English (Core)

Notice (about 50 words): As Aruna/Arun, Head Girl/Head Boy of Kohinoor Public School, Hawapuri, write a notice for students of Classes IX–XII announcing an inter-house book review competition and asking interested students to register. Add the other necessary details and put the notice in a box.

Notice (about 50 words): As Renuka/Rahul Bhatia, President of the Residents Welfare Association, J.M. Colony, Pawanshahr, write a notice telling residents about a free eye-care camp for senior citizens of the colony, being organised with a reputed hospital. Give all necessary details and put the notice in a box.

Formal invitation (about 50 words): On behalf of the Principal, draft a formal invitation card for parents and guests to the school's Annual Awards Function on Saturday, 9th April. Mention one attractive highlight of the celebration along with the other details.

Informal reply (about 50 words): You are Sonali/Sohail of 4, A.C. Nagar, Akashgarh. Your friend Jyoti has invited you to a party she is throwing to celebrate her appointment as a Junior Scientist at ISRO. Write an informal reply accepting the invitation.

Job application with bio-data (120–150 words): You are Sunita/Sunil of 49, Oldams, Samudranagar. Five Star Sports Academy, 17, Mound Road, Samudranagar, has advertised for a Junior Football Coach. Requirements in the advertisement: at least 2 years' experience of designing training sessions and preparing teams for state-level competitions; knowledge of modern coaching methods, football techniques, defence, organisation and leadership skills; qualification B.A., B.P.Ed. Apply to the Director with your bio-data.

Letter to the editor (120–150 words): You are Mridula/Mridul of 7, M Layout, Neelpuri. Several recent hit-and-run accidents, mostly involving juvenile drivers, have cost precious lives. Write to the editor of a national daily voicing your concern and suggesting ways to prevent such incidents. Points you may use: who is responsible; why such cases are rising; the role of parents, government agencies and laws; how schools and society can teach youngsters traffic rules and responsible driving.

Article (120–150 words): Many young people use fitness apps without thinking, and with the Fit India push it is time to weigh their benefits and drawbacks. As Kirti/Kirat, the school fitness coach, write an article for the school magazine on the pros and cons of fitness apps. Cues: why people like them; how they track health; their disadvantages; risks to privacy and personal data; how to use them wisely.

Report (120–150 words): You are Ritika/Ritik of Class XII-D, a member of the school editorial board. Write a detailed report on the activities students carried out during Cyber Safety Awareness Week – describe the events, who took part, and the effect on the school community. Use the cues Who–What–When–Where–Why–How.

Aunt Jennifer's Tigers (Adrienne Rich) – the extract describes Aunt Jennifer's nervous fingers struggling with her needle under the heavy weight of her wedding ring, and says that after her death her hands will stay marked by her ordeals while the tigers she embroidered keep prancing fearlessly.
(i) Complete: the heavy weight of the 'wedding band' stands for ______.
(ii) The phrase 'fingers fluttering' shows Aunt Jennifer in a constant state of ______ (nervousness/happiness).
(iii) Assertion: Aunt Jennifer's life is full of agony and pain. Reason: she is a victim of a male-dominated society. Choose: (A) both true, R explains A; (B) both true, R does not explain A; (C) A true, R false; (D) A false, R true.
(iv) Complete: the line saying the tigers will go on prancing refers to the ______ of art.
(v) The words 'terrified hands' and 'ordeals' highlight the ______ of women in marriage.
(vi) The tigers on the panel symbolise: (A) Aunt Jennifer's interest in wildlife (B) tigers in a green forest (C) Aunt Jennifer's deep desire for freedom (D) tigers that are yellow in colour.

My Mother at Sixty-six (Kamala Das) – the extract describes the poet driving from her parents' home to Cochin with her mother dozing beside her, pale like a dead body; she painfully realises how old her mother is, then pushes the thought away and looks out at the fast-moving young trees and cheerful children outside.
(i) Complete: the words 'doze' and 'open mouthed' indicate the mother's ______.
(ii) Give the phrase showing that images of energy and youth affect the poet's thoughts.
(iii) What does the image 'trees sprinting' NOT represent? (A) energy (B) liveliness (C) shade (D) vitality
(iv) The phrase 'ashen like that of a corpse' shows the poet's use of ______ (irony/imagery).
(v) The poet cannot bear to look at her ageing mother because: (A) her mother had refused to come with her (B) she is upset that her mother dozes off (C) it upsets her to see her mother's ageing face (D) she is in a hurry to reach the airport
(vi) Assertion: the mother was going with her daughter to the airport. Reason: the daughter was leaving her mother behind and flying away. Choose: (A) both true, R explains A; (B) both true, R does not explain A; (C) A true, R false; (D) A false, R true.

The Enemy (Pearl S. Buck) – in the extract the cook scornfully remarks that the young master saves every life because he is proud of his skill, Yumi worries about the children if their father is branded a traitor, and they deliberately speak loudly enough for Hana, arranging flowers nearby, to hear.
(i) Complete: the cook's tone about the master's skill is ______.
(ii) The servants spoke on purpose so that Hana would hear, to convey their: (A) interest (B) disapproval (C) sympathy (D) respect
(iii) Why is Yumi's worry about the children justified?
(iv) The extract shows a ______ (superficial/close) relationship between the master and the servants.

The Tiger King (Kalki) – in the extract a British officer's secretary tells the Maharaja that the officer only wants a photograph of himself holding a gun over a dead tiger, the Maharaja may do the killing; the Maharaja still refuses, fearing more such requests, and so risks losing his kingdom.
(i) The last line reflects ______ (an oppressive/a courageous) attitude of the British officers.
(ii) Why did the British officer want a photograph with the tiger's carcass?
(iii) The Tiger King's refusal reflects: (A) his concern for the tiger population (B) his courage to deny permission to the British officer (C) his ego and selfishness (D) his strained rapport with the British officer
(iv) Complete: the Maharaja's ______ action put his kingdom in danger.

The Rattrap (Selma Lagerlöf) – in the extract the peddler, remembering the thirty kronor he had stolen, fears going to the manor house and only wants to sleep in the forge and slip away; the ironmaster, thinking he is ashamed of his ragged clothes, assures him the house is not grand, says his wife is dead, his sons are abroad and only he and his eldest daughter are at home with no company for Christmas, and invites him to help finish the Christmas food.
(i) What does 'throwing himself into the lion's den' mean here?
(ii) What does 'sneak away' show about the peddler's intention?
(iii) The ironmaster's remark that no one is at home except his daughter and himself shows he was leading a ______ (peaceful/lonely) life.
(iv) The spirit of Christmas reflected in his regret at having no company is: (A) to make a special dish (B) to invite guests to join the celebration (C) to show off his wealth (D) to conduct communal prayers
(v) Complete: the peddler felt uncomfortable at the invitation because he only wanted to ______.
(vi) By saying his home is not so fine, the ironmaster wanted the peddler to feel ______ (awkward/comfortable).

Going Places (A.R. Barton) – in the extract Jansie tells Sophie she will not be made a manager straight away; Sophie boasts she will be like a famous designer and own the most amazing shop in the city; Jansie, knowing both are destined for the biscuit factory, feels sad and later reminds Sophie to be sensible, since shop work pays poorly and her father would not allow it.
(i) Jansie's opening remark shows which trait of the speaker? (A) optimistic (B) pessimistic (C) realistic (D) fatalistic
(ii) Sophie's claim that people will notice her talent from the start shows her ______ (modesty/overconfidence).
(iii) Jansie's remark that shop work is poorly paid shows her as: (A) a happy-go-lucky girl (B) a practical friend of Sophie (C) a casual friend of Sophie (D) a jealous friend
(iv) Complete: from 'your dad would never allow it', we infer that Sophie's father is ______.
(v) Jansie's advice to Sophie to be sensible shows her: (i) indifference (ii) concern (iii) regret (iv) envy
(vi) What does the word 'earmarked' (for the biscuit factory) convey?

Indigo and Deep Water: Compare and contrast Rajkumar Shukla ('Indigo') and William Douglas ('Deep Water') in terms of courage, constraints and determination. (120–150 words)

Lost Spring and A Roadside Stand: Analyse the lesson and the poem with reference to social inequality and society's indifference. (120–150 words)

On the Face of It (Susan Hill): How did Mr Lamb's habits of watching, listening and thinking help Derry change his outlook on life? (120–150 words)

Journey to the End of the Earth: Tishani Doshi suggests that humans' attempt to dominate nature is behind today's problems. Support this with evidence from the text. (120–150 words)