St.

Marks Public School, Agra

SUBJECT: ENGLISH CORE (301)
CLASS-XII
Time : 90 Minutes Maximum Marks : 40

General Instructions:
1.Section –A Reading : 14 Marks. ( Do any 14)
2. Section –B Writing Skills : 10 Marks.

3. Section –C Literature : 26 Marks.

Reading
1. Read the passage given below: (1 mark each)
(1) All of Earth's oceans share one thing in common "plastic pollution". When people
litter, or when the trash is not properly disposed off, things like plastic bags, bottles,
straws, foam and beverage cups get carried to the sea by winds and waterways. About
80 per cent of ocean plastic originates on land. The rest comes from marine industries
such as shipping and fishing.

(2) In 2015, engineer Jenna Jambeck at the University of Georgia and other researchers
calculated that at least 8 million tons of plastic trash are swept into the ocean from
coasts every year. That's the equivalent of a full garbage truck of plastic being dumped
into the sea every minute. If current trends in plastic production and disposal continue,
that figure will double by 2025. A report published by the World Economic Forum last
year predicts that by 2050, ocean plastic will outweigh all the fish in the sea.

(3) In today's world, plastic is everywhere. It's found in shoes, clothing, household
items, electronics and more. There are different types of plastics, but one thing they all
have in common is that they're made of polymers-large molecules made up of repeating
units. Their chemical structure gives them a lot of advantages: they're cheap and easy to
manufacture, lightweight, water-resistant, durable and can be moulded into nearly any
shape.

(4) Sea turtles eat plastic bags and soda-can rings, which resemble jellyfish, their
favourite food. Seabirds eat bottle caps or chunks of foam cups. Plastic pieces may
make an animal feel full, so it doesn't eat enough real food to get the nutrients it needs.
Plastic can also block an animal's digestive system, making it unable to eat.

(5) Plastic and its associated pollutants can even make it into our own food supply.
Scientists recently examined fish and shellfish bought at markets in California and
Indonesia. They found plastic in the guts of more than a quarter of samples purchased
at both locations, in organisms that people eat whole, such as sardines and oysters, that
means we're eating plastic too. In larger fishes, chemicals from plastic may seep into
their muscles and other tissues that people consume.
(6) One way to keep the ocean cleaner and healthier is through clean-up efforts. A lot of
plastic waste caught in ocean currents eventually washes up on beaches. Removing it
prevents it from blowing out to sea again. Beach clean-up is ocean clean-up.

(7) Clean-up efforts can't reach every corner of the 'ocean or track down every bit of
micro-plastic. That means it's critical to cut down on the amount of plastic that reaches
the sea in the first place. Scientists are working towards new materials that are safer for
the environment. For example, Jambeck and her colleagues are currently testing a new
polymer that breaks down more easily in seawater.

Based on your understanding of the above passage, answer any eight of the questions
given below by choosing the most appropriate option:

Q.1. Percentage of ocean plastic that originates from land is

(A) 20%
(B) 50%
(C) 80%
(D) 25%

Q. 2. Plastic is not biodegradable because it is made up of

(A) low atomic particles.
(B) tiny particles.
(C) strong big particles.
(D) large molecule polymers.

Q.3. Scientists bought fish and shellfish for examination at markets in:
(A) China and Russia
(B) Pakistan and Afghanistan.
(C) California and Indonesia
(D) Australia and Brazil

Q.4. Which properties make plastic great for consumer goods?

(A) Biodegradability.
(B) Durability.
(C) The dyes and flame retardants.
(D) Ability of chemical absorption.

Q.5. Which articles made of plastic generally cause pollution in the sea?
(A) Discarded plastic bags
(B) Beverage cups
(C) Soda can-rings
(D) All of these
Q.6. Which features do all kinds of plastic have?
(A) Easy to manufacture and easy to dispose.
(B) Water resistant.
(C) Difficult to mould into any shape.
(D) Non-durability.

Q.7. What is the biggest impact of plastic pollution on sea life?

(A) Plastic eating makes them feel full.
(B) Plastic blocks the animal's digestive system.
(C) Plastic cuts sea animal's skin.
(D) All of these

Q.8. How are larger fish affected by plastic?

(A) They can get entangled in plastic netting
(B) Plastic may lead them to starvation.
(C) Plastic is found in their guts.
(D) Plastic may go into their muscles and other tissues.

Q.9. What is the ultimate way to clean up an ocean?

(A) The beach clean-up.
(B) ban of plastic items.
(C) prohibition of seabirds.
(D) No food supply in surrounding area.

2. Read the passage given below: (1 mark each)

(1) The sage of science, Einstein, was sitting in a depressive and pensive mood one
evening. His eyes were brimming with tears. The pain was evident on his face. He
peeped out of the window of his room. The sun had set a few minutes back. The sky was
filled with a reddish glow. At this sunset, he felt that it was humanity that had sunk into
devilish darkness and the reddish glow in the sky was the blood of humanity spilling all
over the sky from earth. With tired steps, he walked back to his chair and settled down.
It was the 9th of August 1945. Three days back, he had felt the same agony as if
someone had torn him apart. He was deeply hurt and depressed when he heard on the
radio that America had dropped an atom bomb on the Japanese city, Hiroshima.
Today, within three days another bomb was dropped on another city, Nagasaki and
lakhs of people had been killed.

(2) He could not sleep that night. Lying down, he was thinking how he had drawn the
attention of the then American President Roosevelt towards the destructive powers of
an atomic bomb. He had thought that this would be used to scare Hitler and put an end
to the barbarism that Hitler was up to. However, Roosevelt kept him in the dark and
made false promises. Eventually, he had abused Einstein's equation of E= mc² that
resulted in the destructive experiments. His actions had made science and scientists as
murderers. Einstein kept on thinking for a long time. Eventually, he slipped into sleep.
When he woke up at dawn, there was a new dawn in him too. The atomic threat has
transformed his heart.

(3) The next day, he decided to disassociate himself from the scientific policy of the
government and all governmental institutions. He decided to open educational
institutions for children, adolescents, and youth-institutions where along with science,
spirituality will be compulsorily taught.

(4) To inaugurate this institution, he had invited two great philosophers, Bertrand
Russell and Albert Schweitzer. Ten other great scientists who had won Nobel Prizes in
different fields were also invited. They all saw a different Einstein, not a great scientist
but a sage in him. The institution was opened by garlanding a photo of Mahatma
Gandhi. While garlanding the Mahatma, he became emotional and said with a lump in
his throat, 'I bow down to the great man who fought for the independence of his country
through nonviolence. He could do so because he was a truthful man and true
spiritualist.

(5) Those who teach science should be taught spirituality too. Without harmony
between science and spirituality, the destruction would continue unabated. A few years
after this institution was built, a Japanese delegation came to meet him. Einstein broke
down in the meeting and said, "You can give me any punishment and I will accept it.
Anyway, I have decided to lead my life in penitence. The Japanese were moved by his
sincerity and forgot their grief.
Based on your understanding of the above passage, answer any eight of the questions
given below by choosing the most appropriate option:

Q. 10. Which musical instrument did Einstein play when he was in grief?
(A) Harmonium
(B) Guitar
(C) Violin
(D) Flute

Q11. Einstein came to know that America had dropped an atom bomb on the Japanese
city, Hiroshima through................
(A) television
(B) newspaper
(C) radio
(D) a telephonic message
Q. 12. Einstein said to the Japanese delegation.
(A) You can give me any punishment and I will accept it.
(B) I am not at fault.
(C) What could I do?
(D) The President didn't agree to my advice.

Q.13. What did Einstein do to show his displeasure over the atomic attack?
(A) He decided to open a science laboratory.
(B) He decided to establish an Educational Institution.
(C) He disassociated himself from governmental institutions.
(D) He invited two great philosophers.

Q.14. The depressive mood of Einstein was compared to:

(A) Sunrise
(B) Sunset
(C) Devilish darkness
(D) Tired steps

Q.15. What made Einstein more restless and sleepless?

(A) When America was hit by atomic bomb
(B) When Nagasaki was hit by atom bomb
(C) When atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima by America
(D) Both (B) and (C)

Q.16..Pick out the event after which Einstein could not control himself and tried to play
instrument to divert his mind
(A) After getting the news of atomic attack.
(B) By inventing sad notes
(C) Over barbarism of Hitler
(D) When he was pained by false promises

Q.17.. Which event in 1945, according to Einstein, turned science and scientists into
murderers?
(A) The wrong use of Einstein's equation
(B) False promises of Roosevelt
(C) The dropping of atom bombs on the two Japanese cities
(D) None of these.

Writing Skills
3. Notice Writing: (5 marks.) (Do any 5)
Q1. Where is the name of designation of the authority mentioned?

a. Top left

b. Top right

c. Bottom left

d. Bottom right

Q2. Which of these details is not mentioned in the main notice?

a. Time

b. Date

c. Venue

d. Name of the speakers

Q3. A notice may be issued only by……. the designated for the purpose.

a. peon

b. clerk

c. typist

d. officer

Q4. The content of notice must answer the question:

a. what

b. when

c. where

d. All of these
Q5. The word limit for notice writing should not exceed:

a. 40

b. 50

c. 60

d. 80

Q6. The notice writing format should include:

a. Name of the institution

b. Date

c. Writer's name with designation

d. All of the above

4. Advertisement: (5 marks.) (Do any 5)

Q1. Which aspect of a product is a customer not required to know in an
advertisement?

a. About the product

b. Age of seller

c. Advantages of the product

d. Value for money

Q2. Which of these is not a characteristic of an advertisement?

a. Inspire a customer

b. Arouse a desire

c. Discourage the buyer

d. Convince the buyer

Q3. Which of these media is not used for advertisement?

a. Newspapers

b. Magazines

c. Billboards

d. Notebooks

Q4. The choice of medium of advertisement depends on the contents of the

message.

a. true

b. false

c. not sure

d. may or may not be true

Q5. Which type of advertisement is written by an employer who is looking

for the services of a person in his organisation?

a. Situation Vacant

c. For Sale

b: Situation Wanted

d. To Let

Q6. 'Situation Wanted' advertisement is written by:

a. an employer

b. a job-seeker

c. a candidate looking for a place for accommodation

d. a person looking for tenants for his/her property

Literature
5. Attempt any 26 questions out of 30.
Question 1.
When Douglas tried to yell
(a) everyone came to his rescue
(b) no sound came out
(c) his father arrived
(d) the lifeguard dived to save him up, they hung as

Question 2.
The nine feet seemed to Douglas like
(a) hundred feet
(b) ninety feet
(c) fifty feet
(d) twenty-five feet

Question 3.
Though Douglas was frightened, he was not
(a) afraid to die
(b) going to survive
(c) out of his wits
(d) able to shout for help

Question 4.
Douglas calls him a
(a) nasty human being
(b) a brute
(c) a beautiful physical specimen
(d) a big bully

Question 5. .
Where was the lake Wentworth?
(a) In New Hampshire
(b) in Washington
(c) in California
(d) in Washington D.C

Question 6.
How did Douglas make sure that he had conquered the old terror?
(a) By visiting California
(b) By jumping into the waters
(c) By taking a lesson from the instructor
(d) By swimming into the lake Wentworth

Question 7.
Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
(a) because he wanted to swim in the waters of the Cascade
(b) because his friend had challenged him
(c) because he had a bet on it
(d) because he wanted to win a medal

Question 8.
Why did Douglas hire an instructor?
(a) To be confident in swimming
(b) To compete with others
(c) To flaunt
(d) To overcome his fear of water and learn swimming

Question 9.
What does Douglas do to save himself in the pool?
(a) Used his mind and pushed himself up
(b) Shouted aloud
(c) Called people
(d) Shouted help help

Question 10.
How did the instructor make Douglas a good swimmer?
(a) Planning
(b) With the help of ropes
(c) By pushing him into the pool
(d) With the help of ropes and belts

Question 11.
How will silence benefit the man and nature?
(a) both will be friends
(b) man will know nature better
(c) man will be healthy
(d) man will stop hurting nature and both will heal themselves

Question 12.
While gathering salt, what will happen to the man if he keep silent for a moment?
(a) he will stop dropping it
(b) he will look at the ground
(c) he will walk carefully
(d) he will think of the harm the salt is doing to his hands

Question 13.
Why is the poet asking everyone not to speak any language?
(a) to avoid noise
(b) to avoid loud voices
(c) to avoid people
(d) to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings
Question 14.
What would everyone feel at that exotic moment?
(a) happy
(b) content
(c) dancing
(d) strange blissful oneness

Question 15.
What will happen if there are no engines and no crowd?
(a) noise will be lessened
(b) no crowd on roads
(c) no traffic rush
(d) it will create a perfect, happy moment

Question 16.
What does the poet want people to do for one second?
(a) to sing
(b) to close eyes
(c) to stand quietly
(d) to be silent and motionless

Question 17.
What is always alive even when everything seems to be dead or still?
(a) mountains
(b) rivers
(c) Sun
(d) Earth and nature are always alive

Question 18.
What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem?
(a) War against humanity
(b) War against nature
(c) War with gases and fire
(d) All these

Question 19.
What does hurt hand refer to ?
(a) Growing needs of the man
(b) growing greed of man
(c) unfulfilled desires
(d) growing insensitivity of man to pain

Question 20.
What is the poet expecting from fishermen?
(a) to find more fish
(b) to go deeper into the sea
(c) to think and stop harming the fish
(d) none
Question 21.
Who is the author of The Third Level?
(a)George Orwell
(b) Agatha Christie
(c) James Joyce
(d) Jack Finney

Question 22.
What kind of appearances people had at Third level and why did the clerk refuse to
accept money?
(a) funny and clerk refused to accept money because it was currency of modern
times
(b) weird and notes were big
(c) weird and notes were torn
(d) weird and notes were wet

Question 23.
What did the letter state?
(a) That everything is okay
(b) that Sam is joining them
(c) Third level do exist and Charle was advised to keep looking at this worth seeing
place
(d) None

Question 24.
Who had sent that ‘First Day cover and when?
(a) Sam’s father
(b) Sam’s uncle
(c) Sam’s friend
(d) Sam a psychiatrist in 1894

Question 25.
What happens when Charley enters the Grand Central Station?
(a) He finds a huge tree like Station
(b) new staircases, corridors and tunnels
(c) tree keeps spreading its roots throwing rooms and windows
(d) All of these

Question 26.
What is Sam’s letter to Charles represent?
(a) A blend
(b) an acceptance to visit
(c) a proof of his fantasy
(d) a blend of reality with fantasy

Question 27.
What is ‘Waking dream wish fulfillment” according to the psychiatrist in the lesson?
(a) Charles finding of a Third level at Grand Central Station and realization of his
wish to visit Galesberg Illinois
(b) Charles escapism
(c) Charles escapism from realities
(d) None

Question 28.
What did Charley see at the Third Level?
(a) flickering gas lights and people with funny mustaches
(b) brass spittoons
(c) men wearing a tan gabardine suit and a straw
(d) All these

Question 29.
How did Charlie reach the Third Level?
(a) In his fantasy he takes a subway or a corridor faster than a bus
(b) in a superfast train
(c) in jetways
(d) in an escalator

Question 30.
What is First Day Cover?
(a) A new stamp gets the Postmark and date
(b) A gift
(c) A gift wrapper
(d) A gift wrapped in a beautiful wrapper