Class XII


English Core (301)

Sample Question Paper
1. This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C.

2. All the sections are compulsory.

3. Read the instructions very carefully given with each section and
question and follow them faithfully.

4. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the

questions. 


SECTION-A (READING)
Q1. Read the passage and on the basis of your understanding of the
passage answer the questions given below: (20)
1. India has never subscribed to the doctrine of militarism and war in
her history. Here war was never treated as an ideal. It was only
tolerated as unavoidable and inevitable, and all attempts were made
to check it and bring it under control. Inspite of the frequency of
wars in ancient India, in spite of highly developed military
organization, techniques of war and imperialism, and in spite of the
open justification of war as national policy, the heart of India loved
pacifisms as an ideal capable of realization. India‟s symbolic role
was that of a peacemaker and it sincerely pinned its faith on the
principle of „Live and let live‟. At least philosophically, India‟s
intelligence supported the cause of peace not only in national affairs
but in international affairs also. All the great seers of the yore
visualized the unity of life, permeating all beings, animate or
inanimate, which ruled out killing and suicidal wars. 


2. This doctrine of philosophical pacifisms was practiced by ancient

Aryans is, no doubt, a question of controversial nature. Certainly, the
great Indian teachers and savants stuck to this doctrine tenaciously
and in their personal life they translated it into practice and preached
 it to masses and even to princes of military classes. 


3. Another culture of those times, the existence of which has been

proved by the excavations of Mohan- jo-Daro, also enunciated the
doctrine of pacificism and friendship to all. Strangely enough, the
Indus Valley civilization has revealed no fortification and very few
weapons. 


4. Ahimsa or the doctrine of non-violence in thought, speech and action

assumed a gigantic importance in the Buddhist and Jain period. By a
constant practice of this virtue, man becomes unassailable by even
wild beasts, who forgot their ferocity the moment they entered the
circumference of his magnetic influence. The monks and nuns of
these churches were apostles of peace, who reached every nook and
corner of the world and delivered the message of love to war-weary
humanity. The greatest votary was the royal monk Ashoka, who in
reality was responsible for transforming Ahimsa as an act of personal
virtue, to Ahimsa as an act of national virtue. 


5. Many a historian recounting the causes of the downfall of the

Mauryas, hold the pacific policy of Ashoka which had eschewed the
aggressive militarism of his predecessors, responsible for an early
decay of the military strength of the state and its consequent
disintegration, leading to the rise of Sungas, Kanvas and Andhras.
But, in reality the fault lies with the weak successors of Ashoka, who
could not wield the weapon of non-violence with a skill and
efficiency which required the strength of a spiritual giant like
Ashoka. They failed due to their subjective weakness: Pacifism itself
was no cause of their failure. 


6. Besides the foregoing philosophical and religious school of thought,

even many political authorities gave their unqualified support to the
cause of pacifisms. They recognized the right of rivals to exist, not
mainly as enemies, but as collaborators in the building of a
 civilization operation. Thus, for centuries, in the pre-Mauryan India,
scores of small independent republics existed and flourished without
coming in clash with each other. 


7. With regard to Kautilya, the much maligned militarist and the so

called Machiavelli of India, He thinks that the object of diplomacy is
to avoid war. 


8. The Mahabharata observes in the connection, “A wise man should be

content with what can be obtained by the expedients of conciliation,
gift and dissention.” It denounces the warring world of men by
comparing it to a dog-kennel. “First there comes the wagging of tails,
then turning of one round to other, then the show of teeth, then the
roaring and then comes the commencement of the fights. It is the
same with men; there is no difference whatever.” Yajnavalkya adds:
„War is the last expedient to be used when all others have failed.”
Likewise, Sri Krishna who‟s Bhagwad-Gita has been styled by some
as „a song of the battle‟, should not be considered out and out
militarist. When all the three expedients were exhausted, then alone
the fourth was resorted to. 


9. All possible avenues of peace such as negotiation, conciliation

through conference, meditation and so on, were explored before the
war was resorted to. This proves that the heart of ancient India was
sound and it longed for peace, although war also was not treated as
an anathema, which was to be avoided as far as possible. (Words–
737) 

(Extract from ‘Culture India-Pacifism has been the Ideal’ by Sri
Indra)

1.1 Answer each of the questions given below by choosing the most
appropriate option:
(i) The heart of India loved ____
a) a highly developed military organization
b) techniques of wars and imperialism
c) loans
d) pacifism
(ii) Principle of ‘Live and let live’ means
a) imperialism
b) militarism

c) frequency of wars among nations
d) role of peace makers

(iii) Aryans preached and practiced this to the masses

a) non-violence
b) freedom of speech and action

c) philosophical pacifisms

d) practice of military organization
(iv) Mahabharata compares the warring world with
a) wise men
b) dog kennel

c) song of the battle d) militarist
(v) Unearthing Mohan-jo–Daro reinforced the following of Pacifism
a) there was no fortification and very few weapons
b) they delivered the message of love

c) they were apostles of peace

d) thinks that the object of diplomacy is to avoid war
1.2 Answer the following questions briefly:
(i) How was war treated in India?
(ii) Describe India‟s preparedness for war in spite of their belief in
Pacifism.
(iii) How did the Aryans practice the Doctrine of Pacifism?

(iv) What is Ahimsa?

(v) What is the meaning of co-existence with rivals?

(vi) Why should Bhagvad-Gita not be considered as “A song of the
battle”?
1.3 Answer any three of the following questions in 25-30 words:
(i) What kind of unity did all the seers visualize?

(ii) By some, Ashoka was considered as the cause of the downfall of the
Mauryas. Do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer.

(iii) Which options were explored by Sri Krishna before resorting to war?
(iv) Throw some light on the thinking of Kautilya regarding war.
1.4 Pick out the words/phrases from the passage which are similar in
meaning to the following: (1X3=3)
(i) express in definite and clear terms (para 3 )
(ii) defensive wall (para 3)
(iii) the beginning (para 8)
SECTION: B (ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS)
[Link] are Karan / Kirti of L.M. Memorial Public School, Dwarka. Your
school has adopted a village as a social responsibility. Students are being
taken to teach the children of that village on a regular basis. Write a report,
for your school magazine, on the various other programmes organized
there in 150-200 words.
SECTION: C (LITERATURE)
Q3. Read the following extract and answer the following questions briefly:
When aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie Still ringed with ordeals she
was mastered by. The tigers in the panel that she made

Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
1. Name the poem and the poet of the above stanza.
2. What lies in store for the Aunt?
3. Explain ‘ringed with ordeals’.
4. Identify and name the poetic device used in the last line of the above
stanza.

Q4. Answer any four the following questions in 30-40 words:

(i) Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?

(ii)When Gandhi got the whole hearted support of the lawyers, he said,
‘The battle of Champaran is won’. What was the essence behind his
statement?

(iii)What story did Jo want to hear the next day and why? What was
father’s reaction to it?
Q5. Answer any one of the following questions in about 120-150 words: (6)
. (i) Give a detailed account of the preparations made by the Governor
for Evans James to write his examination.
. (ii) Optimism in one’s attitude helps deal with all the challenges in
life. Prove the statement by referring to the character Mr. Lamb from
the chapter “On the Face of It”.