VIVEKANANDA KENDRA VIDYALAYA RISHABHDEV

PRE BOARD EXAM 2025-26

CLASS-XI
ENGLISH CORE (301)
Time: 3 hours Maximum Marks: 80

General Instructions:
1. The paper is divided into three sections: Section A: Reading Comprehension,
Section-B: Writing Skills and Grammar and Section C: Literature. All the
sections are compulsory.

2. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION A
READING COMPREHENSION (26 Marks )

1. Read the following text. 10

1. The widespread adoption of vegetarianism and veganism reflects a growing
awareness of health, ethical, and environmental considerations. Moving beyond
traditional dietary norms, an increasing number of people are choosing plant-based diets,
driven by a desire to live more consciously and responsibly. This dietary shift, while
sometimes requiring adjustments, offers significant benefits for individuals, animals,
and the planet.
2. From a health perspective, plant-based diets are often rich in fiber, vitamins, and
minerals, while being lower in saturated fat and cholesterol. Studies frequently link
vegetarian and vegan eating patterns to a reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes,
and certain cancers. These diets typically emphasize whole foods like fruits, vegetables,
legumes, and grains, contributing to improved digestion and healthier weight
management.
3. A strong ethical motivation underpins many choices to adopt vegetarianism or
veganism. Concerns about animal welfare in industrial farming practices, including
crowded conditions and inhumane treatment, lead many to abstain from meat and
animal products. Recognizing animals as sentient beings capable of feeling pain and fear
prompts a desire to reduce their suffering, aligning dietary choices with personal values
regarding compassion.
4. Significant environmental advantages also stem from reducing meat and dairy
consumption. Livestock farming is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions,
deforestation for pastureland, and water pollution. Plant-based diets require substantially
less land, water, and energy to produce the same amount of protein. Shifting away
from animal agriculture can therefore play a crucial role in mitigating climate change
and preserving biodiversity.

5. While adopting a plant-based diet might seem challenging initially, its practical aspects
are becoming increasingly accessible. The market now offers a vast array of plant-based
alternatives for meat, dairy, and eggs, making the transition easier. Online resources,
cookbooks, and community groups provide ample support, recipes, and nutritional
guidance. Learning to cook with new ingredients can also be a creative and rewarding
experience.
 6. Ultimately, choosing a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle offers a powerful way to align
daily habits with personal values of health, ethics, and environmental stewardship.
It’s a conscious decision that contributes to individual well-being and a more
sustainable, compassionate world. This dietary evolution empowers people to make a
tangible positive impact through their food choices, showcasing that small changes
can lead to large benefits.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
i. Why does the widespread adoption of vegetarianism and veganism reflect a ‘growing
awareness’ in paragraph 1?

ii. According to paragraph 1, people choose plant-based diets driven by a desire to do

all of the following EXCEPT:
(A) live more consciously
(B) live more responsibly
(C) ignore ethical considerations
(D) address health concerns

iii. Complete the following by selecting the correct option from those given in the
brackets.
Plant-based diets are often lower in saturated fat and
(fiber/cholesterol). (Paragraph 2)

iv. Select the option that is True from (A)-(C) given for what the phrase, ‘sentient
beings’ suggests in paragraph 3.
(A) Animals are incapable of feeling pain or emotion.
(B) Animals are beings that can perceive and feel sensations and emotions.
(C) Animals are only viewed as resources for human consumption.

v. Complete the analogy by selecting one of the two correct options (A), (B)
deforestation : pastureland :: : (Paragraph 4) 1
(A) greenhouse gas: livestock farming
(B) water pollution: climate change

vi. What are the various health benefits associated with plant-based diets, as highlighted
in paragraph 2?

vii. What are the main ideas of paragraph 4 and paragraph 5? 1

(i) Livestock farming has no impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
(ii) Reducing meat consumption has significant environmental advantages.
(iii) There are no plant-based alternatives available in the
market.
(iv)Adopting a plant-based diet is becoming more accessible.

viii. Learning to cook with new ingredients is not rewarding. Select the correct option. 1

Options Main idea of paragraph 4 Main idea of paragraph 5

(A) i iii
(B) ii iv
(C) v i
(D) iii v
 2. Read the following text. 8
1. Waste management has become a critical issue in urban areas worldwide. In 2022, global
municipal solid waste production reached 2.1 billion tons, with predictions that it
could rise to 3.4 billion tons by 2050. Much of this waste ends up in landfills, while
only 16% is recycled. The increasing amount of waste poses environmental
challenges, including pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and habitat destruction.
2. Plastic waste, which accounts for 12% of global municipal solid waste, is particularly
problematic due to its slow decomposition rate. It can take up to 500 years for
some types of plastic to break down in the environment. Furthermore, less than 10% of
plastic waste is recycled, contributing significantly to pollution in oceans and
landfills.
3. Countries are implementing various strategies to improve waste management, such as
expanding recycling programs, banning single-use plastics, and promoting waste-to-
energy technologies. Some cities have introduced “zero-waste” initiatives, aiming to
divert at least 90% of waste from landfills through recycling and composting.
4. The economic cost of poor waste management is substantial. Inadequate waste
disposal can increase healthcare costs, as waste-related pollution contributes to
respiratory issues and water contamination. In 2022, it was estimated that the global
economic impact of poor waste management was $375 billion.
5. Experts agree that improving waste management is critical for reducing
environmental damage and protecting public health. Without proper action, the
global waste crisis will continue to worsen, leading to even more severe
consequences for both human and environmental health.

Chart : Global Municipal Solid Waste Production (in billion tons)

Year Waste Production (billion tons)
2022 2.1
2030 2.7 (projected)
2050 3.4 (projected)

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. What does the use of the phrase “critical issue” by the writer, in paragraph 1, tell
us about the significance of waste management?
(A) The writer believes waste management is not a serious problem.
(B) The writer is emphasizing the urgency of addressing waste management.
(C) The writer is indifferent to the challenges of waste management.
(D) The writer thinks waste management is a minor concern.

ii. Select the option that is true for the assertion and reason given below : 1
Assertion : Plastic waste is particularly problematic in waste management.
Reason : Plastic waste takes hundreds of years to decompose and has a low
recycling rate.
(A) Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation
of the assertion.
(B) Both the assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct
explanation of the assertion.
(C) The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(D) The assertion is false, but the reason is true.

iii. Identify the percentage of global plastic waste that is recycled, as mentioned in the
 passage.

iv. According to the passage, what are two major environmental challenges caused by
poor waste management?

v. Read the given prompt and select the correct option in the brackets to fill in the
blank:
The projected global waste production by 2050 is expected to increase by more than
billion tons.
The projected global waste production in 2050 is (2.7 billion tons / 3.4
billion tons / 4.0 billion tons).

vi. What are some of the strategies mentioned in the passage that countries are using
to improve waste management?

vii. Complete the sentence suitably. 1

The economic cost of poor waste management is significant because .

viii. Complete the following with a suitable reason : 1

Experts emphasize the importance of improving waste management because .

3. Read the following text. 8

I. A good business letter is one that gets results. The best way to get results is to develop a letter that, in its
appearance, style and content, conveys information efficiently. To perform this function, a business letter
should be concise, clear and courteous.
II. The business letter must be concise: don’t waste words. Little introduction or preliminary chat is necessary.
Get to the point, make the point, and leave it. It is safe to assume that your letter is being read by a very busy
person with all kinds of papers to deal with. Re-read and revise your message until the words and sentences
you have used are precise. This takes time but is a necessary part of a good business letter. A short business
letter that makes its point quickly has much more impact on a reader than a long-winded, rambling exercise in
creative writing. This does not mean that there is no place for style and even, on occasion, humor in the
business letter. While it conveys a message in its contents, the letter also provides the reader with an
impression of you, its author: the medium is part of the message.
III. The business letter must be clear. You should have a very firm idea of what you want to say, and you should
let the reader know it. Use the structure of the letter—the paragraphs, topic sentences, introduction, and
conclusion—to guide the reader point by point from your thesis, through your reasoning, to your conclusion.
Paragraph often, to break up the page and to lend an air of organization to the letter. Use an accepted business-
letter format. Reread what you have written from the point of view of someone who is seeing it for the first
time, and be sure that all explanations are adequate, all information provided (including reference numbers,
dates, and other identification). A clear message, clearly delivered, is the essence of business communication.

IV. The business letter must be courteous. Sarcasm and insults are ineffective and can often work against
you. If you are sure you are right, point that out as politely as possible, explain why you are right, and
outline what
the reader is expected to do about it. Another form of courtesy is taking care in your writing and typing
of the business letter. Grammatical and spelling errors (even if you call them typing errors) tell a reader
that you don’t think enough of him or can lower the reader’s opinion of your personality faster than
anything you say, no matter how idiotic. There are excuses for ignorance; there are no excuses for
 sloppiness.
V. The business letter is your custom-made representative. It speaks for you and is a permanent record of
your message. It can pay big dividends on the time you invest in giving it a concise message, a clear
structure, and a courteous tone.

Questions:
i. On the basis of your understanding of the above passage make notes on it using headings and sub-
headings. Use recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary. Give an appropriate title. 5
ii. Write a summary of the above passage in about 80 words. 3

SECTION B
CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS AND GRAMMAR (23 Marks)

4. Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the words given in the brackets. (1/2*8=4)
i. Who ………………(catch) the notorious dacoit?
ii. The doctor………………(treat) her regularly.
iii. Shall I …………….(promise) to contact you?
iv. I want to see the film as it……………….(direct) by Satyajit Ray.
v. This poem …………. (write) by me when I was seven years old.
vi. We expected about 20 girls but there (be) …………. more girls in that group.
vii. Rohan __________ (watch) the movie before he read the review.
viii. It is a tradition that __________ (celebrate) ever since.

5. Rearrange the words to make meaningful sentences: (1/2*6=3)

i. Examination/pass/she/hard/order/to/the/work/needs to/in.
ii. For/sleep walkers/ anxiety/source/a /of/their/families/are.
iii. Snow/way/he/home/back/the/made/his/through (reorder correctly)
iv. can be/ alternative/ energy source/ an/ hydrogen/ also
v. The/is/book/table/on/the (reorder correctly)
vi. rainwater/ flooding/ helps/ harvesting/ in/ chances of/ reducing

6. (a)You are Sunil/Sunita. You want to purchase a flat in Vasant Enclave, Delhi. Write an
advertisement to be published in a national daily giving full details of your requirement. (3)
OR
(b)You are the Director of Star Communications, an advertising agency, 20 Silver Arcade, Nehru
Place, New Delhi-110054. Your company requires Sales executives. Draft an advertisement to be
printed in the National daily.

7. (a)Water is life. Water is precious and each one of us must stop its wastage. Prepare a poster in
not more than 50 words creating an awareness to save water. (3)
OR
(b) Draft a poster in not more than 50 words depicting the Do’s and Don’ts of prevention against
Dengue, Malaria etc. during rainy season.

8. (a) As the president of the Eco club of your school, write a speech to be delivered in the school
morning assembly on the topic, ‘Degradation of Our Environment’. You are Niharika/Nikhil of
class XI. (5)
OR
(b) The recent rise in incidents of violent behaviour of students is a matter of concern for all. The
problem can be curbed if students learn how to manage anger. Write a speech to be delivered in the
school morning assembly. You are Aruna/ Abhay of Class XI.

9. You are Navneet, a member of the school Literacy Club, which has organized literacy classes in
villages and city slums under the adult education program. Draft a speech in 150- 200 words
highlighting the importance of educating the illiterates. (5)

OR
(b)Rising incomes of the middle class families are leading to obesity among their children. Poring over
books for hours coupled with the lure of TV and the internet has led to a sedentary lifestyle. Addiction
to junk food is another cause of obesity. Write a speech in 150-200 words on obesity, its causes and
how to prevent it.

SECTION C
LITERATURE TEXT BOOK AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING TEXT (31 Marks)

10. Read the given stanza and answer any ONE set of questions that follow: (3*1=3)

A. All three stood still to smile through their hair

At the uncle with the camera.
A sweet face. My mother's. that was before I was born.
And the sea, which appears to have changed less,
Washed their terrible transient feet.

i. The word 'eternity' in these lines symbolizes 1

(a) Beach (b) Sea
(c)Photograph (d) Camera

ii. The poetic device used in the first line of this stanza is 1
(a)Alliteration (b) Metaphor
(c) Simile (d) Personification

iii. The feet of the girls in these lines are called transient as their feet are- 1
(a)Very small (b) Eternal
(c) Temporary (d) Ever-changing

OR

B. Where did my childhood go?

It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant's face,
That’s all I know

i. Where does the poet think childhood can be found? 1

a) Mother's lap b) Childhood alleys
c) Forgotten place d) Infant's face

ii. Through the given lines of the poem, the poet wants to convey that ________. 1
a) Growing up involves maturity and logical thinking
b) Imaginary places do not actually exist in the world
c) Double-faced behaviour of the people in society
d) Innocence of childhood disappears as one grows up
 iii. The tone of the poet in the given poem is __________. 1
a) Contented b) Jovial
c) Remorseful d) Happy

11. Read the extract and answer any ONE out of the choices given. (3*1=3)
A. " All afternoon the usual line of tourists from around the world had descended into the
cramped, rock-cut tomb some 26 feet underground to pay their respects. They gazed at the
murals on the walls of the burial chamber and peered at Tut’s gilded face, the most striking
feature of his mummy-shaped outer coffin lid.”

i. To whom/what the tourists had the tourists come to respect to? 1

a) Tomb of Tut
b) mummy of tut
c) treasures in Tut's tomb
d) main coffin of Tut
ii. What does the word 'murals' depict in the passage? 1
a) mummified body of Tut
b) treasures of the tomb
c) artwork on the coffin lid
d) artwork on the walls of the tomb
iii. Where was Tut's gilded face? 1
a) on the burial chamber walls
b) under the ground
c) coffin lid
d) on the murals
OR

B. When I decided to go abroad for further studies, I was sure my grandmother would be upset. I
would be away for five years, and at her age one could never tell. But my grandmother could.
She was not even sentimental. She came to leave me at the railway station but did not talk or
show any emotion. Her lips moved in prayer, her mind was lost in prayer.

i. What is meant by the phrase one could never tell? 1

a) author did not want to tell about his destination
b) author did not want to leave his grandmother
c) author was afraid his grandmother
d) author feared his grandmother may die before his return

ii. Which word in the extract is synonym of higher? 1

a) further b) upset
c) emotional d) even

iii. Why did author think that his grandmother would be upset? 1
a) he was going abroad
b) he was going broke
c) he was going away for five years
d) he was going for higher studies

12. Read the extract and answer any ONE out of the choices given. (4*1=4)

A. Still kneeling, Andrew stared at the child with a haggard frown. The whiteness meant only one
 thing: asphyxia, pallida, and his mind, unnaturally tense, raced back to a case he once had seen
in the Samaritan, to the treatment that had been used. Instantly he was on his feet. "Get me hot
water and cold water," he threw out to the nurse. "And basins too. Quick! Quick!" "But,
Doctor-" she faltered, her eyes on the pallid body of the child.

i. What instructions did Andrew give to the nurse? How did the doctor try to revive the child?
ii. When the doctor instructed the nurse why did she hesitantly say, "But, Doctor-" in the
extract provided? This is so, because she ________.
a. was sure about the treatment.
b. thought the efforts were useless.
c. did not trust the doctor.
d. was in utter amazement.
iii. The analogy of whiteness of the child is an appropriate analogy for a case in Samaritan
because ________.
iv. Give one reason why the medical condition mentioned in the extract can be considered true
in the case

B. The address was correct but now I didn't want to remember it anymore. I wouldn't go back
there because the objects that are linked in your memory with the familiar life of former times
instantly lose their value when, severed from them, you see them again in strange surroundings.
And what should I have done with them in a small rented room where the shreds of black-out
paper still hung along the windows and no more than a handful of cutleries fitted into the
narrow table drawer?
i. Who lives at the "address"? 1
(a) The narrator
(b) Mrs. Dorling
(c) The narrator's mother
(d) Both (a) and (b)
ii. What kind of emotions are filled in the narrator's heart at this time? 1
(a) She's ecstatic upon finding her mother's belongings
(b) She's sad and feeling betrayed by Mrs. Dorling
(c) She's full of gratitude for Mrs. Dorling for taking care of her mother's belongings
(d) All of the above
iii. Which word from the paragraph which means the same as "small pieces"? 1
(a) Severed
(b) Cutlery
(c) Instantly
(d) Shreds
iv. Why did the narrator not want the things belonging to her mother anymore? 1
(a) The things had lost their value for her
(b) The things were broken
(c) The things did not look beautiful
(d) The things were being used by Mrs. Dorling

13. Answer any TWO of the following questions in about 40-50 words: (2*3=6
marks)
i. The three stanzas in the poem "The Photograph' depict three different phases. What are they?
ii. How did Sue make her father laugh when the situation was almost hopeless?
iii. Gangdhar pant read through the account avidly. Which account is referred to here? Why did he
read it avidly?

14. Answer any ONE of these questions in about 40 – 50 words: (1*3=3marks)

i. Draw a comparison between village school education and city school education.
ii. Why was Aram delighted and frightened at the same time when he saw his cousin Mourad on a
beautiful white horse?
 15. Answer ONE of the following in about 120 -150 words: (1*6=6 marks)
i. You neither travelled to the past nor the future. You were in the present experiencing a
different world. Briefly explain in the context of the plot, The Adventure.
ii. Both wry with the laboured ease of loss. The poet Shirley Toulson is missing her mother. What
is the role of the mother in forming the personality of a child?
16. Answer Any ONE question in 120-150 words: (1*6=6 marks)
i. It is not easy to let off past memories and possessions;Do you agree on the basis of “The
Address”? Imagine yourself to be the daughter and write a diary entry sharing your emotions and
experience .You may write what you have learnt in the process of searching for material
possessions ? How it has helped you grow?
ii. How are Andrew’s emotional, mental, and physical states different from each other?
(Birth)