CBSE Class 12 English Core Question Paper 2020 Set 1-2-1 Solutions

Set-1, Code No.-1/2/1 2020

Strictly Confidential: (For Internal and Restricted use only)
Senior School Certificate Examination-2020
Marking Scheme – ENGLISH CORE
(SUBJECT CODE : 301) (PAPER CODE – 1/2/1)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
1. You are aware that evaluation is the most important process in the actual and correct assessment
of the candidates. A small mistake in evaluation may lead to serious problems which may affect
the future of the candidates, education system and teaching profession. To avoid mistakes, it is
requested that before starting evaluation, you must read and understand the spot evaluation
guidelines carefully. Evaluation is a 10-12 days mission for all of us. Hence, it is necessary
that you put in your best efforts in this process.

2. Evaluation is to be done as per instructions provided in the Marking Scheme. It should not be
done according to one’s own interpretation or any other consideration. Marking Scheme should
be strictly adhered to and religiously followed. However, while evaluating, answers which are
based on latest information or knowledge and/or are innovative, these may be assessed for
their correctness and marks be awarded to them.

3. The Head-Examiner must go through the first five answer books evaluated by each evaluator on
the first day, to ensure that evaluation has been carried out as per the instructions given in the
Marking Scheme. The remaining answer books meant for evaluation shall be given only after
ensuring that there is no significant variation in the marking of individual evaluators.

4. Evaluators will mark (√) wherever answer is correct. For wrong answer “X” be marked.
Evaluators will not put right kind of mark (√) while evaluating which gives an impression that the
answer is correct and no marks are awarded. This is the most common mistake which
evaluators are committing.

5. If a question has parts, please award marks on the right-hand side for each part. Marks awarded
for different parts of the question should be then totalled up and written in the left-hand side
margin and encircled. This must be followed strictly.

6. If a question does not have any parts, marks must be awarded in the left hand margin and
encircled. This must also be followed strictly.

7. If a student has attempted an extra question, answer of the question, deserving more marks
should be retained and the other answer scored out.

8. No marks are to be deducted for the cumulative effect of an error. It should be penalized only
once.

9. A full scale of marks 0-80 has to be used. Please do not hesitate to award full marks if the
answer deserves it.

10. Every examiner has to necessarily do evaluation work for full working hours i.e. 8 hours every
day and evaluate 20 answer books per day in main subjects and 25 answer books in other subjects
(details are given in the spot guidelines).

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11. Ensure that you don’t make the following common types of errors committed by the Examiner in
the past:-

 Leaving answer or part thereof unassessed in an answer book.
 Giving more marks for an answer than assigned to it.
 Wrong totalling of marks awarded for an answer.
 Wrong transfer of marks from the inside pages of the answer book to the title page.
 Wrong question wise totalling on the title page.
 Wrong grand total.
 Marks in words and figure not tallying.
 Wrong transfer of marks from the answer book to the online award list.
 Answers marked as correct, but marks not awarded. (Ensure that the right tick mark (√) is
correctly and clearly indicated. It should not merely be a line. Same is with the (X) for an
incorrect answer.)
 Half or a part of the answer marked correct and the rest as wrong, but no marks awarded.

12. While evaluating the answer books if the answer is found to be totally incorrect, it should be
marked as (X) and awarded zero (0) Marks.

13. Any unassessed portion, non-carrying over of marks to the title page or totalling error detected by
the candidate shall damage the prestige of all the personnel engaged in the evaluation work as
also of the Board. Hence, in order to uphold the prestige of all concerned, it is again reiterated
that the instructions be followed meticulously and judiciously.

14. The examiners should acquaint themselves with the guidelines given in the ‘Guidelines for Spot
Evaluation’ before starting the actual evaluation.

15. Every examiner shall also ensure that all the answers are evaluated, marks carried over to the title
page, correctly totalled and written in figures and words.

16. The Board permits candidates to obtain photocopy of the Answer Book on request in an RTI
application and also separately as a part of the re-evaluation process on payment of the
processing charges.

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1/2/1 SUGGESTED VALUE POINTS 2020
SECTION A: READING
COMPREHENSION PASSAGE

NOTE: No mark(s) should be deducted for mistakes in usage and grammar,
spelling, or word limit. Full marks may be awarded if a student has been able
1 12 marks
to identify the core ideas. If a student literally lifts a portion of the given
passage as an answer to a question, no mark(s) to be deducted for this as long
as it is relevant.

1.1 MCQ (Any Five)
(a) The first Green corridor in India was created in
Ans.(a) (ii) Chennai 1 mark
(b) The organisation which is framing a proposal to airlift cadaver organs is
Ans.(b) (iii) National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation 1 mark
(c) The onerous task that the author is talking about in para 1 is
Ans.(c) (iii) to carry the harvested organ in the shortest possible time 1 mark
(d) Most of the people do not go for heart transplant as
Ans.(d) (iv) the cost is prohibitive 1 mark
(e) Most States refer organ transplant cases to big hospitals because
Ans.(e) (i) they don’t have well-trained experts 1 mark
(f) Heart retrieved from a body is alive only for _____ hours.
Ans.(f) (iii) four 1 mark

1.2 Answer briefly
What is a ‘green corridor’?
(a) traditional method of transferring/transporting organs by road / a short route
Ans.(a) cleared and cordoned off by the traffic police / a route for the smooth and steady 1 mark
transportation of the harvested organs
(b) Why is smooth transportation of the retrieved organ necessary?
a harvested / retrieved organ has a short life / organs have a very short preservation
Ans.(b) 1 mark
time
What opinion do you form of the Chennai Police with regard to the
(c)
transportation of a harvested heart?
proved to be very efficient/ helpful / caring / responsible / quick / prompt / any
Ans.(c) 1 mark
other relevant point
(d) What does the author mean by ‘a few golden hours’?
The few hours during which, the harvested organ is alive. / the time the harvested
Ans.(d) organ is to be transported and transplanted / short preservation time of the harvested 1 mark
organ
(e) How much does a heart transplant cost a patient in a private hospital?
Ans.(e) 15-20 lakhs 1 mark

1.3 Pick the words from the passage which mean the same
(a) save (para 1)
preserve
Ans.(a) 1 mark

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(b) achieved/carried out (para 3)
Ans.(b) accomplished 1 mark

2 NOTE MAKING
Note: 8 marks
 If a student has attempted only summary or only notes, due credit
should be given
 1 mark allotted for the title is to be given , even if a student has written
the title either in Q2(a) or Q2 (b)
 Content must be divided into headings and sub-headings
The notes provided below are only guidelines. Any other title, main points and
sub-points may be accepted if they are indicative of the candidate’s
understanding of the given passage, and the notes include the main points, with
suitable and recognizable abbreviations. Complete sentences are not to be
accepted as notes.
Numbering of points may be indicated in different ways, as long as a consistent
pattern is followed.

(a) NOTE-MAKING 4 marks
Distribution of Marks
Title 1 mark
Content (minimum 3 headings and sub-headings, with proper indentation and notes) 2 marks
Abbreviations/Symbols (with/without key ) 1 mark

Suggested notes:

Title: Advantages and Disadvantages of Watching Television/ How Television
affects lives/ Any other relevant title

1. Benefits
1.1 increases know.
1.1.1 of outside world
1.1.2 science
1.1.3 medicine
1.1.4 diff. arts
1.2 recreation for old ppl. & patients
1.3 informal lang. practice
1.4 increases vocab. & helps practise listening

2. Disadvantages
2.1 ppl. watch for 6 hrs. or more
2.2 students stare at screen for hrs.
2.3 negative influence
2.4 effect on human brain
2.4.1 poor conc.

3. Impact
3.1 feels life not very exciting
3.2 TV more real, life seems boring
3.3 depression when can’t solve problems

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4. Violence shown on TV
4.1 Children become violent
4.2 killings seem normal

Abbreviations: (minimum 4)
1. ppl. – people
2. know. – knowledge
3. & – and
4. diff. – different
5. vocab. – vocabulary
6. lang. - language
7. hrs. – hours
8. conc. – concentration
9. TV - Television

(b) Summary 4 marks
The summary should include all the important points given in the notes.
Content 2 marks
Expression 2 marks

SECTION B: WRITING SKILLS
NOTE: The objective of the section on Writing Skills is to test a candidate’s
writing ability. Hence, expression assumes as much importance as the content
of the answer.
REPLY TO INVITATION 4 marks
Q.3 You have received an invitation to preside over the annual function of Goodwill
Public School, Noida. But due to some urgent prior engagement, you have to
decline the invitation. Send a formal letter of reply. You are M.Mohan,
Secretary, M.D.B. International School, Delhi.

Ans. 3 Declining an Invitation

Format 1 mark
Content 2 marks
Expression 1 mark

Format comprises designation and address of the recipient, date ,salutation,
closing
Expression includes grammatical and spelling accuracy, coherence and fluency
of ideas.

Suggested value points
– thanking for the invitation
– reason –some urgent prior engagement

OR
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CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT 4 marks
Format 1 mark
Content 2 marks
Expression 1 mark
Q.3 You need to buy a flat. Draft a suitable advertisement to be published in the
classified columns of a local newspaper, giving all your requirements of a 2-
bedroom set- park-facing, near market, etc. You are Kiran/Kashish, F-105/41,
Krishna Park, Rohtak.

Ans.3 Heading- To Buy/ Accommodation Required/ Accommodation Wanted
Suggested value points:

 accommodation type (Flat)
 preferred locality (optional)
 size-2 BHK
 amenities desired (park-facing, near market etc.)
 price range
 contact (Kiran/ Kashish, F-105/41, Krishna Park, Rohtak)
(any other relevant details)

(due credit should be given to economy of words)

4 LETTER WRITING 6 marks
Note: - No marks are to be awarded if only the format is given.
Credit should be given for the candidate's creativity in presentation of ideas.
Use of both the traditional and the new format is permitted.
Mixing of the formats is not permitted.

Format
1. sender's address
2. date
3. receiver's address
1 mark
4. subject /heading
5. salutation
6. closing

Content 3 marks
Expression
grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling 1 mark
2 marks
coherence and relevance of ideas and style 1 mark

Q.4 You are Keerti/Kartik of Flat No. 31, Station Road, Mumbai. Last month you
bought an automatic ‘VIP’ washing machine from Messrs Rajneeti Electronics,
Andheri (E), Mumbai. You find that the machine is making an unbearable
noise and its spinner is not working properly. Write a letter to the Sales 6 marks
Manager, complaining about the machine and requesting him to replace the
machine as it is very new and within the guarantee period.

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Ans.4 Letter of Complaint

Suggested Value Points
- reference to the purchase
- problem (machine making an unbearable noise and its spinner is not working
properly)
- cash memo no./ invoice no. and date
- guarantee period
- request for replacement
(any other relevant point)

OR
LETTER TO EDITOR 6 marks

Q.4 You are Kamini/Kamal of 21/14, Civil Lines, Indira Nagar, Agra. The main
Road leading to the colony has three uncovered manholes which have caused
a couple of accidents. Describing the accidents, write a letter to the Editor,
‘National Times’, drawing attention of the Municipal Commissioner to this
problem of the residents, requesting him to take appropriate action.

Ans.4 Suggested Value Points

- problem-main road has three uncovered manholes, accidents due to it
- description of the accidents
- problems of the residents
- drawing attention of the Municipal Commissioner to the problem
- action requested

(any other relevant point)

5 REPORT 10 marks
Format
(heading, name of the reporter, place, date) 1 mark

Content 5 marks
Expression
grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling [2 marks] 4 marks
coherence and fluency of ideas [2 marks]

Q.5 You are a reporter of ‘Aaj Kal’, a newspaper. You witnessed a quarrel among
a group of boys outside a college gate over some minor issue. The quarrel took
an ugly turn when some more students joined it. Write a report for your
newspaper, giving an account of the quarrel, its cause, the number of students
involved, etc. Give your comments on the lack of tolerance in today’s youth.

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Ans.5 Heading- Quarrel Outside College Gate/ Quarrel Among College Boys/ Any
other appropriate Title

Suggested Value Points
- what (a quarrel witnessed )
- when
- where
- important details
- comment on lack of tolerance by today’s youth

Note- past tense should be used
OR
ARTICLE 10 marks
Format: Title and writer’s name 1 mark
Content 5 marks

Expression
grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling [ 2 marks] 4 marks
coherence and relevance of ideas and style [ 2 marks]

Q.5 As sports captain of your school, write an article for your school magazine
emphasising the need of adventure sports in youngsters’ lives. Such sports
help us in being strong, both in body and mind. There is a lot of geographical
diversity (mountains, hills, rivers, beaches, etc.) in our country. There is a
great scope for such sports. These sports prepare us to face the future
challenges of life. You are Rohit/ Roshani of Happy Public School, Mathura.

Title: Adventure Sports/ Need of Adventure Sports in Youngsters’ Lives /
any other revelant title

Ans.5 Suggested Value Points
- What are adventure sports?
- role of adventure sports
- impact on body and mind
- character building-prepares us to face the future challenges of life
- scope of adventure sports in India due to geographical diversity of
mountains, hills, rivers, beaches (e.g. paragliding, river rafting, surfing at sea,
hiking and mountain climbing etc.)

(any other relevant details)

6 SPEECH 10 marks

Note:
- No title is required.
- In case a candidate gives a title, no mark to be awarded to it and if a
candidate does NOT give a title, no mark to be deducted, either

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Format: Opening address and closing 1 marks
Content 5 marks
Expression
Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling [ 2 marks]
coherence and relevance of ideas and style [ 2 marks] 4 marks

Q.6 You have seen many homes destroyed by drug addiction of their children.
Prepare a speech to be delivered in the school assembly on ‘Drug abuse and its
prevention’. Describe why children take to drugs, consequences of drug abuse
and how we can solve this problem. You are Mohit/ Mohini.

Ans.6 Topic: Drug Abuse and its Prevention / any other relevant Topic

Suggested Value Points
- problem
- its prevalence
- reasons: curiosity, peer pressure, fear of failure, problems in the family, lax
laws and order system, easy availability
- consequences: physical, mental ,emotional, financial, take the path of crime
- solutions: sympathetic, attitude, counselling, de-addiction centres, strict law
enforcement
(any other relevant point)
(any five points)

OR
DEBATE 10 marks
Note :
- In case of the stand taken by the candidate / examinee if the arguments
presented are contradictory to the stand taken, deduct only half a mark
- Students’ views to be expressed either ‘for’ or ‘against’ the motion and
not a mixed response.
Note:
- No title is required.
- In case a candidate gives a title, no mark to be awarded to it and if a
candidate does NOT give a title, no mark to be deducted, either

Format: Opening address and closing 1 mark
Content 5 marks
Expression
Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling (2 marks)
4 marks
coherence and relevance of ideas and style (2 marks)

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Q.6 Write a debate either for or against the motion: ‘Heredity is the only decisive
factor in the development of one’s character’. You are Shalini/Suresh.

Ans.6 Suggested Value Points

For
- role of DNA in the formation of character
- current family environment
- continuation of / following the family values
- social pressure, family pride/ large families (example of uncles/ cousins)
- in case one comes under some bad environmental influence, family pressure
rescues one

Against
- rise of nuclear families; family influence quickly lost
- world becoming a global village, environment place a great role
- earlier social circle limited, now influence of environment more effective
- influenced caused by technology, exposure is much more varied
- today's youth more ambitious wants to achieve more, easily influenced by
the environment
Note: (A candidate may be awarded marks if he/ she has given more or
different but convincing arguments)

SECTION C: LITERATURE (TEXT BOOKS AND LONG
READING TEXT)

7 NOTE: The objective of the section on Literature is to test a candidate’s
8 marks
ability to understand and interpret the prescribed text through short and long
answer type questions. Hence, both content and expression in answers to the given
questions deserve equal importance while awarding marks.

This question has been designed to test the students’ understanding of the text
and their ability to interpret, evaluate and respond to the questions based on
the given extract. In other words, it attempts to test their reading
comprehension ONLY.

(a) Now we will …………… arms so much.
Q.(i) Name of the poem and the poet.
A.(i) Keeping Quiet; Pablo Naruda ½+½mark
Q.(ii) What does the poet hope to achieve by keeping still?
introspection/ universal brotherhood/ creating a feeling of mutual understanding
A.(ii) 1 mark
among human beings/ productive silence
Q.(iii) What does he want us to do for one second?
A.(iii) not to speak in any language/ introspect/ productive silence 1 mark
Q.(iv) Describe the pun on the word, ‘arms’.
A.(iv) human upper limbs and weapons of war 1 mark

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(b) This went on ……………. in miniature.
Q.(i) Name the chapter and its writer.
A.(i) Deep Water; William Douglas ½+½mark
Q.(ii) Why was the writer still not satisfied?
A.(ii) He was not sure that all the terror had left/ had residual doubts 1 mark
Q.(iii) What did ‘he’ do to satisfy himself?
went to Lake Wentworth, dived off a dock at Triggs Island and swam two miles 1 mark
A.(iii)
across the lake to Stamp Act Island/ went to various water bodies
Q.(iv) Which ‘old sensation’ did he experience?
A.(iv) terror/sensation of fear 1 mark
Short answer type questions (Any Five)
Distribution of marks: 2 X 5 =10
8 Content: 1 mark marks
Expression : 1 mark
(deduct ½ a mark for two or more grammatical/spelling mistakes)
Q. (a) What was the mood in the classroom when M.Hamel gave his last lesson?
- strange/ solemn/ serious
- everything was as quiet as Sunday morning/ M. Hamel was grave and
A.(a) 2 marks
gentle/ village elders were sorry for not attending school

Q. (b) Why did the Ironmaster invite the peddler to his house?
- mistook the peddler for his old regiment comrade
A.(b) - next day was Christmas so wanted to help his friend for whom things had 2 marks
gone downhill
Q(c) What change occurs in Saheb’s life ? Is it a change for the better or worse?
- working in a tea stall
- for worse-freedom gone, canister in place of plastic bag, lost care free look/
no longer his own master (1 +1=
A.(c) 2 marks)
for better-regular income, meals taken care of

(Note: accept both/ any options)
Q.(d) How does the poet describe her mother in the poem, ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’?
A.(d) old, wan, pale, ashen face like that of a corpse/ like a late winter’s moon 2 marks
Q. (e) Why did Jack agree to use Skunk as the hero of his story?
2 marks
A.(e) a new animal /Skunk must have been mentioned at school/ for Jack- a fresh hero
Q. (f) ‘I felt like sinking to the floor’. Why did Zitkala-Sa say so?
Zitkala-Sa, an American Indian, felt ashamed/ her blanket taken away, felt 2 marks
A.(f)
uncomfortable, uneasy, vulnerable
Why does Hana believe that the American prisoner is a ‘menace, living or
Q (g)
dead’?
A.(g) - Prisoner of war, an enemy
- Sadao operated on him.
- if survives, Sadao can be arrested for harbouring an enemy 2 marks
- if dies (operations fails) Sadao fails as a doctor and still can be arrested

Q9 & 10 [These questions have been set to test the students’
understanding of the text and their ability to interpret, evaluate and respond
to the issues raised therein. Hence no particular answer can be accepted as the
only correct answer. All responses may be accepted as equally correct

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provided they have been duly supported by the facts drawn from the text. The
important thing is that the student should be able to justify his or her
viewpoint.]

Distribution of marks:
Content: 3 marks
Expression : 3 marks
grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling [1½ marks]
coherence and relevance of ideas and style [1½ marks]

How was the share-cropping system in Champaran exploiting the Indian
Q. 9
peasants?
Ans. 9 - Indian peasants; British landlords
- long term contract
- indigo to be planted on 15 percent of the land
- no food crops/ rendered the soil arid
6 marks
- synthetic indigo planting no longer profitable landlords wanted to be
compensated for releasing the peasants from the contract
- unjust-peasants’ oppositions

OR
Q.9 Was Umberto Eco a novelist or an academic scholar? Give a reasoned answer.
Ans.9 -Both/ academic scholar
-as a academic scholar
- a professor at the university of Bologna in Italy; 40 works of non-fiction,
formidable reputation as a scholar for his ideas on semiotics, literally interpretation
and medieval aesthetics-academic texts, participated in academic conferences,
6 marks
identified with the academic community

as a novelist
-won world fame for-‘the Name of the Rose’ which sold 10-15 million copies

Distribution of marks:
Content: 3 marks
Expression: 3 marks
10
grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling [1½ marks]
coherence and relevance of ideas and style [1½ marks]

Q.10 Describe the Tiger King as a completely self-centred person.
Ans. - mission of killing hundred tigers/felt one could kill even a cow in self-
10 defence- so started indiscriminate killing of tigers
- banned tiger killing and imposed arbitrary penalties later levied taxes on
villagers
- bribed the British officer. Lost three lakhs of rupees but didn’t mind as
managed to retain his kingdom 6 marks
- married princess of a kingdom with a sizable tiger population
- Dewan on the verge of being dismissed
- wanted shopkeepers to gift him a toy tiger
(any three)

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OR
Q. 10 What happened at the Golden Lion Hotel? (Evans Tries an O-Level)
Ans10 - Evans escaped
- hid himself in Golden Lion Hotel
- found the governor
- no chance of escape
- governor got Evans arrested
- a prison officer handcuffed Evans
- took him into the van 6 marks
- the prison officers were his accomplices
- governor duped again- handcuff unlocked

(any other relevant point)

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