English: CBSE Sample Question Paper (2020-21) - 1 - Class 11 PDF Download

Class - XI
English
TIME: 3 Hrs.
M.M: 80

General Instructions:

(i) The question paper comprises two parts A and B
(ii) Part A: 40 Marks
Reading section: 18 Marks
Grammar section: 8 Marks
Literature section: 14 Marks
(iii) Part B: 40 Marks
Reading section: 8 Marks
Writing section: 16 Marks
Literature section: 16 Marks
(iv) All questions are compulsory.
(iii) You may attempt any section/part at a time.
(iv) All questions of that particular section must be attempted in the correct order.

PART - A    (40 marks)

Reading    (18 marks)
Q.1. Read the passage given below and answer the following questions:    (10 marks)
Computers can do exceptionally complicated work in all branches of learning. They can solve the most complex mathematical problems or put a thousand unrelated data in order. These machines can be set to varied uses. For instance, they can provide information on the best way to prevent traffic accidents. They work accurately and at high speed.
They save research workers years of hard work. This process by which machines can work for us has been called ‘automation. In future, automation may enable human beings to enjoy more leisure than they do today. The coming of automation is bound to have significant social consequences. Some years ago, an automation expert, Sir Leon Bagrit, pointed out that it was a mistake to believe that these machines could think. There is no possibility that devices will control human beings. Though computers can learn from their mistakes and improve their performances, they need detailed instructions from human beings to operate. They can never lead independent lives or rule the world by taking their own decisions.
Sir Leon said that computers that would be developed would be small enough to be carried in one’s pocket in future. Ordinary people would then be able to use them to obtain valuable information. Computers could be plugged into a wireless network and used like radios. For instance, going on holidays could be informed about weather conditions. Car drivers can be given an alternative route when there is a traffic jam. It will also be possible to make tiny translating machines. This will enable people who do not share a common language, talk to each other without any difficulty or read foreign publications.
It is impossible to assess the importance of a machine of this sort, for many international misunderstandings are caused simply due to our failure to understand each other. Computers will also be used in ordinary public hospitals. By providing a machine with a patient’s symptoms, a doctor will diagnose the nature of his illness. Similarly, devices could be used to keep a check on a patient’s health record and bring it up to date. Therefore, doctors will have immediate access to many facts to help them in their work. Bookkeepers and accountants could be relieved of tedious clerical work, for the tedious task of compiling and checking lists or figures could be done entirely by machines. Computers are the most efficient servant man has ever had, and there is no limit to how they can be used to improve our lives.
Answer Any ten of  the following questions by choosing the most appropriate options:
(i) Tick the correct option:
(a) There is no possibility that human beings can be on their own with no need for machines.
(b) Human beings are likely to be controlled by devices one day.
(c) There is no possibility that machines will ever handle human beings.
(d) Machines can replace humans.
Ans: c

(ii) Tick the correct option:
(a) Computers can solve only some mathematical issues.
(b) Computers can’t solve any mathematical problems.
(c) Computers can solve the most complex mathematical problems.
(d) Computers can solve only simple mathematical problems.
Ans: c

(iii) Computers can be used:
(a) to find treatment for the patient’s illness.
(b) to prescribe medicine for the patient.
(c) to diagnose the nature of a patient's condition.
(d) to keep the patient in a good mood.
Ans: c

(iv) Many international misunderstandings are caused due to:
(a) our failure to understand ourselves.
(b) our inability to understand other nations.
(c) our inability to appreciate our friends.
(d) our failure to understand each other.
Ans: d

(v) Computers can provide information on the best way to prevent _____ accidents.
(a) Traffic
(b) complicated
(c) thousand
(d) car
Ans: a

(vi) The whole process by which machines can be used to work for us has been called ____
(a) complex
(b) automation
(c) decision
(d) operation
Ans: b

(vii) There is no _____ that machines will control human beings.
(a) automation
(b) consequences
(c) record
(d) possibility
Ans: d

(viii)  The antonym of the word ‘complicated’ is:
(a) complex
(b) simple
(c) easy
(d) strange
Ans: b

(ix) The verb form of the word ‘alternative’ is
(a) alternate
(b) alter
(c) late
(d) elate
Ans: a

(x)  Find the synonym of ‘results’ from the passage.
(a) research
(b) consequences
(c) hard work
(d) network
Ans: b

(xi)  Find the synonym of ‘monotonous’ from the passage.
(a) tedious
(b) alternative
(c) diagnose
(d) misunderstanding
Ans: a

Q.2. Read the passage carefully and then answer the following questions: (8 marks)

The Marathon of the Sands

The Marathon des Sables, or ‘Marathon of the Sands, which takes place in the Sahara Desert, has gained a reputation as the ‘toughest footrace on Earth’ since it began in 1986 with 186 competitors. Runners have to complete 250 kilometres in 6 days in one of the most challenging environments on the planet. The event has 1,400 entries, with a support team of 400, and 200 members of the media are also involved in it this year.
The race attracts runners from all over the world, and Moroccan runners have been particularly successful. Irishman Ben Turner, who is 71, hopes to become the race’s oldest finisher ever. To prepare for the race, he has spent the last month training in Spain’s hotter climate. For most runners, it is not about winning but about finishing the race and receiving the famous kiss on each cheek from Patrick Bauer, the man who initially set up the race.
The rules state that competitors must rely on themselves: organisers provide everyone with water, but individual competitors are free to choose their food items. There are strict rules about the weight of the things that competitors take with them. Equipment must weigh between 6.5 and 15 kilograms, and though tents are supplied, runners need to bring lightweight sleeping bags. Most runners aim for the lower end of the weight range, decreasing their effort to put in during the race.

Deciding what to take is hard. Hot food or a music player? Runner David Kelly explains his choice. “I was happy to give up the luxury of a small stove to warm my food,” he says. “The only time I don’t have music playing to keep me going is when I’m doing the special hot yoga classes to help me prepare for the desert.”
The temperatures in the Sahara Desert are very high during the day but sink to freezing at night. For another runner, Jordan Smith, recreating these conditions in the UK is a challenge – particularly in the British winter. Jordan knows that he cannot prepare for the heat and sun, so he ensures that he runs an average of one hundred kilometres a week, which has helped him improve his strength. Although Jordan has been preparing for the event for a year, his biggest fear is the thought of not finishing, rather than the more common concern of being stung by a scorpion.
Answer any eight of the following questions by choosing the most appropriate options: (8 × 1 = 8)
(i)  How many competitors are running in the race this year?
(a) 186
(b) 1400
(c) 400
(d) 200
Ans: b

(ii)  Who organised the first Marathon des Sables?
(a) Ben Turner
(b) Jordan Smith
(c) David kelly
(d) Patrick Bauer
Ans: d

(iii)  Why do runners want to carry as little weight as possible?
(a) decreases effort
(b) increases steps
(c) weight is proportionate to cost
(d) s not permitted
Ans: a

(iv)  According to the chart, how many times has the most successful competitor won the race?
(a) 72
(b) 10
(c) 28
(d) 14
Ans: b

(v)  What is David Kelly’s biggest motivation while running?
(a) music player
(b) good food
(c) warm food
(d) yoga
Ans: a

(vi)  What is different about the equipment that Marie is bringing with her on this race?
(a) It was lighter
(b) It was heavier
(c) It was damp
(d) It could be moved easily
Ans: a

(vii)  How does Jordan Smith train for running long distances?
(a) 200 km/week
(b) 100 km/week
(c) 100 m/min
(d) 200 m/min
Ans: b

(viii)  What is Jordan most worried about?
(a) average speed
(b) thought of not finishing
(c) completion of course
(d) slow speed
Ans: b

(ix)  According to the chart, what is the primary eligibility for completing the course?
(a) 14
(b) 25
(c) 28
(d) No age limit
Ans: c

GRAMMAR    8 MARKS

Q.3. Complete the sentences with the correct option: (Any four)   (4 × 1 = 4)
(i)  Usually, an elephant ___ in intelligence among all the animals
(a) excel
(b) excels
(c) is excelling
(d) excelled
Ans: b

(ii)  _____ elephant, I saw in the circus was fully trained the perform tricks
(a) A
(b) An
(c) The
(d) That
Ans: c

(iii)  What ___ you doing yesterday when I rang you?
(a) are
(b) have
(c) were
(d) would
Ans: d

(iv)  Years of negligence ____ severe fall in the number of science graduates.
(a) caused
(b) have caused
(c) has caused
(d) are causing
Ans: c

(v)  It was a cold wintry night like it _____ since morning.
(a) it was raining
(b) had been raining
(c) rained
(d) had been raining
Ans: b

Q.4. Choose the correct option and rearrange the following words or phrases to make meaningful sentences. (Any four)    (4 × 1 = 4)
(i) had/winning a medal/he/my/I told him/until/about.
(a) Until I told him he had not known about my winning a medal.
(b) He had not known about my winning an award until I told him.
(c) He had not known about my winning a medal until I told him.
(d) He had not known until I told him about my winning an award.
Ans: b

(ii)  on/my bicycle/to/go/I used to/my school
(a) I used to go to my school on my bike.
(b) I used to ride my bike to school.
(c) I used to go on my bicycle to school.
(d) To my school, I used to go on my bike.
Ans: a

(iii) boy/each/was punished/of the class/yesterday
(a) Each boy was punished yesterday of the class.
(b) Yesterday each of the class boys was punished.
(c) Each boy in the class was punished yesterday.
(d) Boy of each class was punished yesterday.
Ans: c

(iv) how / you had / at the interview / done / us / let/know
(a) Let us know how you had done at the interview.
(b) Let how you had done us know at the interview.
(c) Let us know how you had done at the interview.
(d) Let the interview tell us how you did.
Ans: a

(v) the class / at once / ordered / you / are / to leave
(a) The class at once ordered you to leave.
(b) You at once are to leave the class ordered.
(c) At once, you are ordered to leave the class.
(d) You are ordered to leave the class at once.
Ans: d

Literature   (14 marks)

Q.5. Read the following extract and answer Any one of the questions that follow:  (3 × 1 = 3)
A sweet face: My mother’s that was before I was born.
(i) What a poet refers to as ‘a sweet face’
(a) Poet is referring to her mother’s photograph with her cousins.
(b) Poet is referring to her mother in front of her.
(c) Poet is referring to her mother’s cousin.
(d) None of the above.
Ans: a

(ii) Who took a photograph?
(a) the poet’s father
(b) The poet’s mother’s cousin
(c) The poet’s mother uncle
(d) The poet’s mother
Ans: c

(iii) Where has the poet seen her mother’s face?
(a) in an old photograph
(b) face to face in the car
(c) in the photo frame
(d) in her dreams
Ans: a
OR
That is hidden in an infant’s face. That’s all I know.
(i) What is ‘hidden in an infant’s face’?
(a) innocence
(b) love
(c) childhood
(d) All of the above
Ans: d

(ii) Has the poet got her answer?
(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) Can’t say
(d) All of the above
Ans: a

(iii) Who is ‘I’ in the poem?
(a) the poet
(b) a boy
(c) a girl
(d) the infant
Ans: a

Q.6. Read the following extracts and answer any two extracts’ questions: (6 × 1 = 6)
A. With land under my feet again, my thoughts were full of Larry and Herbie, cheerful and optimistic under the direst stress, and of Mary, who stayed at the wheel for all those crucial hours. Most of all, I thought of a seven-year-old girl, who did not want us to worry about a head injury (which subsequently took six minor operations to remove a recurring blood clot between skin and skull), and of a six-year-old boy who was not afraid to die.
(i) What does the phrase ‘With land under my feet again’ mean?
(a) The narrator and his family were standing on the land.
(b) Along with his crew members and family members, the narrator anchored offshore.
(c) The narrator faced reality
(d) The narrator’s flight landed safely
Ans: b

(ii) Who, without losing hope, fought with courage?
(a) Harry
(b) Hebric
(c) Narrator
(d) Larry
Ans: d

(iii) Who was the boy, not afraid to die?
(a) Harry
(b) Herbic
(c) Jonathan
(d) Larry
Ans: c

B. Aram, he said.
I jumped out of bed and looked out of the window.
I couldn’t believe what I saw.
It wasn’t morning yet, but it was summer, and with daybreak not many minutes around the corner of the world, it was light enough for me to know I wasn’t dreaming.
(i) Who is ‘he’ referred to in the extract?
(a) The narrator’s father
(b) The narrator’s cousin
(c) The narrator’s friend
(d) The narrator’s brother
Ans: b

(ii) At the time of reference, how old was the narrator?
(a) 7 years old
(b) 8 years old
(c) 9 years old
(d) 10 years old
Ans: c

(iii) What was that the narrator couldn’t believe?
(a) His cousin had brought a beautiful gift for him
(b) He saw a beautiful girl standing near the window
(c) His cousin had something mysterious in his hands
(d) His cousin was sitting on a beautiful white horse
Ans: d

C. Because you wouldn’t have come to see me about this if you hadn’t been pretty close to a nervous breakdown, that’s why. Now, said the doctor briskly, ‘if I certify that you had a nervous breakdown and must stay away from school for a while, what will you do?” “I’ll go to Italy,” said Albert. ‘To Milan, where my parents are.” “And what will you do there?”
(i) Between two persons, this conversation is going on. Who are they?
(a) Albert and his teacher
(b) Albert and his cousin
(c) Albert’s teacher and his principal
(d) None of these
Ans: d

(ii) Why did Albert want to go to Italy?
(a) to meet his parents
(b) to get admission into an Italian college
(c) to learn music
(d) None of these
Ans: b

(iii) Albert was sure of getting help from one of his teachers to solve his purpose. Who was that teacher?
(a) His Maths teacher
(b) His Music teacher
(c) His History teacher
(d) His English teacher
Ans: a

Q.7. Answer any 5 questions by choosing the correct option:    (5 × 1 = 5)
(i) Why did the grandmother keep one hand on her waist?
(a) She was very old
(b) She was slightly bent
(c) She did so to balance her stoop
(d) All of these
Ans: d

(ii) Who was King Tut?
(a) A boy king of Egypt
(b) a mighty emperor
(c) A mummy
(d) Howard Carter’s son
Ans: a

(iii) Who took a photograph as described in the poem ‘A photograph’?
(a) The poet’s father
(b) The poet’s mother
(c) The poet’s mother’s uncle 
(d) The poet’s uncle
Ans: c

(iv) In the poem ‘The Voice of The Rain’, he is called ‘Poem of Earth’.
(a) Earth
(b) Water
(c) Wind
(d) Rain
Ans: d

(v) The story ‘Ranga’s Marriage’ reflects ____.
(a) the study system of Bengaluru
(b) the old lifestyle of India
(c) Modern life-style of English people
(d) the family life of Ranga
Ans: b

(vi) During his stay in Munich, Albert Einstein _____.
(a) never relied upon facts, figures and dates
(b) didn’t like music
(c) never wanted to think deeply about things
(d) always followed the set track
Ans: a

PART - B    (40 marks)

Reading    (8 marks)
Q.8. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (5 + 3 = 8)
1. In life, you’ll always come across situations where there will be someone else who’s better than you, especially there is no one quality or standard that people can be judged on. There will always be someone who ‘looks better, has more money or is more intelligent than you. How you choose to approach these situations, of course, depends on the perspective you take. People in themselves aren’t intimidating; it’s the opinions you form about them that make you feel. Rather than judging people on a single attribute and getting intimidated, be comfortable with who you are and approach other people as complete individuals rather than a bundle of good or bad points.
2. The key to not letting others intimidate you is to know your worth. Don’t let your sense of if be defined by what others think of you or how you compare yourself to them. Know what you are, and be comfortable in your skin. Instead of feeling threatened and letting your ego in the way, you could benefit a great deal by being around people who might be better than you in some ways. Respect others for what they are and use these opportunities to learn from the strengths and virtues of others.
3. Don’t get bogged down by what you don’t have or can’t do. We all have limitations. Learn to accept them and focus on your strengths. Often, we come under pressure from what people believe to be more popular and influential than us to fit in with them. However, at times like these, you need to stay true to yourself and say ‘no’ when you’re expected to do something that makes you uncomfortable.
4. Your first response to an intimidating person or situation would probably be to avoid them altogether. However, avoidance only goes on to increase your anxiety. Confront these situations head-on; with more practice, you’ll start finding these situations easier to deal with. Always keep in mind that everybody has flaws, and everyone has his/her share of struggles, even if you aren’t able to spot them. Our self-esteem gets lowered when we focus too much on our weaknesses and neglect what we get right. Change this pattern and start giving yourself credit for your strengths and successes.
A. Based on your reading of the passage, make notes on it, using headings and subheadings. Use recognisable abbreviations (wherever necessary-minimum 4) and a format you consider suitable. Also, supply an appropriate title to it.

Ans: A. Right Approach to Life
1. Proper perspective:
1.1. Make a sign. Somewhat better,
1.2. No set quality or std. to judge ppl
1.3. Perspective matters
1.4. Be comfortable with what you have

2. Know your
2.1. Own worth
2.2. Sense of self
2.3. Cfrt zone

3. Learn to
3.1. Be fearless
3.2. Keep ego away
3.3. Benefit from self
3.4. Avail opportunities

4. Learn to accept
4.1. Limitations
4.2. Strengths

B. Write a summary of the above passage in about 50 words.
Ans:
Summary
One should have the right approach to life. The proper perspective makes situations better. There is no set quality or standard to judge people. We must learn to be comfortable with what we have. Learning to be fearless or keeping ego away also helps a lot. One must avail the opportunities present around and learn to accept the strengths and limitations.

Writing   (16 marks)

Q.9. You lost a library book in the school. Draft a suitable notice for the school notice board. Add other necessary details. (3 marks)

OR

As sports secretary of G.D. Public School, Agra, draft notice in not more than 50 words for your school notice board informing the students about the sale of your school’s old sports goods. You are Rohit/Rohini.

Ans: 

Modern Public School

NOTICE

10 December 20xx

Book Lost

This is to inform one and all that I have lost a book of Physics which I had borrowed from the library. The book has a green binding, and the library’s number is 7246. I lost it somewhere in the Science Laboratory in the last three periods yesterday. Anyone who finds it, please return it to me in my class. Finder will be suitably rewarded.
Rajesh
Rajesh Khatri
XI- A

OR

G.D. PUBLIC SCHOOL

NOTICE

17 April, 20xx

Sale of old Sports Goods

All the students are informed that our school has decided to sell old sports goods at reasonable prices. Students who are interested in buying them may meet the undersigned in the 7th & 8th period on 19th April 20xx in the Sports Room. For any other enquiry, contact the undersigned.
Rohit
Rohit Sharma
(Sports Secretary)

Q.10. Your school is going to organise a Diwali Mela. Design a poster to inform the students about it. (50 words)    (3 marks)

OR

Imagining yourself to be the organiser of an “Abolish Child Labour Campaign”, create a poster highlighting the points of educating every child, free and compulsory education till 14 years, child labour being illegal etc. Do not exceed the word limit of 50 words. (3 marks)

Ans: 

POSTER

Format — Eye-catching and visually attractive — 1 mark
Content — Highlights of the event — 1 mark
Expression — Grammatical accuracy, spellings — 1 mark

[DDE Marking Scheme]

Detailed Answer:

OR

Q.11. Answer any one of the following (using analysis, appropriate format and fluency, style and tone).
Last month you purchased a TV set from Ram Electronics, Pushp Vihar, Ambala. It is not working correctly (imagine a few defects). Write a letter of complaint in 120-150 words to the Manager asking for repair or replacement. You are Amar/Amrita, M 114, Model Town, Ambala. (5 marks)

OR

As the Head Boy/Girl of your School, write a letter to the Principal, requesting him to update the library with an Encyclopedia and other knowledge related books.
Ans:

Letter of Complaint about ‘Defective T.V.‘

M-114, Model Town
Ambala
17 December 20xx
The Manager Ram Electrons Pushp Vihar Ambala
Subject: Complaint Regarding Defective TV
Dear Sir,

Through this letter of mine, I wish to inform you that I had bought a coloured TV from your showroom on 4 November, 20xx vide Bill no. ADB426. I regret to inform you that the TV worked adequately for almost one month, but of late it has stopped working correctly. The sound quality is not good as there is a lot of disturbance in the sound. The pictures are blurred and sometimes wavy. As a result, we’re facing a lot of problems. We are unable to watch our favourite programmes.
I request you to look into the matter. Kindly send someone to check the TV. I would appreciate it if you will replace the TV as it is still on warranty. Hoping for an early response from you.
Thanking you
Yours truly
Amar

OR

The Principal
XYZ School
Delhi
28 April 20XX
Subject: Updating the Library
Dear Sir,
On behalf of all the students, I would like to bring to your kind attention that our school library needs to be updated.
Although many books in the library will significantly help the students if a few encyclopedias and other informative books are added to it, some books are of old editions. Their new editions following the latest syllabus are available in the market; we will be grateful if you can arrange those.
I hope you will look into the matter.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Suhana
(Head Girl)

Q.12. Raghav, a class XI student, has been asked to make a speech on the “Ill Effects of watching too much Television”. Write out the address in 150-200 words. (5 marks)

OR

“Private cars should be banned in the congested commercial areas of the cities.” Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against the motion.

Ans:

Ill effects of watching too much Television

Good Morning Respected Principal, Teachers and my fellow students. Today, Raghav of class XI will speak about the ill-effects of excessive viewing of television. Nowadays, watching too much TV has become a pervasive problem. We can see a TV in every home; even the parents begin to teach their children to watch TV from early childhood because they think that is an excellent way to develop a child. Sometimes people forget that the TV does not always carry only positive aspects. The adverse effects of TV have become quite an obvious fact. Consequently, TV affects human physical, mental and social health in a very destructive manner. One reason why people should not watch too much TV is the reduction of mental capacity. Because when people tend to an excessive amount of television, they do not look for new solutions for any problems. As another reason, excessive TV watching leads to emotional frustration in families and problems with relatives. Also, watching too much TV is harmful because the human brain is filled with redundant information. A massive stream of advertising, TV shows, TV series and news releases emotionally cripple a person. Thus, it can be said that in modern times watching TV is an attribute of a limited world view and lazy lifestyle, which leads to many psychological and physiological problems.
Thank you
(5 marks)

OR

Private Cars should be banned.

Dear Judges and Teachers,
Today, I stand before you to present my views on the topic ‘Private cars should be banned in the cities’ congested commercial areas.
There is no end to the number of vehicles being driven around the city each day. Traffic jams have become a relatively common problem and have only increased in the last ten years. In my opinion, allowing private cars in congested commercial areas only adds to the problem. Long traffic jams do not just mean the consumption of extra fuel but also more people suffering from respiratory diseases. I strongly feel if people take public transport to work or hire a cab or car-pool and drive vehicles which run on CNG, the problem of constantly rising pollution and heavy traffic jams can be reduced drastically.
The Earth belongs to all of us, and we must safeguard it and keep it clean for our future generations. Thus, the first step towards protecting our environment would be to stop abusing the available petroleum and avoid pollution.
Thank you for listening to my views patiently.

Literature    (16 marks)

Q.13. Answer any two of the following questions in 30 - 40 words:    (2 × 2 = 4)
(i) Give a brief description of the narrator’s boat. How had the narrator equipped and tested it?
(ii) Who was the ‘untutored genius who created a paradise’, and what is the nature of his contribution to art?
(iii) What do you learn about the poetess’ mother from ‘A Photograph’?
(iv) What did the child feel when he discovered that he could use his mind according to his chinking?
Ans: (i) The narrator’s boat was called ‘wave walker. It was a beautiful 23 meters long, 30-ton wooden-hulled ship. It had been professionally built. They had spent months fitting it out and testing in the roughest weather they could find.
(ii) 80-year-old Nek Chand was an untutored genius who created the ‘paradise.’ He made a garden sculpted with stones and recycled material known as the Rock Garden at Chandigarh.
(iii) The poetess mother was a big girl at the age of twelve. She had a sweet face and enjoyed swimming as well as wading in seawater with her cousins. Years later, she would have laughed at the clothes they had put on for the sea holiday.
(iv) The child discovered that he had grown up and was the master of his mind. So, he could make his own decisions.

Q.14. Answer any one of the following in 40-50 words: (2 × 1 = 2)
“This was the part that wouldn’t permit me to believe what I saw.” What feature of the narrator’s life has been shown here in the story, ‘The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse’?

OR

Mention two distinctive features of village Hosahalli.
Ans: When the narrator begins the story, he is in a mood of nostalgia. He was then nine years old. The world seemed to him full of every kind of splendour that he could imagine. Life appeared to him a delightful and mysterious dream. 

OR

There are some mango trees in the village. If one happens to taste a raw mango from one of them, one comes to know the extreme potency of sourness. Then, there is a creeper growing in the village pond’s water. If one gets two leaves from the creeper while bathing in the pond, one will not need the afternoon meal.

Q.15. Answer any one of the following in 120-150 words. (5 marks)
What picture do you form of the narrator's grandmother, as portrayed in ‘The Portrait of a Lady?
OR
Comment on Taplow’s attitude towards Crocker-Harris in ‘The Browning Version’?
Ans: The narrator’s grandmother was an accurate picture of love, affection and care. She had all those virtues that grandmothers generally have for their grandsons; she was highly religious but a conservative lady. The grandmother presented a picture of peace and contentment. Her spotless white dress and her silver-white hair gave her spiritual beauty. The grandmother was not physically beautiful. She had a deep love and affection for her grandson. She got him ready for school. She accompanied him to his school and came back home with him. She was a very religious lady. She was always telling the beads of her rosary. She had compassion even for animals and birds. She fed the village dogs. She took to providing the sparrows in the city. But
The grandmother was a conservative lady. She didn’t like the English language and Science. She hated music. She associated music with prostitutes and beggars.

OR

Taplow’s attitude towards Crocker-Harris is rather complex. He has a grudge against him for calling him to do extra work on the last day of school. Unlike most teachers, CrockerHarris does not reveal the result of the students of his form until the previous day. He is very much scared of him also. Even when Harris is late, and Frank suggests that Taplow could go back on that pretext, Taplow refused to do so. Taplow is very obedient and respectful towards CrockerHarris, but, indeed, this show of respect is not likely to help him get his ‘remove’. He says that Crocker-Harris is a particular person because he is the only one who seems to dislike being liked. Yet, there is something that makes Taplow like Mr Crocker-Harris. He doesn’t know himself.

Q.16. Answer Any one of the following questions in about 120-150 words:      (1 × 5 = 5)
Comment on the significance of the story’s title, ‘The Address.’

OR

What impression do you form of Andrew Manson based on the story, ‘Birth’?
Ans:
The story has been aptly given the title, ‘The Address.’ This title is significant. The story moves around Mrs Dorling’s address, Number 46, Marconi Street. Mrs Dorling was an old acquaintance of the narrator’s mother. She had carried their valuables to her house for safety during wartime. She said that she wanted to save all their nice things because they would lose everything if they had to flee from the place. The narrator’s mother told her about Mrs Dorling’s address. The narrator had remembered the alesson. When the war was over, and things became almost normal one day, the narrator had an intense longing to see and touch the objects linked with the memories of her former life. She knew that Mrs Dorling must still preserve all the things. So, she went to number 46 in Marconi Street. She was horrified to find in a room she knew and did not know. During familiar things, she found herself that she longed to see again but oppressed her in the strange atmosphere. Suddenly, the objects lost their value in unfamiliar surroundings; they also appeared odd. She realised that the address lost all its significance to her and wanted to forget it.

OR

Andrew Manson is a young man who has recently qualified as a Doctor and started his medical practice as an assistant to Dr Edward Page in the small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly. He is in love with Christine and thinks of marriage as an idiotic state. He is filled with love. His steady mind and reason help him see many persons’ marriages as dismal failures.
Andrew is mature enough to keep his private and professional lives apart. Once confronted with his responsibility, he discharges his obligations to the utmost capacity. He is duty conscious. He believes in a practical approach and is not afraid to try unique methods. He has a tender heart too. He is aware of the feelings of others. He knows how deeply Susan loved her upcoming baby. He has polite manners and a reassuring tone. On the whole, Andrew is presented as a dedicated Doctor.