CBSE Sample Paper 2019-20*

English Core (301)

Class–XII (Solved)
(With Marking Scheme) 
Time Allowed: 3 hours Maximum Marks: 80

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) 20 marks

1. Read the passage given below : 12
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 21st century, 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 for all-
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 textbooks.
*Issued by CBSE
E-3
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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)
1.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any five of the questions given below by choosing
the most appropriate option: 1×5=5
(a) Students’ development is hindered by
(i) limiting education to academic boundaries. (ii) getting out to the field.
(iii) being creative and unique. (iv) gaining practical knowledge.
(b) The shift in the education system means
(i) to restrict to classroom activities. (ii) to focus on academic development.
(iii) to ignore 360 degree activity. (iv) to focus on overall development.
(c) Co-Curricular activities that take place outside the classroom do not help in
(i) teamwork and co-ordination. (ii) mental and social growth.
(iii) intellectual development. (iv) character building.
(d) Guest speakers talk about
(i) all round development. (ii) their real life experiences.
(iii) what is in textbooks. (iv) gaining exposure.
(e) Classroom teaching provides
(i) practical exposure (ii) opportunities to implement what is learnt
in classroom
(iii) chance to learn soft skills (iv) the foundation
(f) Life beyond academics facilitates
(i) organizational functions (ii) creativity
(iii) professional fields (iv) industrial visits
1.2 Answer the following questions briefly : 1×5 = 5
(a) From earlier times what has not been the focus of education?
(b) Where should students go for aesthetic development?
(c) What kind of co-curricular activities have become points of focus today?
(d) What will give children a better insight into industry?
(e) Why are soft skills difficult to teach in the classroom?
1.3 Pick out the words/phrases from the passage which are similar in meaning to the following: 1×2 = 2
(i) untrue (Para 1)
(ii) cooperative effort (Para 3)
CBSE Sample Paper 2019-20 E-5

Answers:
1.1 (a) (i) limiting education to academic boundaries. 1×5 = 5
(b) (iv) to focus on overall development.
(c) (iii) intellectual development.
(d) (ii) their real life experiences.
(e) (iv) the foundation
(f) (ii) creativity
1.2 (a) Being creative and unique 1×5 = 5
(b) Students must step out into the outside world.
(c) Co-curricular activities that take place outside the classroom but reinforce or supplement classroom
curriculum.
(d) Visiting industries will give a better insight into industries.
(e) Soft skills are developed only through practical exposure and opportunities to implement what they have
learnt.
1.3 (i) Hoax 1×2 = 2
(ii) Coordination

2. Read the passage given below: 8

BALANCING THE SCALES
Artificial intelligence (AI) is making a difference to how legal work is done, but it isn’t the threat it is made out
to be. AI is making impressive progress and shaking up things all over the world today. The assumption that
advancements in technology and artificial intelligence will render any profession defunct is just that, an assumption
and a false one. The only purpose this assumption serves is creating mass panic and hostility towards embracing
technology that is meant to make our lives easier.
Let us understand what this means explicitly for the legal world. The ambit of AI includes recognizing human
speech and objects, making decisions based on data, and translating languages. Tasks that can be defined as
‘search-and-find’ type can be performed by AI.
Introducing AI to this profession will primarily be for the purpose of automating mundane, tedious tasks that
require negligible human intelligence. The kind of artificial intelligence that is employed by industries in the current
scene, when extended to law will enable quicker services at a lower price. AI is meant to automate a number of
tasks that take up precious working hours lawyers could be devoting to tasks that require discerning, empathy,
and trust-qualities that cannot be replicated by even the most sophisticated form of AI. The legal profession is one
of the oldest professions in the world. Thriving over a 1000 years; trust, judgement, and diligence are the pillars
of this profession. The most important pillar is the relationship of trust between a lawyer and clients, which can
only be achieved through human connection and interaction.
While artificial intelligence can be useful in scanning and organizing documents pertaining to a case, it cannot
perform higher-level tasks such as sharp decision-making, relationship-building with valuable clients and writing
legal briefs, advising clients, and appearing in court. These are over and above the realm of computerization.
The smooth proceeding of a case is not possible without sound legal research. While presenting cases lawyers
need to assimilate information in the form of legal research by referring to a number of relevant cases to find
those that will favour their client’s motion. Lawyers are even required to thoroughly know the opposing stand and
supporting legal arguments they can expect to prepare a watertight defense strategy. AI, software that operates on
natural language enables electronic discovery of information relevant to a case, contract reviews, and automation
generation of legal documents.
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AI utilizes big-data analytics which enables visualization of case data. It also allows for creation of a map of the
cases which were cited in previous cases and their resulting verdicts, as per the website Towards Data Science.
The probability of a positive outcome of a case can be predicted by leveraging predictive analytics with machine
learning. This is advantageous to firms as they can determine the return on investment in litigation and whether
an agreement or arbitration should be considered. (484 Words) (https://www.thehindu.com/education/balancing-
the-scales/article26895865.ece)
(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. 4
(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words. 4
Ans. (a) NOTE MAKING 8
Distribution of Marks
Title: 1 mark
Abbreviations / Symbols (with /without key) – any four: 1 mark
Content (minimum 4 headings and sub-headings, with proper indentation and notes): 2 marks
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.
Content must be divided into heading and sub-headings.
Any title, main points and sub points may 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 to be accepted as notes. (In such cases ½ –1 mark may be deducted from marks
awarded to content)
Numbering of points may be indicated in different ways, as long as a consistent pattern is followed.
Suggested Points:
Title: Artificial Intelligence: Not a threat 1
NOTES 2
1. Not a threat
1.1 is a help
1.2 makes life easier
1.3 no profession defunct
2. AI will help legal field
2.1 recog human speech and object
2.2 making decisions based on data
2.3 translates langs
2.4 do search and find tasks
3. AI cannot perform high level tasks like
3.1 writing legal briefs
3.2 advising clients
3.3 apprng in courts
3.4 sharp decision making
CBSE Sample Paper 2019-20 E-7
4. Function of AI
4.1 collates data
4.2 predicts probable outcomes
4.3 tells return on invst
4.4 considering agreement or arbitration
Key to Abbreviations 1
Word Abbreviation
Artificial Intelligence AI
recognises Recog
languages langs
appearing Apprng
investment invst

(b) SUMMARY
Artificial Intelligence is not a threat but makes life easier especially in the legal field. It cannot perform certain
high level tasks like writing legal briefs, advising clients, making sharp decisions and appearing in courts. It
can collate data, aid research and decisions based on data, recognize human speech and translate languages.
It can also predict probable outcomes, tell return on investment, consider agreement or arbitration and is thus
advantageous to legal firms. 4

SECTION B — (Writing Skills) 30 marks

3. Your institute, Golden Care Hospital, has decided to organise an ‘Organ Donation Camp’ to generate awareness
about the cause. Draft a Poster giving all the necessary details. (50 words) 4

Or
Your school is planning to organise a talk on the ‘Importance of Promoting Art Education’ at all levels. You
plan to invite The Director, Delhi School of Art, as a Key Note Speaker. As CCA Coordinator of Vidya Mandir
Vidyalaya, draft an invite for the same giving all the necessary details. (50words)
Ans. POSTER MAKING 4
Format: 1 mark
Content: 2 marks
Expression : grammatical accuracy, spellings: 1 mark
Suggested value points :
l purpose/ objective

l persuasive language-use of slogan/emotional appeal/catchy phrases/jingles

l simple cartoon or caricature

l issuing authority

(Due credit should be given for the economy of words used and creative display.)

Or
Invite: Importance of Promoting Art Education

Content: 2 marks

Expression: grammatical accuracy, spellings: 2 marks