readers when the rubber elephant rises in the air at the
end of the story? [10]
ii) Examine the story as a satirical allegory. [15]

Section B: Essay

Direction: Read the essay given below carefully. From the two sets of questions on this text, choose one set and
write your responses in your answer sheet.

The road to success is not a bed of roses. It is full of thorns, pitfalls and gins. Only those who wade
through the hazards and hurdles with grit and determination could smell success. That is how
Gandhi became a leader par excellence; that made Churchill the greatest and the most successful war
time leader. These traits and qualities have paid rich dividends to Bill gates and made him persona
grata. After all, winners don‟t do different things. They do things differently. Have you the
determination to succeed? Are you willing to devote the time and energy necessary to achieve
success?

Here are some proven techniques that will help you to achieve success and happiness in life.
The first step is to set yourself clear goals, to define precisely what you want to achieve. Goals provide
direction to your behaviour and guide your thoughts and actions to the desired outcomes. Goal plans
enable you to go beyond momentary influences and organise your behaviour over extended periods
of time. Goals should be an extension of your values, your most important fundamental beliefs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRHSS/Mid-term examination ’10 This booklet consists of 9 pages. Page 2 of 9
Specific goals are better than general ones. Self-chosen goals are better than assigned ones. Choose
goals that are challenging but reachable. Write down your short term and long term goals. This will
help you in establishing priorities and in deciding on the actions that you must engage in. Form a
very intense, extremely vivid mental picture of what you want. Verbalise your mental picture with a
brief, concise, forceful „GOAL COMMAND‟. Repeat it everyday to make it easier for your sub-conscious
mind to embrace them. As Swami Vivekananda says, “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life
- think of it, dream of it and live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, every part of your body, be full of
that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success”.

Prepare an „Action plan‟, outlining the specific steps needed to accomplish the result you want. You
must get timely feed-back on your progress and be able to modify your strategies when changes
occur.

Sometimes, even if the goals are not attained the resultant consequences, feed-back or reinforcement
can be beneficial. There are literally millions of things in this world which are right and which need to
be done - but to which you must mentally, if not vocally say “No!”
No person has the time and the ability to do any but a few things which need to be done.

The proven success method is this:

(1) Say “No” generally.
(2) Say “yes” very, very selectively
You simply concentrate your thought, time and effort on your one main goal. You cannot possibly do
all of the things you will be asked to do. So you are going to have to say „No‟ to a lot of desirable and
worthwhile things, simply because they are “incompatible” with the necessary work you must do to
reach your main goal.

Don‟t be afraid of failure. Failure is an accepted procedure in experimenting, research, testing and all
scientific forms of “finding out”. Failure is simply the means of finding out what will not work so that
it can be eliminated in the search for what will work. So there is no need to think of failure as
something to be feared and avoided.

Edison and his staff conducted 17,000 experiments which failed before they succeeded in the one
experiment which enabled them to extract latex in substantial quantities from just one variety of plant,
which was worth the 17,000 failures! Besides, failure is good for your character and personality. It is a
challenging experience.

The next step is to develop proper self-concept. What you think about yourself is very important.
Persons with high self-esteem feel unique, competent, secure, empowered and connected to the
people around them. Whereas people who have poor self-concept feel insecure, lack self-confidence
and become withdrawn. To improve your self-esteem, become aware of your hidden potentialities
and activate them. Take note of your shortcomings and drawbacks and try to overcome them. You can
prepare a „Weed list‟ and a „Seed list‟. Believe firmly that you can improve. As the Bhagavad-Gita
says, “One should lift oneself by one‟s own efforts and should not degrade oneself; for one‟s own self
is one‟s friend, and one‟s own self is one‟s enemy”.

Another aspect of self-development is „Time Management‟. Time is your most valuable resource.
Successful people are those who manage their time efficiently. They find time for everything; reading
newspapers, jogging and even occasional visits to the cinema. Since they have planned everything,
they feel relaxed and do their work efficiently. What about you? Do you make optimum use of your
time? To know this, write down all you did yesterday with the amount of time spent on each activity.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRHSS/Mid-term examination ’10 This booklet consists of 9 pages. Page 3 of 9
Then you will realise how much time is being wasted on useless activities and why you are not able to
achieve your targets in time. Draw a time-table for your daily activities and try to stick to it.
Keeping a diary is another useful habit which you must cultivate. This will help you review and
monitor your progress.

Many people make themselves miserable by trying to imitate others. Mrs. Edith Allred was one such
person. She remained unhappy even after she married into a poised and self-confident family. A
chance remark by her mother-in-law transformed her life. While talking about how she brought
her children up, her mother-in-law said, “No matter what happened, I always insisted on their being
themselves”. In a flash Mrs. Allred realised that she had brought misery on herself by trying to fit
herself into a pattern to which she did not conform. She changed overnight. She started being herself.
She tried to make a study of her own personality. Now she is the happiest person.

The renowned psychologist, William James was speaking of people who had never found themselves
when he declared that the average person develops only ten percent of his or her latent abilities. You
and I have such abilities. So, do not waste a second worrying because you are not like other people.
Remember you are unique. There never was and never will be anybody exactly like you. Make the
most of what nature gave you. For better or for worse, you must play your own instrument in the
orchestra of life.

As Emerson says, “Envy is ignorance and imitation is suicide”. No real benefit will come to you
except through your own toil. Nature has given you the power. You only know what you can and
cannot do. So, find yourself and be yourself.

There are people who keep on grumbling and complaining. For them here is the story of Harold
Abbott who used to worry a lot. One day, he happened to see a man who had no legs but looked
cheerful and happy. He greeted him with a grand smile. At that moment, Harold Abbott felt ashamed
of his self-pity. He realised how rich he was. He had two legs and he could walk. This realisation
changed his mind. That was a turning point in his life. If we want to be happy, all we have to do is to
concentrate on the ninety percent things that are right in our lives and ignore the ten percent that are
wrong.

Think of all we have to be grateful for and thank God for all our boons and bounties. Would you sell
your eyes for a billion dollars? What would you take for your legs? Your hands? Your hearing? Your
family? Add up your assets and you will find that you won‟t sell what you have for all the gold
amassed by the Rockfellers, the Fords and the Morgans combined. So, “Count your blessings, not
your troubles”. Make the best of your time. Be optimistic. Plan your work and work your plan.
Success will knock at your door. Adieu!
- Anonymous

Set I
Question 1a. [1x5]
Direction: Each question below is followed by four responses. Choose the correct answer or response that best fits
the given question and write it in your answer sheet.

i) The primary step to achieve success and happiness in life is

A. set apparent goals
B. prepare a plan
C. fore see the failure
D. develop proper self-concept

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRHSS/Mid-term examination ’10 This booklet consists of 9 pages. Page 4 of 9
 ii) The people with poor self concept
A. feel unique, competent and secure
B. are aware of their drawbacks
C. feel insecure and lack self-confidence
D. take note of their shortcomings

iii) By preparing a „Weed list‟, we can

A. be conscious of our hidden potentials
B. overcome our inadequacy
C. mortify ourselves
D. study our personality

iv) According to the text, one‟s own self is

A. one‟s friend
B. one‟s enemy
C. one‟s friend and enemy
D. one‟s aide

v) Goal command enables someone to accomplish

A. universal goals
B. definite goals
C. self chosen goals
D. designated goals

Question1b. [20]
Directions: Read the following questions carefully. Copy the number of the questions onto your answer sheets
and answer them briefly.

i) How can we attain our goals? What is the cause of failure with most people? [5]
ii) How can we increase our happiness according to the author? [5]
iii) Mention any two biographical anecdotes present in the essay? [5]
iv) What two practical suggestions are made, regarding goals and time management? [5]

Set II
Question 2. [25]
Directions: Read the following questions carefully. Copy the number of the questions onto your answer sheets
and answer them accordingly.

i) Successful people are those who manage their time efficiently – Discuss. [10]
ii) Count your blessings, not your troubles – Elaborate. [15]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRHSS/Mid-term examination ’10 This booklet consists of 9 pages. Page 5 of 9
 Section C: Poetry

Direction: Read the poem given below carefully. From the two sets of questions on this poem, choose one set and
write your responses in your answer sheet.

Because I could not stop for death

Because I could not stop for Death

He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And immortality

We slowly drive, he knew no haste,

And I had put away
My labor, and my leisure too,
For his civility.

We passed the school where children played,

Their lessons scarcely done;
We passed the fields of gazing grain,
We passed the setting sun.

We paused before a house that seemed

A swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible,
The cornice but a mound.

Since then„t is centuries; but each

Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses‟ heads
Were toward eternity
- Emily Dickinson

Set I

Question 1a. [1x5]

Direction: Each question below is followed by four responses. Choose the correct answer or response that best fits
the given question and write it in your answer sheet.

i) According to Emily Dickinson death is

A. cruel
B. unjust
C. inevitable
D. leveller.

ii) We passed the setting sun. The italicized words „setting sun‟ symbolise
A. God‟s creation
B. the setting of the sun
C. the old age
D. the last stage of man.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRHSS/Mid-term examination ’10 This booklet consists of 9 pages. Page 6 of 9
 iii) The poet does not give a good account of the school they passed by because:
A. he hated the school
B. he did not observe it carefully
C. he was a pessimist
D. teaching was not done there properly

iv) The time of the day when the carriage passed along the fields was:
A. dusk
B. dawn
C. midday
D. morning

v) Is death a kind suitor?

A. No, it is not.
B. It depends on how you look at it.
C. No, it is disdainful.
D. No, it is frightening.

Question1b. [20]
Directions: Read the following questions carefully. Copy the number of the questions onto your answer sheets
and answer them briefly.

i) Why can "Because I could not stop for death" be considered a Metaphysical poem? [5]

ii) Why did Death drive his carriage slowly? In what way is it related to his „civility‟? What had
the lady put away? Why? [5]

iii) Death is personified as a gentleman caller or suitor. But exactly what kind of person is he?
How does he appear to the narrator? [5]

iv) What do you think the „house‟ in stanza 4 refers to? Why did the carriage stop before the
„house‟? Why does the poet use the word „paused‟ instead of „stopped‟ in line 13? What does
this suggest? [5]

Set II
Question 2. [25]
Directions: Read the following questions carefully. Copy the number of the questions onto your answer sheets
and answer them accordingly.

i) In the final stanza, the speaker has moved into the realm of death; the language becomes
abstract; in the previous stanzas the images are concrete and specific. What is Dickinson saying
about death? [10]

ii) What feelings does the occurrence of death evoke in your minds? Do the spiritualists and
philosophers hold the same view on death? How have the poets treated the theme of death in
their poems? Is death really cruel? Discuss. [15]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRHSS/Mid-term examination ’10 This booklet consists of 9 pages. Page 7 of 9
 Section D: Drama

Direction: From the two sets of questions under this genre, choose one set and write your responses in your
answer sheet.
Set I
Question 1. [1x5]
Direction: Each question below is followed by four responses. Choose the correct answer or response that best fits
the given question and write it in your answer sheet.

i) The play‟ Episode in the Life of an Author‟ is an excellent example of

A. farce
B. comedy
C. tragedy
D. romantic tragedy

ii) The term “Theatre of the Absurd” was coined by

A. Jean Anouilh
B. Albert Camus
C. Harold Pinter
D. Martin Esslin

iii) The name of the maid in the play is

A. Marguerite
B. Moliere
C. Leonie
D. Pripon-Minet

iv) The falling picture in the play symbolizes

A. confusion and misery
B. chaos and disorder
C. misfortune and trouble
D. isolation and frustration

v) The author‟s mother wants her son to

A. invite her to live with him
B. write a play for her
C. buy her a new house
D. divorce his wife

Question1b. [20]
Directions: Read the following questions carefully. Copy the number of the questions onto your answer sheets
and answer them briefly.

i) How does the author try to control the excitement of the people? What is the irony in it? [5]
ii) Discuss any two problems between the author and Ardele? [5]
iii) Write the character sketch of Madame Bessarabo? [5]
iv) Give reasons why Ardele wants to leave the author. Do you think she really intends to leave?
Justify your answer. [5]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRHSS/Mid-term examination ’10 This booklet consists of 9 pages. Page 8 of 9
 Set II

Question 2. [25]
Directions: Read the following questions carefully. Copy the number of the questions onto your answer sheets
and answer them accordingly.

i) Discuss the humorous elements in the play focusing on the role La Surette and the plumbers.
[10]

ii) Everyone in the play wants something or the other from the author. Put yourself in the
author‟s shoes, and write about the hectic day, how you felt, and how things could have
worked out better for you. [15]

Prepared by: Roshan.P

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRHSS/Mid-term examination ’10 This booklet consists of 9 pages. Page 9 of 9