Class 12 English: CBSE Sample Question Paper- Term II (2021-22)- 4 | Sample Papers for Class 12 Commerce PDF Download

Class-XII
Time: 120 Minutes

General Instructions: 

1. The Question Paper contains THREE sections- READING, WRITING and LITERATURE.
2. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

I. Read the passage given below: 

1. Mankind’s experience of various evolutionary changes from primitive times to the present day has been extensive and varied. However, man’s problems were never before as complicated as they seem to be today. Man’s economic activity centers primarily on factors of production; its role, therefore, has been given a lot of importance. It should be useful to have an overall view of the economic history of man – from the nomadic times to the modern factory system – and study its relevance to the various labour problems of today.
2. Initially, man passed through ‘the hunting and fishing stage’. During this period, his basic needs were adequately met by Nature. Wild animals, birds and fruits satisfied his hunger and his thirst was quenched by the waters of springs and rivers. Caves gave him shelter and barks of trees were used as clothing. During this stage of man’s progress, labour problems did not exist because of the absence of any economic, political and social system.
3. Then came ‘the pastoral stage’, which was marked by a certain amount of economic activity. The nomadic and migratory nature of man persisted, and, together with his goats and cattle, he moved on to fresh pastures and meadows. Some conflicts would sometimes take place among herd owners, for during this period, the institution of nominal private property ownership was not known.
4. This stage paves the way for ‘the agricultural stage’ during which the class system began to develop. There was a small artisan class mostly self-employed; and there were also landed properties or Zamindars as well as slaves. Thus, arose the feudal system. During the fourth stage of these developments, ‘the handicrafts stage’, a number of social and economic changes took place which marked the beginning of the labour problem in the world. The self – sufficient economy of the village underwent a drastic change. The community of traders and merchants emerged.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer ANY EIGHT questions from the nine given below.
Q.1. Humanity ’s evolution from nascent stage to the contemporary one has been:

Huge and diversified.

Q.2. “Man’s problems were never before as complicated as they seem to be today,” means:

The present times pose much more challenges to humans than the previous times.

Q.3. Why does the author say that labour problems did not exist during ‘the hunting and fishing stage’?

There were no economic, political and social system, they hunted for themselves.

Q.4. “The pastoral stage was marked by a certain amount of economic activity.” How?

Humans started migrating and held goat-herds. It is guessed that it was an attempt to live a better life).

Q.5. Which word in the passage means ‘surfaced’?

Emerged.

Q.6. What were the consequences of Feudal system?

The beginning of the labour issues and evolving of the traders and merchants. 

Q.7. Arrange the following stages in the right order:
(A) Handicraft stage
(B) The hunting and fishing stage
(C) Pastoral stage
(D) The agricultural stage

B, C, D, A (mankind started life first hunting and fishing, pastoral, agricultural, then handicraft.)

Q.8. What is the theme of the above passage?

The stages of man’s development professionally and economically (history of mankind).

Q.9. From the nomadic time to the modern time _________ system has undergone radical change.

Economic

II. Read the following passage.

1. The Ganges is one of the largest rivers in Asia. It rises in the Himalayas and flows over 2500 km through India and Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal.
2. However, the Ganges, India’s holy river, is also one of the most polluted in the world. The Ganges River basin has a size of over 1 million square km. It lies in one of the most populous regions on earth. About 500 million people, half of India’s overall population, live in the Ganges river plains.
3. There are many causes of Ganges river pollution. About 2 million Hindus bathe in the river every day. During religious ceremonies, up to a hundred million people clean their sins away in the Ganges River. They believe that bathing in the river will make them pure. In addition, thousands of bodies are cremated near the river, especially around the holy city, Varanasi. The ashes are often released into Ganges.
4. The Ganges also provides water for farming land, which is increasing at a tremendous rate. Irrigation projects cause water levels to go down along the river. More and more dams are being erected along India’s holy river, mainly to produce energy for Delhi and other large cities in the area.
5. The river flows through 30 cities with a population of over 100,000 each. Every day, 3 billion liters of untreated water from these big cities pass into the Ganges River, along with remains of animals.
   
6. Ganges River Pollution: A case Study of Causes of Ganges River Pollution.
   Because of India’s lax environmental regulations, industries along the river release chemicals and other poisonous material into the Ganges. In some places they are a thousand times over the allowed limit. Especially India’s traditional leather industry needs great amounts of water. In addition, fertilizers from the fields find their way into the ground water, and ultimately flow into the river. Altogether, the amount of Industrial pollution has doubled in the past 20 years.
7. This widespread pollution of the Ganges River has also led to major health problems. Many diseases are common, including cholera, hepatitis and diarrhea.
   While India’s population keeps growing, more and more people are leaving the countryside and moving to big cities along the Ganges. As a result, the river will not be able to cope with even more people.
8. Life in the river is also at risk. Recent reports have shown that there is high a level of mercury in some fish. The construction of dams is destroying forests and vegetation, killing off many animals and plants. India authorities are fighting an upward battle towards cleaning up Ganges River. International organizations have offered help. The World Bank has agreed to give India a loan of up to a billion dollars to clean up the Ganges River.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer ANY SIX out of the seven questions given below.
Q.1. From which of the neighbouring countries, the Ganges flows through into the Bay of Bengal?

Bangladesh

Q.2. How many people (in million) clean their sins away in the Ganges River?

up to 100 million (optional)

Q.3. According to the passage, which disease in not common due to the widespread pollution of the Ganges River?
(1) Cholera
(2) Influenza
(3) Hepatitis
(4) Diarrhoea

Influenza

Q.4. According to the passage, which industry in India needs great amount of water?

leather

Q.5. Which International organization has agreed to give India a loan of a billion dollar to clean up the Ganges River?

The World Bank

Q.6. The bar graph shows that the River Ganges has got polluted badly. The sewage treatment plants had been established. What is the relationship between the sewage generation and treatment capacity?

The sewage generation is more than the treatment capacity installed.

Q.7. What poisoning is found in some fish in the river Ganges?

Mercury

III. You are Natasha, residing in Pune. Your cousin, from the same city is hosting your grandmother’s eightieth birth anniversary and has extended an invite to you. He has also requested your assistance for arrangements needed. Draft a reply of acceptance, in not more than 50 words..

#121 XYZ Apartments

Pune
14 Jan 20XX
Dear ABC
It was a great pleasure to receive the invitation to attend grandmother’s eightieth birth anniversary celebration. It is a wonderful occasion and nothing can stop me from attending it. It goes without saying that all of us will come together to make it a grand event. As you have already taken the initiative, just let me know how I can help. I would love to offer my assistance for our lovable grandmother.
Yours affectionately
Natasha

IV. Attempt ANY ONE from (A) and (B) given below.
(A) You are Shantanu, residing at Ghar B-94, Balimela Road, Malkangiri. You come across the following classified advertisement in a local daily. Write a letter, in about 120-150 words, applying for the position of a volunteer for the Each One Teach One campaign.
SITUATION VACANT
WANTED committed volunteers, aged 18 years and above, to teach underprivileged children, for one hour a week, in the district of Malkangiri. Ability to speak, read and write Odiya fluently, important. Experience not necessary. All volunteers to receive training. Contact Nethra N, Coordinator (Each One Teach One), 4 Literacy, Ambaguda, Malkangiri, Odisha -764045
OR
(B) The efforts of 400 volunteers working with the NGO, 4 Literacy, in the district of Malkangiri, Odisha, was lauded by the District Collector, Shri V. Singh (IAS). As a staff reporter of ‘The Odisha Bhaskar’, write a report about this in 120-150 words covering all the details, such as training, teaching and infrastructure involved in the ‘Each One Teach One’ campaign, initiated by the district administration in association with the NGO.

(A)

Ghar B-94

Balimela Road
Malkangiri,
Odisha- 764045
14 Jan 20XX
Nethra N
The Coordinator (Each One Teach One)
4 Literacy, Ambaguda
Malkangiri,
Odisha- 764045  
Subject: Volunteer for Each One Teach One campaign
Ma’am
This is with reference to your advertisement published in ‘The National Times’, dated 13 January, 20xx inviting volunteers to teach the underprivileged children. I want to present myself as one of the candidates for the same.
I am a young man of 21. I have recently completed my graduation and since I’m preparing for the entrance of Post Graduation, I would like to serve the community by offering my services for this noble cause. Although, I don’t have any experience in this field, yet, I feel that after undergoing the training conducted by you, I would be able to do justice to the campaign. I can speak and write Odiya fluently as it is my mother tongue.
I hope my qualifications will meet your requirements. My resume is attached herewith for your perusal.
Thank you
Yours sincerely
Shantanu
Encl. Resume

OR

(B) 

EACH One teach One

-By XYZ
(Staff Reporter, ‘the Odisha Bhaskar’)

Malkangiri, Odisha 14 January: In a grand programme held at the District Centre, Malkangiri, the efforts of 400 volunteers of the Each One Teach One campaign were lauded by the District Collector, Shri V. Singh (IAS).
The NGO, 4 Literacy, started the Each One Teach One campaign in the district of Malkangiri, Odisha. The campaign aims to teach the underprivileged children of our community. All the 400 volunteers involved in this noble work are from varied age groups and are above 18 years of age. All the volunteers, natives of Odisha, even untrained and freshers, were given initial formal training by the NGO and the district administration.
The infrastructure– classrooms, blackboard, writing material and uniforms for the children, etc. is also funded by the NGO and district administration. Various other organisations have also stepped forward to contribute for the noble cause. The District Collector, on behalf of the district administration has appealed more the local masses to be liberal with donations so that this campaign can move smoothly and benefit more number of people.

V. Attempt ANY FIVE of the six questions given below, within 40 words each.
Q.1. How did Gandhi shock the representative of the planters?

The representative of the planters thought Gandhi would demand repayment in full of the money they had extorted from the sharecroppers but Gandhi asked 50% amount and later settled even at 25% only.

Q.2. What is the significance of an image of the ‘endless fountain’?

The 'endless fountain of immortal drink' denotes the everlasting joy given by beautiful objects. It refers to the deeds of great men and women that have made them a source of inspiration for people of all times.

Q.3. By what bait had the peddler been fooled?

He stole the money from the gullible crofter. He was trapped in a situation which he always thought of and there seemed no way of his escape.

Q.4. How are Aunt Jennifer ’s tigers different from her?

Aunt Jennifer created animals, i.e., tigers which were very different from her own docile character because they represented the fearlessness and freedom which she was deprived of. They also represented her secret longing to live a brave and fearless life like them.

Q.5. What change was expected by Jo at the end of the story of Roger Skunk?

Jo expected that Wizard would hit mommy because it was due to the mother ’s action that Roger started smelling bad again.

Q.6. What was Mr Lamb’s perception about the Beauty and the Beast?

According to Mr Lamb the Beauty and the Beast are relative concepts, i.e., it can be thought of in opposite ways depending on what one compares it to. Mr Lamb means that different people hold different perceptions. While one person might find someone or something beautiful, another person might find that person or thing beastly.

VI. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 120-150 words each.
Q.1. The story, ‘Evans Tries an O-Level’, is a statement against rehabilitation of criminals. Justify.

In rehabilitation of criminals, the criminals are given a chance to improve their ways. Some of their actions are ignored and by empathizing with them chances of improvement are made bright for them. However, after understanding the story we can conclude that between crime and punishment, it is mainly a battle of wits. In every battle the stronger side wins, where the potential could be physical or mental. The side which outsmarts the other wins. It is not always that a criminal gets punished. In the given story, although well trained, the police officials were easily fooled by clever Evans, who managed to escape from right under their nose and this happens not once or twice but four times in a row. So we can say that this story is a reverse statement for rehabilitation of criminals.

Q.2. How did the court scene at Motihari change the course of India’s struggle for freedom?

In Champaran, the peasants were greatly in fear of the British government. The cause of the problem was indigo and the greed of the landlords. They had forced the tenants to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire produce to the landlords. When synthetic indigo came, the landlords were ready to release the above condition. They demanded compensation, the repercussions of which the peasants did not know and agreed to it. 

Later, when the peasants came to know about synthetic indigo, they asked for their money back. The British hired thugs to oppose them. Gandhi realized that there was no need for lawyers. He realized that it was necessary to release them of their fear which was difficult to achieve as they were uneducated.
However, with his determination, he championed their cause. Soon, he led a movement of nonviolence and Satyagraha. Many farmers demonstrated around the courtroom where Gandhi was summoned. This made the British feel challenged. Sharecroppers from Champaran came barefooted to see Gandhi. Muzzafarpur lawyers too called on him. He explained what he had done was an ordinary thing. He had simply told the British that they could not order him in his own country. Gandhi tried to mould new free Indians who could stand on their own feet.
This new realization gave him a direction to lead the freedom struggle and thus, proved to be a turning point in the course of India’s struggle for freedom. This was the first time Gandhi realised that India was capable of mass movements and it was after this episode that he started the national struggle for freedom across the country.

Q.3. The peddler thinks that the whole world is a rattrap. This view of life is true only of himself and of no one else in the story. Comment. 

This view of life was true for the peddler because when he was offered food and shelter at the crofter’s house, which is like ‘bait’ for a rat, he took it, and stole the crofter’s money. He then tried to run away from being caught and but got lost in the forest as it was big and confusing. Thus, he considered the world as a big rattrap in which he had fallen and the crofter’s money was the bait. Now his own turn had come as he had let himself be fooled by the bait and had been caught in the trap. He knew that ironmaster had mistaken him for someone else, yet he went with him. The peddler was thus deprived of shelter, and got easily trapped by the temptations. The other characters in the story, the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter have human values of love, compassion, and for them, the world is not a rattrap. They looked upon the world as a happy place to live and share the happiness with others. Thus, the Peddler’s view about the world as a rattrap is true for him only as he got caught into the traps for food, shelter, and money whereas the others were not tempted.