Class 12 FREE Online practice paper 2 english​

SECTION-A

READING [20 marks]

1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :                                            [10]
(1) We have been brought up to fear insects. We regard them as unnecessary creatures that do more harm than good. Man continually wages war on them, for they contaminate his food, carry diseases, or devour his crops. They sting or bite without provocation; they fly uninvited into our rooms on summer nights, or beat against our lighted windows. We live in dread not only of unpleasant insects like spiders or wasps, but of quite harmless ones like moths, Reading about them increases our understanding without dispelling our fears. Knowing that the industrious ant lives in a highly organised society does nothing to prevent us from being filled with revulsion when we find hordes of them crawling over a carefully prepared picnic lunch.
(2) No matter how much we like honey, or how much we have read about the uncanny sense of direction which bees possess, we have a horror of being stung. Most of our fears are unreasonable, but they are difficult to erase. At the same time, however, insects are strangely fascinating. We enjoy reading about them, especially when we find that, like the praying mantis, they lead perfectly horrible lives. We enjoy staring at them, entranced as they go about their business, unaware (we hope) of our presence. Who has not stood (3)

in awe at the sight of a spider pouncing on a fly, or a column of ants triumphantly bearing home an enormous dead beetle?

Last summer, I spent days in watching thousands of ants crawling up the trunk of my prized peach tree. The tree has grown against a warm wall on a sheltered side of the house. I am especially proud of it, not only because it has survived several severe winters, but because it occasionally produces luscious peaches. During the summer I noticed that the leaves of the tree were beginning to wither. Clusters of tiny insects called aphis were to be found on the underside of the leaves. They were visited by a large colony of ants which obtained a sort of honey from them. I immediately embarked on an experiment which, even though it failed to get rid of the ants, kept me fascinated for twenty four hours. I bound the base of the tree with a sticky tape, making it impossible for the ants to reach the aphis. The tape was so sticky that they did not dare to cross it. For a long time, I watched them scurrying around the sticky tape without being able to do anything about it. I got up early next morning hoping to find that the ants had given up in despair. Instead, I saw that they had discovered a new route. They were climbing up the wall of the house and then on the leaves of the tree. I realised sadly that I had been completely defeated by their ingenuity. The ants had been quick to find an answer to my thoroughly unscientific methods!
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete any ten of the statements given below with the help of options that follow:       [1 x 10 = 10]
(a) Man fears and regards insects unnecessary because:
(i) they are our enemy.
(ii) they do more harm than good. 
(iii) they are what nightmares are made of. 
(iv) they are too tiny.
(b) Even though ants live in a highly organised society, yet :
(1) many find hordes of them. 
(ii) many find them the most disorganised. 
(iii) they come uninvited.
(iv) they create chaos.
(c) Insects fascinate us when : 
(i) they talk to us. 
(ii) they bite us. 
(iii) we read about and observe them.
(iv) we live in dread of them.
(d) The peach tree was a prized possession of the narrator because: 
(i) it had grown against a warm wall.
(ii) its leaves were infested with aphis.
(iii) it was visited by ants. 
(iv) of its luscious fruits and long life.
(e) The new route discovered by the ants was through:
(i) a wall
(ii) a staircase
(iii) tape
(iv) flying
(f)The author calls his method …….. .
(i) logical 
(ii) unscientific
(iii) approachable 
(iv) unrealistic
(g) Man continually wages war against insects because they
(i) sting or bite 
(ii) carry diseases 
(iii) contaminate food 
(iv) all of these
(h) The writer says that bees have
(i) become more friendly 
(ii) become extinct
(iii) uncanny sense of direction 
(iv) irritating buzz sound
(i) Which word in para-1 means same as ‘ make disappear’?
(i) Contaminate 
(ii) Provocation 
(iii) Dispel
(iv) Industrious
(j) Which word in para-2 means same as becoming involved’?
(i) Uncanny
(ii) Entranced
(iii) Pounced
(iv) Triumphant
(k) The meaning of scurrying as given in para-3 is
(i) to move quickly
(ii) to have fun
(iii) to avoid
 (iv) to sing
2. On the basis of your understanding of the passage, complete any ten of the statements given below with the help of options that follow: [1 x 10-10]
(1) There is now no denying that the new government takes office amid a clear economic slowdown. The first macro data set released showed an under-performing economy with GDP growth falling to 5.8% in the fourth quarter of 2018-19 and pulling down the overall growth for the fiscal to a five-year low of 6.8%. Growth in gross value added (GVA), which is GDP minus taxes and subsidies, fell to 6.6% in 2018-19, pointing to a serious slowdown. If further confirmation were needed, the growth in core sector output – a set of eight major industrial sectors fell to 2.6% in April, compared to 4.7% in the same month last year. And finally, unemployment data, controversially suppressed by the Union government so far, showed that joblessness was at a 45-year high of 6.1% in 2017-18. These numbers highlight the challenges ahead in drafting the Budget for 2019-20. The economy is beset by a consumption slowdown as reflected in the falling sales of everything from automobiles to consumer durables, even fast moving consumer goods. Private investment is not taking off, while government spending, which kept the economy afloat during the last NDA government, was cut back in the last quarter of 2018-19 to meet the fiscal deficit target of 3.4%.
(2) The good news is that inflation is undershooting the target and oil prices are on the retreat again. But the rural economy remains in distress, as seen by the 2.9% growth in agriculture last fiscal; the sector needs a good monsoon this year to bounce back. Overall economic growth in the first quarter of this fiscal is likely to remain subdued, and any improvement is unlikely until the late second quarter or the early third. There are not too many options before the new Finance Minister. In the near term, she has to boost consumption, which means putting more money in the hands of people. That, in turn, means cutting taxes, which is not easy given the commitment to rein in the fiscal deficit.
(3) In the medium term, Ms. Sitharaman has to take measures to boost private investment even as she opens up public spending again. These call for major reforms, starting with land acquisition and labour, corporate taxes by reducing exemptions and dropping rates, and nursing banks back to health. On the table will be options such as further recapitalisation of the ailing banks, and consolidation. The question, though, is where the money will come from. With tax revenues likely to be subdued owing to the slowdown, the Centre will have to look at alternative sources such as disinvestment. There may be little choice but to go big on privatisation. A rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India, widely expected this week, would certainly help boost sentiment. But it is the Budget that will really set the tone for the economy.
(a) The new government began its session when there was …….. .
(i) recession
(ii) inflation
(iii) unemployment
(iv) economic slowdown
(b) In the fourth quarter of 2018-19 the GDP growth fall to
(i) 6.8%
(ii) 2.6%
(iii) 5.8%
 (iv) 3.4%
(c) Growth in gross value added is
(i) GVA+ GDP
(ii) GDP-GVA
(iii) GDP + subsidies
(iv) GDP taxes and subsidies
(d) Unemployment went at a 45-year high in
(i) 2017-18
(ii) 2018-19
(iii) 2019-20
(iv) all of these
(e) The slowdown shows fall in the sales of ………. .
(i) education 
(ii) automobiles
(iii) consumer durables 
(iv) both (ii) and (iii)
(f) What does agriculture need to prosper in 2018-19?
(i) Good seeds 
(ii) Good monsoon
(iii) Good finances
(iv) Good policies 
(g) …………………. is a suitable  choice to bring economy back to its better position. 
(i) Agriculture
(ii) Tax payment
(iii) Privatisation
(iv) Budget
(h) Which word in the para-1 means same as ‘monetary’? 
(i) Fiscal
(ii) Slowdown
(iii) Gross
(iv) Union
(i) Which word in para-2 means same as  ‘improvement’? 
(i) Undershooting 
(ii) Bounce
(iii) Boost
(iv) Retreat
(j) What is the meaning of the word ‘beset’ as given in para-1?
(i) Free
(ii) Invade
(iii) Aid
(iv) Release
(k) What is the meaning of the word ‘exemption’ as given in para-3? 
(i) Authority 
(ii) Burden
(iii) Blame
(iv) Discharge

SECTION- [16 marks] 

WRITING SKILLS

3. You are the General Manager Bharat Pharma Ltd. Draft an advertisement for your company for the post of an accountant. Mention your requirements: qualification, experience and other necessary details.
OR
You are General Manager of Ivy Software Solutions, Agra Cantt, Agra. You need a software engineer for your organisation. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words to be published in The Times of India under the classified columns.         [3]
4. As Secretary of the Literary Club of St. Anne’s School, Ahmedabad, draft a formal invitation in not more than 50 words for the inauguration of the club in your school.
 OR
You have received an invitation to be the Chief guest for the annual function in Sunshine Glory Public School. Send a reply in not more than 50 words confirming your acceptance. You are Kailash/Kavita. [3]
5. Your friend was going to accompany you and your family on a trip to Jodhpur. However due to some unavoidable circumstances, she/ he could not go with you on the trip. Write a letter to your friend in 120-150 words, telling him/her about the places you went, the things you did, the food you ate, etc. you are Neel/ Nikki, D-41, Udyog Vihar, Ambala.
OR
You are Apoorva/Asha, Sales Manager of Bharat Publishers Limited, Dehradun. You have received a letter from the Librarian of Wisdom Public School, Mussoorie who placed an order for books with your company two months ago on behalf of the school, expressing concern over the undue delay in the supply from your end. Write a suitable reply giving reasons for the undue delay and promising the delivery of the books at the earliest. (120-150 words)         [5]
6. Robotics Society of Father Angel School, Delhi organised competition-cum-exhibition, to showcase some amazing new inventions. Schools from all over India had participated in it. As a reporter from ‘The Education Times, write a brief report in 120-150 words on the same, to be published in the newspaper.
OR
You are Bala/Sunita, a teacher and social worker. You are happy with the recent introduction of scholarships by the Government to promote education of girls. But you feel that it is not enough. Write an article in 120-150 words on how the education of girls can be promoted by providing them with the required physical, economic and emotional back-up.       [5]

SECTION-C [44 marks]

Literature Textbooks
7. Read the given extract and answer the given questions in any two of the prose extracts: [1×8=8]
(a) Yes, it was a white man. The wet cap fell away and there was his wet yellow hair, long, as though for many weeks it had not been cut, and upon his young and tortured face was a yellow beard. He was unconscious and knew nothing that they did for him.
(1) Name the chapter from which the above extract is taken. 
(a) The Third Level
(b) The Enemy
(c) On the Face of it
(d) Deep Water
(ii) Who is being talked about in the given lives?
(a) A doctor
(b) A major general 
(c) An American soldier
(d) A servant
(iii) Who are they’ in the last line?
(a) Some doctors
(b) Dr. Sadao and his wife
(c) Armymen 
(d) Americans
(iv) What is the meaning of the word ‘unconscious’ in the last line? 
(a) Aware
(c) Rational
(b) Certain
(d) Drowsy
(b) He shook his head in growing despair and turned on the senior prison officer. “As for you, Jackson! How long have you been pretending you’ve got a brain, eh? Well, I’ll tell you something, Jackson. Your skull’s empty. Absolutely empty!”
(i) Who is the author of chapter of given extract? 
(a) Kalki
(b) Colin Dexter
(c) Susan Hill
(d) Jack Finney
(ii) Who is ‘he’ in the first line?
(a) Jackson
(b) Evans
(c) The Governor
(d) Sadao
(iii) Why is ‘he’ angry?
(a) Because Evans fled away.
(b) Because it was very late.
(c) Because Sadao treated the American soldier. 
(d) None of these
(iv) What is the meaning of the word ‘despair’?
(a) Trust
(b) Revenge
(c) Empty
(d) Hopelessness
(c) The world had, of course, never been very kind to him, so it gave him unwanted joy to think ill of it in this way. It became a cherished pastime of his, during many dreary ploddings, to think of people he knew who had let themselves be caught in the dangerous snare, and of others who were still circling around the bait.
(i) What is the name of the chapter?
(a) The Rattrap 
(b) Lost Spring
(c) Indigo
(d) The Last Lesson
(ii) The world has not been kind to
(a) the crofter 
(b) the peddler
(c) Evans
(d) Gandhiji
(iii) What was the favourite passtime of ‘him’?
(a) To daydream
(b) To protest
(c) To think ill of the world
(d) To make rattraps
(iv) What is the meaning of the word snare?
(a) Bait
(b) Freedom
(c) Honesty
(d) Horrible
8. Read the given lines of the poem and answer the questions of any one of them. [1 x 4 = 4]
(a) Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool Find even the ivory needle hard to pull. The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band Sit heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
(i) Name the poem and the poet.
(a) Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda 
(b) Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers by John Keats
(c) Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers by Adrienne Rich 
(d) My Mother at Sixty-Six by Kamala Das
(ii) The weight Aunt Jennifer feels on her finger is of
(a) tigers
(b) wool
(c) wedding ring
(d) age
(iii) It is called massive weight because
(a) it is an oppressive marriage
(b) she feels trapped
(c) tigers are heavy
(d) both (a) and (b)
(iv) What is Aunt Jennifer making with the wool?
(a) Wedding Ring 
(b) Muflar
(c) Tigers
(d) Jungle
OR
(b) Break O break open till they break the town And show the children to green fields, and make their world 
Run azure on gold sands, and let their tongues  Run naked into books the white and green leaves open History theirs whose language is the sun.
The word ‘they’ refers to 
(a) inspectors
(b) visitors
(c) governor
 (d) all of these
(ii) The slum children can acquire proper education by 
(a) going to private school
(b) breaking mental barriers
(c) breaking physical barriers 
(d) both (b) and (c)
(iii) The children deserve freedom to explore a world where
(a) the sky is blue
(b) there is golden sand 
(c) there are green fields
(d) all of these
(iv) The poet of these lines is
(a) Kamala Das
(c) Robert Frost
(b) Stephen Spender 
(d) Adrienne Rich
9. Answer any eight out of ten given questions. [1 x 8 = 8]
(1) What was the proposal made by landlords? 
(2) What does the poet want each one of us to practice? 
(3) Where does Roger Skunk’s mother hit the wizard?
(4) Who are mighty dead?
(5) Who occupied the last benches of the class? 
(6) How much Saheb used to get in garbage sometimes?
(7) Where does the crofter used to work?
(8) “Like that of a corpse” which figure of speech is used in the phrase? 
(9) Describe the walls of the classroom.
(10) What was the ideal place for Douglas to learn swimming?
10. Answer any five of the following questions in 30-40 words each : [2 × 5 = 10]
(1) Why are the ragpickers of Seemapuri always barefoot? 
(2) Gandhiji stayed at Professor Malkani, a government school teacher’s house for two days. Why did he call it an extraordinary thing?
(3) With what does Kamala Das compare her mother? What does that signify? 
(4) What is the sadness that Pablo Neruda refers to in the poem? What will interrupt it? 
(5) How did Edla persuade her father to let the peddler stay in their home till Christmas? 
(6) Why did Douglas prefer to go to YMCA swimming pool to learn swimming?
11. Answer any two out of the given questions. [2 × 2 = 4] 
(1) Is Roger Skunk happy being changed back to his original smell? Give reasons to support your answer.
(2) Did the clues left behind on the question paper put Evans back in jail again? How do we know that?
(3) How did the wizard help Roger Skunk? 
12. Answer any one of the following questions in 120-150 words: [5]
(i) “I used every way I know to overcome this fear.” Did Douglas ever overcome his fear of water? How? Give details. 
(ii) Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?
13. Answer any one of the following questions in 120-150 words: [5]
(i) Derry was a different boy before he met Mr. Lamb. In him, Derry found a friend and inspiration. How did Mr. Lamb try to give courage and confidence to Derry? 
(ii) How did Jo want the Roger Skunk story to end? Why?

ANSWER

1. (a) (ii) (b) (i) (c) (iii) (d) (iv) (e) (i) (f) (ii) (g) (iv)      
    (h) (iii) (i) (iii) (j) (ii) (k) (i) (e) (iv) (f) (ii) (g) (iii)
2. (a) (iv) (b) (iii) (c) (iv) (d) (i) (j) (ii) (k) (iv) (i) (iii)
    (h) (i)            

3.Situation Vacant

Ivy Software Solutions, renowned leaders of computer products requires a software engineer for their company. The candidate should be B.E. in computer software with at least two years’ experience in a prestigious firm. Salary and perks no constraint for the right candidate. Apply within 10 days along with a detailed bio-data to the General Manager, Ivy Software Solutions, Agra Cantt, Agra.

E-mail: gm@ivyss.in

  1. St. Anne’s School, Ahmedabad 

Invites the students, teachers, and staff members to the

Inauguration of Literary Club

       on Monday, 18 March, 20xx 

10:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. 

    School Library

Famous writer and poet Mr. Vikram Seth shall grace the occasion with his presence.

Secretary, literary Club  (Please be seated by 10:00 A.M.)

  1. Bharat Publishers Limited 

Dehradun

1st March, 20xx

The Librarian

Wisdom Public School

Mussoorie

Subject: Reply to Letter of Complaint

Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you in reference to your letter of complaint regarding your last order. I understand you had placed the order two months back and there has been an undue delay in the supply from our end. We regret the inconvenience you had to face. Due to change in syllabus w.e.f. the current academic year, all the coursebooks are in the process of getting updated. Some old lessons have made way for new lessons with improved work exercises to benefit the students. Please know that the books you ordered fall under the new syllabus and are currently in publication, hence, the delay.

You are our valued customer. Therefore, I request you to be patient for a little longer. I assure you that the latest edition of the books you will be supplied to you at the earliest.

Once again, I apologise for the inconvenience. Thank you for cooperating with us.

Yours sincerely,

Asha Saxenal

(Sales Manager)

  1. A Holistic Approach Towards Girls’ Education 

by Sunita

Education of girls must be made relevant to them with physical, economic and emotional back-up. Physical Back-up: Young mothers must be enabled to return to school. Schools must be located closer to children’s home. Also, their education must be free of all biases, especially the school books, and from their teachers and parents. Local community must be made aware of the importance of girls’ education. Economic Back-up: Educated girls must be encouraged to be economically independent. The government must create job opportunities, which pay substantial wages to them. With economic back up they can look after their family in a better way. Emotional Back-up: A girl child must be made to feel equal to her brothers and other boys. She must be encouraged to actively participate in her own education. This will help develop her self esteem and self confidence. School authorities must ensure a safe environment for the girl child and protect her from all physical, sexual or mental harassment.

Scholarships introduced by the government will encourage girls from underprivileged families to come forward and accept an education. However, unless there is a holistic approach towards girls’ education, that support is not enough for her to face and fight for her right in a patriarchal society.

7. (a) (i)-(b) (ii)-(c) (iii)-(b) (iv)-(d) 
    (b) (i)-(b) (ii)-(c) (iii)-(a) (iv)-(d)
   (c) (i)-(a) (ii)-(b) (iii)-(c) (iv)-(a)
8. (a) (i)-(c) (ii)-(c) (iii)-(d) (iv)-(c)
                       OR
    (b) (i)-(d) (ii)-(d) (iii)-(d) (iv)-(b)
  1. (1) The landlords made the proposal of 25% share.

(2) The poets wants each one of us to practice silence.

(3) Roger Skunk’s mother hit the wizard on his head.

(4) The mighty dead are the great people of the world including our ancestors. 

(5) The old people of the village occupied the last benches of the class.

(6) Sometimes Saheb used to get a ten rupee note in the garbage.

(7) The crofter worked at Ramjö Ironworks. 

(8) The figure of speech used here is simile.

  1. (1) There can be two explanations for why the ragpickers of Seemapuri are always barefoot. First, it is like a tradition for them to not wear chappals. Second, it is an excuse to overlook a perpetual state of poverty.

(2) In those days, Indians residing in smaller localities were scared to sympathise with advocates of ‘Home Rule? Therefore, Gandhiji found it extraordinary that Professor Malkani, a government employee, provided him with accommodation.

(3) Kamala Das compares her aging mother to a corpse with ashen face and to the pale and waning winter moon. This signifies that her mother is as old as she looks.

(4) Edla pointed out that the peddler walks the whole year long and is always afraid of being arrested. Since he has never been welcomed into anybody’s home before, she wants him to enjoy at least one day in peace. She also tells her father that morally they ought not to turn away someone whom they have invited for Christmas and promised Christmas cheer.

(5) Douglas’ mother recommended that he should learn swimming at the YMCA pool because unlike the Yakima river, which was treacherous and had drowned many, the pool was safe. It was only 2-3 feet deep at the shallow end and nine feet deep at the other end. There too, the fall was gradual.

  1. (2) No, the clues left behind on the question paper did not put Evans back in jail again. Although the Governor was able to catch hold of Evans at the Golden Lion with the help of the clues, however, he handed him over to the prison guards without checking their IDs. The guards turned out to be Evans accomplices who help him escape once again. 

(3) Roger skunk was very unhappy because he smelt bad and had no friends. The wizard made his foul smell go away with the magic spell, gave him the beautiful smell of roses and helped him have many friends.

  1. (i) Although it took many years for Douglas to overcome his fear of water, but he finally did. 

For a long time the fear remained with Douglas, crippling him, every time he wanted to go canoeing or fishing. Finally, he decided to get an instructor and learn how to swim.

Bit by bit, the instructor turned Douglas into a swimmer. Initially, he put a belt around Douglas and the attached rope went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. He held on to the rope and went back and forth across the pool until Douglas began to relax in water. Next, the instructor taught Douglas to put his face under water and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale. They practised this until Douglas stopped panicking on putting his head under water. Then Douglas learnt to kick in the water. At first, he was terror-stricken, but continuous practice with his instructor made Douglas lose his fear of water and emerge as a confident swimmer.

To make sure that he conquered the old terror, his fear of water, he decided to go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire. There he dived off a dock at Triggs Island and swam two miles across the lake. Even though he swam with minimum anxiety, a little doubt remained within him. Next, he dived into Warm Lake and swam across to the other shore and back. Having swam in the lake without any fear or panic attack, Douglas realised that he had finally conquered his fear.

(ii) Refer to answer 30, page no. 220.

  1. (i) When Mr. Lamb found Derry in his garden, he did not make him go away. Instead, Mr. Lamb welcomed Derry in a cheerful way accepting him as he was. Although Derry behaved rudely with him, he remained calm and cordial as if Derry’s bad temper and defiance did not bother him at all. Derry was always angry and bitter because one side of his face was burnt. His face seemed to scare everybody. He withdrew himself from the society because of which he lacked courage and self confidence. Mr. Lamb’s behaviour towards Derry was completely different from others. He told Derry that it’s important to see how one is inside than how one looks on the outside. He inspired Derry with love for life and told him one cannot go through life being scared and alienated. Mr. Lamb asked Derry to enjoy simple joys of everyday living with people around and nature, ignoring the unpleasant. He initiated courage and confidence in Derry by telling him not to brood over limitations but count his blessings.

(ii) In Jack’s version of the story, Roger Skunk’s mommy hits the wizard on his head with her umbrella, and told him to cast a reverse spell on Roger Skunk and give him his original smell back. However, Jo did not agree with this ending and suggested an alternate end for the story. According to her, the wizard should have hit mommy back and not change Roger Skunk.

To Jo, the wizard was a good person who helps ‘Roger skunk’ when he was in trouble and seeking a way out. Witnessing Mommy Skunk’s actions, Jo felt that ‘stupid Mommy’ should have been punished for her unkind behaviour towards the kind wizard. She believed that Mommy Skunk was imposing her will both on Roger Skunk and the wizard without considering her son’s fear of not getting accepted by his peers. Jo also thought that Roger Skunk should be allowed to choose his own life even if it meant to get rid of the stink.

Leave a Comment