Class 12 English Official Sample Question Paper (2017-18) | English Class 12 PDF Download

 Page 1


SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER (2017-18) 
ENGLISH (CORE) 
GRADE XII 
Time allowed: 3 Hrs                                                                             Maximum Marks: 100 
General Instructions:  
1. This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.  
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. 
Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.  
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions. 
 SECTION-A 
(READING 
(Marks:30) 
 
1. Read the passage given below : 
 
1. A fisherman, enfeebled with age, could no longer go out to sea so 
he began fishing in the river. Every morning he would go down to the 
river and sit there fishing the whole day long. In the evening he 
would sell whatever he had caught, buy food for himself and go 
home. It was a hard life for an old man. One hot afternoon while he 
was trying to keep awake and bemoaning his fate, a large bird with 
silvery feathers alighted on a rock near him. It was Kaha, the 
heavenly bird. “Have you no one to care for you, grandpa ?” asked 
the bird. “Not a soul.” “You should not be doing such work at your 
age, ” said the bird. “From now on I will bring you a big fish every 
evening. You can sell it and live in comfort.” True to her word, the 
bird began to drop a large fish at his doorstep every evening. All that 
the fisherman had to do was take it to the market and sell it. As big 
fish were in great demand, he was soon rolling in money. He bought 
a cottage near the sea, with a garden around it and engaged a servant 
to cook for him. His wife had died some years earlier. He had decided 
to marry again and began to look for a suitable woman. 
 
2. One day he heard the royal courtier make an announcement. Our 
king has news of a great bird called Kaha,” said the courtier. 
“Whoever can give information about this bird and help catch it, will 
be rewarded with half the gold in the royal treasury and half the 
kingdom !” The fisherman was sorely tempted by the reward. Half 
the kingdom would make him a prince ! 
 
3. “Why does the king want the bird ?” he asked. “He has lost his 
sight,” explained the courtier. “A wise man has advised him to bathe 
his eyes with the blood of Kaha. Do you know where she can be 
found ?” “No…I mean …no, no…” Torn between greed and his 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 2


SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER (2017-18) 
ENGLISH (CORE) 
GRADE XII 
Time allowed: 3 Hrs                                                                             Maximum Marks: 100 
General Instructions:  
1. This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.  
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. 
Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.  
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions. 
 SECTION-A 
(READING 
(Marks:30) 
 
1. Read the passage given below : 
 
1. A fisherman, enfeebled with age, could no longer go out to sea so 
he began fishing in the river. Every morning he would go down to the 
river and sit there fishing the whole day long. In the evening he 
would sell whatever he had caught, buy food for himself and go 
home. It was a hard life for an old man. One hot afternoon while he 
was trying to keep awake and bemoaning his fate, a large bird with 
silvery feathers alighted on a rock near him. It was Kaha, the 
heavenly bird. “Have you no one to care for you, grandpa ?” asked 
the bird. “Not a soul.” “You should not be doing such work at your 
age, ” said the bird. “From now on I will bring you a big fish every 
evening. You can sell it and live in comfort.” True to her word, the 
bird began to drop a large fish at his doorstep every evening. All that 
the fisherman had to do was take it to the market and sell it. As big 
fish were in great demand, he was soon rolling in money. He bought 
a cottage near the sea, with a garden around it and engaged a servant 
to cook for him. His wife had died some years earlier. He had decided 
to marry again and began to look for a suitable woman. 
 
2. One day he heard the royal courtier make an announcement. Our 
king has news of a great bird called Kaha,” said the courtier. 
“Whoever can give information about this bird and help catch it, will 
be rewarded with half the gold in the royal treasury and half the 
kingdom !” The fisherman was sorely tempted by the reward. Half 
the kingdom would make him a prince ! 
 
3. “Why does the king want the bird ?” he asked. “He has lost his 
sight,” explained the courtier. “A wise man has advised him to bathe 
his eyes with the blood of Kaha. Do you know where she can be 
found ?” “No…I mean …no, no…” Torn between greed and his 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
sense of gratitude to the bird, the fisherman could not give a coherent 
reply. The courtier, sensing that he knew something about the bird, 
informed the king. The king had him brought to the palace. 
 
4. “If you have information about the bird, tell me,” urged the king. “I 
will reward you handsomely and if you help catch her, I will 
personally crown you king of half my domain.” “I will get the bird 
for you,” cried the fisherman, suddenly making up his mind. “But 
Kaha is strong. I will need help.” The king sent a dozen soldiers with 
him. That evening when the bird came with the fish, the fisherman 
called out to her to wait. “You drop the fish and go and I never get a 
chance to thank you for all that you’ve done for me," he said. “Today 
I have laid out a feast for you inside. Please alight and come in.” 
Kaha was reluctant to accept the invitation but the fisherman pleaded 
so earnestly that she finally gave in, and alighted. The moment she 
was on the ground, the fisherman grabbed one of her legs and shouted 
to the soldiers hiding in his house to come out. They rushed to his aid 
but their combined effort could not keep Kaha down. 
 
5. She rose into the air with the fisherman still clinging onto her leg. 
By the time he realised he was being carried away, the fisherman was 
too high in the air to let go. He hung on grimly, and neither he nor 
Kaha were ever seen again. 
 
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: 
 
(a) Why was the king desperately looking for Kaha the bird ? 
i. The king wanted a pet bird. 
ii. A wise man advised the king to capture the bird for good luck. 
iii. Kaha was the only heavenly bird with silvery feathers. 
iv. The king was blind and required Kaha’s blood for his eyes. 
  
(b) Why did the bird volunteer to bring fish for the old man ? 
i.   The old man was inexperienced at fishing. 
ii.  The bird took pity on the old man and wanted to help him. 
iii.  The bird had caught more fish than required. 
iv.  The bird wanted to make the old man rich. 
 
(c) What led the courtier to sense that the fisherman might know 
something about Kaha ? 
i. The courtier had observed Kaha alight at the fisherman’s house 
every evening. 
ii.  The courtier had seen the fisherman talk to Kaha. 
iii. The fisherman fumbled when asked about Kaha. 
iv. Word went around that the fisherman was in contact with Kaha. 
 
(d) Which of the following is not true about Kaha ? 
i.  Kaha was a very considerate bird. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1x4=4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 3


SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER (2017-18) 
ENGLISH (CORE) 
GRADE XII 
Time allowed: 3 Hrs                                                                             Maximum Marks: 100 
General Instructions:  
1. This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.  
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. 
Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.  
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions. 
 SECTION-A 
(READING 
(Marks:30) 
 
1. Read the passage given below : 
 
1. A fisherman, enfeebled with age, could no longer go out to sea so 
he began fishing in the river. Every morning he would go down to the 
river and sit there fishing the whole day long. In the evening he 
would sell whatever he had caught, buy food for himself and go 
home. It was a hard life for an old man. One hot afternoon while he 
was trying to keep awake and bemoaning his fate, a large bird with 
silvery feathers alighted on a rock near him. It was Kaha, the 
heavenly bird. “Have you no one to care for you, grandpa ?” asked 
the bird. “Not a soul.” “You should not be doing such work at your 
age, ” said the bird. “From now on I will bring you a big fish every 
evening. You can sell it and live in comfort.” True to her word, the 
bird began to drop a large fish at his doorstep every evening. All that 
the fisherman had to do was take it to the market and sell it. As big 
fish were in great demand, he was soon rolling in money. He bought 
a cottage near the sea, with a garden around it and engaged a servant 
to cook for him. His wife had died some years earlier. He had decided 
to marry again and began to look for a suitable woman. 
 
2. One day he heard the royal courtier make an announcement. Our 
king has news of a great bird called Kaha,” said the courtier. 
“Whoever can give information about this bird and help catch it, will 
be rewarded with half the gold in the royal treasury and half the 
kingdom !” The fisherman was sorely tempted by the reward. Half 
the kingdom would make him a prince ! 
 
3. “Why does the king want the bird ?” he asked. “He has lost his 
sight,” explained the courtier. “A wise man has advised him to bathe 
his eyes with the blood of Kaha. Do you know where she can be 
found ?” “No…I mean …no, no…” Torn between greed and his 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
sense of gratitude to the bird, the fisherman could not give a coherent 
reply. The courtier, sensing that he knew something about the bird, 
informed the king. The king had him brought to the palace. 
 
4. “If you have information about the bird, tell me,” urged the king. “I 
will reward you handsomely and if you help catch her, I will 
personally crown you king of half my domain.” “I will get the bird 
for you,” cried the fisherman, suddenly making up his mind. “But 
Kaha is strong. I will need help.” The king sent a dozen soldiers with 
him. That evening when the bird came with the fish, the fisherman 
called out to her to wait. “You drop the fish and go and I never get a 
chance to thank you for all that you’ve done for me," he said. “Today 
I have laid out a feast for you inside. Please alight and come in.” 
Kaha was reluctant to accept the invitation but the fisherman pleaded 
so earnestly that she finally gave in, and alighted. The moment she 
was on the ground, the fisherman grabbed one of her legs and shouted 
to the soldiers hiding in his house to come out. They rushed to his aid 
but their combined effort could not keep Kaha down. 
 
5. She rose into the air with the fisherman still clinging onto her leg. 
By the time he realised he was being carried away, the fisherman was 
too high in the air to let go. He hung on grimly, and neither he nor 
Kaha were ever seen again. 
 
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: 
 
(a) Why was the king desperately looking for Kaha the bird ? 
i. The king wanted a pet bird. 
ii. A wise man advised the king to capture the bird for good luck. 
iii. Kaha was the only heavenly bird with silvery feathers. 
iv. The king was blind and required Kaha’s blood for his eyes. 
  
(b) Why did the bird volunteer to bring fish for the old man ? 
i.   The old man was inexperienced at fishing. 
ii.  The bird took pity on the old man and wanted to help him. 
iii.  The bird had caught more fish than required. 
iv.  The bird wanted to make the old man rich. 
 
(c) What led the courtier to sense that the fisherman might know 
something about Kaha ? 
i. The courtier had observed Kaha alight at the fisherman’s house 
every evening. 
ii.  The courtier had seen the fisherman talk to Kaha. 
iii. The fisherman fumbled when asked about Kaha. 
iv. Word went around that the fisherman was in contact with Kaha. 
 
(d) Which of the following is not true about Kaha ? 
i.  Kaha was a very considerate bird. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1x4=4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ii.  The blood of Kaha was precious. 
iii.  Kaha was a strong bird. 
iv.  Kaha saved the fisherman from the King’s wrath.  
 
1.2 Answer the following questions briefly: 
a. Why did the fisherman stammer when asked if he knew about the 
bird ? 
b. How did the fisherman get Kaha to come down ? 
c. What does the phrase ‘rolling in money’  in the passage refer to ? 
d. Why was the fisherman doubtful about revealing information about 
Kaha to the courtier ? 
e. Mention two  traits  of farmer's character revealed through the 
story. 
 f. How did the bird manage to escape? 
\ 
1.3 Pick out the words/phrases from the passage which are 
opposite in meaning to the following: 
i. Take off  (Para 1) 
ii. Released (Para 4) 
 
 
 
 
 
1x6=6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1x2 =2 
 
2. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions 
that follow: 
 
1. The youth is a dynamo, an ocean, an inexhaustible reservoir of 
energy. But this energy cannot be kept in prison. Its basic nature is to 
flow , to express itself. The youth energy on the basis of the nature of 
its expression can be divided into four categories. 
 
2. The vast majority of the youth today are with the establishment, 
whose formula of life is learn, earn, burn, and enjoy. It means learn to 
operate the modern devices and employ them to earn the maximum 
amount of wealth to the point of burning the natural resources of the 
earth , as well as yourself out, and then enjoy your own funeral. This 
category of youth is intelligent, skilful and hardworking but it lacks 
insight and foresight. They are self-indulgent and any sense of moral 
code of conduct is alien to their nature. Neither are they able to see in 
depth, to find out whether there is a deeper meaning and purpose to 
their human life, nor have they the capacity to look beyond the tips of 
their nose to find out the consequences of their way and approach, 
where it is leading them to. They are the ends unto themselves and 
enjoyment is the motto of their life. 
 
3. The second category of youth in nature and approach is the same 
but as it is less privileged and less qualified and skilled; it has lesser 
opportunities for earning and enjoying. Such youth may be incited to 
be against the establishment. This opposition takes various forms. 
When it is well organised and systemic it may take the form of 
political opposition and even go to the extent of expressing itself in 
unjust ways. When the opposition is not so intense  and organised , it 
remains content with giving verbal expression to its resentment 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 4


SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER (2017-18) 
ENGLISH (CORE) 
GRADE XII 
Time allowed: 3 Hrs                                                                             Maximum Marks: 100 
General Instructions:  
1. This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.  
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. 
Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.  
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions. 
 SECTION-A 
(READING 
(Marks:30) 
 
1. Read the passage given below : 
 
1. A fisherman, enfeebled with age, could no longer go out to sea so 
he began fishing in the river. Every morning he would go down to the 
river and sit there fishing the whole day long. In the evening he 
would sell whatever he had caught, buy food for himself and go 
home. It was a hard life for an old man. One hot afternoon while he 
was trying to keep awake and bemoaning his fate, a large bird with 
silvery feathers alighted on a rock near him. It was Kaha, the 
heavenly bird. “Have you no one to care for you, grandpa ?” asked 
the bird. “Not a soul.” “You should not be doing such work at your 
age, ” said the bird. “From now on I will bring you a big fish every 
evening. You can sell it and live in comfort.” True to her word, the 
bird began to drop a large fish at his doorstep every evening. All that 
the fisherman had to do was take it to the market and sell it. As big 
fish were in great demand, he was soon rolling in money. He bought 
a cottage near the sea, with a garden around it and engaged a servant 
to cook for him. His wife had died some years earlier. He had decided 
to marry again and began to look for a suitable woman. 
 
2. One day he heard the royal courtier make an announcement. Our 
king has news of a great bird called Kaha,” said the courtier. 
“Whoever can give information about this bird and help catch it, will 
be rewarded with half the gold in the royal treasury and half the 
kingdom !” The fisherman was sorely tempted by the reward. Half 
the kingdom would make him a prince ! 
 
3. “Why does the king want the bird ?” he asked. “He has lost his 
sight,” explained the courtier. “A wise man has advised him to bathe 
his eyes with the blood of Kaha. Do you know where she can be 
found ?” “No…I mean …no, no…” Torn between greed and his 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
sense of gratitude to the bird, the fisherman could not give a coherent 
reply. The courtier, sensing that he knew something about the bird, 
informed the king. The king had him brought to the palace. 
 
4. “If you have information about the bird, tell me,” urged the king. “I 
will reward you handsomely and if you help catch her, I will 
personally crown you king of half my domain.” “I will get the bird 
for you,” cried the fisherman, suddenly making up his mind. “But 
Kaha is strong. I will need help.” The king sent a dozen soldiers with 
him. That evening when the bird came with the fish, the fisherman 
called out to her to wait. “You drop the fish and go and I never get a 
chance to thank you for all that you’ve done for me," he said. “Today 
I have laid out a feast for you inside. Please alight and come in.” 
Kaha was reluctant to accept the invitation but the fisherman pleaded 
so earnestly that she finally gave in, and alighted. The moment she 
was on the ground, the fisherman grabbed one of her legs and shouted 
to the soldiers hiding in his house to come out. They rushed to his aid 
but their combined effort could not keep Kaha down. 
 
5. She rose into the air with the fisherman still clinging onto her leg. 
By the time he realised he was being carried away, the fisherman was 
too high in the air to let go. He hung on grimly, and neither he nor 
Kaha were ever seen again. 
 
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: 
 
(a) Why was the king desperately looking for Kaha the bird ? 
i. The king wanted a pet bird. 
ii. A wise man advised the king to capture the bird for good luck. 
iii. Kaha was the only heavenly bird with silvery feathers. 
iv. The king was blind and required Kaha’s blood for his eyes. 
  
(b) Why did the bird volunteer to bring fish for the old man ? 
i.   The old man was inexperienced at fishing. 
ii.  The bird took pity on the old man and wanted to help him. 
iii.  The bird had caught more fish than required. 
iv.  The bird wanted to make the old man rich. 
 
(c) What led the courtier to sense that the fisherman might know 
something about Kaha ? 
i. The courtier had observed Kaha alight at the fisherman’s house 
every evening. 
ii.  The courtier had seen the fisherman talk to Kaha. 
iii. The fisherman fumbled when asked about Kaha. 
iv. Word went around that the fisherman was in contact with Kaha. 
 
(d) Which of the following is not true about Kaha ? 
i.  Kaha was a very considerate bird. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1x4=4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ii.  The blood of Kaha was precious. 
iii.  Kaha was a strong bird. 
iv.  Kaha saved the fisherman from the King’s wrath.  
 
1.2 Answer the following questions briefly: 
a. Why did the fisherman stammer when asked if he knew about the 
bird ? 
b. How did the fisherman get Kaha to come down ? 
c. What does the phrase ‘rolling in money’  in the passage refer to ? 
d. Why was the fisherman doubtful about revealing information about 
Kaha to the courtier ? 
e. Mention two  traits  of farmer's character revealed through the 
story. 
 f. How did the bird manage to escape? 
\ 
1.3 Pick out the words/phrases from the passage which are 
opposite in meaning to the following: 
i. Take off  (Para 1) 
ii. Released (Para 4) 
 
 
 
 
 
1x6=6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1x2 =2 
 
2. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions 
that follow: 
 
1. The youth is a dynamo, an ocean, an inexhaustible reservoir of 
energy. But this energy cannot be kept in prison. Its basic nature is to 
flow , to express itself. The youth energy on the basis of the nature of 
its expression can be divided into four categories. 
 
2. The vast majority of the youth today are with the establishment, 
whose formula of life is learn, earn, burn, and enjoy. It means learn to 
operate the modern devices and employ them to earn the maximum 
amount of wealth to the point of burning the natural resources of the 
earth , as well as yourself out, and then enjoy your own funeral. This 
category of youth is intelligent, skilful and hardworking but it lacks 
insight and foresight. They are self-indulgent and any sense of moral 
code of conduct is alien to their nature. Neither are they able to see in 
depth, to find out whether there is a deeper meaning and purpose to 
their human life, nor have they the capacity to look beyond the tips of 
their nose to find out the consequences of their way and approach, 
where it is leading them to. They are the ends unto themselves and 
enjoyment is the motto of their life. 
 
3. The second category of youth in nature and approach is the same 
but as it is less privileged and less qualified and skilled; it has lesser 
opportunities for earning and enjoying. Such youth may be incited to 
be against the establishment. This opposition takes various forms. 
When it is well organised and systemic it may take the form of 
political opposition and even go to the extent of expressing itself in 
unjust ways. When the opposition is not so intense  and organised , it 
remains content with giving verbal expression to its resentment 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
periodically. The youth of the above two categories  need to be 
shown the correct path to positively channelize their energy. 
 
4. The third section of youth is a sober and thoughtful class of people, 
which objectively observes and studies  the phenomenon of 
development of the world. These youth find that man in his insatiable 
thirst for consumption has become blind and lost the sense of 
distinction between milk and blood .Today man in his mad rush for 
exploitation is sucking the blood of Mother Earth; leading to their 
destruction and is thereby digging his own grave . This responsible 
category of young people is looking for an alternative mode of 
development based on co-operation between man and man. This 
development based on mutual love, friendship and harmony is not 
only sustainable but leading to endless prosperity mutually. To bring 
about his natural revolution from death-movement to life-movement 
is the aim of this group. 
 
5. The fourth and most vital group of youth which is going to usher  
humanity into the third millennium and act as the pioneer for the 
future development of planetary life is engaged in evolving a new 
way of life and releasing a new principle of global consciousness 
through a fundamental research in the science of life. The science of 
life is a new branch of  knowledge which takes the whole man into 
account without dividing him into subjective and objective halves of 
spirituality and physicality and does not treat him either as a refined 
(thinking) animal or an ethereal entity, having its base in some other 
non- physical world. It , rather, recognises man as a basic unit of 
conscious life which has got immense, practically inexhaustible, 
possibilities and potentialities for evolution, development and growth. 
As per the Vedic formula, man is the micro-cosmos and his fullest 
flowering and enfoldment  lies in his identification with the cosmos. 
(http://www.tribuneindia.com/1998/98nov29/sunday/head8.htm) 
  
2.1 On the basis of your understanding of the passage, complete 
the statements given below by choosing the most appropriate 
option: 
 
(a) Which trait is lacking in the youth that is dexterous with the 
modern devices? 
i. intelligence 
ii. perseverance 
iii. foresight 
iv. skilfulness 
 
(b) Which category of youth supports the view that man’s growth lies 
in his identification with cosmos 
i. the youth that will take us to the third millennium 
ii. that which supports sustainable development 
iii. youth that opposes the establishment  
iv. youth that is self-indulgent and unscrupulous 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1x2=2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 5


SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER (2017-18) 
ENGLISH (CORE) 
GRADE XII 
Time allowed: 3 Hrs                                                                             Maximum Marks: 100 
General Instructions:  
1. This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.  
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. 
Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.  
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions. 
 SECTION-A 
(READING 
(Marks:30) 
 
1. Read the passage given below : 
 
1. A fisherman, enfeebled with age, could no longer go out to sea so 
he began fishing in the river. Every morning he would go down to the 
river and sit there fishing the whole day long. In the evening he 
would sell whatever he had caught, buy food for himself and go 
home. It was a hard life for an old man. One hot afternoon while he 
was trying to keep awake and bemoaning his fate, a large bird with 
silvery feathers alighted on a rock near him. It was Kaha, the 
heavenly bird. “Have you no one to care for you, grandpa ?” asked 
the bird. “Not a soul.” “You should not be doing such work at your 
age, ” said the bird. “From now on I will bring you a big fish every 
evening. You can sell it and live in comfort.” True to her word, the 
bird began to drop a large fish at his doorstep every evening. All that 
the fisherman had to do was take it to the market and sell it. As big 
fish were in great demand, he was soon rolling in money. He bought 
a cottage near the sea, with a garden around it and engaged a servant 
to cook for him. His wife had died some years earlier. He had decided 
to marry again and began to look for a suitable woman. 
 
2. One day he heard the royal courtier make an announcement. Our 
king has news of a great bird called Kaha,” said the courtier. 
“Whoever can give information about this bird and help catch it, will 
be rewarded with half the gold in the royal treasury and half the 
kingdom !” The fisherman was sorely tempted by the reward. Half 
the kingdom would make him a prince ! 
 
3. “Why does the king want the bird ?” he asked. “He has lost his 
sight,” explained the courtier. “A wise man has advised him to bathe 
his eyes with the blood of Kaha. Do you know where she can be 
found ?” “No…I mean …no, no…” Torn between greed and his 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
sense of gratitude to the bird, the fisherman could not give a coherent 
reply. The courtier, sensing that he knew something about the bird, 
informed the king. The king had him brought to the palace. 
 
4. “If you have information about the bird, tell me,” urged the king. “I 
will reward you handsomely and if you help catch her, I will 
personally crown you king of half my domain.” “I will get the bird 
for you,” cried the fisherman, suddenly making up his mind. “But 
Kaha is strong. I will need help.” The king sent a dozen soldiers with 
him. That evening when the bird came with the fish, the fisherman 
called out to her to wait. “You drop the fish and go and I never get a 
chance to thank you for all that you’ve done for me," he said. “Today 
I have laid out a feast for you inside. Please alight and come in.” 
Kaha was reluctant to accept the invitation but the fisherman pleaded 
so earnestly that she finally gave in, and alighted. The moment she 
was on the ground, the fisherman grabbed one of her legs and shouted 
to the soldiers hiding in his house to come out. They rushed to his aid 
but their combined effort could not keep Kaha down. 
 
5. She rose into the air with the fisherman still clinging onto her leg. 
By the time he realised he was being carried away, the fisherman was 
too high in the air to let go. He hung on grimly, and neither he nor 
Kaha were ever seen again. 
 
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: 
 
(a) Why was the king desperately looking for Kaha the bird ? 
i. The king wanted a pet bird. 
ii. A wise man advised the king to capture the bird for good luck. 
iii. Kaha was the only heavenly bird with silvery feathers. 
iv. The king was blind and required Kaha’s blood for his eyes. 
  
(b) Why did the bird volunteer to bring fish for the old man ? 
i.   The old man was inexperienced at fishing. 
ii.  The bird took pity on the old man and wanted to help him. 
iii.  The bird had caught more fish than required. 
iv.  The bird wanted to make the old man rich. 
 
(c) What led the courtier to sense that the fisherman might know 
something about Kaha ? 
i. The courtier had observed Kaha alight at the fisherman’s house 
every evening. 
ii.  The courtier had seen the fisherman talk to Kaha. 
iii. The fisherman fumbled when asked about Kaha. 
iv. Word went around that the fisherman was in contact with Kaha. 
 
(d) Which of the following is not true about Kaha ? 
i.  Kaha was a very considerate bird. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1x4=4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ii.  The blood of Kaha was precious. 
iii.  Kaha was a strong bird. 
iv.  Kaha saved the fisherman from the King’s wrath.  
 
1.2 Answer the following questions briefly: 
a. Why did the fisherman stammer when asked if he knew about the 
bird ? 
b. How did the fisherman get Kaha to come down ? 
c. What does the phrase ‘rolling in money’  in the passage refer to ? 
d. Why was the fisherman doubtful about revealing information about 
Kaha to the courtier ? 
e. Mention two  traits  of farmer's character revealed through the 
story. 
 f. How did the bird manage to escape? 
\ 
1.3 Pick out the words/phrases from the passage which are 
opposite in meaning to the following: 
i. Take off  (Para 1) 
ii. Released (Para 4) 
 
 
 
 
 
1x6=6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1x2 =2 
 
2. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions 
that follow: 
 
1. The youth is a dynamo, an ocean, an inexhaustible reservoir of 
energy. But this energy cannot be kept in prison. Its basic nature is to 
flow , to express itself. The youth energy on the basis of the nature of 
its expression can be divided into four categories. 
 
2. The vast majority of the youth today are with the establishment, 
whose formula of life is learn, earn, burn, and enjoy. It means learn to 
operate the modern devices and employ them to earn the maximum 
amount of wealth to the point of burning the natural resources of the 
earth , as well as yourself out, and then enjoy your own funeral. This 
category of youth is intelligent, skilful and hardworking but it lacks 
insight and foresight. They are self-indulgent and any sense of moral 
code of conduct is alien to their nature. Neither are they able to see in 
depth, to find out whether there is a deeper meaning and purpose to 
their human life, nor have they the capacity to look beyond the tips of 
their nose to find out the consequences of their way and approach, 
where it is leading them to. They are the ends unto themselves and 
enjoyment is the motto of their life. 
 
3. The second category of youth in nature and approach is the same 
but as it is less privileged and less qualified and skilled; it has lesser 
opportunities for earning and enjoying. Such youth may be incited to 
be against the establishment. This opposition takes various forms. 
When it is well organised and systemic it may take the form of 
political opposition and even go to the extent of expressing itself in 
unjust ways. When the opposition is not so intense  and organised , it 
remains content with giving verbal expression to its resentment 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
periodically. The youth of the above two categories  need to be 
shown the correct path to positively channelize their energy. 
 
4. The third section of youth is a sober and thoughtful class of people, 
which objectively observes and studies  the phenomenon of 
development of the world. These youth find that man in his insatiable 
thirst for consumption has become blind and lost the sense of 
distinction between milk and blood .Today man in his mad rush for 
exploitation is sucking the blood of Mother Earth; leading to their 
destruction and is thereby digging his own grave . This responsible 
category of young people is looking for an alternative mode of 
development based on co-operation between man and man. This 
development based on mutual love, friendship and harmony is not 
only sustainable but leading to endless prosperity mutually. To bring 
about his natural revolution from death-movement to life-movement 
is the aim of this group. 
 
5. The fourth and most vital group of youth which is going to usher  
humanity into the third millennium and act as the pioneer for the 
future development of planetary life is engaged in evolving a new 
way of life and releasing a new principle of global consciousness 
through a fundamental research in the science of life. The science of 
life is a new branch of  knowledge which takes the whole man into 
account without dividing him into subjective and objective halves of 
spirituality and physicality and does not treat him either as a refined 
(thinking) animal or an ethereal entity, having its base in some other 
non- physical world. It , rather, recognises man as a basic unit of 
conscious life which has got immense, practically inexhaustible, 
possibilities and potentialities for evolution, development and growth. 
As per the Vedic formula, man is the micro-cosmos and his fullest 
flowering and enfoldment  lies in his identification with the cosmos. 
(http://www.tribuneindia.com/1998/98nov29/sunday/head8.htm) 
  
2.1 On the basis of your understanding of the passage, complete 
the statements given below by choosing the most appropriate 
option: 
 
(a) Which trait is lacking in the youth that is dexterous with the 
modern devices? 
i. intelligence 
ii. perseverance 
iii. foresight 
iv. skilfulness 
 
(b) Which category of youth supports the view that man’s growth lies 
in his identification with cosmos 
i. the youth that will take us to the third millennium 
ii. that which supports sustainable development 
iii. youth that opposes the establishment  
iv. youth that is self-indulgent and unscrupulous 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1x2=2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.2 Answer the following briefly: 
a. What is the most prominent quality associated with youth? 
b. Explain the formula of majority of youth. 
c. Give the merits and demerits of the pro- establishment youth. 
d. How does the dissatisfied youth express itself? 
e. Explain the attitude of modern man towards the Mother Earth. 
f. How is humanity likely to be ushered  in a new millennium? 
 
2.3 Find words from the passage which mean the same as the 
following: 
 
i. Provided with facilities (para3) 
ii. the universe seen as a well-ordered whole (para5) 
 
 
 
1x6=6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1x2 =2 
3. Read the passage given below: 
1. Colour Therapy is a complementary therapy for which there is 
evidence dating back thousands of years to the ancient cultures 
of Egypt, China and India. If we define it in simple terms, 
Colour is a  light of varying wavelengths, thus each colour has 
its own particular wavelength and energy. 
2. Colours contribute energy. This energy may be motivational 
and encouraging. Each of the seven colours of the spectrum are 
associated with energy.The energy relating to each of the 
seven spectrum colours of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, 
indigo and violet, resonates with the energy of each of the 
seven main chakras/energy centres of the body. Colour therapy 
can help to re-balance and/or stimulate these energies by 
applying the appropriate colour to the body . 
3. Red relates to the base chakra, orange the sacral chakra, yellow 
the solar plexus chakra, green the heart chakra, blue the throat 
chakra, indigo the brow chakra (sometimes referred to as the 
third eye) and violet relates to the crown chakra. 
4. Colour is absorbed by the eyes, skin, skull our ‘magnetic 
energy field’ or aura and the energy of colour affects us on all 
levels, that is to say, physical, spiritual and emotional. Every 
cell in the body needs light energy - thus colour energy has 
widespread effects on the whole body. There are many 
different ways of giving colour, including; Solarised Water, 
Light boxes/lamps with colour filters, colour silks and hands 
on healing using colour. 
5. Colour therapy can be shown to help on a physical level, 
which is perhaps easier to quantify, however there are deeper 
issues around the colours on the psychological and spiritual 
levels. Our wellbeing is not, of course, purely a physical issue. 
Fortunately, many more practitioners, both orthodox and 
complementary are now treating patients in an holistic manner.  
6. Colour Therapy is a totally holistic and non-invasive therapy 
and, really, colour should be a part of our everyday life, not