DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, DURGAPUR

SAMPLE PAPER (2019-20)

CLASS- XI
Time: 3 Hours Subject- English Core (Code-301) Maximum Marks: 80

NAME:___________________ SECTION:___ ROLLNO:____

General Instructions:
i) This question paper consists of 5 no. of pages and 13no. of questions.
ii) The question paper is divided into three sections :
Section A- Reading - 20 marks
Section B- Writing& Grammar - 30 marks
Section C- Literature - 30 marks
iii) All the questions are compulsory. Marks are indicated against each question
iv) All the answers must be correctly numbered. There is choice in Section B&C in Qno.3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 &13.
v) Attempt all questions in each section before going to the next section.
vii) Read each question carefully and follow the instructions.
viii) Strictly adhere to the word limit with each question.

Section A : Reading Skills (20 Marks )

2. Read the passage given below and answer the question that follow :- (8)
There is a clear dichotomy between Jayashankar Prasad’s daily life and the one that found
expression in his literature. In his literary formulations, Prasad advocated an escape- from
personality ideal and categorically stated: An artist’s art, and not his person, is the
touchstone to assess his work ... it is only after losing his personality that he emerges in his
art as an artist.
2. In Prasad’s works his poems, short stories, novels, dramas etc. what emerges is life as
shaped in the writer’s inner self by his emotions, fancies, dreams, reveries . . . His writings
are a record not of outer reality, but of the artist’s inner world. As such, of a proper
appreciation and understanding of his works, more emphasis needs to be placed on the
working of his mind, than the events of his day-to-day life.
3. Prasad was born in a renowned family of Varanasi. His grand-father Shiv RatanSahu, a
dealer in high quality perfumed tobacco (snuff). Besides being an astute businessman, he
was endowed with a marked cultural taste. His home was the meeting place of the local
poets, singers, artists, scholars and men of religion. Prasads father Devi Prasad Sahu
carried forward this high tradition of family.
Prasad, therefore, had a chance to study the various phases of human nature in the light of
the business traditions, artistic taste and religious background of his family.
4. When the business had somewhat recovered, Prasad planned the publication of a literary
journal. Prasad started the Indu. The inaugural number appeared in July 1909. By this time
Prasad’s notions of literature had crystalized into a credo. In the first issue of Indu, he
proclaimed, Literature has no fixed aim; it is not slave to rules; it is free and all-embracing
genius, gives birth to genuine literature which is subservient to none. Whatever in the
world is true and beautiful is its subject matter. By the dealing with the True and Beautiful it
establishes the one and affects the full flowering of the others. Its force can be measured by
the degree of pleasure it gives to the reader’s mind as also by criticism which is free of all
prejudice. The words sound like the manifesto of romanticism in literature.
5. Even while recognizing the social relevance of literature, Prasad insisted, The poet is a
creatorhe is not conditioned by his milieu; rather it is he who moulds it and gives it a new
shape; he conjures up a new world of beauty where the reader for the time being, becomes
oblivious of the outer world and passes his time in an eternal spring garden where golden
lotuses blossom and the air is thick and pollen. Thus, the chief aim of literature according
to Prasad is to give joy to the reader and to create a state of bliss in him. Later under the
impact of Shaivadvaitism, this faith of Prasad got further strengthened.
1.1On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes on it using heading and subheadings.
Also use recognizable abbreviations, wherever necessary (Minimum 4). Supply a suitable title.
(5)
1.2 Write a summary of the above passage in 80 words. (3)

Q2.Read the poem given below: (12)

SORROW
‘There was a man, whom Sorrow named his friend,
And he, of his high comrade sorrow dreaming,
Went walking with slow steps along the gleaming
And humming sand, where windy surges wend;
And he called loudly to the stars to bend
From their pale thrones and comfort him, but they
Among themselves laugh on and sing away.’
Tim sea, hear my most piteous story
The sea swept on and cried her old cry still,
Rolling along in dreams from hill to hill.’
‘He, in a far off, gentle valley stopping,
Cried all his story to the dew drops glistening.
But nought they held for they are always listening.
The dewdrops, for the sound of their own dropping.
`The man sought once again the shore, and found a shell,
And though, I will my heavy story tell
Till my own words, re-echoing shall send
Their sadness through a hollow, pearly heart:
And my own tale again for me shall sing.
And my own whispering words be comforting,
And lo! my ancient burden may depart.
And then he sang softly nigh the pearly rim;
But the sad dweller by the sea-ways lone
Changed all he sang to inarticulate moan
Among her wildering whirls, forgetting him.
2.1 Based on your reading answer the following questions choosing the right option given below:
(6)
(a) The poem sends a message of truth which is …………
(i) personal (ii) related to man only
(iii) animals (iv) related to one and all
(b) The echo of the shell is lost in the roar of the ………….
 (i) clouds (ii) river waves
(iii) sea waves (iv) falling rain
(c) The word ‘humming’ means :
(i) singing song (ii) producing a low sound
(iii) weeping (iv) sighing
(d) The word ‘dim’ is a/an…………..
(i) noun (ii) article
(iii) adjective (iv) verb
(e) An appropriate title of the poem is:
(i) Sea Shore. (ii) Sad Man
(iii) Sad Nature (iv) Indifference
(f) The word ‘nigh’ means:
(i) no (ii) near
(iii) far away (iv) not seen
2.2 Answer the questions given below: (1x6=6)
(a) To whom does the poet address his grief initially?
(b) What is the reaction of those on the pale thrones?
(c) Why did the dew drops not listen to the poet’s story?
(d) Where did the mango and what did he find?
(e) Who engulfed the song of the man?
(f) What is the theme of the poem?

Section B: Writing Skills And Grammar-(30Marks)

Q3. You are Mohan/Myra Secretary Eco club of your school. Your school is organizing a tree
plantation programme on the eve of Independence Day. Draft a notice for the school notice board
giving all relevant details of the event to be held. (4)
OR
You are Aritra /Aritri . You want to lend your flat in SSB Sarani,Bidhannagar,Durgapur, at rent . Write an
advertisement to be published in the classified columns of a local newspaper.

Q4. You are Richard/ Ruby of Harsh Enclave Mumbai. Write a letter to the Manager of Rio
International Hotel complaining about the degraded food and service during your stay there.
(6)
OR
You are Martin /Martina of Anand Vihar , Delhi. Write a letter to CMO of Arogya Niketan Hospitals
Ltd. complaining about the negligence shown during the treatment of your brother.

Q5. You are interested in buying an automated car. Write a letter to All India Automobiles enquiring
various details regarding the automated cars. You may generate details. You are M.N Srinivasan of
19/102 Aynavaram ,Chennai Central. (6)
OR
You are Shiva / Rupa Singh of Orchard Road, MadhyaPradesh. You are interested in booking a trip to
Darjeeling and Sikkim, advertised by Aradhya Travels and Tours. Write a letter to The Manager asking
for details about the tour plan. Generate details.

Q6. By 2060, Earth will suffer major rise in temparature. You are highly alarmed and terrified of the
future problems. So, write an article on "Save Earth- are we doing enough?" for the local daily in
150-200 words. (8)
OR
On the eve of Independence Day prepare a speech for your school assembly, highlighting the significant
contribution of students in the development of a country . Your speech should not exceed the limit of
 150-200 words.
Q7. The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Write the incorrect
word and the correct word in the answer sheet against the correct blank number.
(4) Incorrect
Correct
Have you ever ate a food that might kill you? a) ______ _____
That is what thousands of Koreans are done every year b) ______ _____
when they sit down to delicious meal of fugu fish. c) ______ _____
In English, fugu is known like puffer fish. d) ________ _____
There are above 120 species of puffers. e) _____ _____
They are relative small, and they have spikes f) _____ _____
who pop up when they sense danger. g) ____ ______
Through this spikes the puffers can inject a deadly venom h) _____ _____
into their attackers, and it is this venom that
makes the fugu such a potentially dangerous fish.
Q8. Rearrange the following jumbled words to make meaningful sentences. (2)
(a) vast space/a multitude of/about/wandering/stars/is/in the
(b) majority/a few/are/form groups/but the/solitary/of them

Section C: Literature - (30Marks)

Q9. Read the extracts given below (2)
a) ‘I do not understand this child
Though we have lived together now
in the same house for years……
Answer any2 out of the following questions
i) Who lived in the same years in the same house? How long?
ii) Why does the father not understand his child?
iii) What kind of relationship does he want ?
OR
a) “When did my childhood go?
Was it when I found my mind was really mine,
To use whichever way I choose,
Producing thoughts that were not those of other people
But my own, and mine alone
Was that the day!”
Answer any2 out of the following questions
(i) What does the poet say here?
(ii) When does he think he lost his childhood?
(iii) Does he find an answer to his question?
Q10. Answer any 5 out of the following questions in about 40 words. (2x5=10)
(a) Why was the king in the poem The Melon City killed?
(b)How did Mrs Pearson make fun of Charlie Spence?
(c) What was Andrew’s view on marriage?
(d) How was Mr Crocker – Harris different from other teachers?
(e) How does the rain benefit the earth?
(f) Throw light on Gangadharpanth’s experience on way to Bombay?
Q11. Answer any one out of the two questions given within 120-150 words. (6) How is text
book medicine different from practice medicine? (Draw your inference from ‘Birth’)
OR
The play ‘Mother’s day pen pictures Mrs. Pearson as a loving mother. Discuss.
Q12. Answer any one out of the two questions given within 120-150 words. (6)
What happened to Professor Gaitonde after the accident?
OR
Comment on the aptness of the title of ‘The Ailing Planet’.
Q13. Answer any one out of the two questions given within 120-150 words. (6)
How is childhood different from adulthood?
OR
Rain does its duty unmindful of any recognition. A great lesson is hidden here. What is it?