MOUNT LITERA ZEE SCHOOL, BARH

PT – 3 (Session 2022-23)

Grade: 12th Maximum Marks:80

Subject: English Time Allowed: 3 Hours

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 (20 marks)

I. Read the passage given below. 10 Marks

LIFE BEYOND ACADEMICS

1. Academics has always been an essential part of human development. It prepares us to survive in the
outside world and establish an identity of our own. But, is an individual’s development restricted to merely
academics? In India, from an early age, we have been taught that education is limited to the boundaries of
academics only; the idea of getting out into the field, for gaining practical experience, is always considered a
hoax. This has hindered students’ development. But, the truth is that education represents a considerably
broader field than we know of it. Our teaching, from the basics, has been focused on getting good grades and
job offers, rather than being creative and unique.

2. In the 21stcentury, the pure academic type of education is slowly paving way for a whole new type. The
paradigm shift in the whole education system is evident. People have now come to understand that education
is a 360 degree activity that should focus on students’ overall development, rather than restricting him/her to
the classroom.

3. Co-curricular activities that take place outside the classroom but reinforce or supplement classroom
curriculum, in some way, have become a point of focus today. These activities help in the growth of the
child, in more than one way. Participating in such activities helps youngsters grow mentally, socially and
individually. Intellectual development of a student is developed in the classroom, but for the aesthetic
development such as team- building, character- building, and physical growth, students must step out into
the outside world. For instance, if a student is a part of school football team, he/ she will learn team- work
and coordination, in a practical manner, which cannot be taught in the class.

4. Similarly, in colleges and institutions, there is a need for practical exposure so that the students can
experience the actual working of an industry. For example, taking a student to a manufacturing firm will
give him/ her the real insight and better learning of the industry. Catering to this change, most professional
colleges including B schools, have started providing practical exposure to students through regular guest
lectures, industrial visits, conferences, seminars, cultural festivals, and so on. With industry visits, students
are able to better identify their prospective areas of work in the overall organizational function. Moreover,
they help enhance interpersonal skills and communication techniques. In addition, guest lectures are equally
important forall – round development of students. It is a great way for students to gain maximum exposure,
as guest speakers talk about their real- life experiences and not what is there in the text books.
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5. Through such events, students are made to participate and coordinate different events wherein, they get to
know how exactly things are managed. Classroom teaching provides the foundation, and co-curricular or
extra- curricular activities provide practical exposure and opportunities to implement what students learn in
the classroom. This helps in developing the overall personality of the students, inculcating various soft –
skills in them, which otherwise are difficult to teach. Clearly, life beyond academics creates creative and
empowered professionals. (507 Words)

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. 1x10

i. Students' development is hindered by

a.. limiting education to academic boundaries.

b. getting out to the field.
c. being creative and unique.
d..gaining practical knowledge.

ii. The shift in the education system means

a.. to restrict to classroom activities.

b.. to focus on academic development.
c..to ignore 360 degree activity.
d..to focus on overall development.

iii. . Co- Curricular activities that take place outside the classroom do not help in

a.. teamwork and co-ordination. B.. mental and social growth. C.. intellectual development. D.character
building.

iv. Guest speakers talk about

a. all round development. b. their real life experiences. c. what is in text books. d .gaining exposure.

v. Classroom teaching provides

a. practical exposure b. opportunities to implement what is learnt in classroom
c. chance to learn soft skills d. the foundation

vi. Life beyond academics facilitates

i. organizational functions ii. creativity iii. professional fields iv. industrial visits

vii. From earlier times what has not been the focus of education?
viii.. Where should students go for aesthetic development?
ix. . What kind of co- curricular activities have become points of focus today?
x. Pick out the words/phrases from the passage which are similar in meaning to the following: to instill
(Para 5)

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II. Read the passage given below.

I. Over the last five years, more companies have been actively looking for intern profiles, according to a
2018-19 survey by an online internship and training platform. This survey reveals that India had 80% more
internship applications — with 2.2 million applications received in 2018 compared to 1.27 million in the
year before. The trend was partly due to more industries looking to have fresh minds and ideas on existing
projects for better productivity. What was originally seen as a western concept, getting an internship before
plunging into the job market, is fast gaining momentum at Indian workplaces.

II. According to the survey data, India’s National Capital Region has been the top provider of internships,
with a total of 35% internship opportunities, followed by Mumbai and Bengaluru at 20% and 15%,
respectively. This includes opportunities in startups, MNCs and even government entities. The survey also
revealed popular fields to find internships in (Fig 1). There has been growing awareness among the students
about the intern profiles sought by hiring companies that often look for people with real-time experience in
management than B- school masters.

III. The stipend has been an important factor influencing the choice of internships. The survey data reveals
that the average stipend offered to interns was recorded as ₹7000 while the maximum stipend went up to
₹85,000. According to statistics, a greater number of people considered virtual internships than in-office
internships. Virtual internships got three times more applications than in-office, since a large chunk of
students were the ones already enrolled in various courses, or preferred working from home.

IV. Internship portals have sprung up in the last three to four years and many of them 5 already report
healthy traffic per month. Reports suggest that on an average, an internship portal company has around
200,000-plus students and some 8,000 companies registered on it. It gets around two lakh visits online every
month. The Managing Director of a leading executive search firm says that though these web platforms are
working as an effective bridge between the industry and students, most established companies are still
reluctant to take too many interns on board for obvious reasons. (355 words)

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. 1x10
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i. Select the correct inference with reference to the following: Over the last five years, more companies have
been actively looking for intern profiles…

A. The past five years have seen active applications by interns to several companies.
B. The activity for intern profiling by the companies has reached a gradual downslide over the past five
years.
C. There were lesser companies searching for intern profiles earlier, as compared to those in the recent five
years. D. Several companies have initiated intern profiling five times a year in the recent past.

ii. Select the central idea of the paragraph likely to precede paragraph I.

A. Process of registering for internships

B. Knowing more about internships
C. Dos and Don’ts for an internship interview
D. Startups and internships

iii. Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to Fig 1.

A. Internships for Engineering and Management are the top two favourites.
B. Design & Architecture internships are significantly more popular than Others.
C. Internships for Media and Others have nearly equal popularity percentage.
D. Management internships’ popularity is more than twice that for Media.

iv. Based on your reading of paragraphs II-III, select the appropriate counter- argument to the given
argument.

Argument: I don’t think you’ll be considered for an internship just because you’ve been the student editor
and Head of Student Council.

A. I think I have a fair chance because I’m applying for a virtual position than an in office one.
B. I have real-time experience in managing a team and many companies consider it more meritorious than a
degree in Management.
C. I know that my stipend might be on the lower side but I think that it’s a good ‘earn while you learn’
opportunity. D. Lot of metro-cities have a good percentage of positions open and I think I should definitely
take a chance.

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v.

vi. The survey statistics mention the average stipend, indicating that

A. 50% interns were offered ₹85,000.

B. ₹7,000 was the lowest and ₹85,000 was the highest.
C. most interns were offered around ₹7,000.
D. No intern was offered more than ₹7,000.

vii. The phrase ‘healthy traffic’ refers to the

A. updates from portals about health and road safety.

B. statistics about adherence to traffic rules by the portals.
C. sizeable number of visitors to the portal per month.
D. monthly data about the health of internship applicants

viii. Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) Established companies are reluctant to take too many interns on board.
(2) Probability of interns leaving the company for a variety of reasons, is high.

A. (1) is the problem and (2) is the solution for (1).

B. (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1).
C. (1) summarises (2).

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D. (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1).

ix. Antonyms of Conceal (Choose from para 3)

x. Synonyms of hesitant ( Choose from para 4)

III SECTION B – CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS 20M

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. 5M

A. You are Utkarsh / Tanisha of Mount Litera Zee School, Barh.Your school has decided to contribute in
controlling traffic near your school and requires the names of volunteers from IX to XII. Write a notice to be
displayed on the notice board. (50 words)
Or

B. As a Head boy of MLZS Barh, Patna, draft a notice in not more than 50 words for the school notice
board, informing students from X-XII about the change in topic and schedule date for Round 1 the
upcoming Inter House Debate Competition. Do not forget to issue an apology for the above. Do not forget
to issue an apology for the above. You are Uma Dayal/Sonam.

2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5M

A. You are Natasha, residing in Pune. Your cousin, from the same city is hosting your grandmother’s
eightieth birth anniversary and has extended an invite to you. He has also requested your assistance for
arrangements needed. Draft a reply of acceptance, in not more than 50 words.

OR

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

3. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5M

A. You are Shantanu, residing at Ghar B-94, Balimela Road, Malkangiri. You come across the following
classified advertisement in a local daily. Write a letter, in about 120-150 words, applying for the position of
a volunteer for the Each One Teach One campaign.

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 OR

B. Public demonstration causes a lot of disturbance in daily routine of common man. You almost missed
your important entrance examination as people blocked the highway. As Tarun / Taruna, a student aspiring
to be a doctor, write a letter to the Editor of The Times of India highlighting the need to discourage such
demonstrations and disturbance by public on highways which cause a great loss of time and opportunity for
many.

4. . Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5M

A. You are Karan / Kirti of L.M. Memorial Public School, Dwarka. Your school has adopted a village as a
social responsibility. Students are being taken to teach the children of that village on a regular basis. Write a
report, for your school magazine, on the various other programmes organized there In 100-120 words.

Or

B. Taking selfies has become a rage and is a global phenomenon. It has cost us several lives and also
immortalised several moments. Write an article for a National Daily on the trend of taking selfies and its
impact on people. You are Aditi/ Aditya.

SECTION C - LITERATURE 40 M

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

1 Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 1*6=6

A. The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
At having the landscape marred with the artless paint
Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong…

i. The polished traffic in particular refers to the

a) sophisticated city dwellers in their vehicles.

b) shiny cars that the poet sees on the road.
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c) extremely affluent people living in the neighbourhood.
d) civilized manner in which traffic is coordinated.

ii. The urban and educated people have their minds ahead.’ Choose the option suggesting the correct
meaning behind this line.

iii. What do the urban rich feel about the S and N signs that have been painted wrong?

a) Tolerant b) Amused c) Sympathetic d) Annoyed

iv. The passers-by find the sign artless but the landscape ___________.

a) animated b) aesthetic c) amusing d) ancient

v. Name the poet and the poetry.

vi. ‘ Polished traffic’ Identify the poetic device.

Or

B.

What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.

(i) Name the poem and the poet of the above stanza.
(ii) What does the poet mean by „inactivity‟?
(iii) Explain what life is all about, according to the poet?
(iv) What is the ultimate expectation of the poet from all human beings?
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v. ‘What I want should not be confused’ Name the poetic device used in this sentence.

2. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 1*6=6

A.

v. Select the suitable word from the extract to complete the following analogy: Companion: friend :: Annoyed:
………

vi. Meaning of contaminate……(Choose from the extract)

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B. Then all effort ceased. I relaxed. Even my legs felt limp; and a blackness swept over my brain. It wiped
out fear; it wiped out terror. There was no more panic. It was quiet and peaceful. Nothing to be afraid of.
This is nice... to be drowsy... to go to sleep... no need to jump... too tired to jump... it’s nice to be carried
gently... to float along in space... tender arms around me... tender arms like Mother’s... now I must go to
sleep... I crossed to oblivion, and the curtain of life fell

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

Statement 1: The author tried his best to jump out of water.

Statement 2: After a while, the author was not anxious in water.

a) If Statement 1 is the cause, Statement 2 is the effect.

b) If Statement 1 is the effect, Statement 2 is the cause.
c) Both the statements are the effects of a common cause.
d) Both the statements are the effects of independent causes.

ii. The ‘curtain (of life) fell’ corresponds to an aspect of

a) Geometry. b) History. c) Sports. d) Drama.

iii. Which option indicates that the poet lost consciousness?

a) ‘It was quiet and peaceful.’ b) ‘I crossed to oblivion.’ c) ‘Tender arms like Mother’s.’ d) ‘It wiped out
fear.’

iv. Select the suitable word from the extract to complete the following analogy: oblivion: senseless ::
sleepy:…..
v. what does mean of ‘ curtain of my life fell’’.
vi. Name the author of this chapter.

3 Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 1*4=4

A. Students on Ice, the programme I was working with on the Shokalskiy, aims to do exactly this by taking
high school students to the ends of the world and providing them with inspiring educational opportunities
which will help them foster a new understanding and respect for our planet. It’s been in operation for six
years now, headed by Canadian Geoff Green, who got tired of carting celebrities and retired, rich, curiosity-
seekers who could only ‘give’ back in a limited way. With Students on Ice, he offers the future generation of
policymakers a life-changing experience at an age when they’re ready to absorb, learn, and most
importantly, act.

i Students on Ice is …………. headed by Geoff Green. Select the option to fill in the blank correctly.
a) a travelogue b) an expedition c) a globetrotting d) a tour

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ii. Pick the option that characterizes the celebrities based on your understanding of the extract. 1.
overachiever 2. zealous 3. miserly 4. impassive a) 1, 2 b) 3, 4 c) 1, 3 d) 2, 4

iii. Choose the option that lists the reasons for Green’s programme.

1. making youngsters realize the gory reality of the planet.

2. provoking the youth to think about the future earnestly.
3. giving a chance of exploring the north pole to the young generation
4. providing travel opportunities to students that were unfortunate.

a) 1, 2 b) 3, 4 c) 1, 3 d) 2, 4
iv.
“Antarctica is a crucial element in this debate — not just because it’s the only place in the world, which has
never sustained a human population and therefore remains relatively ‘pristine’ in this respect...”

With respect to the given statement from the text, choose the option to replace the underlined set of words.

a) stays as it is throughout the year.

b) becomes a perfect place to travel.
c) is left to be an uncorrupted area.
d) abides by the strict laws of nature.

Or

B.
When I heard this, I didn’t want to laugh any more, I felt terribly sad. How could they believe that it was
disgusting if one of us held that package in his hands, even though the vadai had been wrapped first in a
banana leaf, and then parcelled in paper? I felt so provoked and angry that I wanted to touch those wretched
vadais myself straightaway. Why should we fetch and carry for these people, I wondered. Such an important
elder of ours goes meekly to the shops to fetch snacks and hands them reverently, bowing and shrinking, to
this fellow who just sits there and stiffs them into his mouth. The thought of it infuriated me.

i. The elder handing snacks reverently, bowing and shrinking to the fellow indicates that the ‘fellow’ was

1. condescending. 2. unassuming. 3. submissive. 4. disdainful. 5. aggressive 6. domineering.

a) 2, 3 and 6 b) 1, 4 and 5 c) 1, 4 and 6 d) 2, 3 and 4

ii. Pick an idiom that DOES NOT describe how the author felt about this incident. a) at the end of one’s
tether b) be in a black mood c) up in arms d) throw up one’s hands

iii. Based on the given context, choose the option that illustrates when a person can be provoked, out of the
examples given below.

1. The employees organised a peaceful protest outside the firm.

2. The manager ill-treated one of the employees and wrongfully terminated him.
3. The employees wrote a letter of complaint against the manager.
4. The director of the firm scheduled a meeting for reconciliation.

iv. The chapter ‘We Too are Human Beings’ is __________ the book named ‘Karukku’ by Bama.
a) a preface to
b) the blurb for
c) an excerpt from

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d) the foreword of

V. Answer ANY FIVE of the following in about 40-50 words each . 5*2=10

i. “We‟ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with” said M.Hamel. Refer to the context and explain what
he wanted to convey to his students.
ii. What does Neruda mean by ‘an exotic moment without rush’ in his poem, ‘Keeping Quiet’?
iii. Kamala Das speaks of ‘an old familiar ache…’ What do you think is the reason for this feeling
iv. ‘Little has moved with time, it seems, in Firozabad.’ State any one reason why the writer says this.
v. How does the poet use the image of ‘fingers fluttering through the wool’ to highlight Aunt Jennifer’s
victimisation?
vi. If the Christmas spirit is about selflessness, forgiveness and becoming 'better' versions of ourselves
amongst other things, Edla Willmansson is the epitome of this spirit. Justify with two points of evidence
from The Rattrap.

VI. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2*2=4

i. In his letter to Charley, Sam writes, ‘…then I got to believing you were right.’ What could have made Sam
begin to believe?
ii. Sadao’s acceptance of the General’s plan to assassinate Tom was counterproductive to having put him on
the path of recovery. Substantiate with reason/s.
iii. Zitkala-Sa mentions the indignities she had to suffer as a child. How do such indignities break the morale
of a child?

VII. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 120-150 words. 1*5=5

The story Deep Water talks about Douglas’ attempts to overcome his fear of water. The story can also be
viewed as a figurative manifestation of life’s many challenges. Elaborate with reference to the text.

Or

How does the story, 'Rattrap' highlight the importance of community over isolation? Support your rationale
with textual evidence.

VIII Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 120-150 words. 1*5=5

Mr. Lamb calls Derek his friend while Derek refuses his affirmation. Would you consider their relationship
with each other as friendship? Support your answer with reference to the instance(s) from the text.
Or

The king was callous as a ruler and behaved whimsically. Thus, the people in his kingdom suffered while
he fulfilled his desire of killing a hundred tigers. Do you find leaders or politicians in the world today being
indifferent to the needs of the people and behaving in the same way? Comment with relevant examples.

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