AHSEC Class 12 English Solved Question Paper 2012 [AHSEC Class 12 Solved Question Papers]

English Solved Question Paper 2012
AHSEC Class 12 Solved Question Papers

Full Marks: 100

Pass Marks: 30

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: (10 Marks)

1.       In 1889, the fifth session of the Indian National Congress was held in Mumbai. Leaders from all over the country were in the packed hall.

2.       A bright-eyed pretty young lady with a glowing, intelligent face rose to address the gathering. It was unprecedented.

3.       There were no loud speakers and people at the back could not hear her. They started surging forward. “Brothers, excuse me, my voice cannot reach you. But I am not surprised. For centuries, did you ever try to listen to the voice of a woman? Did you give her the strength to make her voice audible to you?”

4.       The delegates had no answer.

5.       There was more to come from the courageous young lady known as Pandita Ramabai. Till that day women hardly ever attended Congress sessions. It was Pandita Ramabai’s effort that resulted in nine women delegates attending the 1889 session of the Congress.

6.       She was not content to be a dumb delegate. She made a forceful speech on the resolution about the practice of cutting off the hair of widowed women. “You men are demanding the right of representation in British Parliament, so that you can voice the opinion of Indians. You have been crying hoarse in this very pandal for freedom of expression. Then why don’t you give the same freedom to women in your families? Why do you force a woman to become ugly and dependent as soon as she becomes a widow? Does a widower ever do that? He has the freedom to do whatever he wants. Then why not the woman?”

7.       One can say that Pandita Ramabai laid the foundation of the movement of women’s liberation in India.

8.       Ramabai never minced words. She had the courage of her conviction and stood by it. She had inherited this courage to defy social injustice from her parents, Pandit Anantshastri Dongre and Laxmibai Dongre.

9.        Anantshastri was a great scholar. He defied society and taught Sanskrit to his wife and two daughters. “There is noting in Shastras which prohibits women from learning Sanskrit”, he maintained, and proved his contention by giving more than 300 references. But the orthodox scholars were not convinced. They ostracized him. Anantshastri did not care. He established his Ashram in the wilderness of Gangamul in Andhra Pradesh. His generosity and the unscrupulous behaviour of his elder son-in-law deprived him of all his assets. He was forced to live the life of a nomad, reciting and interpreting Puranas, Bhagwat and other holy books to people. The family survived on whatever little cash or grain offered by the audience.

10.   Ramabai wrote: “Two third of the audience consisted of women who never go empty-handed to a discourse. They always offer something to the diety as well as to the kirtankar or kathakar. Men just ring the bell and do Namaskar. Thus, half of the expenditure of these temples is met by the generosity of women. Even then these priests and so-called scholars consider women as obstacles in pursuit of knowledge. They deny women the right to learn. How ungrateful: what injustice!”

11.   The family travelled around for sixteen years, and that helped to broaden Ramabai’s outlook.

12.   Right from childhood she could not stand injustice. One day she tried to save a little girl of nine from being burnt with the dead body of her husband. “If a women has to burn and become sati, does man become sata after his wife’s death?” She asked indignantly, the young girl’s mother has no answer and simply said. “It is man’s world, they make laws: women have to obey.” “Why do women tolerate such laws?” countered Ramabai. “When I grow up, I will fight against these laws” And fight she did against every type of exploitation of women by men.

13.   Perhaps it was to make her strong enough for her future mission that Providence made her go through one disaster after another.

14.   Her father died when she was sixteen. They could not give sugar and water which he asked for on his deathbed. They were then travelling through the famine-affected area of Venkatgiri. With tears in their eyes and loved in their heart, Ramabai’s family could only give some water to the dying man. Nobody helped them in his burial. After great persuasion one Brahmin got a pit dug. Srinivas, Ramabai’s brother, wrapped the dead body in a sheet and carried it to the pit. And the great scholarly sanyasi was buried.

Answer the following questions:

1. Which session of the Indian National Congress was held in Mumbai in 1889?   

Ans: In 1889, the fifth session of the Indian National Congress was held in Mumbai.                                           1

2. How many women delegates attended the 1889 session of the Indian National Congress?

Ans: Nine women delegates attended the 1889 session of Indian national congress.                          1

3. Who, according to the passage, laid the foundation of the women liberation movement?

Ans: Pandita Rambai laid the foundation of the women liberation movement in India                        1

4. How did Anantshastri defy the society?                             2

Ans:  Anantshastri was a great scholar. He defied the society by teaching Sanskrit to his wife and two daughters.

5. “They ostracized him” (para 9)   2

a) Who are ‘they’ referred to here?

Ans: “They” refers to orthodox scholar

b) Explain the meaning of the sentence

Ans: The orthodox scholars boycotted him

6. Which incident made her fight against every type of exploitation of women by men?  

Ans:  During her childhood days, one day pandita Rambai saw a little of nine being burnt with the dead body of her husband. She questioned the girl’s mother if a husband is burnt at his wife’s death, to which she has to reply. This incident made her fight against any type of exploitation of women by men.                           2

3. Water is precious and we should stop wastage. Prepare a poster in not more than 50 words urging people to employ various methods of rainwater harvesting in their locality.  5

Or

You are Pramila/Priyam, the sports secretary of Kokrajhar Senior Secondary School, Kokrajhar. Write a notice suitable for your school notice board giving the details for participation of students in a football tournament to be organized by your school. (Word Limit: 50 words)         5

Kokrajhar Senior Secondary School 15th September, 2013                                                                 NOTICE COME ONE – COME ALL Students, cheer up! The school is organizing an inter class football tournament on 20th September, 2013. The          tournament is only open to the senior students from class IX – XII. Every class will have one team. Class monitors must send the names to the undersigned latest by 18th September, 2013.   Priyam (Sports Secretary)

4. You attended the Edufair, 2011, organized by The Assam Tribune Pvt. Ltd. In Guwahati in which some top colleges and universities of India participated and gave information about their Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Write detailed account of the fair in 100-125 words. You are Praveen/Pravin.        10

ANS:

EDUFAIR 2012 The Edufair 2012 was organized by Assam Tribune Pvt. Ltd. in Guwahati on 20th September. Many top Colleges and Universities of India participated in the fair. It was an interactive session where students of different institutions gave information about their undergraduate and graduate programmes. The different books and the curriculum were a matter of discussion in the fair. The students were given enough time to interact with the experts and to get the replies to their quarries. They were also given sufficient time to go through the books and purchase them. The main motto of the Fair was to enlarge their knowledge of any subject incorporated/included in their curriculum. The famous writers of the various books were also present in the fair whom the students could meet. The fair started with a cultural programme and ended with a seminar after seven days. The organizers of the Fair were happy to see the response and took the decision to organize it after every four months. The Fair was inaugurated by the President of Sahitya Sabha. It was truly an enlightening fair.

Or

You are eyewitness to a road accident in which a school going boy was killed and many passengers were injured. As a press reporter of The Assam Tribune, write a report about the accident in 100-125 words. You are Ayesha/Sanjoy.                                                                  

ROAD ACCIDENT Guwahati, 22nd Nov, 2017: Road accident in Guwahati have become quit frequent the days. Various accidents are reported everyday from different parts of the city. A horrible road accident took away two innocent lives yesterday. In another incident a school bus collided with an oil tanker coming from opposite direction. The driver of the bus lost control of the bus. The tanker tried to take a sharp turn. There was a head on collision. The school bus was toppled over. The oil tanker caught fire. Many of the passengers in the bus minor injuries, but the conductor and a school boy died on the spot. The fire brigade arrived within 10 min and put out the fire. Reported by Saurav/Aparna

5. Write a letter to the editor of The Sentinel drawing attention of the authorities concerned regarding the poor condition of the roads in your locality. You are Rashmi/Manab living in Changsari, Kamrup.        10

Changsari, Kamrup

12^TH November, 2017

The Editor

The Assam Tribune

Guwahati (Assam)

Subject:  Poor road condition.

Sir,

Kindly allow me to draw the attention of concerned authorities (address) through the columns of your esteemed newspaper to the bad condition of the road in our locality that is Parbotia, Tinsukia.

The bad conditions of the road cause a lot of inconvenience to the people, causing traffic jams during the peak office hours and frequent accidents. It also causes severe damages to the running vehicles. Poor drainage system is also responsible for damaging to the roads. It is a well-expressed fact that the people of Parbotia pay a huge amount of vehicle tax. Hence it is the fundamental right of the citizens to have better roads for their vehicles.

Keeping the above in view, I hope that the concerned authorities will initiate expeditious steps to ensure a good formation of the road in our area.  

Thanking you

Yours’ truly

Rashmi/Manav

Or

You are Arunabha. You have seen the advertisement for the post of English teacher in Model Public School, Jorhat. Write an application for the post in response to the advertisement. Give you bio-date also.           10

ANS:

Examination Hall

Tinsukia College

Tinsukia (Assam)

23^rd February, 2018

The Headmaster

Model Public School,

Jorhat (Assam)

Subject: An application for the post of English Teacher

Sir,

This is in response to your advertisement in ‘The Assam Tribune’ dated 10/12/2017 regarding the post of an ‘English Teacher’. I wish to apply for the same post.

I am outgoing, diligent and open to learning and have good command over English speaking. I have all the requisite qualification and experience. I did my graduation from Sri Ram College, Delhi in Commerce stream. I worked as an English teacher in A New High School, Tinsukia for 1 year. I wish to bring difference in the lives of people through education.

As regard my qualification and experience, I am enclosing my bio- data for your kind consideration. I shall be available for an interview on any day of your convenience.

If selected I shall discharge my duties with utmost devotion and sincerity to your full satisfaction.

Yours sincerely

Arunava

ENCLOSURE:

1.       Testimonials

2.       Bio- data

BIO-DATA

NAME                               :                Arunava

FATHER NAME                :                S.K Dutta

ADDESS                             :                Examination Hall, Tinsukia College, Tinsukia (Assam)

CONTACT                          :                9987XXXXXX

DATE OF BIRTH                :                xx/xx/1993

NATIONALITY                   :                Indian

RELIGION                          :                Hindu

MARITAL STATUS            :                Unmarried

GENDER                            :                Male

AGE                                   :                26 years

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

YEAR	EXAMINATION	BOARD/UNIVERSITY	INSTITUTE	PERCENTAGE	DIVISON
2010	HSLC	SEBA	A NEW HIGH SCHOOL	79%	I
2012	H.S 2ND YEAR	AHSEC	TINSUKIA COLLEGE	86%	I
2015	B.COM	DELHI UNIVERSITY	SRI RAM COLLEGE	76%	I

WORK EXPERIENCE:

S. No.	Organisation	Position held	From	To
1	A New High School, Tinsukia	English Teacher	1/11/2016	1/11/2017

SKILLS:

-          Excellent written and verbal communication skills

-          Working knowledge of Tally, Excel, and MS-Word.

Achievements:

-          Games secretary of Tinsukia college student Union(2014-2015)

-          Winner of Inter –college Debate Competition (2014-2015)

Hobby: Interacting with people, reading books, cricket etc.

Language Known: Hindi, English, Bengali, Assamese.

Declaration:

I solemnly declare that all the above information’s are correct to the best of my knowledge.

Date:    13/12/2017                                                                                                                        Arunabha

Place:   Tinsukia                                                                                                                              Signature

6. You are Nandini/Nabin. Write an article in 150-200 words for a newspaper on “the role of Youth in combating corruption in the society.”                                                                  10

The role of Youth in combating corruption in the society

Corruption has become a dangerous disease in our country, India and its deep roots have spread to every strata of society. It has not only entered into the political life but also the social and economic life of the country. The persons in higher positions are the ones who mainly indulge in corruption as they feel that they have the power and can easily go Scott free from being accused. The names of even former Prime Ministers like Rajiv Gandhi etc. were linked with corruption. But due to this corruption the real sufferers are the middle class people and the people of lower strata of society because they are being used like puppets in hands of these rich and powerful people. At present a common saying is prevalent that everything can be bought with money. Certificates, posts etc. can also be bought with money. Everything including justice seems purchasable. Smuggling, black marketing also run parallel with corruption. If this virus of corruption is not quickly eliminated, it will completely destroy every aspect of life beyond redemption.

By Nandini/Nabin

Or

Write a short speech in about 200 words on preservation of bio-diversity in the Northeast of India.                            10

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

a) “The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead

Or if every aside a moment, than out of sorts

At having, the landscape marred with the artless paint

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong

Offered for sale 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.”

a) How did the traffic pass?                                                                                    1

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

b) Why did one turn out of sorts?                                                                                        1

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

c) What are the two things that were sold in that stand?                                1

Ans: Wild berries and golden squash.

d) What should one do if one wants to be mean?                                                              1

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

Or

b) “Driving from my parent’s

Home to Cochin last Friday

Morning, I saw my mother,

Beside me,

Doze open mouthed, her face

Ashen like that of a corpse……..”

a) Where was the poet driving to?                            1

Ans: The poet was driving to Cochin airport.

b) What did she notice when her mother sat beside her?      1

Ans: She noticed the mother’s ashen and almost lifeless face distraught with pain.

c) Find words from the passage that mean ‘sleep lightly’ and ‘dead body’.                              1

Ans: sleep lightly- Doze; dead body- corpse.

d) Why was her mother’s face like that of a corpse?                                                         1

Ans: Her mother’s face was pale, dull and completely grey like ash, which made it look a corpse.

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

a) How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

Ans: John Keats, a great Romantic poet, considers that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. It is a constant source of happiness and pleasure. Its loveliness increases every moment. A thing of beauty is never devalued. It never passes into nothingness.

b) What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve? (See Q no. 1, pg no. - 15)

Ans: Counting up to twelve takes very short time. Keeping still for this brief interval of time gives us a monetary pause to introspect and review the course of action. It is generally observed that most of the ills and troubles of the world are caused by our rush or hurry. Violence is caused by anger. Keeping quiet and still will give us necessary respite and ensure peace

c) What is the ‘childish longing’ that the poet refers to in the poem ‘A Roadside Stand’? Why is it vain?

Ans: The poet thinks that the people who are running the roadside stand suffer from a childish longing. They are always waiting for their customers. They keep their windows open to attract them. But when no one turns up, they get sad. They are always waiting to hear the squeal of brakes or the sound of a stopping car. But everything goes in vain. Passing cars hardly stop there, they could sell nothing.

d) Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?

Ans: After the security check, the poetess looks at her mother’s face. The poet notices that her mother’s face resembles with late winter’s moon as both have some similarities. Winter is the last season of the year and old age is the last phase of life. In old age one become pale and withered (weak) and no energy left similarly in winter the moon looses its shine.

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

a)       “I started for school very late that morning”. Who is the ‘I’ here?     

ANS: ‘I’ refers to Franz.

b)      Who is the author of “Lost Spring”?

Ans: Anees Jung

c)       What does Mukesh want to be?

Ans: Mukesh wants to be a motor mechanic.

d)      Who is Sir Edward Gait?

Ans: Sir Edward Gait was the Lieutenant Governor who appointed an official commission of enquiry into the indigo sharecroppers’ situation.

e)      Who was Rajkumar Shukla?

Ans: He was poor peasant from champaran

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

Ans: Sophie wants to have an amazing botique when she grows up.

10. Answer any five of the following questions in 30-40 words:      2x5=10

a)       Why did little Franz want to spend his day out of doors?

ANS: Franz has not prepared his lesson on participals. He was familiar with his teacher’s cranky nature. He expected teacher’s anger. He did not want to get scold from M. Hamel so he thought of running away from the school and spending the day out of doors.

b)      What are M. Hamel’s views about the French language?

Ans: M. Hamel loved his native language very much. He understood the beauty and importance of his language. That day he appreciated his language saying that it is the most beautiful language in the world-the clearest, the most logical. He requested them to guard it so that they can be united and fight back for their freedom.

c)       Is Saheb happy working at the tea stall? Why?

Ans: Saheb started working in a tea stall. He is paid Rs. 800 and all his meals. But he is not happy because he has lost his freedom and now he is no longer his own master. The steel canister that he carries now in heavier than the plastic bag he used to carry on his shoulders.

d)      What is the significance of bangles in an Indian society?

Ans: In Indian society bangle symbolizes ‘suhaag’ for married woman. An Indian bride invariably wears red bangles in their wrist.

e)      Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?

Ans: The Champaran episode was really a turning point in Gandhi’s life. It was an effort to remove the distress (कष्ट) of poor peasants. The success of Champaran justified Gandhi’s ways and means. It gave a message. The Britishers who were dreaded and unquestioned could now be challenged by the Indians. The success of Champaran was the success of peaceful Civil Disobedience in modern India                                                                        

f)        What job is Geoff engaged in? Does he entertain wild and impractical dreams like his sister?

Ans: Geoff was engaged as an apprentice mechanic. He has to travel to his work place each day to the far side of the city. He is not a day-dreamer like his sister. Perhaps he knows his and his family’s limitations better than her.

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

a)       What was the order from Berlin? How did that order affect the people of Alsace, particularly M. Hamel and his students?

ANS: M. Hamel announcement the order that had come from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher was suppose to come tomorrow. The announcement shocked everyone, presented there and aroused a patriotic feeling among the villagers as well as the students. They started realising that they had not learnt enough French. M. Hamel blamed the people for always for keeping their things till next day. He even blamed himself for giving the children a holiday whenever he wanted to go on fishing. He wanted to give his all knowledge to his pupils, all at one stroke. When he was imparting his last lesson, the students also paid attention, as if they really wanted to take what M.Hamel was giving. Elderly people of the village also came to the school to pay their homage to the language which was no longer their

b)      Describe the miserable plight of the people of Firozabad.

ANS: Firozabad is famous for its bangle making. In Firozabad, every other family is engaged in bangle making. It is their God-given-lineage and hence they do not dare to change it. Actually they know nothing except bangle-making. Nobody cares for law in Firozabad. Employment of children in glass and bangle-industry continues unabated. The fate of the children who work in glass furnaces is particularly pathetic. They have to work in exceptionally high temperatures. The work-places and working culture are simply killing. They work in dingy dark rooms without windows. There is no provision of fresh air and light. Actually their eyes are adjusted more to the dark than with the light outside. The result is disastrous. Many of them end up losing their eyesight before they become adults. Little do they know about the sanctity of bangles they make? Mind-numbing toil kills all dreams and hopes of child-workers in Firozabad.

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

a)       Describe the narrator’s journey to end of the Earth-the Antarctic region and his experience during the journey on the success of “Students on Ice” programme of Geoff Green?

ANS: The narrator boarded a Russian research ship the 'Akademik Shokalskiy'. He was heading towards the coldest, driest and windiest continent in the world — Antarctica. His journey began 13.09 degrees north of the Equator from Madras. He had to cross nine time-zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and at least three ecospheres. He travelled for over 100 hours. His first emotion was that of seeking relief. He wondered at its immensity and isolation.

The author spent two weeks in a place where 90 per cent of the earth's total ice volume is stored. There were no trees, no billboards or buildings. He lost all earthly sense of perspec­tive and time.

'Students on Ice' programme of Geoff Green was quite successful. The aim of the pro­gramme was to take high school students to the ends of the world. It provided them inspiring educational opportunities. They could develop a new understanding and respect for their planet. The most thrilling experience of the narrator was his walking on the ocean. Underneath their feet was a metre-thick ice pack and 180 metres of living, breathing, salt water.

 

b)      “Though both Mr. Lamb and Derry suffer from a physical disability, their attitude to life is different”. Justify the relevance of this statement with reference to the story, “On the Face of it.”

ANS: Derry’s main problem is his burnt face. One side of his face was eaten up by acid. He suffers from a tremendous sense of inferiority complex. He is always conscious that his face is “bad”, “terrible” and “the ugliest thing”. People are “afraid” of him. He tries to escape people. He allows himself to be alienated from the world. On the other hand, Mr. Lamb doesn’t allow his physical disability to come in his way. He accepts life as it comes. He has a positive attitude towards life, things and people. He doesn’t find solace in escapism. Children tease him by calling “Lamey-Lamb” but he doesn’t mind it. One of his legs was blown off in the war. But he is full of life and enjoys it at his best. He enjoys sitting in the sun, reading books and growing weeds and flowers.

Derry is withdrawn and defiant. He doesn’t trust people. He is touchy and hyper-sensitive. Mr. Lamb is open-minded and open-hearted. All are welcome. He loves everybody and everything. He teaches derry how to handle people and things.

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

a)       What was Gondwana?

ANS: It is the huge landmass-a super continent, the undivided Earth, which existed millions of years ago. Gondwana was centered roughly present day Antarctica. It had no human life but only flora and fauna. It existed for 500 million years ago and then started drifting away slowly, giving rise to different land masses called continents and different water bodies called oceans etc.

b)      How has Antarctica remained relatively pristine?

ANS:  The impact of climate change is not felt in Antarctica. It remains fresh and clean as it never sustained a human population and therefore it remains relatively pristine in this respect.

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

ANS: Derry entered Mr. Lamb’s garden by walking slowly and cautiously through the long grass and round a screen of bushes and finally by climbing over the ground. Derry entered Mr. Lamb’s garden with an intention to spend some time at an empty place. He thought it was an empty place.

d)      Why aren’t there any curtains at the windows of Mr. Lamb’s house?

ANS: Mr. Lamb loves outside world.  He does not believe in shutting things out. He wants to feel the beauty of this world. He likes to hear the sound of wind blowing outside and the birds chirping outside. So he does not have curtains at his window. He also likes light and darkness.

e)      What was Zitkala-Sa’s idea regarding short, shingled hair?

ANS: Zitkala-Sa’s mother had taught her that shingled hair was worn by mourners, cowards, and unskilled warriors caught in war. She had a great deal of love for her traditions and her hair. For her the hair meant much closer to her culture. To save her identity, to uphold her civilization and pride so she fought against the attempts of the authorities to cut her hair.

f)        When did Bama experience untouchability?

ANS: When the narrator was in the third class, she hadn't yet heard people speak only of untouchability. But the curse of untouchability did exist in the society. She had already seen, felt and experienced it. There were occasions when she felt humiliated by it.