English: CBSE Sample Question Paper - 1 | Sample Papers for Class 11 Humanities - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

General Instructions:
(i) The Question paper is divided into three sections:
Section A: Reading - 26 marks
Section B: Writing Skills and Grammar- 23 marks
Section C: Literature - 31 marks
(ii) All questions are compulsory.
(iii) You may attempt any section at a time.
(iv) All questions of that particular section must be attempted in the correct order.

Q.1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
1. The problem of the conservation of historical monuments (statues, columns, ancient buildings) requires an accurate study of the many environmental agents which bring about the deterioration process and affect the actual rate of deterioration. Among the most active causes of weathering, we can cite : (i) the weakening of the outer layer of the art work, which is caused by complex microphysical effects and is in particular due to wetting of the outer layer of the artwork (a comparison between the effects of rainwater and condensation is made); (ii) the chemico-physical action of pollutants captured in both the dry and wet phase.
2. The destructive processes depend on many factors : the past history of the monument, the capture and nature of the pollutants, and the frequency of some microclimatic conditions, particularly those supplying the water necessary for chemical reactions. To this end studies of diurnal and seasonal variations on the monument of both the heat wave and the fluxes of moisture and energy are very important.
3. Some of these processes have been shown with microclimatic studies and microphysical investigation associated with mineralogic and chemical analyses of samples of weathered material. Mathematical models in some cases (especially for solar radiation and temperature) permit physical simulation, reconstruction of past data and extrapolation into the future observation of many monuments from different epochs; situated at various sites, gives examples of the fundamental processes that are often associated with, or masked by, other effects.
4. The main weathering processes are due to the combined action of rainwater and atmospheric pollutants (particularly the carbonaceous particles due to combustion) deposited on the surface of the monument. The way in which the surface is wetted is very important : in fact, a short drizzle can activate the dry deposit without washing it away, and in this case the pH of rain droplets is of secondary importance; on the other hand, showers supply abundant water which favours dissolution of the stone and removal of the solute, resulting in a thinning of the original rock. Another important factor is the dynamic regime (i.e. laminar or turbulent) of the water flowing over the surface of the monument.
5. In zones where the surface of marble or calcareous monuments is only wetted, but protected from runoff, black crusts (characterized by crystals of gypsum and calcite with carbonaceous particles embedded in the crusts) are formed. Zones subjected to heavy run-off are also subjected to a thinning of the rock and small authentic calcite crystals form that are white in appearance.
6. In the case of relatively unpolluted towns, where marble and limestone sulphation is not the main cause of the deterioration process, biological deterioration mechanisms are often very important, due to the activity of epilithic and endolithic microflora and microfauna.
7. The case of particularly precious mortars, e.g. murals or frescoes, is discussed in order to clarify the thermodynamic method proposed for the analysis of experimental campaigns. Finally actions are described that act on the causes and not only on the effects.

A. On  the  basis  of  your  understanding  of  the  passage  answer  the  following  questions  by  choosing  the  most  appropriate option.  
1.1. The destructive processes of historical monuments depend on many factors, that are :
I. the capture and nature of the pollutants
II. the supply of necessary chemical water reactions
III. the past history of the monument
IV the frequency of some microclimatic conditions
Option
(a) II, III and IV
(b) I, II and III
(c) I, III and IV
(d) I, II, III and IV

1.2 The main weathering processes of the monument are caused due to the deposition of _______ on the surface of the monument.
(a) gypsum and calcite with carbonaceous particles
(b) the heat wave and the fluxes of moisture and energy
(c) pollutants which weaken the art work
(d) the combined action of rainwater and atmospheric pollutants

1.3 What are formed on the monuments in the zones where the surface of marble or calcareous monuments is only wetted but protected from run-off ?
(a) green patches
(b) black crusts
(c) grey mould
(d) yellow residue

1.4 Choose an option that is not similar in meaning to the word `weathering’.
(a) worn-out
(b) eroded
(c) disintegrated
(d) softened

1.5 When considering the deterioration in the case of particularly precious mortars, actions are described that act on:
(a) the maintenance of the artwork.
(b) keeping the mural in its original condition.
(c) the causes and not only on the effects.
(d) the effects of time that can be clearly seen.

1.6 When talking about weathering processes, the way in which the surface is _______ is very important.
(a) eroded
(b) wetted
(c) handled
(d) built

B. Answer the following questions as briefly as possible.

(i) What are some of the most active causes of weathering in historical monuments? for one mark

(ii) What factors do the destructive processes of historical monuments depend on?

(iii) What methods have been used to study the weathering processes of historical monuments?

(iv) What are the black crusts formed on marble or calcareous monuments characterized by?

Q.2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
The oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface and contain about 97 percent of the Earth's water. They are the source of much of the world's food and resources, and are home to an incredible variety of plant and animal life. However, human activity has had a profound impact on the oceans, from pollution to overfishing to climate change. These threats not only affect the health of the oceans and the creatures that live in them, but also have significant implications for human well-being.
The oceans are vital to the Earth's climate system. They absorb about 25 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities, helping to regulate the global climate. However, this process also leads to ocean acidification, which can have negative effects on marine life. Overfishing has led to the depletion of many fish populations, which can have serious economic and social consequences for communities that rely on fishing for their livelihoods. Pollution from plastic waste, oil spills, and other sources can harm marine life and affect human health. In addition, climate change is causing sea levels to rise and altering ocean currents, which can have far-reaching impacts on coastal communities and marine ecosystems.
(i) What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by the oceans?
(a) 25 percent
(b) 50 percent
(c) 71 percent
(d) 97 percent

(ii) How much of the Earth's water is contained in the oceans?
(a) 25 percent
(b) 50 percent
(c) 71 percent
(d) D. 97 percent

(iii) What is the impact of human activity on the oceans?
(a) Positive
(b) Neutral
(c) Negative
(d) Unclear

(iv) What is the importance of the oceans to human well-being?
(a) None
(b) Minor
(c) Moderate
(d) Significant

(v) What is the role of the oceans in regulating the global climate?
(a) They emit carbon dioxide.
(b) They absorb carbon dioxide.
(c) They have no impact on climate regulation.
(d) They regulate ocean currents.

(vi) What is the negative consequence of ocean acidification?
(a) It leads to overfishing.
(b) It harms marine life.
(c) It affects coastal communities.
(d) It depletes fish populations.

(vii) What is the impact of overfishing on communities that rely on fishing?
(a) Positive
(b) Neutral
(c) Negative
(d) Unclear

(viii) What is the cause of rising sea levels and altered ocean currents?
(a) Overfishing
(b) Pollution
(c) Climate change
(d) None of the above

Q.3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follows:
The American dream is the belief that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination. It is a set of ideals that includes freedom, equality, and opportunity for all. The concept of the American dream has been around since the founding of the United States, and it has played a significant role in shaping the country's history and culture.
However, the American dream has been called into question in recent years. Many people argue that the dream is no longer attainable for everyone, as income inequality has grown and social mobility has declined. Critics point to factors such as the rising cost of education, the shrinking middle class, and the increasing concentration of wealth among the top 1 percent of earners as evidence that the American dream is becoming increasingly out of reach for many Americans.
Despite these challenges, the American dream remains a powerful and enduring ideal. It continues to inspire people from all walks of life to strive for a better future, and it remains a central part of the American identity. While the dream may not be as attainable as it once was, many still believe in its promise and continue to work hard to achieve it.

(i) On the basis of your reading the passage, make notes using recognisable abbreviations wherever necessary. Use a format you consider suitable, supply a suitable title to it.

(ii) Make a short summary of the passage in about 80 words.

Q.4. Write a brief advertisement for a receptionist position at Orient Export House in Delhi that can be published in the classified section of a newspaper, using no more than 50 words?
OR
Draft a classified advertisement on behalf of the principal of my school inviting applications for vacant teaching positions that need to be filled soon?

Q.5. Write a speech on the topic 'Cleanliness is next to Godliness' in the morning assembly, as instructed by your class XI teacher. Your speech should not exceed 150-200 words.

Q.6. Write a debate on the topic 'In the opinion of this house, value-based education is the only remedy for decreasing crime rate amongst the educated folk', where you are Kamakshi/Kuber representing your school in an All India School Debate Competition organized by the Rotary Club, Bengaluru (South)? Write your arguments either For or Against the motion in not more than 120-150 words.
OR
Compose a debate either in favor of or against the motion "Private cars should be banned in the congested commercial areas of the cities" in 120-150 words.

Q.7. Transform the following sentences by combining them using relative clauses.

(i) I have a friend. My friend is a doctor.

(ii) The man is talking to my sister. The man is wearing a blue shirt.

(iii) The book was written by a famous author. I read the book last month.

Q.8. The (a) ____________ of the book is so engaging that it's hard to put it down. The author has done an excellent job of (b) ____________ the characters and making them come to life. The story takes place in (c) ____________ England and the descriptions of the landscape are vivid and (d) ____________. The plot revolves around a young woman who is struggling to find her place in the world. 
(a) (i) title (ii) cover (iii) font (iv) language
(b) (i) developing (ii) developed (iii) develop (iv) develops
(c) (i) ancient (ii) modern (iii) medieval (iv) futuristic
(d) (i) mundane (ii) dull (iii) colorful (iv) monotonous

Q.9. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits.
(a) Name the poem and the poet.

(b) Why are we 'despondent'?

(c) What removes 'the pall from our dark spirits'?

OR

........... And yet, for these
Children, these windows, not this map, their world.
Where all their future's painted with a fog,
A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky
Far far from rivers, capes, and stars of words.
(a) Who are the 'children' referred to here?

(b) Which is their world?

(c) How is their life different from that of other children?

Q.10. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
Lorde : I keep a journal and write in it fairly regularly. I get a lot of my poems out of it. It’s like the raw material for my poems. Sometimes I’m blessed with a poem that comes in the form of a poem, but other times I’ve worked for two years on a poem.
For me, there are two very basic and different processes for televising my poetry. One is recognizing that a poem has not yet become itself. In other words, I mean that the feeling, the truth that the poem is anchored in is somehow not clearly clarified inside of me, and as a result, it lacks something. Then it has to be re-felt. Then there’s the other process which is easier. The poem is itself, but it has rough edges that need to be refined. That kind of revision involves picking the image that is more potent or tailoring it so that it carries the feeling. That’s an easier kind of re-writing and re-feeling.
(i) Another word in the second paragraph that means 'rewriting' is
(a) re-feeling
(b) recognizing
(c) picking
(d) None of the above

(ii) According to the writer the two processes involved in revising her work are
(a) complex and confusing
(b) clear yet different
(c) difficult and complex
(d) None of the above

(iii) Lorde is probably a
(a) poet
(b) novelist
(c) dramatist
(d) None of the above

OR

The important thing in life is not what you have been but what you are reaching for and becoming. At my age, when I can see the end of the road more clearly than most, I can sit back and recollect in tranquility the varying vicissitudes of my life and what it has taught me. When I look back, I find that the great and glorious hours of my life were those when I gave a helping hand to others without expecting anything in return and not when I struggled and succeeded to gain my own ends. And I can well imagine and appreciate that in this world those alone live who live for others. I have no regrets for the past. Life has been kind to me. My only regret is that I received more from life than I gave.
(i) What stage of life must the author be?
(a) Adolescence
(b) Youth
(c) Middle age
(d) None of the above

(ii) What feelings does the author harbour about life?
(a) Regret
(b) Gratitude
(c) Sadness
(d) None of the above

(iii) What, according to the author, is the most important thing in life.
(a) The achievements of one's life.
(b) The struggles one has faced in life.
(c) The thing one is striving for.
(d) None of the above

Q.11. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
Some reptiles are expert mimics, but they do it for a serious reason − to save their lives. The harmless milk snake has the banded appearance of the poisonous coral snake. In areas where they live together, this mimicry happens. The non-poisonous Mexican king snake looks like the coral snake, when young. A harmless snake may look like a poisonous snake. This is Batesian mimicry. So, enemies mistake the harmless reptile for the poisonous one and leave it alone. Blind legless lizards that live under the ground trick the enemies by displaying their tail. The underside of their tails is usually red or yellow in colour and looks like an open mouth. The enemy attacks the tail, mistaking it for the head. The tail can withstand injury better than the head, and the life of the lizard is saved. When the enemy attacks lizards, they break off their tail. The tail jumps about on the ground, confusing the enemy, and helps the lizard to make good its escape.
(i) The milk snake and coral snake resemble in their __________.
(a) drinking of milk
(b) banded appearance
(c) poison fangs
(d) outlook

(ii) 'Batesian mimicry' helps the_______.
(a) reptiles to do mimicry
(b) harmless reptiles to escape
(c) poisonous reptiles to escape
(d) reptiles to sleep

(iii) the enemy of the blind legless lizards attacks its _______ mistaking it for________.
(a) tail, head
(b) head, tail
(c) tail, mouth
(d) mouth, red

(d) When the tail of a lizard breaks off, it ________.
(a) saves its head from being cut
(b) excites the lizard
(c) makes the enemy happy
(d) confuses its enemy

Q.12. Answer the following questions in 40-50 words each.
(a) What opinion did the grandmother form of the English school in the city?

OR

Give an overview of the narrator's boat. How did the narrator outfit and test it?

(b) Why do you think the father in the poem 'Father to Son' appears helpless?

OR

Describe the scene in which a goldfinch and her family begin chirruping incessantly.

(c) Irony abounds in The Tale of Melon City. Provide two examples from the poem.

OR

When the narrator says, "I am Mrs. Dorling's daughter," how does Mrs. Dorling react?

Q.13. Answer any one of the following questions in about 120–150 words: 
What issues did Howard Carter have with King Tut's mummy? What did he do to deal with them?

OR

In the poem 'The Voice of the Rain,' how does the rain describe herself?

Q.14. Answer the question in about 120–150 words :
In the story 'The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse,' describe the narrator's early morning ride with his cousin Mourad.

OR

There is a significant gap between textbook medicine and the world of practising physicians. Discuss.