CBSE

Question Paper 2017

Delhi Set-2
CBSE Class-12 English Core

General Instructions:

1. This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary.
Read these instructions very carefully and follow them faithfully.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

SECTION - A
(READING)

Q1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (12)

1. We sit in the last row, bumped about but free of stares. The bus rolls out of the dull
crossroads of the city, and we are soon in open countryside, with fields of sunflowers as far
as the eye can see, their heads all facing us. Where there is no water, the land reverts to
desert. While still on level ground we see in the distance the tall range of the Mount Bogda,
abrupt like a shining prism laid horizontally on the desert surface. It is over 5,000 metres
high, and the peaks are under permanent snow, in powerful contrast to the flat desert all
around. Heaven Lake lies part of the way up this range, about 2,000 metres above sea-level,
at the foot of one of the higher snow-peaks.

2. As the bus climbs, the sky, brilliant before, grows overcast. I have brought nothing warm
to wear: it is all down at the hotel in Urumqi. Rain begins to fall. The man behind me is
eating overpoweringly smelly goat's cheese. The bus window leaks inhospitably but reveals a
beautiful view. We have passed quickly from desert through arable land to pasture, and the
ground is now green with grass, the slopes dark with pine. A few cattle drink at a clear
stream flowing past moss-covered stones; it is a Constable landscape. The stream changes
into a white torrent, and as we climb higher I wish more and more that I had brought with
me something warmer than the pair of shorts that have served me so well in the desert. The
stream (which, we are told rises in Heaven Lake) disappears, and we continue our slow

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ascent. About noon, we arrive at Heaven Lake, and look for a place to stay at the foot, which
is the resort area. We get a room in a small cottage, and I am happy to note that there are
thick quilts on the beds.

3. Standing outside the cottage we survey our surroundings. Heaven Lake is long, sardine-
shaped and fed by snowmelt from a stream at its head. The lake is an intense blue,
surrounded on all sides by green mountain walls, dotted with distant sheep. At the head of
the lake, beyond the delta of the inflowing stream, is a massive snow-capped peak which
dominates the vista; it is part of a series of peaks that culminate, a little out of view, in Mount
Bogda itself.

4. For those who live in the resort there is a small mess-hall by the shore. We eat here
sometimes, and sometimes buy food from the vendors outside, who sell kabab and naan
until the last buses leave. The kababs, cooked on skewers over charcoal braziers, are
particularly good; highly spiced and well-done. Horse's milk is available too from the local
Kazakh herdsmen, but I decline this. I am so affected by the cold that Mr. Cao, the relaxed
young man who runs the mess, lends me a spare pair of trousers, several sizes too large but
more than comfortable. Once I am warm again, I feel a pre-dinner spurt of energy – dinner
will be long in coming – and I ask him whether the lake is good for swimming in.

5. "Swimming?" Mr. Cao says. "You aren't thinking of swimming, are you?"

6. "I thought I might," I confess. "What's the water like?"

7. He doesn't answer me immediately, turning instead to examine some receipts with

exaggerated interest. Mr. Cao, with great off-handedness, addresses the air. "People are often
drowned here," he says. After a pause, he continues. "When was the last one?" This question
is directed at the cook, who is preparing a tray of mantou (squat white steamed bread rolls),
and who now appears, wiping his doughy hand across his forehead. "Was it the Beijing
athlete?" asks Mr. Cao.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statements
given below with the help of options that follow:
(a) One benefit of sitting in the last row of the bus was that:

(i) the narrator enjoyed the bumps.

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(ii) no one stared at him.

(iii) he could see the sunflowers.

(iv) he avoided the dullness of the city.

(b) The narrator was travelling to:

(i) Mount Bogda

(ii) Heaven Lake

(iii) a 2000-metre-high snow peak

(iv) Urumqi

(c) On reaching the destination the narrator felt relieved because:

(i) he had got away from the desert.

(ii) a difficult journey had come to an end.

(iii) he could watch the snow peak.

(iv) there were thick quilts on the bed.

(d) Mount Bogda is compared to:

(i) a horizontal desert surface

(ii) a shining prism

(iii) a Constable landscape

(iv) the overcast sky

Answer the following questions briefly:

(e) Which two things in the bus made the narrator feel uncomfortable?
(f) What made the scene look like a Constable landscape?
(g) What did he regret as the bus climbed higher?
(h) Why did the narrator like to buy food from outside?

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(i) What is ironic about the pair of trousers lent by Mr. Cao?
(j) Why did Mr. Cao not like the narrator to swim in the lake?
(k) Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:

(i) sellers (para 4)

(ii) increased (para 7)

Ans. (a) (ii) no one stared at him.

(b) (ii) Heaven Lake

(c) (iv) there were thick quilts on the bed.

(d) (ii) a shining prism

(e) The two things that made the narrator uncomfortable are the overpowering smell of the
goat's cheese being eaten by the man sitting behind and the leaking of the bus windows.

(f) A few cattle drinks at a clear stream flowing past moss-covered stones made the scene
look like a Constable Landscape.

(g) As the bus climbed higher, the narrator regretted of not bringing anything warm to wear.
(h) The narrator liked to buy food from outside as kababs, cooked on skewers over charcoal
braziers were good, highly-spiced and well-done.

(i) The pair of trousers lent by Mr. Cao are several sizes too large but more than comfortable.

(j) Mr. Cao did not like the narrator to swim in the lake because many people drowned there.

(k) (i) vendors

(ii) exaggerated

Q2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (10)

1. Thackeray reached Kittur along with a small British army force and a few of his officers.
He thought that the very presence of the British on the outskirts of Kittur would terrorise the
rulers and people of Kittur and that they would lay down their arms. He was quite confident
that he would be able to crush the revolt in no time. He ordered that tents be erected on the

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eastern side for the fighting forces and a little away on the western slopes tents be put up for
the family members of the officers who had accompanied them. During the afternoon and

evening of 20th October, the British soldiers were busy making arrangements for these
camps.

2. On the 21st morning, Thackeray sent his political assistants to Kittur fort to obtain a
written assurance from all the important officers of Kittur rendering them answerable for
the security of the treasury of Kittur. They, accordingly, met Sardar Gurusiddappa and other
officers of Kittur and asked them to comply with the orders of Thackeray. They did not know
that the people were in a defiant mood. The commanders of Kittur dismissed the agent’s
orders as no documents could be signed without sanction from Rani Chennamma.

3. Thackeray was enraged and sent for his commander of the Horse Artillery, which was
about 100 strong, ordered him to rush his artillery into the fort and capture the commanders
of the Desai’s army. When the Horse Artillery stormed into the fort, Sardar Gurusiddappa,
who had kept his men on full alert, promptly commanded his men to repel and chase them
away. The Kittur forces made a bold front and overpowered the British soldiers.

4. In the meanwhile, the Desai’s guards had shut the gates of the fort and the British Horse
Artillery men, being completely overrun and routed, had to get out through the escape
window. Rani’s soldiers chased them out of the fort, killing a few of them until they retreated
to their camps on the outskirts.

5. A few of the British had found refuge in some private residences, while some were hiding
in their tents. The Kittur soldiers captured about forty persons and brought them to the
palace. These included twelve children and a few women from the British officers’ camp.
When they were brought in the presence of the Rani, she ordered the soldiers to be
imprisoned. For the women and children, she had only gentleness, and admonished her
soldiers for taking them into custody. At her orders, these women and children were taken
inside the palace and given food and shelter. Rani came down from her throne, patted the
children lovingly and told them that no harm would come to them.

6. She, then, sent word through a messenger to Thackeray that the British women and
children were safe and could be taken back any time. Seeing this noble gesture of the Rani,
he was moved. He wanted to meet this gracious lady and talk to her. He even thought of

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trying to persuade her to enter into an agreement with the British to stop all hostilities in lieu
of an inam (prize) of eleven villages. His offer was dismissed with a gesture of contempt. She
had no wish to meet Thackeray. That night she called Sardar Gurusiddappa and other
leading Sardars and after discussing all the issues came to the conclusion that there was no
point in meeting Thackeray who had come with an army to threaten Kittur into submission
to British sovereignty.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage complete the statements given
below with the help of options that follow:

(a) Thackeray was a/an:

(i) British tourist

(ii) army officer
(iii) adviser to Rani of Kittur
(iv) treasury officer

(b) British women and children came to Kittur to:

(i) visit Kittur

(ii) enjoy life in tents
(iii) stay in the palace
(iv) give company to officers

Answer the following questions briefly:

(c) Why did Thackeray come to Kittur?
(d) Why did the Kittur officials refuse to give the desired assurance to Thackeray?
(e) What happened to the Horse Artillery?
(f) How do we know that the Rani was a noble queen?
(g) How in your opinion would the British women have felt after meeting the Rani?
(h) Why did the Rani refuse to meet Thackeray?
(i) Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:

i. entered forcibly (para 3)

ii. aggressive/refusing to obey (para 2)

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Ans. (a) (ii) treasury officer

(b) (iv) give company to officers

(c) Thackeray came to Kittur to terrorise the rulers and people of Kittur so that they would
lay down their arms.

(d) Kittur officials refused to give the desired assurance to Thackeray as no documents could
be signed without sanction from Rani Chennamma.

(e) When the Horse Artillery stormed into the fort, Sardar Gurusiddappa, who had kept his
men on full alert, commanded his men to chase them away. The British Horse Artillery men,
being completely overrun and routed, had to get out through the escape window.

(f) The Kittur soldiers had captured forty persons, including twelve children and a few
women. For the women and children, Rani had only gentleness. She took them inside the
palace and gave them food and shelter.

(g) The British women were touched by this gentle and noble gesture of the Rani. They would
have felt safe and secured.

(h) The Rani refused to meet Thackeray because he had come with an army to threaten
Kittur into submission to British sovereignty.

(i) (i) stormed

​(ii) defiant

Q3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (8)

The most alarming of man’s assaults upon the environment is the contamination of air,
earth, rivers, and sea with lethal materials. This pollution is for the most part irrevocable; the
chain of evil it initiates is for the most part irreversible. In this contamination of the
environment, chemicals are the sinister partners of radiation in changing the very nature of
the world; radiation released through nuclear explosions into the air, comes to the earth in
rain, lodges into the soil, enters the grass or corn, or wheat grown there and reaches the
bones of a human being, there to remain until his death. Similarly, chemicals sprayed on
crops lie long in soil, entering living organisms, passing from one to another in a chain of

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poisoning and death. Or they pass by underground streams until they emerge and combine
into new forms that kill vegetation, sicken cattle, and harm those who drink from once pure
wells.

It took hundreds of millions of years to produce the life that now inhabits the earth and
reached a stage of adjustment and balance with its surroundings. The environment
contained elements that were hostile as well as supporting. Even within the light of the sun,
there were short wave radiations with power to injure. Given time, life has adjusted and a
balance reached. For time is the essential ingredient, but in the modern world is no time.

The rapidity of change and the speed with which new situations are created follow the
heedless pace of man rather than the deliberate pace of nature. Radiation is no longer the
bombardment of cosmic rays; it is now the unnatural creation of man’s tampering with the
atom. The chemicals to which life is asked to make adjustments are no longer merely calcium
and silica and copper and all the rest of the minerals washed out of the rocks and carried in
the rivers to the sea; they are the synthetic creations of man’s inventive mind, brewed in his
laboratories, and having no counterparts in nature.

(a) On the basis of your understanding of the above passage make notes on it using headings
and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary-minimum four) and
a format you consider suitable. Also supply a title to it.

(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words.

Ans. (a) PATH TO ANNIHILATION

1. Humans Exploiting Nature

1. A. contamination of environment
1. A.I. Rd, ch
1. B. irrevocable damage

2. Self-Destruction
2. A. ch causing poisoning
2. B. rd causing deaths

3. What are humans Missing Out?

3. A. bal with nature

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3. B. humans progressing swiftly
3. C. nature unable to cope

4. Worsening Situation
4. A. mutilation
4. B. atomic bomb destruction
4. C.synthetic malts

(b) Our Environment is slowly being destroyed by human, and the main culprit being the
chemicals along with the harmful nuclear radiations. We are exposed to them through a
'poison and death chain'. The chemicals enter the soil through rain or repeated sprinkling on
crops and enter our body. The environment has been exposed to these difficulties always.
Everyone has fought and evolved to adjust with nature, as these atrocities came from nature
itself. But the man-made challenges are difficult to deal with.

Q4. After the rains cases of dengue, Chikungunya etc are on the rise in your city. As Principal,
Sunshine Public School Manu Vihar, you have decided to allow your students to wear full
sleeve shirts and trousers in the school for a period of one month. Write the notice in about
50 words. (4)

OR

You are Health Secretary, Students Council Citizens Public School, Ram Bagh, Varanasi. The
Council has decided to start from the second of October a week-long cleanliness drive around
the school. Draft a notice in about 50 words asking the Class XI students to enroll for the
drive.

Ans.

Sunshine Public School

Manu Vihar

NOTICE

9 March 2017

Changes in School Uniform

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Due to increase in the number of cases of dengue and chikungunya, the school
management has decided to allow students to wear full sleeve white shirt and Blue/

Black trouser from tomorrow for next one month i.e., 10th August 2015 to protect
themselves from mosquito bite.
Students are requested not to wear colourful clothes and maintain the decorum of
school till further anouncements.

Naina Khanna
Principal

OR

Citizen Public School

Ram Bagh, Varanasi

NOTICE

15th September 2017

Cleanliness Drive

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, student council of the Citizens Public School is
organising a week-long cleanliness drive in block A, Ram Bagh.

Date: 2nd October to 8th October 2017

Time: 7am to 8am
Meeting point: School Gate no. 1

All class XI students, if interested in participating, may get their names registered

with the undersigned latest by 25th September 2017.

Simran Sharma
Health Secretary

Q5. Last month you purchased a TV set from Ram Electronics, Pushp Vihar, Ambala. It is not

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working properly (imagine a few defects). Write a letter of complaint in 120-150 words to the
Manager asking for repair or replacement. You are Amar/Amrita, M114 Model Town,
Ambala. (6)

OR

You are living in a village along a national highway. The state roadways bus does not stop
near your village. Write a letter in 120-150 words to the General Manager, State Roadways
requesting a bus stop for your village. Give all the reasons why you need a bus stop there.
You are Omar/Amna, Gopalpur, Dist. Ramnagar.

Ans.

M-114
Model Town
Ambala

9 March 2017

Ram Electronics
Pushp Vihar
Ambala

Dear Sir,

Subject: Replacement of a faulty television

Last month I bought a Samsung TV from your shop. It had warranty of two years and I made
a full payment at the time of purchase. But now I find that some of the features are not
working properly. There are colourful shadows on the sides of the screen and they are not
being adjusted. Also, there are some buttons on the remote that are not working.
I request you to kindly arrange for the replacement of the TV at the earliest as it is causing a
lot of inconvenience. Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours sincerely,
Amrita

OR

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E-11, Gopalpur
Dist. Ramnagar
Uttarakhnad

9 March 2017

General Manager
State Roadways
Uttarakhnad

Dear Sir,

Subject: Request to set up a bus stop in our village

With reference to the above mentioned subject, I would like to draw your attention towards
the requirement of a bus stop. I am a resident of Gopalpur and there is no bus stop in our
village.
The setting up of a bus stop will facilitate all the people in the village as it will make going to
school possible for children and reaching office for adults. It will also give us access to the
government hospital for the patients who cannot be treated in the village hospital.
I humbly request you to look into the matter and take the necessary actions.

Yours sincerely,
Amna

Q6. Our performance in Rio Olympics has told us that we do not pay enough attention to
athletics and outdoor games. It is time we revised our attitude. Sports should be an
important part of school's daily routine. Write an article in 150-200 words in 'Importance of
Outdoor Games'. You are Sreeja/Thomas. (10)

OR

Cultural Society Sunshine Public School, Nellore organised an adult literacy camp in its
neighbourhood. Write a report in 150-200 words on the camp for your school newsletter. You
are P.V. Sunitha, Secretary. Use the following clues: no. of volunteers – hours spent in
teaching – location of the class – chairs, blackboards – no. of people attending the camp –

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benefit.

Ans.

Importance of Outdoor Games

By Sreeja

Games like cricket, hockey, tennis, football and badminton are outdoor games that are
played in the open. They are games that involve physical activity and also a spirit of healthy
competition. Outdoor games are important to relax ourselves and to charge our batteries, as
the proverb goes 'All work and no play maks Jack a dull boy'.

In this age, where children are suffering from obesity, outdoor activities form an importnat
part of their curriculum. Outdoor games also have long term benefits on health. They help
the kids stay fit and healthy, and as they feel tired at the end of the day, they will sleep on
time as well.

Outdoor games develop a competitive spirit and also boosts up their confidence level and
self-esteem. They learn to interact, and also to build strategies to win. In this tech savvy age,
it is very important for the children to leave their televisions, laptops and videos games. They
should go out and learn the importance of outdoor activities in their daily routine.

OR

Adult Literacy Camp

P.V. Sunitha
Secretary, Cultural Society
Sunshine Public School, 9 March 2017

An adult literacy camp was organized on 8 March 2017 in our neighbourhood. The activities
of the camp were carried out by the cultural society of the school and there was a total of 20
volunteers. The chief guest for this occassion was Mrs. Kavita Naik, a renowned social
worker. There were 500 people who were a part of the camp. They were divided into
different groups and free classes were given to them. A cleanliness drive was also organized
to teach them the importance of cleanliness. There was also a small talk on ethics, moral
values, discipline and punctuality. Free books and stationary were distributed to them. Later,

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the chief guest presented the volunteers with appreciation certificates. She congratulated
everyone for organizing this noble event.

Q7. Sakshi Malik won a bronze medal in Rio Olympics. Every Indian felt proud of her. You,
Head girl of your school want to deliver a speech in order to express your feelings. Write the
speech in 150-200 words. Apart from your own ideas use the following clues: (10)

Wrestling mostly a male sport – Sakshi born in conservative surroundings – most

unfavourable gender ratio for females – parental encouragement – one can't forget the look
of determination on her face in the last three minutes of the bout.

OR

'Our large population is not a cause of poverty but an asset, a resource.'

Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against the motion.

Ans.

Good morning everyone!

Respected principal, teachers and my dear friends. I, Priya, the Head girl of the school is
going to deliver a speech on Sakshi Malik.

On the day of Raksha Bandhan, far away in Rio de Janeiro, a 23-year old wrestler Sakshi
malik, made the nation proud by winning a bronze medal. Malik became the first female
Indian wrestler who has bagged a medal at the Olympics.

Sakshi Malik, the daughter of a bus conductor, comes from a small district in Haryana. She
started training at the age of 12. Malik and her coach, Ishwar Dahiya, faced many problems
during the initial stages of the former's career as the conservative mentality of the society
thought that wrestling was not meant for girls. It was a male sport.

Not only has she proved to be one of the best wrestlers in the world, she has also fought off
long odds, bureaucratic obstacles, lack of facilities, and the conservative Indian society.
Sakshi taught the nation that women in the country need support and not protection. We are
proud to be the citizen of the nation where women like Sakshi Malik live.

OR

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A very good morning to jury members, friends and my fellow opponents. Today, I am going
to speak for the topic 'our large population is not a cause of poverty but an asset, a resource'.

India has the youngest population in the world with a mean age of 24 years and also is the
biggest provider of skilled manpower in the world. As more and more children are going to
school now and getting educated, India provides maximum number of engineers to the
world. It is also one of the largest markets for automobiles, high value foods, etc.

Large population means more intelligence that can be put to good effect and skilled
population draws more projects from foreign companies.

I, therefore, agree with the view that our large population is not a cause of poverty but an
asset as every hand can become an earning hand for the economy.

Q8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: 1 × 4 = (4)
Far far from gusty waves these children's faces.
Like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pallor;
The tall girl with her weighed-down head.
(a) Who are these children?
(b) Which figure of speech has been used in the first two lines?
(c) Why is the tall girl's head weighed down?
(d) What does the word, 'pallor' mean?

OR

Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen,

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
(a) Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer's tigers?
(b) How are they described here?
(c) How are they different from Aunt Jennifer?
(d) What does the word, 'chivalric' mean?

Ans. (a) The poet is talking about the children who go to the elementary school in a slum.

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(b) The two figures of speech used in the two lines are:

Alliteration – 'Far from gusty waves'

Simile – 'Like rootless weeds'

(c) The head of the tall girl is weighed down because she is ill and exhausted.

(d) The word 'pallor' describes the pale and unhealthy appearance of the slum children.

OR

(a) The tigers are called Aunt Jennifer's tiger as they are knitted by her. With their
chivalrous, ferocious, bright and carefree attitude, she creates an alternate world for herself.

(b) Aunt Jennifer's tigers are described as ferocious, fearless, always harmful, sleek and
chivalric.

(c) The tigers are depicted as brave, strong, confident and happy. They are fearless beings
and the presence of men does not scare them a bit. Contrarily, Aunt Jennifer is burdened by
a life which, most probably, others chose for her.

(d) The word 'chivalric' refers to the confidence of the tigers about their power and brevity in
their actions.

Q9. Answer any four of the following questions in 30–40 words each: 3 × 4 = (12)

(a) Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day?
(b) Sophie was dreaming of so many things in her life. What were they?
(c) Why are the youngsters described as springing? (My Mother at Sixty-six)
(d) In the hot season, how do man and beast get comfort? (A Thing of Beauty)
(e) How did the Maharaja deal with a high ranking British officer who wanted to shoot a
tiger?
(f) Having got rid of his stink, what problem did Roger Skunk face?

Ans. (a) M. Hamel did not punish Franz even though he was late because it was the former’s
last day at school before the new master came the following day. It was the last French
lesson that he would be giving them, so he had become very sad and sentimental about it.

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(b) Sophie dreamt of opening a boutique or becoming an actress or a fashion designer. She
thought that she would be offered the position of a manager and that she would work there
till the time she saves enough money for her boutique.

(c) While driving to the airport, in an effort to distract herself from the thoughts of her
ageing mother, the poet looks at the young trees ‘sprinting’. The trees seem to be running
past the moving car. The sprinting of the trees symbolises the rapidly passing years of
human’s life from childhood to old age. This image, which shows activity and strength, is
contrasted with that of her old and weak mother who seems dormant, sleeping in the car.
The ‘young’ trees represent life in contrast to her mother’s approaching death.

(d) A man and the beast can get comfort in the hot season by looking out for beauty in
nature, which surrounds us. According to the poet, anything which is beautiful, is a constant
source of joy.

(e) The British Officer told the Maharaja that he wanted to hunt tigers in his kingdom but the
Maharaja refused to give permission. The Maharaja himself wanted to kill hundred tigers so
he had to refuse to give permission to the British Officer. Instead he told the officer that if he
wanted to hunt boars, rats or even mosquitoes, there will be no problem. But hunting tigers
could never be allowed.

(f) The next problem that Roger Skunk faced was that his mother became really very angry at
him. Roger Skunk's mommy was angry because her son did not smell like a skunk anymore.
He smelled of roses and the wizard had changed him just so that others would not make fun
of him again. Roger Skunk's mommy did not want her son to change for others. Her anger is
justified because one should revel in their individuality and not be ashamed of it. She
decided to speak to the wizard and change him back to his old self with his familiar smell.

Q10. Answer the following question in 120-150 words: (6)

Garbage to them is gold. How do ragpickers of Seemapuri survive?

OR

The peddler thinks that the whole world is a rattrap. This view of life is true only of himself
and of no one else in the story. Comment.

Ans. Seemapuri is a place on the outskirts of New Delhi. Those who live there are unlawful

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residents who came from Bangladesh in 1971. It is a place where about 10,000 ragpickers
live. They live without identity and have no basic amenities, yet they are happy here because
they could get food which is more important than identity. It is a slum where they could find
many things and rag picking was their only means of survival.
Rag picking is the means of survival for the ragpickers. According to the author, it is their
"daily bread, a roof over their heads, even if it is a leaking roof". Thus, it is equivalent to gold
for them. Besides, for the children it is "wrapped in wonder" for they, at times, chance upon
"a rupee, even a ten-rupee note"

OR

The life of the peddler is bound with loneliness. This idea of being completely alone made the
peddler a cynic. After stealing the money, the peddler tried to escape through the forest but
soon got lost. Left in despair, he recollected his own thoughts on the world being a giant
rattrap. A sudden realisation came to him that he had finally got himself caught in the
rattrap because he allowed himself to be tempted by the bait, the thirty kronor bills. Even the
kindness of the ironmaster and especially his daughter failed to make the peddler optimistic
about the world. The rattrap seller expressed himself strongly realising that the worldly bait
had, once more, tempted and trapped him. Unlike the other characters in the story, peddler
is the only one who got succumbed to loneliness and is far away from the human bonds of
love and sympathy that made him the cynic and consider the world as a rattrap.

Q11. Answer the following question in 120-150 words: (6)

Untouchability is not only a crime, it is inhuman too. Why and how did Bama decide to fight
against it?

OR

Good human values are far above any other value system. How did Dr. Sadao succeed as a
doctor as well as a patriot?

Ans. Bama first encountered untouchability when she saw an elder of her caste walking
along the street from the direction of the bazaar. Initially the vision made her to laugh but
then she saw the elder walk up straight to the landlord, bowing low and extending the packet
towards him, cupping the hand that held the string with his other hand. Bama's brother
Annan explained her the whole incident in detail. He explained that since they were born

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into the community of the marginalised, they were never given any honour, dignity or
respect. They had all been stripped of the basic rights of any person. But if they studied and
made progress then they could shake off all these indignities. So, he advised his sister to
study with care and learn all she could. If she was always ahead in her lessons then people
would come to her of their own accord and attach themselves to her. These words that
Annan had spoken to Bama made a very deep impression on her and spurred her to study
hard with all her breath and being. She stood first in her class and many of the children from
upper caste became her friend. In this way, she rebelled against the injustice of
untouchability

OR

As a doctor, Sadao, knew the value of a human life. He risked his own life by saving the
American sailor, even though he knew that he could go to prison for hiding a prisoner of
war. He cleaned the American's wounds, fed him and nursed him back to health. When the
American was feeling healthy, he gave him provisions such as food and a boat, and allowed
him to escape from Japan. As a Japanese citizen, he fulfilled his duty by telling the General
about the American. Even though the General forgets to send his assassins, Sadao cannot be
blamed for the American's "escape". Thus, we can say that Sadao carried out his
responsibilities, as a doctor, and as a Japanese citizen.

Q12. Answer the following question in 120-150 words: (6)

Describe Marvel as an opportunist.

OR

George Eliot has portrayed Godfrey as a morally weak character. Comment.

Ans.

Thomas Marvel was distraught and harried from his time with the Invisible Man, he wanted
to be let out and that is why he offered his resignation. The Invisible Man wanted to use him
as a tool because there were a lot of things that he needed to do which he couldn't due to his
condition. Marvel however was not willing to be made a tool and he decided to snivel and
grovel his way out of his predicament. He said he would be the worst possible tool, his heart
was weak and he was most likely to mess up the Invisible Man's plan out of sheer funk and

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misery. Marvel had by this time realized the dangerous predicament he had unwittingly got
himself into because the Invisible Man seemed like a man possessed in his work. Marvel
began to rant against him saying that he wished he was dead, that it was devilish hard and
unendurable but to no avail, all his entreaties were ineffectual and fell on deaf ears. The
Invisible Man was bent upon making use of him and threatened to twist his wrist if Marvel
did not pipe down. It could much worse if Marvel played up and then he would have to deal
with the wrath of the Invisible Man. So, Marvel's attempt towards offering his resignation
was unsuccessful because the Invisible Man succeeded in bullying and threatening him into
submission. However, Marvel became the chink in the armour so to speak for the Invisible
Man, he held the key to the three manuscript books which would help perpetuate the state of
invisibility for the Invisible Man. If he hadn't turned on him and given himself up to the
police, the Invisible Man would not have been apprehended in his demonic task of
unleashing a reign of terror. Eventually, Thomas Marvel became the landlord of a little inn
near Port Stowe, a short and corpulent little man with a nose of cylindrical proportions, wiry
hair and a sporadic rosiness of visage who retained his ill-begotten ownership over the
Invisible Man's prized possessions.

OR

Godfrey Cass is a character who does not display any developmental arch till the end of the
story. He is a coward without any moral fortitude though he is not an evil person. He has no
desire to harm anyone but gets co-opted into certain schemes. He does not like to shoulder
responsibility or account for his actions, and avoids conflicts. Eliot does not offer much
insight into his character, his early marriage fell apart but we are made to believe that it was
not his fault, he cares for Eppie but he doesn't work on it. He is an indecisive man, afraid of
taking tough decisions and lets others take charge of his life and actions. The weakness and
moral ineptitude of his character is given as a reason for his failure to act upon his good
intentions. Godfrey's self-realization towards the end does not bring closure to the events in
the novel, he still fails to do his duty for his daughter.

Q13. Answer the following question in 120-150 words: (6)

How does Dr. Cuss's encounter with Griffin end in a disaster?

OR

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What kind of life did Silas lead at Lantern Yard?

Ans. The stranger had no wish to entertain nosy neighbourhood people, he did not speak a
word and simply glared at Mr Cuss for intruding upon his private space. The stranger had
merely sniffed and kept on sniffing all the time that Mr Cuss was present. Any question put
to him succeeded in enraging him further but when he accidentally revealed his empty
sleeve, there was a moment of confusion which the stranger and Mr Cuss shared before the
former turned the latter out of his room. Mr. Cuss was visibly shaken from this encounter.
However, what is clear from this encounter is that the stranger was in a perturbed state of
mind, he was working on a problem whose solution seemed to elude him constantly.

OR

Silas Marner came to Raveloe fifteen years back. Before coming to Raveloe, he lived in a
town to the north, named Lantern Yard. Silas Marner of Lantern Yard was absolutely
different from the Silas Marner of Raveloe. He was a very religious man and had many
friends, cheated easily by the person whom he trusted the most. Silas had a best friend
named William Dane. Silas suffered cataleptic fits, which made William think of him being
possessed by Satan. Silas had knowledge of curing diseases with herbs, which he learnt from
his mother. The Senior Deacon, who Silas was watching over died, and the church members
also accused him of stealing the bag filled with church's money. Sara, the girl who Silas got
engaged with, broke off with him. With all the happenings going against him, Silas lost his
faith in God and man. He left Lantern Yard and came to Raveloe as a man completely
opposite of what he used to be.

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