ENGLISH SUGGESTION 2022
(WBCHSE)
CLASS –XII SUBJECT- ENGLISH B
ENGLISH (Group-B) (New Syllabus)
Part-A (Marks: 60)
PROSE
1. Answer any two of the following questions, each in about 100 words: 6x2=12
The Eyes Have It
1. “She would forget our brief encounter"-Who said this and about whom? What is the 'brief encounter' referred to here? Why did the speaker think so? [ কে কার বিষয়ে একথা বলেছে? 'Brief encounter' বলতে এখানে কী বোঝান হয়েছে? কেন বক্তা এ কথা বলেছেন? [1+1+2+2]
Ans. The narrator in Ruskin Bond's short story 'The Eyes Have It' said this about the girl with whom he was travelling.
The 'brief encounter' refers to the light-hearted conversation between the narrator and the girl in the train.
The speaker was very impressed by the melodious voice of the girl. He longed for the company of the girl till the end of his journey, but when he came to learn that the girl would get down at Saharanpur, he was very upset. The girl's appearance made a deep impression on his mind. Simultaneously he assumed in his mind that this short interview would be taken lightly by the girl and would soon be erased from her mind.]
(2) “I am tired of people telling me I have a pretty face."
Who said this, to whom and when? What did the person spoken to reply?
Ans: The girl said this to the narrator.
During the conversation when the narrator remarked that the girl's face was an interesting one, the girl accepted this compliment sarcastically and made the above comment.
The blind narrator was not sure whether the girl had a pretty face and mended his comment by saying that an interesting face could also be a pretty face which the girl apparently took cordially.
(3) “Then I made a mistake” – What was the mistake? Who made the mistake and why?
Ans:-The short story “The Eyes Have It”, written by Ruskin Bond is a beautiful story. The narrator asked the girl “what did she see outside the window ?” It was the mistake of the narrator.
The narrator and the girl were discussing the beauty of Mussoorie in October. The girl remained silence for a moment. Just of that time, he threw that the girl perhaps was thinking him a romantic fool. So he asked the wrong question to change the topic. He was always cautious about not revealing his blindness to her. He doubted that his wrong question might reveal the fact to the girl.
(4) “She had a beautiful eyes but they were of no use to her” – Whose eyes are referred to here? Why were the eyes ‘of no use’ to her? Explain the irony of situation.
Ans:-The eyes of the narrator’s co-passenger is referred to here. The eyes were not useful to her because she was completely blind.
From the start of the journey the narrator pretended to the girl that he was not blind. But when he asked the second co-passenger if the girl had kept her hair short or long, the man replied that he did not notice the girl’s hair. He only noticed the beautiful eyes of the girl which were of no use to her as she was completely blind. The irony of the situation is that the narrator was trying to hide his blindness from the girl who was also blind.
(5) “She was an interesting girl,” I said, “Can you tell me – did she kept her hair long or short ?” Who asked the question and to whom ? Why did he ask this question ?
Ans:-The narrator of the story “The Eyes Have It” asked this question to the new passenger.
The girl, co-traveller of the narrator got down from the train at Saharanpur Station. He realised that he was charmed by the girl very much. He wondered if she had kept her hair in bun or it was plaited or it was kept loose. It should be short. The narrator was lost in dream. The girl was standing close to him. The perfume from her hair was tantalising. He wanted to raise his hand and touch her hair. She moved away. Only the perfume lingered where she stood. The narrator stood lost in dream.
(6) “The man who had entered the compartment broke into my reverie.”
What was the reverie ? How was the reverie broken and who broke ?
Ans:-The short story “The Eyes Have It” written by Ruskin bond is a beautiful story. The narrator was travelling in a train. A girl boarded the train from Rohana Station. Both these two passengers were blind. The girl’s voice moved the narrator deeply. He could not notice her face. He apprehended that the girl was beautiful. Her voice was the sparkle of a mountain stream. After the departure at Saharanpur Station, the narrator returned to his own seat. The train started again. The song of the moving wheels began. The narrator sat beside the window. He looked outside and thought the bright daylight. But it was complete darkness for him. He was guessing about what was going outside the window. It was his reverie.
A new fellow traveller entered into his compartment. He apologised to the narrator for not being an attractive as the girl. This voice broke the narrator’s reverie.
THREE QUESTIONS
(1) How did the enemy of the king become friend with the king in Leo Tolstoy’ “The Three Questions”?
ANS: The Tsar came to the woods to meet the hermit. All day long he worked for him. In the evening he met a bearded man. the man was in a serious condition. He had a large wound in the stomach. The Tsar bandaged his wound. The man was saved. He fell asleep. The next day, the man told the Tsar to forgive him. The Tsar learnt that he had actually saved the life of his enemy who had given up all anger and wanted to serve him. The Tsar was very happy. He promised to give back his property. He wanted to send his doctors and servants for the man's treatment and service. Thus the enemy of the Tsar became friend with the Tsar.
(2) What were the questions that had occurred to the Tsar? Why did he need correct answer to those questions? What did he do when he was not satisfied with the answers of the learned man?
ANS . Once three questions had occurred to the Tsar . The first question was to know the right time to begin everything . The second question was who were the right people to listen to and whom to avoid . The third question was what was the most important thing to do.
He needed correct answers to those questions because in that case he would never fail in anything he might undertake.
* When the Tsar was not satisfied with the answers of the learned men , he decided to consult a hermit living in the wood, who was widely famous for his wisdom. He disguised himself by wearing simple clothes, left his bodyguard behind and went alone to visit the hermit .
(3) "You have already been answered!"-- Do you agree with the hermit's answers? How did the hermit explain the answers to the questions asked by the Tsar?
Or,
Do you agree with the hermit’s answers to the Tsar’s three questions? Give reason for your answer.
Ans: Yes, I agree with the hermit's answers.
* The hermit answered to the questions of the Tsar through the direct experiences. Firstly, the hermit explained that the present time was the most important time. As the Tsar was digging the hermit's beds, he could avoid the attack by his enemy . Secondly, the most important person happened to be the persons with whom the Tsar spent the present time. Accordingly, they were the hermit and the wounded man. Thirdly, the act of doing good to people was the most important business . The Tsar assisted the hermit first and then nursed the wounded man . And for that purpose a man was sent into this life .
STRONG ROOTS
(1) Describe the locality where A.P.J. Abdul Kalam lived in his childhood?
ANS. In his autobiographical narrative "Strong Roots", APJ Abdul Kalam has given a description of his locality. He was born in Rameshwaram, an island town. He lived in their ancestral house on the Mosque Street. Rameswaram was very famous to the pilgrims for the Shiva temple which was about ten minutes walk from their house. The locality was predominantly Muslim community. But a lot of Hindu families also lived there. The Hindu and Muslim families lived together amicably in his locality. In the locality, there was a very old mosque where his father would take him for evening prayers.
(2) What picture of communal harmony do you find in the extract from A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s autobiography?
ANS. In his autobiographical narrative "Strong Roots", APJ Abdul Kalam has given a description of his locality. He was born in Rameshwaram, an island town. He lived in their ancestral house on the Mosque Street. Rameswaram was very famous to the pilgrims for the Shiva temple which was about ten minutes walk from their house. The locality was predominantly Muslim community. But a lot of Hindu families also lived there. The Hindu and Muslim families lived together amicably in his locality. In the locality, there was a very old mosque where his father would take him for evening prayers.
(3) Why don't you say this to the people who come to you?"
---- Who said this and to whom? What is referred to by the word 'this'? Why do people come to the person spoken to? 1+1+3+1
Ans. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam said this to his father, Jainulabdeen.
* Here 'this' refers to Jainulabdeen's spiritual concept of man's existence on earth. According to him, there is nothing mysterious about prayer. While communicating the spiritual concept to Kalam Jainulabdeen told when troubles come, we should try to understand the relevance of our sufferings. We should remember that adversity always presents opportunities for introspection.
* People come to Dr. kalam's father Jainulabdeen for help and advice when they were in trouble.
(4) Whenever they are in trouble, they look for someone to help them." --- Who said this and to whom? Who are they referred to here? What does the speaker want to mean here?
Ans. Jainulabdeen said this to his son, Dr. APJ Abdul kalam.
*They are human beings who have fallen in the troubles of life. Or, Here 'they' refer to the people who get into trouble in life.
*Kalam's father could explain complex spiritual matters in very simple Tamil. Once he said to Kalam adversity always presents opportunities for introspection. Then Kalam asked why his father did not convey it to people who come to him for help and advice. While answering, Kalam's father said that no man can endure sufferings. Whenever people who are in trouble find themselves alone. They feel confused and depressed. Then they look for someone who can help them. They seek helpers who can show them the way to come out of the difficult situation. That is why people come to him.
POETRY
Answer any two of the following questions, each in about 100words: 6x2=12
1. " ....... and this gives life to thee." --- what does 'this' refer to? Who is referred to by 'thee'? How does 'this' give life? এখানে 'this' বলতে কী বোঝানো হয়েছে? 'thee' বলতে কাকে বোঝানো হয়েছে? কিভাবে 'this' জীবন দান করে?
Ans. Here 'this' refers to the sonnet No.18 composed by William Shakespeare.
In sonnet No. 18, 'thee' refers to the the poet's dear friend Mr. W.H., who is supposed to be the Earl of Southampton.
In sonnet No.18, Shakespeare wants to compare his dear friend to the beauty of a summer's day. He thinks that his friend is lovelier and more gentle than the summer. During summer, rough winds shake the darling buds of May. The sun shines brightly and sometimes goes behind the clouds. Finally the summer fades. But his dear friend enjoys eternal summer. So, the poet hesitates to compare his friend to a summer's day. He is sure that his friend will live forever through the eternal lines of his poetry.
(2) How does Shakespeare immortalize his friend’s beauty?
/Central Idea/Subject matter/Substance of the poem"Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer Day ?"
Answer : The poet, William Shakespeare praises the beauty of his beloved friend(Mr William Harbert). He admits that Summer is lovely and attractive. But his friend is lovelier and more temperate than summer. Violent winds shake the blooming flowers. So it is not permanent (transitory).Sometimes the sun goes too hot and clouds often dim the golden colour of the bright sun. As no fair things last long on earth, earthly beauty is subjected to change. But the beauty of his beloved friend is indestructible. So it will suffer no change or death.The poet knows well that his friend's youth(beauty) will live eternally through his poetry.
(3) Show, after Keats, that the poetry of earth never comes to an end Identify the voices of the poetry in the poem . / How does Keats establish continuity through the voice ?
Ans:-John Keats, the poet believes that that the poetry of earth will never end. It will live through the music of earth. In the summer, the music of nature is heard in the song of the grasshopper. It is carried by the shrill of the cricket in winter.
The birds faint in the hot summer days. They take rest in the cool shadow of trees. But music of summer cannot be stopped. The grasshopper takes the lead. The song of grasshopper runs from hedge to hedge. Being tired the grasshopper take rest beneath some pleasant weed. The cricket carries the music in winter. The song of the cricket introduces warmth in the forest. Thus Keats establishes that the music of nature can never be ceased.
(4) Central idea of the poem “Asleep in the Valley”./Justify the title of the poem ‘Asleep in the Valley’../How does the picture of the soldier describe the tragedy of war? Explain. Or, Describe the poet’s attitude towards war.
Ans:-Asleep in the Valley means sleeping in the valley. A very young soldier is lying on the ground of a valley open mouthed. He is lying with a gentle innocent smile. The poet thinks that the soldier is sleeping peacefully in the sunlight. The poet requests the insects not to disturb his sleep. He requests the nature to keep the solder worm, otherwise he may catch cold. Suddenly two red spots of the blood are noticed by the side of his body. This depicts that the soldier is already dead. His sleep is eternal and he will never wake again. Through this the poet Rimbaud evokes the futility of war. War only destroys young lives. So the title suggests the tragedy of the young soldier and the futility of war.
OR
Ans:-Asleep in the Valley is a war poem. The poet Arthur Rimbaud experienced the horror of war. In this poem a soldier is described as very young. He is lying asleep in a peaceful small valley. He is bathed in sunlight. The smiling face of the soldier indicates that he is innocent and pure. The sun is raining on him. Yet neither of these can awake him. At the end, we see the bullet marks on the side of his body. Symbolically Rimbaud tries to describe the tragedy of war. The soldier lies open mouthed. Death is countered by the growth and existence of bushes, flowers and plants. Thus the poem proclaims the futility of war. War only destroys young lives. So the poet’s anger about war is clear in the poem.
PLAY
Answer any one of the following questions in about 100 words: 6x1=6
a) Discuss the character of Natalya.
Ans:- In the play "The Proposal" Anton Chekhov has presented three characters. Natalya is one of them. She is a young unmarried girl of twenty five years. She is well educated, an excellent housekeeper and is not bad looking. But she is very quarrelsome and abusive by nature. She begins a bitter quarrel with Lomov over Oxen Meadows. She drives Lomov out. But when she learns that Lomov has come to propose to her, she forgets all her grievances. She begins to wail over her lost chance. She asks her father to call him back. She begs pardon of Lomov. She again starts quarreling with Lomov over the hunting dogs. Finally, when she gets married, she shows no sign of romance. Again, she starts quarreling. So she is a perfect match for Lomov.
b) Give brief sketch of character of Lomov in the play 'The proposal'.
Ans. In the play "The Proposal", Anton Chekhov has presented three characters. Chubukov is one of them. He is an old landowner and the father of grown-up daughter Natalya. He is concerned about his daughter's marriage. He is delighted when Lomov comes with a proposal to marry Natalya. But he takes his daughter's side in the argument over Oxen Meadows and their hunting dogs. Together with his daughter, he insults, abuses and drives Lomov out of their house. But he brings him back as he does not want to lose Lomov as his son in-law. He curses his own fate as to how he will get Natalia married with Lomov. Eventually when Lomov faints, he plays a trick on them to get them married. Thus Chubukov is relieved of his social liability as a father.
(c) "Oh, what a burden, Lord, to be the father of a grown-up daughter" - Who is the speaker here? Why does the speaker call it 'a burden' to be the father of a grown-up daughter?
Ans. Chubukov is the speaker here.
Chubukov is the old father of a marriageable daughter, Natalya. He feels the pressure of society to get his daughter married. But he is always puzzled by the whimsical mood of his daughter. When Lomov comes with a marriage proposal, Chubukov is greatly pleased. But Natalya is engaged in a bitter quarrel with Lomov. She drive Lomov out from their house. But when she comes to know about Lomov's proposal, she asks her father to call him back. Chubukov goes to call him back being an affectionate father. But it seems disrespectful to him. This uncertain behaviour of Natalya is unbearable to him. So he calls 'a burden' to be the father of a grown-up daughter.
(d) Is Chubucov a sensible father? How do you know?
(e) Make a brief sketch of social life as you see in the play. OR What aspect of the human condition and society does the play make fun of?
(f) "Chubukov says of Natalia, " as if she won't consent she's in love; egad, she is like a lovesick cat..." Would you agree? fined reason for your answer.
(g) Give the reason why the marriage is important to all the characters.
GRAMMAR (10arks)
(a) Do as directed : 1 x6=6
(i) " Eat some more, son," She said. (Turned into indirect speech)
Ans. She said politely to eat some more.
(ii) The carriage wheels changed their sound and rhythm.(Change the Voice)
Ans.Their Sound and rhythm were changed by the carriage wheels.
(ii) She was silent ( Rewrite as a negative sentence)
Ans. She was not talking.
(iv) One of the most vivid memories of my early childhood is of the two men. (Change into positive degree).
Ans: Very few memories of my early childhood are as vivid as of the two men.
(v) Why don't you say this to the people who come to you for help and advice? [Split into two simple sentences]
Ans. (a) People come to you for help and advice (b) Why don't you say this to them?
(vi) A man, getting into the compartment, stammered an apology. [Turn into a compound sentences )
Ans. A man got into the compartment and stammered an apology.
(b) Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles/or prepositionns: 1x6=6
Others declared that it was impossiblee- (i)- decide beforehand -(ii)-right time--(iii)--every action; but that, not letting oneself be absorbed--(iv)--- idle pastimes, one shouid always attend--(v)--all that was going---(vi)
And: to, the, for, in, to, on
(c) Correct the error in the following sentence by rep word with one from the options given below. 1x1=1
My father could convey complex spiritual conceives in very simple down- to-earth Tamil.
Options: conceptions, conceptual, concepts
Ans: concepts.
Examinees are requested to practice from TEST PAPERS carefully.
5. UNSEEN (10 Marks)
State whether the following statements are’ True’ or ‘False’. Write T for True and F for False 1x4=4
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
Answer each of the following in about 30 words : 2x3=6
(i) (ii) (iii)
Examinees are requested to practice fromTEST PAPERS carefully.
6. (a) REPORT WRITING: 10 Marks
write a report within 150 words on an educational tour to Digha conducted by the Sub-committee of your school.
Write a report within 150 words about the Tree Plantation Programme organized by your school.
Write -- - -- --- --- --- --- -- on Blood Donation Camp organized by your school.
Write a -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- for the annual magazine of your school.
Recently your school organized a cleaning drive in the immediate vicinity of the school. The students and all staffs of the school participated in the programme. Write a report on the event in about 150 words.
Write a report on a Book Fair in your district.
Write a report for the newspaper about a street accident.
Write a report on prize giving ceremony of your school.
Write a report on Teachers’ Day-5th September.
Annual Sports report on school magazine, Magic Show organized by the school, , Farewell function of a respected teacher, Swach Bharat Aviyan, Safe Drive Save Life Campaign,
OR
(b) LETTER WRITING: 10 Marks
You are Kamal Das of Gangarampur High school. On behalf of the school, you have purchased a cricket set from ABC Sports CO. Ltd. Some of the equipments are found defective. Write a letter within 150 words to the company asking for replacement or refund.
Write a letter to a publisher requesting him to send you a bulk of books for your school library in 150 words.
Write a letter to the Head Master of your school to by some reference books for your school library.
Write a letter to the officer-in charge of your local police station reporting that you have lost your bi-cycle. In your letter you will mention the date and time of the loss, the place where from it was lost, brand name and description of the bi-cycle.
Suppose you have lost your Madhyamik Admit Card. Now write an application to the deputy Secretary of W.B.B.S.E. for duplicate Certificate.
Write an application for the Branch Manager of a Bank for loan.
Suppose you have lost your Madhyamik Admit Card. Lodge an FIR with the local police station.
Write an application for the post of office-assistance in a business firm.
Write a letter to the store manager, requesting for repair of the TV Set / complain about the bad quality goods you purchased from their shop/inquiry of some goods price.
Delay of Postal Delivery, Missing of Mobile Phone, Missing of Library Card, Requesting Loan for a new business, bad conditions of roads.
Write a letter to Editor of a newspaper about-- the high price of every essential commodities / reckless driving/ eve-teasing.
OR
(C) PRECIS WRITING:
10 Marks
HOW TO WRITE A PRECIS
To write a PRECIS students are directed to follow the instructions given below.
Read the passage attentively.
Choose a title from the key sentence of the passage.
Note the important points of the passage.
Make the PRECIS within one third of the given words.
Do not add any personal comment which is not included in the passage.
Do not use idiomatic or ornamental expression.
Avoid any repetitions.
Do not use direct speech and quotations.
Do not write 1st person or 2ndperson.
Do not write ditto words from the given passage.
