Class 11 English: CBSE Sample Question Papers- Term II (2021-22)- 1

Class : XI
Time : 120 Minutes
Maximum Marks : 40

General Instructions : 

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

I. Read the passage given below :

1. We are what we eat. The type of food we eat has both immediate and long-term effect on us, at all the three levels - the body, the mind and the spirit. Food which is tamasik (i.e. stale or leftover) in nature is bound to generate stress as it tends to upset the normal functioning of the human body. Fresheners should be avoided. Taking piping hot tea/milk or steaming hot food, whenever available, must be preferred. Excessive use of condiments also disturbs one's usually calm attitude. Further, it is a mistaken belief that smoking or drinking, even in moderation, relieves stress. Simple meals with one or two food items, rather than too many lavish dishes, are advisable. Also, vegetarian diet is preferable. Although it is customary to serve fruits with food items, it is not the right thing to do. This is because different kinds of digestive secretions are produced by the stomach for variant food items. Mixing up too many varieties of food items in one meal creates problems for the digestive system. In fact, any one type of fruit, preferably taken in the morning, is better.
2. On an average, we eat almost three to four times the quantity of food than we actually need. A lot of body's energy is used up for digesting the excess food. It is said that after a particular level of food intake, the 'food actually eats one up'.
3. It is always good to eat a little less than your 'full-stomach' capacity. Besides, never eat food unless you are really hungry. To have dinner at 8 or 9 pm after a heavy snack around 5 or 6 pm in the evening is asking for trouble. In fact, skipping a meal is always good if the stomach is upset. There are varying views on the benefits of fasting, but we will not discuss them here. However, giving a break to one's stomach, at least once a week, by having only fruit or milk, etc. may be worth a try.
4. While a little bit of water taken with meals is all right, drinking 30 to 60 ml of water with food is not advisable. Water, taken an hour or so before or after meals, is good for digestion. One's diet must be balanced with all the required nutrients for a healthy living. 

5. Also remember, excess of everything is bad. Related to the problem of stress, excessive intake of salt is definitely out. Too much of sugar, fried food and chillies are not good either. Over-indulgence and excessive craving for a particular taste/type of food generates rajasik (aggressive) or at worst, tamasik (dull) tendencies. An even more important aspect of the relationship between food and stress lies not so much in what or how much we eat but how the food is taken. For example, food eaten in great hurry or in a state of anger or any other negative state of mind is bound to induce stress. How the food

   is served is also very important. Not only the presentation, cutlery, crockery etc. play a role, the love and affection with which the food is served is also significant. Finding faults with food while it is being eaten is a bad habit. It is better not to eat the food you do not like, rather than finding faults with it. It is good to have regular food habits. Workaholics who do not find time to eat food at proper meal time invite stomach ulcers. One must try to enjoy one's food, and therefore, eating at the so-called lunch/ dinner meetings is highly inadvisable. Every morsel of food should be enjoyed with a totally peaceful state of mind. Food and discussions should not be mixed. There are accepted ways to 'charge' the food we eat. Prayer is perhaps 'the best method for energizing the food and it does definite additional good at no extra cost.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer ANY EIGHT questions from the nine given below.
Q.1. Give one point of evidence from the text that encourages us to avoid tamasik food.

Tamasik food influences a person by generating stress. So, it should be avoided.

Q.2. State any one misconception that people generally practise at the table. 

Generally, people believe that condiments help to enhance appetite.

Q.3. Which disease is common in workaholics? 

Stomach ulcers are very common among alcoholics due to their irregular food habits. 

Q.4. How is prayer helpful for a person's health? 

Prayer energises the food we eat. So, it is helpful in our digestion.

Q.5. Rewrite the following sentence replacing the underlined words with a word or phrase from lines 5 to 10 in the passage. 
We should avoid spending in extremes and save for our future. 

We should spend in moderation and save for our future.

Q.6. Why has the writer used the word 'charge' in relation to the food we eat?

Good food provides energy and makes a person feel full of vigour. In this way, it charges us.

Q.7. Use a suitable phrase from lines 25-30 from the passage to complete this sentence.
Children should be _______________________ from their studies to rejuvenate themselves. 

Children should be given a break from their studies to rejuvenate themselves.

Q.8. The writer says that the "food actually eats one up". What is the meaning of this phrase?

Excessive intake of food takes a lot of body 's energy to digest it. So, the proportion of energy provided by the food is far less than the proportion of energy required to digest it. So, it eats one up.

 Q.9. How are rajasik tendencies generated? 

Rajasik tendencies are generated due to over-indulgence and excessive craving for a particular taste.

II. Read the following passage.

1. Humour is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.
2. The ability to laugh, play, and have fun with others not only makes life more enjoyable but also helps you to solve problems. People who incorporate humour and play into their daily lives find that it renews them and all of their relationships.
3. Life brings challenges that can either get the best of you or become playthings for your imagination. When you "become the problem" and take yourself too seriously, it can be hard to think out of the box and find new solutions. But when you play with the problem, you can often transform it into an opportunity for creative learning.
4. Playing with problems seems to come naturally to children. When they are confused or afraid, they convert their problems into a game, giving them a sense of control and an opportunity to experiment with new solutions. Interacting with others in playful ways helps you retain this creative ability.
5. As laughter, humour, and play become an integral part of your life, your creativity will flourish and new discoveries will occur to you daily. Humour takes you to a higher place where you can view the world from a more relaxed, positive, creative, joyful, and balanced perspective.

Q.1. 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.

Laughter- 1 Priceless Medicine

• Physical changes in body: 
  1.1. strengthens immne system
  1.2. boosts energy
  1.3. dimnshs pain
  1.4. protects from stress.
• Benefits of laughter.
  2.1. makes life more enjyble
  2.2. helps solve problems
  2.3. connects with others
• Laughter - An Integral Part of life
  3.1. makes one creative
  3.2. helps to balance prspctive
  3.3. makes one more relaxed & positive

Q.2. Make a short summary of the passage in about 50 words.

SUMMARY

Laughter is free, yet a priceless medicine. It makes the body healthy. Humour helps build better relationships. Problems are best solved by developing a child-like attitude of playing with them rather than brooding over them. Laughter should be an integral part of life to make it relaxed, positive and balanced.

III. Prepare a poster on behalf of an NGO to be placed in various parts of the city urging the people to save trees.

(IV) Attempt ANY ONE from (A) and (B) given below.
Q.1. You are Meena Saxena of Kanpur. You have come across an advertisement of a coaching centre that prepares students for Pre Medical Test. Write a letter to the Director of the institute asking for information that you require before you decide to join it.

7 Greater Colony,
Kanpur
21st January, 20XX
The Director
Sky-High Institute
25, High Street
Kanpur
Subject: Enquiry Regarding Coaching Classes.
Sir,
This is with reference to your advertisement in 'The Daily Times' dated 18th January, 20XX. I am a student of Class XII and am preparing for pre-medical test. I am interested in joining your esteemed institute, but before I do so, I would like to have the following information.
I would like to know the duration and the timings of the course. What is the fee structure and the mode of payment? I would also like to know the strength of each batch and the success rate of your institute. Do you offer any discount to students who have excelled in academics?
I would be grateful if you could give me a prompt response so that I can take timely decision to join your institute.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely,
Yours sincerely,

Q.2. "Private cars should be banned in the congested commercial areas of the cities." Write a debate in 120-150 words either for or against the motion.

Private Cars should be banned
Respected Judges and teachers,
Today, I stand before you to present my views for the motion on the topic, 'Private cars should be banned in the congested commercial areas of the cities'. There is no end to the number of vehicles being driven around the city each day. Traffic jams have become a rather 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 only mean consumption of extra fuel but also more number of people suffering from respiratory diseases due to pollution. 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 it is our duty to safeguard it and keep it clean for our future generations. Thus, first step towards protecting our environment would be to stop abusing the available amount of petroleum and avoid creating pollution.
Thank you for listening to my views patiently.

V. (A) Complete the following sentences using suitable words.
Q.1. I wrote it on _____________ piece of paper. 

a

Explanation: A single piece of paper is mentioned here.

Q.2. It ________________ (rain) for two days now. (Fill in the blank using the present perfect continuous tense.)

It has been raining for two days now.

 Explanation: The present perfect continuous tense uses 'have' or 'has' followed by 'been and the present participle form of the verb. 

Q.3. If there are _____________ words you don't understand, use a dictionary. 

any 

Explanation: Which determiner is used for unknown and indefinite nouns? 

(B) Rearrange the given set of words to form a meaningful sentence.
Q.1. boy/each/was punished/of the class/yesterday

Each boy of the class was punished yesterday.

Explanation: Construct the sentence using the subject, verb, adverb formation. 

VI. Answer the following questions within 30-40 words each.
Q.1. How can overfishing and decimation of forests prove harmful?

Overfishing may lead to stripping of fisheries. Then man will lose a rich source of protein. The decimation of forests will harm ecology. Moreover, several species of life that live in forest will face extinction.

Q.2. How does the rain justify its claim: 'I am the Poem of Earth'?

The poem 'The Voice of the Rain,' describes the cycle of rain. It shows how the rain rises out of the sea and is transformed into rain drops in the heavens. Thus, it is the poem of the earth.

Q.3. What according to the poem, 'Childhood', is involved in the process of growing up?

According to the poem, 'Childhood', the loss of childhood is involved in the process of growing up. This loss is compensated by some gains which come with adolescence.

VII. Answer the following questions within 70-80 words each.
Q.1. What was Andrew 's view of marriage? Why was he resentful and confused?
OR
Mention three things in the behaviour of mother that astonish Doris.

As Andrew sat dozing by the kitchen fire his thoughts wandered over the subject of marriage. He thought of Bramwell who was foolishly devoted to a woman who deceived him meanly. Then he thought of Edward Page who was married to the ill-natured Blodwen and was now living unhappily, apart from his wife. This led him to the conclusion that all marriages are dismal failures. Then he thought of his girlfriend, Christine, and wished to consider marriage as a pleasant state.

OR
Doris is astonished because mother, has not got tea ready for her as usual. Secondly, her mother who has always been a docile housewife can be seen smoking smugly. Thirdly, she clearly declares that she is not in mood to iron her silk that she intends to wear that evening.

Q.2. Comment on the role of Yuri in Albert Einstein's life.

Yuri is the central figure in the story. He was the only friend whom Einstein could rely upon in Munich. When he felt too miserable in school, he told his woes to him. One day he confided to him that if he could procure a medical certificate from a friendly doctor that he was suffering from nervous breakdown. Yuri ultimately enabled him to have the desired certificate that too without any charge. He advised and helped him from time to time.

Q.3. Describe the difficulties and disillusionment faced by Nick Middleton during his journey to Mount Kailash.

Nick Middleton, the narrator had to journey through the difficult terrain to reach Mount Kailash. The path was totally snow covered, the snow was so steep that they could not go around it. They somehow went over it. The danger was that they could slip. They flung handfuls of dirt and covered the snow completely with soil.

The narrator and Daniel got off the vehicle to lighten the load while Tsetan drove the vehicle over the snow. Due to low atmospheric pressure, the author got a headache. The fuel of vehicle also expanded due to the low pressure, which would prove perilous for them. In Darchen, the narrator also suffered from blocked sinuses that resulted in extreme cold and breathing problems. The town Hor was shabby, dirty and very depressing. Overall, the journey of the author was adventurous.