CBSE Examination Papers, 2009
Class – XII (Foreign Set- I, II, III)
Time Allowed: 3 Hours M.M.: 100
Set-I
General Instructions :
(i) The paper is divided into three Sections – A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.
(ii) Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions
carefully and follow them faithfully.
(iii) Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.
Section – A [Reading]
1. Head the passage given below and answer the questions that following: 12
(i). The role friends play in our lives has become significantly greater than at any other time in our history.
Today many of us live and work at great distances from where we were born or we grew up and are separated from our original families. The pain we feel when we are away from our families can be significant.
(ii). The happiness of the individual relies on friendships which form a necessary human connection. It is perfectly normal to need and want friends and depression is more prevalent among those who lack friends. They lack the intimacy and richness friends can bring into our lives. Frequently friends reflect similar values to us. Yet these values are often different from the ones we grew up with; they are the values we created for ourselves in our adult lives.
(iii). Communication skills are fundamental in all friendships. The more friends and acquaintances one has, the greater are one's communication skills. Some call these, people skills.
(iv) Like watering a plant, we grow our friendships (and all our relationships) by nurturing them. Friendships need the same attention as other relationships, if they are to continue. These relationships can be delightfully non-judgmental, supportive, understanding and fun.
(v). Sometimes a friendship can bring out the positive side that you never show in any other relationship. This ,nay be because the pressure of playing a ‘role’ (daughter, partner or child) is removed. With a friend you can be yourself and are free to change. Of course you are free to do this in all other relationships as well, but in friendships you get to have lots of rehearsals and discussion about changes as you experience them. It is an unconditional experience where you receive as much as you give. You can explain yourself to a friend openly without the fear of hurting a family member. How do friendships grow ? The answer is simple. By revealing yourself; being attentive; remembering what is most important to your friend and asking them about it; putting yourself in their position; showing empathy; seeing the world through the eyes of your friend, you will understand the value of friendship. All this means learning to accept a person from a completely different family to your own or perhaps someone from a completely different cultural background. This is the way we learn tolerance. In turn we gain tolerance and acceptance for our own differences.
(vi). Friendships are made by being considerate which means all the communication skills come into play: active listening skills, questioning skills, negotiation skills, reflecting content skills, reflecting emotion skills, and editing yourself.
(vii). Friendships offer a great opportunity to learn about yourself because a friend can reflect back to you how you come across in the world'. They also allow you to practice skills in dealing with ‘personal boundaries’ by looking after yourself as well as your friend. They help you develop resilience in relation to the wider social world beyond your family.
(a) (i) Why do friends play a more significant role today than ever before ? 2
(ii) Why is friendship considered an essential human need ? 2
(iii) How is friendship different from other friendships ? 2
(iv) Mention two essential human values that help friendship to grow. 1
(v) Which communication skills help in building friendship ? 2
(b) Pick out words from the passage which mean the same as each of the following : 3
(i) basic essential (para 3)
(ii) mutual discussion to reach an agreement (pare 6)
(iii) chance (para 7)
2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that following.
Effective speaking depends on effective listening. It takes energy to concentrate on hearing and to concentrate on understanding what has been heard. Incompetent listeners fail in a number of ways. First, they may drift. Their attention drifts from what the speaker is saying. Second, they may counter. They find counter arguments to whatever a speaker may be saying. Third, they compete. Then, they filter. They exclude from their understanding those parts of the message which do not readily fit with their own frame of reference. Finally they react. They let personal feelings about speaker or subject override the significance of the message which is being sent.
What can a listener do to be more effective. The first key to effective listening is the art of concentration. If a listener positively wishes to concentrate on receiving a message his chances of success are high. It may need determination. Some speakers are difficult to follow, either because of voice problems, or because of the form in which they send a message. There is then a particular need for the determination of a listener to concentrate on what is being said.
Concentration is helped by alertness. Mental alertness is helped by physical alertness. It is not simply physical fitness, but also positioning of the body, the limbs and the head. Some people also find it helpful to their concentration if they hold the head slightly to one side. One useful way for achieving this is intensive note-taking, by trying to capture the critical headings and sub-headings the speaker is referring to.
Note-taking has been recommended as an aid to the listener. It also helps the speaker. It gives him confidence when he sees that listeners are sufficiently interested to take notes ; the patterns of eye-contact when the note-taker looks up can be very positive and the speaker's timing is aided - he can see when a note-taker is writing hard and can then make effective use of pauses. Posture too is important. Consider the impact made by a less competent listener who pushes his chair backwards and slouches. An upright posture helps a listener's concentration. At the same time it is seen by the speaker to be a positive feature amongst his listeners. Effective listening skills have an impact on both the listener and the speaker.
(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations, wherever necessary. 5
(b) Write a summary of the passage in not more than 80 words using the notes made and also suggest a suitable title. 3
SECTION - B [ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS] 35 Marks
3. As Teacher Coordinator of the Quiz Club of AMM School, Pune, draft a notice in not more than 50 words informing students of the inter-class quiz contest asking them to register their names with the Secretary of the Club within a week. 5
OR
Mr. Rao, of 43, Nehru Nagar, Chennai, a retired Lecturer in Chemistry, is planning to start a coaching centre offering specialized guidance for competitive examinations. Draft, a suitable advertisement in not more than 50 words giving necessary details.
4. Vinay Mehta, a staff reporter of `The Times of India' has been asked to cover an awards function organized by the State Government on 'Teacher's Day'. Write a report of the programme in 100-125 words.
OR
Write a factual description of the children's park in your locality in 100-125 words. Include special features such as water fountain, play equipment, animal corner, etc.
5. Vishal / Veena, a student of Class XII of 10, Green Park, New Delhi is interested in learning languages. He / She sees an advertisement in `The Times of India' issued by `The Institute of Foreign Languages', New Delhi about the certificate course in Japanese offered by them. He/She decides to write a letter to the Director of the institute seeking more information about the course duration, working hours, fee structure, etc. Write the letter.
OR
Gaurav / Garima, a resident of 15, J.K. Nagar, a newly developed colony on the outskirts of Bangalore, is concerned that the area lacks in even basic amenities such as public transport, proper roads, co-operative store, etc. He / She decides to write a letter to the Editor of the `Deccan Chronicle' highlighting the problems faced by the residents so as to draw the attention of the concerned authorities. Write the letter.
6. You are Vikram / Vidya, Pupil Leader of Oxford Higher Secondary School, Mysore. Prepare a suitable speech in 150-200 words to be delivered at the morning assembly highlighting the importance of cleanliness and the need to keep our surroundings clean. Suggest suitable measures to achieve cleanliness in our immediate environment at home, school and the neighborhood. Include the role of students.
OR
Children between 13 and 19 years of age are neither too young nor too mature. Today these children feel that the pressures of the competitive world they live in have made their lives less exciting. Write an article in 150-200 words expressing your views. You are Mukesh / Mukta.
SECTION – C [LITERATURE ]
7. (a) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: 4 Marks
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hand will he
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
(i) What are the ordeals that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life ? 2
(ii) How are the tigers different from her ? 2
OR
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from heaven's brink.
(i) Who are the "mighty dead" ? How do we know about them ? 2
(ii) What images does the poet use to convey that beauty is everlasting ? 2
(b) Answer any three of the following question in 30-40 words each: 2x3=6
(i) What will counting up to twelve-and keeping quiet help us to achieve ?
(ii) How did the travelers on the highways react to the roadside stand ?
(iii) According to the poet Pablo Neruda, what important lesson can the Earth teach us ?
(iv) How do the pictures and maps on the wall contrast with the world the slum children live in ?
8. Answer the following questions in 30-40 word each: 2x5=10
(a) What are the problems faced by the bangle makers ?
(b) What was Mukesh's dream ? In your opinion did he achieve his dream ? (c) What role did the canteen at tje Gemini Studios play ?
(d) Why did Gandhiji object to C.F. Andrews' stay in Champaran ?
(e) What is distinctive about Umberto Eco's writing style ?
9. Answer the following question in 125 - 150 words : 10
What was William Douglas afraid of ? How did he eventually overcome his fear ?
OR
How did the peddler get out of the rattrap he had fallen into ?
10. Answer the following question in 125-150 words : 7
Describe how Pearl S. Buck's story, The Enemy shows that basic human goodness overpowers all other factors.
OR
Though both Mr. Lamb and Derry suffer from a physical disability, their attitude to life is very different. Justify the relevance of this statement with reference to the story, ‘On the Face of It’.
11. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each : 2x4=8
(a) How did Evans outwit the Governor in the end ?
(b) What are Geoff Green's reasons for including high school students in the ‘Students on Ice’ expedition ?
(c) Did the Tiger King shoot the hundredth tiger '' Give reasons for your answer.
(d) Why did Jo want the wizard to hit the mother ?
Set-II (Un-common Questions to Set-1)
5. Kartik / Kritika, a student of Class XII living at 121, Green Park, New Delhi has a passion for acting. He /She sees an advertisement issued by The National Institute of Drama offering a short term summer course in acting. He ! She decides to write a letter to the Director of the institute seeking more information about the course, working hours, fee structure, etc. Write the letter. 10
OR
Copal ! Geeta, a resident of 15, P.S. Nagar, a newly developed colony in the outskirts of Bangalore, is concerned about the increasing incidents of burglary in the area. He/She decides to write a letter to the Commissioner of Police, Bangalore highlighting the problem and seeking help from the police department. Write the letter.
9. Answer the following question in 125-150 words : 10
Jansie is just as old as Sophie but she is very different from her. Bring nut. the contrast between the two friends citing relevant instances from the story, ‘Going Places’.
OR
What did the French teacher tell his students in his last French lesson ? What impact did it have on them ? Why ?
10. Answer the following question in 125-150 words : 7
Describe the difficulties faced by Dr. Sadao when he tried to help the enemy soldier.
OR
Describe the experience Baina had on her way back home which made her feel sad.
11. Answer the following question in 30-40 words each : 2
(d) How does Jo want the story to end ?
Set-III (Un-common Questions to Set-I & II)
6. Every activity that man indulges in creates waste of some kind. Some of the waste can be recycled or reused. In fact the need of the hour is to conserve the earth's resources in all possible ways. Write an article on the topic, "Conservation, Need of the Hour" in 150-200 words. You are Kamal / Kamala, a keen environmentalist. 10
8. Answer the following question in 30-40 words each : 2x4=8
(a) How is Mukesh's attitude different from that of his family ?
(b) Mention two things about M. Hamel that surprised Franz on his last day at school.
(c) Why was Umberto Eco's novel, 'The Name of the Rose' a great 'success' ?
(e) Why does the writer think that Subbu was tailor-made for films ?
10. Answer the following question in 125-150 words : 10
Why did Jo disapprove of the way Jack ended the story of Roger Skunk ? How did Jack react to her pinion '?
OR
Do you think Derry's chance meeting with Mr. Lamb would prove meaningful to him ? Answer giving valid reasons.
11. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each : 2
(d) How did Dr. Sadao get rid of the enemy soldier ?