CBSE Class 12 English: Question Paper for 2019 (Term-II) | Toppers Answer Sheets for Class 12 PDF Download

 Page 1


     
  1/3/1 1 P.T.O. 
Candidates must write the Code on the 
title page of the answer-book. 
 
 Series BVM/3  Code No.  
1/3/1
 
 
 
Roll No. 
 
 
ENGLISH (Core) 
Time allowed : 3 hours Maximum Marks : 100 
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.  
? Please check that this question paper contains 11 printed pages. 
? Code number given on the right hand side of the question paper should be 
written on the title page of the answer-book by the candidate. 
? Please check that this question paper contains 12 questions. 
? Please write down the Serial Number of the question before attempting 
it. 
? 15 minute time has been allotted to read this question paper. The question 
paper will be distributed at 10.15 a.m. From 10.15 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., the 
students will read the question paper only and will not write any answer on the 
answer-book during this period. 
SET-1 
Page 2


     
  1/3/1 1 P.T.O. 
Candidates must write the Code on the 
title page of the answer-book. 
 
 Series BVM/3  Code No.  
1/3/1
 
 
 
Roll No. 
 
 
ENGLISH (Core) 
Time allowed : 3 hours Maximum Marks : 100 
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.  
? Please check that this question paper contains 11 printed pages. 
? Code number given on the right hand side of the question paper should be 
written on the title page of the answer-book by the candidate. 
? Please check that this question paper contains 12 questions. 
? Please write down the Serial Number of the question before attempting 
it. 
? 15 minute time has been allotted to read this question paper. The question 
paper will be distributed at 10.15 a.m. From 10.15 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., the 
students will read the question paper only and will not write any answer on the 
answer-book during this period. 
SET-1 
     
  1/3/1 2 
 SECTION A — (Reading) 30 
1. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that 
follow : 20  
1 Till as late as the 1960s, we believed that one of the major differences 
between us and the rest of the animal kingdom was our ability to make 
and use tools. But then, our egos suffered a devastating blow : in the 
jungles of Gombe in Africa, Jane Goodall observed a chimpanzee pluck 
and trim a stem of grass and insert it into a termite mound. The 
furious termites climbed up the stem only to be happily eaten up by 
the chimp. The chimp kept repeating the process. He had, in fact, 
fashioned his own fishing rod and gone fishing for termites. We were 
not alone! And that was not all. Chimps were also observed using rocks 
to bash open hard shells and fruits (which other monkeys also do), to 
throw them at their enemies and wave sticks around. Even worse, 
adolescent females, especially, were seen sharpening sticks with their 
teeth and thrusting these like spears into hollows where bush-babies 
were hiding in fear and then checked the spear tips for blood! Chimps 
were also seen chewing up leaves and using these like sponges to suck 
up water from the waterholes to enable them to drink. 
2 The gorillas and orangutans were not far behind. In 2005, a western 
lowland gorilla (a lady, this time) was observed picking up a stick and 
using it to check the depth of a pool she wanted to cross. Then, she 
used it as a walking stick. Orangutans (as well as chimpanzees) have 
been observed using broad leaves as umbrellas during downpours ? 
and orangutans that are accustomed to our company (never a good 
influence) imitate the way we wash clothes by the riverbank or use a 
saw to cut wood.  
3 Elephants designed fly-whisks and backscratchers from branches, and 
used strips of chewed up bark to plug small waterholes (which they 
had dug) to prevent the water from evaporating. Dada bulls would 
heave heavy logs or rocks at electric fences to short-circuit or simply 
destroy them. 
Page 3


     
  1/3/1 1 P.T.O. 
Candidates must write the Code on the 
title page of the answer-book. 
 
 Series BVM/3  Code No.  
1/3/1
 
 
 
Roll No. 
 
 
ENGLISH (Core) 
Time allowed : 3 hours Maximum Marks : 100 
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.  
? Please check that this question paper contains 11 printed pages. 
? Code number given on the right hand side of the question paper should be 
written on the title page of the answer-book by the candidate. 
? Please check that this question paper contains 12 questions. 
? Please write down the Serial Number of the question before attempting 
it. 
? 15 minute time has been allotted to read this question paper. The question 
paper will be distributed at 10.15 a.m. From 10.15 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., the 
students will read the question paper only and will not write any answer on the 
answer-book during this period. 
SET-1 
     
  1/3/1 2 
 SECTION A — (Reading) 30 
1. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that 
follow : 20  
1 Till as late as the 1960s, we believed that one of the major differences 
between us and the rest of the animal kingdom was our ability to make 
and use tools. But then, our egos suffered a devastating blow : in the 
jungles of Gombe in Africa, Jane Goodall observed a chimpanzee pluck 
and trim a stem of grass and insert it into a termite mound. The 
furious termites climbed up the stem only to be happily eaten up by 
the chimp. The chimp kept repeating the process. He had, in fact, 
fashioned his own fishing rod and gone fishing for termites. We were 
not alone! And that was not all. Chimps were also observed using rocks 
to bash open hard shells and fruits (which other monkeys also do), to 
throw them at their enemies and wave sticks around. Even worse, 
adolescent females, especially, were seen sharpening sticks with their 
teeth and thrusting these like spears into hollows where bush-babies 
were hiding in fear and then checked the spear tips for blood! Chimps 
were also seen chewing up leaves and using these like sponges to suck 
up water from the waterholes to enable them to drink. 
2 The gorillas and orangutans were not far behind. In 2005, a western 
lowland gorilla (a lady, this time) was observed picking up a stick and 
using it to check the depth of a pool she wanted to cross. Then, she 
used it as a walking stick. Orangutans (as well as chimpanzees) have 
been observed using broad leaves as umbrellas during downpours ? 
and orangutans that are accustomed to our company (never a good 
influence) imitate the way we wash clothes by the riverbank or use a 
saw to cut wood.  
3 Elephants designed fly-whisks and backscratchers from branches, and 
used strips of chewed up bark to plug small waterholes (which they 
had dug) to prevent the water from evaporating. Dada bulls would 
heave heavy logs or rocks at electric fences to short-circuit or simply 
destroy them. 
     
  1/3/1 3 P.T.O. 
4 Bottle-nosed dolphins have been known to cover their long noses with 
sponges or shells before combing the seabed for tidbits (There are 
many spiny creatures and sharp rocks that could otherwise injure 
them). 
5 Crows are thought to be the smartest amongst birds and the new 
Caledonian crow is considered to be the Einstein among crows. Crows 
have been known to do the dropping-of-pebbles-in-a-pitcher-of-water 
stunt, as described in Aesop’s Fables. The American alligator has been 
known to arrange twigs on its head ? to lure nest-building birds to 
come and pick them up. When they do, well, lunch is served for the 
alligator! 
6 For long, we have exploited the poor silkworm, boiling its cocoons alive 
to make one of the most exquisite clothing materials known so far. But 
the real pros in silk production are ? hold your breath ? spiders. 
What caterpillars of moths and butterflies do with their mouthparts 
(like a magician releasing ribbons from his/her mouth), spiders do it 
from the lower part of their bodies. But, try as we may, we still haven’t 
cracked the code of how to synthesise spider silk, which can be used for 
everything from producing gun-sights and sutures to light bulletproof 
jackets and seat belts.   
7 What if spiders sold their silk ? Imagine walking into a silk emporium 
run by arachnids, you would be greeted by a sales-spider: charming, 
young Ms./Mr. Hairy-legs, who would appraise you out of her/his eight 
or so eyes. ‘‘Welcome, welcome!’’ s/he would gush scanning you  
top-down, rubbing its hairy legs together in delight.  ‘‘We have some of 
the finest, softest cradle silk you would ever want for your happy 
events. Wrapped up in it, your babies will be warm, safe and dry as 
they wait to hatch. It’s super-absorbent, too, and nappy rash will not 
be a problem!  
Page 4


     
  1/3/1 1 P.T.O. 
Candidates must write the Code on the 
title page of the answer-book. 
 
 Series BVM/3  Code No.  
1/3/1
 
 
 
Roll No. 
 
 
ENGLISH (Core) 
Time allowed : 3 hours Maximum Marks : 100 
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.  
? Please check that this question paper contains 11 printed pages. 
? Code number given on the right hand side of the question paper should be 
written on the title page of the answer-book by the candidate. 
? Please check that this question paper contains 12 questions. 
? Please write down the Serial Number of the question before attempting 
it. 
? 15 minute time has been allotted to read this question paper. The question 
paper will be distributed at 10.15 a.m. From 10.15 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., the 
students will read the question paper only and will not write any answer on the 
answer-book during this period. 
SET-1 
     
  1/3/1 2 
 SECTION A — (Reading) 30 
1. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that 
follow : 20  
1 Till as late as the 1960s, we believed that one of the major differences 
between us and the rest of the animal kingdom was our ability to make 
and use tools. But then, our egos suffered a devastating blow : in the 
jungles of Gombe in Africa, Jane Goodall observed a chimpanzee pluck 
and trim a stem of grass and insert it into a termite mound. The 
furious termites climbed up the stem only to be happily eaten up by 
the chimp. The chimp kept repeating the process. He had, in fact, 
fashioned his own fishing rod and gone fishing for termites. We were 
not alone! And that was not all. Chimps were also observed using rocks 
to bash open hard shells and fruits (which other monkeys also do), to 
throw them at their enemies and wave sticks around. Even worse, 
adolescent females, especially, were seen sharpening sticks with their 
teeth and thrusting these like spears into hollows where bush-babies 
were hiding in fear and then checked the spear tips for blood! Chimps 
were also seen chewing up leaves and using these like sponges to suck 
up water from the waterholes to enable them to drink. 
2 The gorillas and orangutans were not far behind. In 2005, a western 
lowland gorilla (a lady, this time) was observed picking up a stick and 
using it to check the depth of a pool she wanted to cross. Then, she 
used it as a walking stick. Orangutans (as well as chimpanzees) have 
been observed using broad leaves as umbrellas during downpours ? 
and orangutans that are accustomed to our company (never a good 
influence) imitate the way we wash clothes by the riverbank or use a 
saw to cut wood.  
3 Elephants designed fly-whisks and backscratchers from branches, and 
used strips of chewed up bark to plug small waterholes (which they 
had dug) to prevent the water from evaporating. Dada bulls would 
heave heavy logs or rocks at electric fences to short-circuit or simply 
destroy them. 
     
  1/3/1 3 P.T.O. 
4 Bottle-nosed dolphins have been known to cover their long noses with 
sponges or shells before combing the seabed for tidbits (There are 
many spiny creatures and sharp rocks that could otherwise injure 
them). 
5 Crows are thought to be the smartest amongst birds and the new 
Caledonian crow is considered to be the Einstein among crows. Crows 
have been known to do the dropping-of-pebbles-in-a-pitcher-of-water 
stunt, as described in Aesop’s Fables. The American alligator has been 
known to arrange twigs on its head ? to lure nest-building birds to 
come and pick them up. When they do, well, lunch is served for the 
alligator! 
6 For long, we have exploited the poor silkworm, boiling its cocoons alive 
to make one of the most exquisite clothing materials known so far. But 
the real pros in silk production are ? hold your breath ? spiders. 
What caterpillars of moths and butterflies do with their mouthparts 
(like a magician releasing ribbons from his/her mouth), spiders do it 
from the lower part of their bodies. But, try as we may, we still haven’t 
cracked the code of how to synthesise spider silk, which can be used for 
everything from producing gun-sights and sutures to light bulletproof 
jackets and seat belts.   
7 What if spiders sold their silk ? Imagine walking into a silk emporium 
run by arachnids, you would be greeted by a sales-spider: charming, 
young Ms./Mr. Hairy-legs, who would appraise you out of her/his eight 
or so eyes. ‘‘Welcome, welcome!’’ s/he would gush scanning you  
top-down, rubbing its hairy legs together in delight.  ‘‘We have some of 
the finest, softest cradle silk you would ever want for your happy 
events. Wrapped up in it, your babies will be warm, safe and dry as 
they wait to hatch. It’s super-absorbent, too, and nappy rash will not 
be a problem!  
     
  1/3/1 4 
8 So yes, animals use tools but we needn’t worry. None of them have, as 
yet, discovered how to make fire. Though, our very own black kite will 
? with its goonda friends ? spread a wildfire by dropping burning 
twigs in unburned areas so they can snap up even more fleeing insects 
and rodents. But yes, these so-called tools are primitive. 
9 But then, do animals really need sophisticated tools to get what they 
want ? Cheetahs accelerate faster than Ferraris, pit vipers have  
heat-seeking sensors, eagles can locate a rabbit in a field from 
kilometers away, sharks smell a drop of blood in a whole ruddy ocean, 
bats use sonar, birds and bees see ultraviolet light, a falcon can dive at 
320 kmph, snakes have a cocktail of venom that can bleed, paralyse or 
liquefy you to death, spiders’ silk still has us in a tizzy, chameleons 
and octopuses wear invisibility cloaks, and, migratory birds have built 
in navigation system ? the list is endless!  
10 We had the best brains and so were able to design miraculous tools. 
But look where we have ended up : we’ve gassed up the earth’s air, 
poisoned the water and have stocked enough weaponry to destroy 
ourselves a million times over.  
 So really, who is the monkey with the wrench ?   
1.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer each of 
the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option : 1 ? 5=5  
(a) Chimps making their own fishing rods is an indication that   
(i) animals and man have similar interests.  
(ii) monkeys also go fishing.  
(iii) animals like to imitate man.  
(iv) man is an animal who likes to fish. 
(b) We know that chimps are intelligent because   
(i) they try and ape man.  
(ii) they use their brains to find solutions to problems.  
(iii) they kill bush-babies. 
(iv) they love to eat termites. 
Page 5


     
  1/3/1 1 P.T.O. 
Candidates must write the Code on the 
title page of the answer-book. 
 
 Series BVM/3  Code No.  
1/3/1
 
 
 
Roll No. 
 
 
ENGLISH (Core) 
Time allowed : 3 hours Maximum Marks : 100 
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.  
? Please check that this question paper contains 11 printed pages. 
? Code number given on the right hand side of the question paper should be 
written on the title page of the answer-book by the candidate. 
? Please check that this question paper contains 12 questions. 
? Please write down the Serial Number of the question before attempting 
it. 
? 15 minute time has been allotted to read this question paper. The question 
paper will be distributed at 10.15 a.m. From 10.15 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., the 
students will read the question paper only and will not write any answer on the 
answer-book during this period. 
SET-1 
     
  1/3/1 2 
 SECTION A — (Reading) 30 
1. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that 
follow : 20  
1 Till as late as the 1960s, we believed that one of the major differences 
between us and the rest of the animal kingdom was our ability to make 
and use tools. But then, our egos suffered a devastating blow : in the 
jungles of Gombe in Africa, Jane Goodall observed a chimpanzee pluck 
and trim a stem of grass and insert it into a termite mound. The 
furious termites climbed up the stem only to be happily eaten up by 
the chimp. The chimp kept repeating the process. He had, in fact, 
fashioned his own fishing rod and gone fishing for termites. We were 
not alone! And that was not all. Chimps were also observed using rocks 
to bash open hard shells and fruits (which other monkeys also do), to 
throw them at their enemies and wave sticks around. Even worse, 
adolescent females, especially, were seen sharpening sticks with their 
teeth and thrusting these like spears into hollows where bush-babies 
were hiding in fear and then checked the spear tips for blood! Chimps 
were also seen chewing up leaves and using these like sponges to suck 
up water from the waterholes to enable them to drink. 
2 The gorillas and orangutans were not far behind. In 2005, a western 
lowland gorilla (a lady, this time) was observed picking up a stick and 
using it to check the depth of a pool she wanted to cross. Then, she 
used it as a walking stick. Orangutans (as well as chimpanzees) have 
been observed using broad leaves as umbrellas during downpours ? 
and orangutans that are accustomed to our company (never a good 
influence) imitate the way we wash clothes by the riverbank or use a 
saw to cut wood.  
3 Elephants designed fly-whisks and backscratchers from branches, and 
used strips of chewed up bark to plug small waterholes (which they 
had dug) to prevent the water from evaporating. Dada bulls would 
heave heavy logs or rocks at electric fences to short-circuit or simply 
destroy them. 
     
  1/3/1 3 P.T.O. 
4 Bottle-nosed dolphins have been known to cover their long noses with 
sponges or shells before combing the seabed for tidbits (There are 
many spiny creatures and sharp rocks that could otherwise injure 
them). 
5 Crows are thought to be the smartest amongst birds and the new 
Caledonian crow is considered to be the Einstein among crows. Crows 
have been known to do the dropping-of-pebbles-in-a-pitcher-of-water 
stunt, as described in Aesop’s Fables. The American alligator has been 
known to arrange twigs on its head ? to lure nest-building birds to 
come and pick them up. When they do, well, lunch is served for the 
alligator! 
6 For long, we have exploited the poor silkworm, boiling its cocoons alive 
to make one of the most exquisite clothing materials known so far. But 
the real pros in silk production are ? hold your breath ? spiders. 
What caterpillars of moths and butterflies do with their mouthparts 
(like a magician releasing ribbons from his/her mouth), spiders do it 
from the lower part of their bodies. But, try as we may, we still haven’t 
cracked the code of how to synthesise spider silk, which can be used for 
everything from producing gun-sights and sutures to light bulletproof 
jackets and seat belts.   
7 What if spiders sold their silk ? Imagine walking into a silk emporium 
run by arachnids, you would be greeted by a sales-spider: charming, 
young Ms./Mr. Hairy-legs, who would appraise you out of her/his eight 
or so eyes. ‘‘Welcome, welcome!’’ s/he would gush scanning you  
top-down, rubbing its hairy legs together in delight.  ‘‘We have some of 
the finest, softest cradle silk you would ever want for your happy 
events. Wrapped up in it, your babies will be warm, safe and dry as 
they wait to hatch. It’s super-absorbent, too, and nappy rash will not 
be a problem!  
     
  1/3/1 4 
8 So yes, animals use tools but we needn’t worry. None of them have, as 
yet, discovered how to make fire. Though, our very own black kite will 
? with its goonda friends ? spread a wildfire by dropping burning 
twigs in unburned areas so they can snap up even more fleeing insects 
and rodents. But yes, these so-called tools are primitive. 
9 But then, do animals really need sophisticated tools to get what they 
want ? Cheetahs accelerate faster than Ferraris, pit vipers have  
heat-seeking sensors, eagles can locate a rabbit in a field from 
kilometers away, sharks smell a drop of blood in a whole ruddy ocean, 
bats use sonar, birds and bees see ultraviolet light, a falcon can dive at 
320 kmph, snakes have a cocktail of venom that can bleed, paralyse or 
liquefy you to death, spiders’ silk still has us in a tizzy, chameleons 
and octopuses wear invisibility cloaks, and, migratory birds have built 
in navigation system ? the list is endless!  
10 We had the best brains and so were able to design miraculous tools. 
But look where we have ended up : we’ve gassed up the earth’s air, 
poisoned the water and have stocked enough weaponry to destroy 
ourselves a million times over.  
 So really, who is the monkey with the wrench ?   
1.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer each of 
the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option : 1 ? 5=5  
(a) Chimps making their own fishing rods is an indication that   
(i) animals and man have similar interests.  
(ii) monkeys also go fishing.  
(iii) animals like to imitate man.  
(iv) man is an animal who likes to fish. 
(b) We know that chimps are intelligent because   
(i) they try and ape man.  
(ii) they use their brains to find solutions to problems.  
(iii) they kill bush-babies. 
(iv) they love to eat termites. 
     
  1/3/1 5 P.T.O. 
(c) Orangutans use big leaves during a downpour because  
(i) they like big leaves when it starts to rain.  
(ii) they do not like heavy rain.  
(iii) they want to wet the leaves.  
(iv) the leaves can keep the rain off their bodies. 
(d) The black kite may start a fire because 
(i) it is a fire bird.  
(ii) it is hungry and looking for food. 
(iii) it likes to watch fleeing animals. 
(iv) it eats only cooked meat. 
(e) Big male elephants throw logs at electric fences because 
(i) they want to be free.  
(ii) they are great throwers.  
(iii) they enjoy the sparks thus caused. 
(iv) they are very strong animals. 
 
1.2 Answer the following questions briefly : 1 ? 6=6  
(a) Why are animals considered as intelligent as humans ?  
(b) What strategy do chimps use to open hard shells and fruits ?  
(c) What do elephants do to prevent water from evaporating ?  
(d) Give an example from the passage that proves the crow to be an 
intelligent bird.  
(e) How does a black kite spread wildfire ?  
(f) How do chimps drink water from the waterholes ?