AHSEC Class 12 English Solved Question Paper 2022 [AHSEC Class 12 Solved Question Papers]

English Solved Question Paper 2022
AHSEC Class 12 Solved Question Papers English

Full Marks: 100

Pass Marks: 30

Time: Three Hours

The figures in the margin indicate full marks for the questions.

SECTION – A (Reading Skill:10 Marks)

1. Read the following passage carefully:

People travelling long distances frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land, sea or air. Hardly anyone can positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than a few hours. Train compartments soon get cramped and stuffy. It is almost impossible to take your mind off the journey. Reading is only a partial solution, for the monotonous rhythm of the wheels clicking on the rails soon lulls you to sleep. During the day, sleep comes in snatches. At night when you really wish to go to sleep, you rarely manage to do so. If you are lucky enough to get a couchette, you spend half the night staring at the small blue light in the ceiling, or fumbling to find your passport when you cross a frontier. Inevitably you arrive at your destination almost exhausted.

Long car journeys are even less pleasant, for it is quite impossible even to read. On motor-ways you can at least travel fairly safely at high speeds, but more often than not, the greater part of the journey is spent on narrow, bumpy roads which are crowded with traffic. By comparison, trips by sea offer a great variety of civilized comforts. You can stretch your legs on the spacious decks, play games, swim, meet interesting people and enjoy good food – always assuming, of course, that the sea is calm. If it is not, and you are likely to get sea-sick, no form of transport could be worse. Even if you travel in ideal weather, sea-journeys take a long time. Relatively few people are prepared to sacrifice up to a third of their holidays for the pleasure of travelling on a ship.

Aeroplanes have the reputation of being dangerous and even hardened travelers are intimidated by them. They also have the grave disadvantage of being the most expensive form of transport. But nothing can match them for speed and comfort. Travelling at a height of 30,000 feet, far above the clouds, and at over 500 miles an hour is an exhilarating experience. You do not have to devise ways of taking your mind off the journey, for an aeroplane gets you to your destination rapidly. For a few hours, you settle back in a deep armchair to enjoy the flight. The real escapist can watch a free film show and sip a not or could drink on some services. But even when such refreshments are not available, there is plenty to keep you occupied. An aeroplane offers you an unusual breathtaking view of the world. You soar effortlessly over high mountains and deep valleys. You really see the shape of the land. If the landscape is hidden from view, you can enjoy the extraordinary sight of unbroken clouds, plains that stretch out for miles before you, while the sun shines brilliantly in a clear sky. The journey is so smooth that there is nothing to prevent you from reading or sleeping. However, you decide to spend your time, one thing is certain; you will arrive at your destination fresh and uncrumpled. You will not have to spend the next few days recovering from a long and arduous journey.

On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions:

a) Write two reasons for the difficulty of reading on a train in long distance travelling.      2

Ans: The two reasons for the difficulty of reading on a train are:

- The monotonous rhythm of the wheels clicking on the rails soon lulls you to sleep.

- Train compartments soon get cramped and stuffy, making it hard to concentrate.

b) What are the two disadvantages of travelling by sea? 2

Ans: The two disadvantages of travelling by sea are:

- If the sea is not calm, a traveler is likely to get sea-sick, which makes it a terrible form of transport.

- Sea-journeys take a long time, and relatively few people are prepared to sacrifice up to a third of their holidays for the travel itself.

c) Write two disadvantages of travelling by air.   2

Ans: The two disadvantages of travelling by air are:

- Aeroplanes have the reputation of being dangerous, which can intimidate even hardened travelers.

- They have the grave disadvantage of being the most expensive form of transport.

d) Why does the writer dislike long car journeys?              2

Ans: The writer dislikes long car journeys because:

- It is quite impossible even to read.

- Often, the greater part of the journey is spent on narrow, bumpy roads which are crowded with traffic, rather than safe, high-speed motor-ways.

e) Find a word in the passage which means “lacking fresh air or ventilation”.         1

Ans: stuffy

f) Give an antonym of “narrow”.  1

Ans: The antonym of "narrow" used in the passage is spacious

SECTION – B (Advanced Writing Skills: 25 Marks)

2. You are Arnab/Anamika, President of the Students’ Union of your college. Your college is organizing an “Inter-College Song and Dance Competition” in the next month. Write a notice for the college notice board giving all the details of the event. (Word Limit: 50 words) 5

Ans:      

Or

Design a poster in not more than 50 words to create awareness about the safety measures to be taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.      5

3. Your school has recently organized a function to felicitate Lovlina Borgohain, the Olympic bronze medalist. Prepare a report on that event in 100-125 words to be published in your school magazine.           10

Ans:

Or

Your state government had banned the use of plastic bags. You are Ranjit/Ranjita, a reporter of ‘The Assam Tribune’. Write a report in 100-125 words on how the ban is being ignored and what damage the indiscriminate use of plastic bags is causing to the environment.        10

Ans:

4. You are Navanil/Navanita. You have seen an advertisement in a newspaper for a post of a Computer assistant in the local post-office. Write an application, along with your detailed resume, to the Post-Master in response to the advertisement applying for the post.      10

Ans: H. No. 14, College Road

Jorhat, Assam

December 14, 2025

The Post Master

Local Post Office

Jorhat, Assam

Subject: Application for the post of Computer Assistant.

Sir,

This is in response to your advertisement published in The Assam Tribune dated December 10, 2025, regarding the vacancy for the post of a Computer Assistant in your local post office. I wish to apply for the same post.

I possess the necessary technical qualifications and relevant experience required for the position. I am proficient in data entry, MS Office Suite, Tally, and possess excellent typing speed. I am dedicated, organized, and believe my skills are well-suited to handle the administrative and technical responsibilities of the role efficiently.

For your kind consideration regarding my suitability, I have enclosed my detailed Bio-Data. I assure you that I shall discharge my duties with utmost sincerity and diligence if given the opportunity. I am available for an interview on any day at your convenience.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Navanil / Navanita

ENCLOSURES:

1. Bio-Data

2. Testimonials

BIO-DATA

NAME		Navanil / Navanita
FATHER'S NAME		Mr. R. K. Barua
ADDRESS		H. No. 14, College Road, Jorhat, Assam
CONTACT NO.		9876XXXXXX
EMAIL ID		navanita.x@email.com
DATE OF BIRTH		12 March 1999
NATIONALITY		Indian
MARITAL STATUS		Unmarried
GENDER		Male / Female
Academic Qualifications
EXAMINATION			BOARD/UNIVERSITY	INSTITUTE		YEAR		PERCENTAGE
Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Application (PGDCA)			Guwahati University	ABC Institute of Technology		2021		78%
B.Sc. (Physics Hons.)			Dibrugarh University	Jorhat Science College		2020		65%
H.S. (Science)			AHSEC	XYZ High School		2017		82%
H.S.L.C.			SEBA	PQR Academy		2015		88%
Work Experience
ORGANISATION					POSITION HELD		FROM			TO
City Data Solutions, Jorhat					Data Entry Operator		Jan 2022			Present
(Responsibilities included database management and documentation.)
Skills and Proficiency
Computer Skills	MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Tally ERP, Internet Applications.
Typing Speed	45 WPM (English)
Languages Known	Assamese, English, Hindi, Bengali.

Declaration: I hereby declare that the above-furnished information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: December 14, 2025

Place: Jorhat

(Signature)

Navanil / Navanita

Or

You are Selim/Surabhi. Write a letter to the Editor of ‘The Sentinel’ drawing the attention of the authorities to the frequent violation of traffic rules in your locality. 10

Ans: Duliajan, Assam

December 14, 2022

To

The Editor

The Sentinel Guwahati – 781003

Subject: Drawing attention to frequent violation of traffic rules in Duliajan locality.

Sir,

Kindly allow me to utilize the columns of your esteemed newspaper to draw the attention of the concerned Traffic Police and District Administration authorities to the persistent and frequent violation of traffic rules in the Duliajan area.

Our locality is witnessing alarming levels of negligence by motorists, particularly concerning two-wheelers and commercial vehicles. Common violations include: jumping red lights, riding without helmets, triple riding, and reckless over-speeding, especially near school zones and crowded market areas. These reckless actions not only cause daily traffic snarls but also pose a severe threat to pedestrians, especially children and senior citizens. The lack of strict enforcement has emboldened offenders, leading to a palpable increase in near-miss accidents.

I appeal to the concerned authorities to take immediate and stringent measures. This includes increasing the presence of traffic police, imposing heavier fines, and launching public awareness campaigns to ensure that traffic rules are strictly adhered to, thus prioritizing public safety.

Thanking you,

Yours truly,

Selim / Surabhi

(Resident, Duliajan)

SECTION – C (Grammar: 20 Marks)

5. Change the form of the narration (any two): 2x2 = 4

(a) “Why aren’t you wearing shoes?” the teacher asks the girl. “My mother did not bring them down from the shelf,” she answers simply.

Ans: The teacher asks the girl why she is not wearing shoes. She answers simply that her mother did not bring them down from the shelf.

(b) I asked my friend why he looked so sad. He replied that his father was seriously ill and there was little hope for his recovery.

Ans: I said to my friend, “Why do you look so sad?” He said, “My father is seriously ill. There is little hope for his recovery.”

(c) My friend said to me, “I am very thirsty. Please give me a glass of water.”

Ans: My friend told me that he was very thirsty and requested me to give him a glass of water.

(d) Reena asked the boy what the matter was and why he was crying. She also advised him to be cheerful.

Ans: Reena said to the boy, “What is the matter and why are you crying?” She said, “Be cheerful.”

6. Change the voice of any three: 1x3 = 3

(a) He bought his son a watch.

Ans: A watch was bought for his son by him.

(b) The girl was punished for misconduct.

Ans: Someone punished the girl for misconduct.

(c) Why did no one inform me of the change of plan?

Ans: Why was I not informed of the change of plan?

(d) The blind man was being led by a little boy.

Ans: A little boy was leading the blind man.

(e) The coach is training the players.

Ans: The players are being trained by the coach.

(f) Drive the car slowly.

Ans: Let the car be driven slowly.

(g) He will be forgotten in a few days.

Ans: People will forget him in a few days.

7. Use the correct form of verbs (any five): 1x5 = 5

(a) She (talk) to her neighbour when the baby began to cry.

Ans: She was talking to her neighbour when the baby began to cry.

(b) I (see) him a week ago.

Ans: I saw him a week ago.

(c) If you (try), you would have succeeded.

Ans: If you had tried, you would have succeeded.

(d) We reached the station after the train (leave).

Ans: We reached the station after the train had left.

(e) He (make) a doll now.

Ans: He is making a doll now.

(f) I wish I (were) a bird.

Ans: I wish I were a bird.

(g) I (do) a lot of work today.

Ans: I have done a lot of work today.

(h) She (come) here the day after tomorrow.

Ans: She will come here the day after tomorrow.

(i) She (read) the novel for the last three days.

Ans: She has been reading the novel for the last three days.

8. Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions (any four): 1x4 = 4

(a) I am very much interested _______ your story.

Ans: I am very much interested in your story.

(b) The police ran _______ the thief.

Ans: The police ran after the thief.

(c) He has no money _______ him.

Ans: He has no money with him.

(d) She takes pride _______ her wealth.

Ans: She takes pride in her wealth.

(e) I wonder if you could get it done _______ tomorrow.

Ans: I wonder if you could get it done by tomorrow.

(f) Cut the rope _______ a knife.

Ans: Cut the rope with a knife.

(g) India is rich _______ minerals.

Ans: India is rich in minerals.

(h) One must abide _______ one’s promise.

Ans: One must abide by one’s promise.

9. Rewrite the sentences as directed (any four): 1x4 = 4

(a) Is this the kind of dress to wear in school? (Make it an assertive sentence)

Ans: This is not the kind of dress to wear in school.

(b) He worked hard to pass the examination. (Make it a complex sentence)

Ans: He worked hard so that he could pass the examination.

(c) Kindly do me a favour _______. (Add a question tag)

Ans: Kindly do me a favour, won’t you?

(d) Atul is the best boy in the class. (Change it into positive degree)

Ans: No other boy in the class is as good as Atul.

(e) I shall remember your kindness forever. (Make it negative without changing the meaning)

Ans: I shall never forget your kindness.

(f) Everyone wishes to be happy. (Make it interrogative)

Ans: Who does not wish to be happy?

(g) On seeing the lion, he ran away. (Make it a compound sentence)

Ans: He saw the lion and ran away.

SECTION – D (Text books: 45 Marks)

10. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:

a) “Those who prepare green wars,

wars with gas, wars with fire,

victory with no survivors,

would put on clean clothes

and walk about with their brothers

in the shade, doing nothing.”

Questions:

1. What are the different kinds of wars mentioned by the poet in the passage?    1

Ans: The different kinds of war mentioned by the poet are- green wars, war with gases and war with fire.

2. What kind of victory do they achieve?                               1

Ans: They achieve victory with no survivors left.

3. What should the warmongers do?       1

Ans: The warmongers should walk about with their brothers in the shade, doing nothing.

4. Find words in the passage that mean “those left alive” and “win”.                         1

Ans: Ans: those left alive- survivors

Win- victory.

Or

(b) “The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts.

At having the landscape marred with the artless paint

Of sings that with N turned wrong and S Turned wrong

Offered for sell wild berries in wooden quarts,

Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,

Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,

You have the money, but if you want to be

Mean, why keep your money (this crossly) and go along.”

Questions:

1. How did the traffic pass?         1

Ans. The traffic passed by the roadside stand without stopping there.

2. Why did one turn out of sorts?              1

Ans. The sight of the clumsy paint with which the building was painted spoiled the landscape. It irritated a person who stopped there.

3. What are the two things that were sold in that stand? 1

Ans. Wild berries and golden squash.

4. What should one do if one wants to be mean? 1

Ans: Ans. One should keep one’s money and move ahead.

11. Answer any three of the following questions in 30-40 words: 2x3=6

a) Describe the things that cause suffering and pain mentioned by Keats in ‘A Thing of Beauty’.

Ans. In the poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’, John Keats mentions a few things that cause pain and suffering to human beings. These are despondence, the inhuman dearth of noble natures, gloom, ill-health and dark spirits. They are like a cover of sadness over our lives. In the course of life on earth, there are a few gloomy things which cast a spell of darkness in our lives. Despondence is the feeling of gloomy and sorrow, a state of being without hope. This weighs us down and leaves us with a negative outlook.

b) What childhood fear did Kamala Das refer to in her poem? How did she hide it?

Ans: The childhood fear that Kamala Das refers to in her poem is the "familiar ache" of separation or the fear of losing her mother due to old age and impending death. This fear of separation and attachment to her mother, experienced since her childhood, revisits her when she sees her mother's frail, aged face at the airport.

She tried to hide this fear by immediately diverting her attention from the painful reality of her mother’s decline. She looked away from her mother's face and consciously shifted her gaze outside the car towards the young trees sprinting and the merry children spilling out of their homes.

c) What is the significance of the parting words of the speaker and her smile in ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six?

Ans: The poet's parting words ‘see you soon Amma' signify hope and assurance, not only to her but to her mother also that they will meet again. Her smiles are a deliberate attempt to hide her real feelings and to overcome the ache and fear inside her heart.

d) What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’?

Ans. The sadness that Neruda talks about in ‘Keeping Quiet’ is the sorrow of not understanding ourselves. We go about life rather mechanically without knowing what we like or what we want to do. We are immensely busy in achieving materialistic things which ultimately leads to sadness. We can understand ourselves only if we stop all our actives for moments and do some quiet introspection.

e) According to Pablo Neruda, what important lesson can the Earth teach us?

Ans. We can learn certain lessons from the earth. There is a period of hibernation and inactivity, after which there is revival and activity. During winter, nature appears to be sleeping and at rest. This stillness of winter gives way to the bloom of spring, where nature is rejuvenated after a period of rest. The earth is never dead when everything seems to be dead, it remains still alive.  Similarly, we must keep quiet and introspect in order to lead more meaningful and fulfilling lives.

f) Why do the people who are running the roadside stand ask for some city money?

Ans: Ans. The people who are running the roadside stand wish that the cash rich city people may patronize and oblige them. With that money they can also bring some changes and betterment in their lives. Only some city money can change their lives.

g) What increases continuously in ‘A Thing of Beauty’?

Ans.  Keats, in his poem, 'A Thing of Beauty' says that a beautiful thing is a source of joy forever. Its loveliness only increases with time, instead of diminishing. It grows in its charm and continues to captivate the beholders (observer), giving them a lot of happiness.

12. Answer any five of the following questions:                1x5=5

(a) How long did M. Hamel teach in his school?

Ans: M. Hamel had been teaching at the school for forty years.

(b) Where does Mukesh live?

Ans: Mukesh lives in Firozabad.

(c) What does Saheb look for in the garbage dumps?

Ans: Saheb looks for items of value, such as coins, currency notes, or anything that can be sold for money, in the garbage dumps.

(d) Whom did Gandhi and Shukla want to meet in Patna?

Ans: Gandhi and Shukla wanted to meet the lawyer Rajendra Prasad in Patna.

(e) Who is Derek?

Ans: Derek is Geoff's younger brother.

(f) What does Sophie want to have when she grows up?

Ans: Sophie wants to have a boutique when she grows up, or become an actress or a fashion designer.

(g) Name the book from where the chapter ‘Memories of a Chota Sahib’ has been taken.

Ans: The lesson is an excerpt from the book, ‘A Chota Sahib: Memoirs of a Forest Officer', by John Rowntree.

(h) Why did Gandhi visit Lucknow in 1916?

Ans: Gandhi visited Lucknow in 1916 to attend the annual convention of the Indian National Congress party.

(i) What is the name of the blacksmith in ‘The Last Lesson’?

Ans. The name of the blacksmith in “The Last Lesson” is Wachter.

(j) What is the “great trouble with Alsace”?

Ans: The great trouble with Alsace is that its people constantly put off learning until tomorrow, allowing others to question their Frenchness.

13. Answer any five in 30-40 words:       2x5=10

(a) What lesson do you learn from the story ‘The Last Lesson’?

Ans: The core lesson is the irreversible loss caused by procrastination. The story teaches us to value our language and culture as the key to identity and freedom. We must never delay learning, as time and opportunity, once lost, cannot be recovered.

(b) What kind of person was Geoff?

Ans. Geoff is a quiet person. He is tall and handsome. He is responsible and works as an apprentice mechanic.

(c) Why did Jansie feel sad hearing about Sophie’s dream?

Ans: Jansie felt sad because she was realistic and knew that Sophie's elaborate dreams like owning a boutique or meeting Danny Casey were impossible fantasies. Jansie worried that Sophie's impractical dreaming would cause disappointment, as they were both destined to work in the biscuit factory after leaving school.

(d) Why was Gandhi impressed with Shukla?

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was a poor peasant from Champaran. He met Gandhi and requested him to visit his district to address the problem faced by the sharecroppers, working on the estates of the British landlords. Gandhi refused to go as he had appointments in other parts of the country. Shukla was resolute and refused to take no for an answer. He followed Gandhi everywhere for weeks. Gandhi was impressed by Shukla’s persistence and agreed to go with him on a particular date in the future.

(e) Why was Professor Malkani’s action of offering shelter to Gandhi ‘extraordinary’?

Ans. Professor Malkani’s action of offering shelter to Gandhi was extraordinary because in smaller localities, Indians were afraid of the Britishers and they hesitated to show sympathy for people like Gandhi who advocated Indian rule.

(f) Who was John Rowntree?

Ans. John Rowntree was the last British senior conservator of the forests of Assam. After India became independent, he left Shillong with his family and returned to England and took up work as a journalist and media commentator.

(g) What character of the North bank of the Brahmaputra did John Rowntree refer to?

Ans: The characteristic John Rowntree referred to regarding the North Bank of the Brahmaputra was its wilderness and its remoteness from civilization. He noted that the North Bank was largely undeveloped and uncivilized, with large areas of undisturbed jungle and plains, where the wildlife, especially the mahseer fish, flourished.

(h) Was sahib happy with his job at the tea stall?

Ans: Saheb has a job at the tea stall down the road for which he is paid 800 rupees and given all his meals. He does not look happy. His face has lost the carefree look that it used to have before. The light plastic bag he used to carry earlier is replaced by the heavy steel canister, which seems heavier than the plastic bag. He is no longer his own master and has lost the freedom to roam about with his army of barefoot boys.

(i) What would Franz love to do on that sunny morning instead of going to school?

Ans. Franz would have loved to spend the day out of doors instead of going to school. The day was warm and bright, with birds chirping at the edge of the woods and Prussian soldiers drilling in the open field behind the sawmill. All these things were tempting Franz more than going to school.

14. Answer any one of the following questions in 80-100 words:               5x1=5

(a) Describe the bangle makers of Firozabad. How does the vicious circle of the Sahukars, the middlemen never allow them to come out of their poverty?

Ans. The bangle makers of Firozabad are oppressed by many people. They are exploited by sahukars and middlemen in the name of caste. They do not have enough money to meet any of their needs. The money only permits them to carry on their business of bangle making. In most of the homes, there is not enough food to eat. An elderly woman lamented that she had not enjoyed even one full meal in her entire life. This is a cry echoed by most of the bangle makers and their families. The young men are in the vicious grip of the middlemen who trapped their fathers and forefathers before them. The middlemen and sahukars see to it that the bangle makers are not able to rise above the burden of caste and the web of poverty. The bangle makers could not organise themselves into a cooperative as they would be beaten up by the police and dragged to jail if they tried to do so. The police would haul them to jail, saying that they were doing an illegal activity. There was no leader among them who could help them see things differently. They talk about poverty and injustice but are not able to do anything to combat the situation.

Or

(b) How different from usual was the atmosphere at school on the day of the last lesson?

Ans. On the day of the last lesson, Franz was late for school. Usually, when school began, there used to be a lot of sounds, which could be heard in the street. There were sounds like the opening and closing of desks, lessons being loudly repeated by students, and the rap of the teacher's ruler against the table. That particular day, it was very quiet, as quiet as a Sunday morning. When Franz entered the classroom, the teacher did not scold him rather smiled, although he was late. He saw that the class was maintaining complete silence. He also noticed the teacher was not dressed in the clothes that he usually wore. He was dressed in his best clothes- a frilled shirt, a beautiful green coat, and embroidered black silk cap that he usually reserved for inspection and prize distribution days. Moreover, the backbenches of the classroom were occupied the elderly people of the village who had come to thanks M. Hamel for his faithful service. They all looked very sad.

15. Answer any one of the following questions in 125-150 words: 7x1=7

(a) What are the similarities in the lives of Bama and Zitkala-Sa though they belong to their respective situations?

Ans: The main similarity in the lives of Zitkala-Sa and Bama is that both were victims of discrimination because they belonged to marginalized communities and were not understood by the mainstream culture. Zitkala-Sa suffered racial and ethnic discrimination in a missionary school when her long, cultural hair was forcibly shingled. Bama faced caste-based discrimination as a Dalit when she witnessed untouchability being practiced against an elderly person from her community.

Crucially, neither girl chose to remain a victim. Both found ways to fight the system: Zitkala-Sa resisted physically by hiding and struggling, while Bama followed her brother's advice to study hard and learn everything she could to overcome the disadvantages imposed by her birth.

Or

(b) Give an elaborate account of the celebration associated with Uruka, the important part of Magh Bihu.

Ans. Uruka is celebrated on the eve of Bihu. Women make preparations for the next day with chira, pita, laru, curd etc. There are works to be done like fuel to be gathered, fish to be caught from ponds or streams and meat to be got. The tribal women prepare undistilled rice beer, which in winter requires four to five days to mature. Temple, like structures have to be built in the fields. These are made with green bamboo, dried banana leaves and hay. They are temple shaped and called meji. The hut-like structure is called Bhelaghar. Cowherds make use of these bhelaghars at night, warming themselves by a fire and using the vegetables stolen from villagers' gardens, along with the eatables that are given to them. Uruka feasting may be enjoyed with family or community. The day after the evening feast, a family member ties thin strips of bamboo, jute or hay around fruit trees at the crack of dawn.  After this, they call out to the dogs and offer them rice. Women clean the house and the cooking utensils. Everybody takes a purifying bath and puts on clean clothes. Men and children go to the mejis and bhelaghars to offer eatables to Agni, the fire god. After this, chanting the name of God, the structures are set on fire, with the flames giving warmth to the people shivering from the cold. Brahmins or elderly persons put ash marks on the forehead of people and bless them.  The half-burnt bamboo sticks are scattered in the fields and pieces are also thrown near the fruit trees. It is believed that this increases the fertility of the fields and gardens. After the mejis and bhelaghars are burnt, a hymn singing session is held to the accompaniment of kettle drums and cymbals. Chira, pita and curd are consumed for lunch instead of the usual rice and curry. There are other special preparations also made for the occasion.

16. Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words:                2x4=8

(a) What did astrologers foretell when Tiger King was born?

Ans: When the Tiger King was born astrologers foretold that his death would be caused by a tiger as he was born in the hour of the bull. He made it his life’s mission to kill a hundred tigers.

(b) Who was Dr. Sadao? Where was his house?

Ans: Dr. Sadao Hoki was a skilled Japanese surgeon and scientist who had studied medicine in America. His house was built on the Japanese coast, set upon the rocks above a narrow beach that was outlined with pine trees.

 (c) Who was Hana? What did she notice coming out of the mist?

Ans: Mrs. Hana was Dr Sadao wife, Dr Sadao and Hana saw something black coming out of the mists. It was a man who was flung up, out of the ocean.

(d) What is the significance of Bhelaghar?

Ans: The Bhelaghar is a temporary communal hut built for the Assamese harvest festival, Magh Bihu. Its significance is hosting the community feast on Uruka night and being ceremonially burnt the next morning to symbolize the end of the harvest and usher in renewal.

(e) How did Annan explain the elder man’s action to Bama?

Ans. Annan explained to Bama that the elderly man wasn’t being funny when he carried the packet by the string. He did it as people believed that they were upper castes and the touch of Dalits would pollute them. Hence he had to carry the package without touching it.

(f) Why and how did Derry enter Mr. Lamb’s garden?

Ans. Derry entered Mr. Lamb's garden, thinking the place was empty. He did not enter with the intention of stealing anything but to be in the garden. Though the gate was open, he entered the garden by climbing over the wall.

(g) Why did Derry go back to Mr. Lamb in the end?

Ans. Derry went back to Mr. Lamb in the end as he told him things that nobody else had ever told him. He told him about things that mattered. After his talk with Mr. Lamb, he stopped thinking about his burned face and giving too much importance to it. Moreover, he has promised Mr. Lamb to come back to him. He wants to prove that he has fulfilled his promise.

(h) Why was Zitkala-Sa terrified when Judewin told her that her hair would be cut short?

Ans. Zitkala was a Native American, and both men and women from her tribe grew their hair and kept long hair. According to her, short hair was worn by mourners and shingled hair by cowards. Unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair shingled by the enemy. It is for this reason that Zitkala-Sa was terrified when Judewin told her that her hair would be cut short.

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