CBSE Class 12 English Core Question Paper 2020 Set 1-5-3 Solutions

Set-3, Code No.-1/5/3 2020

Strictly Confidential: (For Internal and Restricted use only)
Senior School Certificate Examination-2020
Marking Scheme – ENGLISH CORE
(SUBJECT CODE : 301) (PAPER CODE – 1/5/3)

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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1/5/3 SUGGESTED VALUE POINTS 2020
SECTION A: READING
COMPREHENSION PASSAGE

NOTE: No mark(s) should be deducted for mistakes in usage and grammar,
1 spelling, or word limit. Full marks may be awarded if a student has been able to 12 marks
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
(a) What is a ‘green corridor’?
traditional method of transferring/transporting organs by road / a short route cleared
Ans.(a) 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 other
Ans.(c) 1 mark
relevant point
(d) What does the author mean by ‘a few golden hours’?
Ans.(d) The few hours during which, the harvested organ is alive / the time the harvested
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)
Ans.(a) preserve 1 mark
(b) achieved/carried out (para 3)
accomplished 1 mark
Ans.(b)

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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

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

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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.
3 NOTICE 4 marks
Format-
The format should include: Name of the organization / Name of the institution, the
word “NOTICE”, Heading, Date, and Writer’s Name with designation. The candidate 1 mark
should not be penalized if he / she has used capital letters for writing a notice within or
without a box
Content 2 Marks
Expression 1 Mark
grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling, coherence and relevance of
ideas and style
Q.3 You are Dhruv/ Nidhi, Student editor of your school magazine, ‘The Buds’. Write
a notice in not more than 50 words to be placed on your school notice board
inviting short stories, article, poems etc. from students of all classes for the school
magazine. Give all the necessary details.
Suggested value points:
Ans. 3 - what is required
- for what purpose
- any specifications (original and word limit etc.)
- last date of submission
- whom to submit and where
Any other relevant point
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OR
3 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT 4 marks
Format 1 mark
Content 2 marks
Expression 1 mark

Q.3 You are Vinod/ Vineeta, General Manager, Global Solutions, Meerut. You want to
rent a bungalow to be used as a guest house. It should have all the modern
amenities. Draft a suitable advertisement in not more than 50 words to be
published in the local newspaper.

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

Suggested value points:
 accommodation (bungalow to be used as guest house)
 preferred location (optional)
 size, no. of rooms
 amenities desired
 price range/ rent
 contact (Vinod/ Vineeta, General Manager, Global Solutions, Meerut)

(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
coherence and relevance of ideas and style 1 mark
2 marks

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Q.4 A book fair was organised in your city, Bhopal. Thousands of people including a
large number of students visited the fair. It arouse a great interest in reading and
buying books. You want that such book fairs are held in other cities of the state
also to promote the habit of reading. Write a letter in 120-150 words to the editor
of a local newspaper giving your views. You are Navtej/ Navita, F-112, Malviya
Nagar, Bhopal.

Letter to Editor
6 marks
Ans. 4 Suggested Value Points
- visit to a book fair
- how impressed you were
- attractive stalls, crowd puller
- request that book fair should be held in more cities
- helps to promote reading
- significance of book fairs for the students, common man , the elderly
(any other relevant point)

OR
4 LETTER OF COMPLAINT 6 marks

You carried a hit and run accident victim to a local hospital. You are shocked to
Q.4 see that in its causality ward the conditions were chaotic. The patient was attended
to after a lot of precious time was lost. You are Deepak/ Deepa, A-114 Roop Nagar,
Delhi. Write a letter of complaint in 120-150 words to the Chief Medical Officer
of the Hospital.

Ans.4 Suggested Value Points
- what you saw, an accident
- what you did
- your experience in the causality ward
- your suggestions to the Chief Medical Officer

(any other relevant point)

5 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

Format: Opening remarks & closing remarks 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

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Q.5 Every year there are floods or droughts in the country. Victim suffer a lot. The
government does a lot to help the people, but it is not enough. Society also must do
its bit. Write a speech in 150-200 words to be delivered in school morning
assembly describing how the student can also help by collecting clothes, money
and medicines from their neighbourhoods. You are Arun/ Aruna.

Ans.5 Suggested Value Points

- what has prompted you to speak
- helplessness of the victim
- what the Government is doing
- students- part of society
- what they can do - collect money, clothes, medicines
(any other relevant point)

OR
DEBATE 10 marks
5
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 conclusion 1 mark
Content 5 marks
Expression
Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling (2 marks)
coherence and relevance of ideas and style (2 marks) 4 marks

Q.5 ‘Rain harvesting is the only solution to water crisis in the present times’. Write a
Debate either for or against the motion in 150-200 words. You are Sujata/ Ajith

Ans.5 Suggested Value Points

For
- What is rain harvesting?
- its purpose
- nature of crisis-saving water
- all other ways have failed
- which ones and why
- household saving of water
- agriculture, water guzzling crops like rice, sugarcane etc.
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- Industrial waste- profit motive
- most of the river water is wasted
- rain harvesting is the only solution

Against
 rain water harvesting is not the only but one of the many solutions
 need of sincerity act :
-household level (use of washing machine, dish washer)
-state level (stringent laws to curb pollution of river water)
-industry level (use R&D to use less water)
-agriculture (change of crop pattern)
 ‘only solution’ is a pessimistic view
 essential requirements is to use water sensibly

Note: ( A candidate may be awarded marks if he/ she has given more or
different but convincing arguments)

(any other relevant details)

6 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 relevance of ideas and style (2 marks)

Q.6 History Club of your school organized a picnic on a river bank. During the picnic
you observed a small boat (with two persons in it) sinking. You saw a good
swimmer jump into the river and rescue the two persons in the boat. Write a
report in 150-200 words on the picnic and the rescue. You are Rohit of 2, Mall
Road, Kanpur.

Ans.6 Heading: Tragedy Averted (or any other relevant title)

Suggested value points
- students at the picnic spot enjoying themselves
- incident of the sinking boat
- reaction of the observers
- action taken – rescue efforts
- outcome – drowning men saved

(use of creativity and imagination required)
(any other relevant point)

OR
6 ARTICLE 10 marks
Format: Title and writer’s name 1 Mark
Content 5 Marks
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Expression
Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling [ 2 marks]
4 marks
Coherence and relevance of ideas and style [ 2 marks]

Q.6 Wearing the school uniform gives the student an identity, pride and a feeling of
discipline. Write an article in 150-200 words on, ‘Importance of wearing a
uniform in school’. You are Jagan / Jagriti.

Title: ‘Importance of wearing a uniform in school’ (any other relevant title)

Ans.6 Suggested Value Points

- school uniform makes you look smart
- feel important – feeling of belongingness to the school
- a feeling of discipline
- instilling pride and feeling of unity
- gives identity / uniformity and equality

(any other opinion expressed by the students to be accepted and adequately
compensated)

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

7 NOTE: The objective of the section on Literature is to test a candidate’s ability 8 marks
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.
But just as he laid his head on the ground, he heard a sound-a hard regular
Q.7 thumping. There was no doubt as to what that was. He raised himself, ‘Those are
the hammer strokes from an iron mill’, he thought.
Q.(i) Who is he?
the peddler/ the vagabond/ the tramp/ the rattrap man/ the rattrap seller/ the rattrap
Ans.(i) maker/ the protagonist 1 mark

Q.(ii) Where was ‘he’ at that moment?
Ans.(ii) in a forest/ the woods 1 mark
Q.(iii ) Why did he lay his head on the ground?
he was tired/ he saw no way out/ because darkness was descending and he was
Ans. desperate/ he was lost
1 mark
(iii)

Q.(iv) Did he feel comfortable on hearing the thumping sound? Why?
Ans. Yes, would get human company/ he knew about the Ramsjo Ironworks nearby and ½ + ½ =1
(iv) thought he would find shelter and people / warmth of the furnace in the mill mark

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7 (b) And such too ……………………….heaven’s brink.
Q.(i) Which two things of beauty are mentioned in these lines?
grandeur of the dooms/ lives of great people/ beautiful and grand mausoleums/ lovely 1 mark
Ans.(i)
tales/ beautiful poetry
Q.(ii) Why are the ‘lovely tales’ called an endless fountain?
Ans. 1 mark
constant source of happiness and inspiration
(ii)
Q(iii) Where is this fountain situated?
Ans. 1 mark
heaven’s brink/ in heaven
(iii)
Q(iv) Explain : ‘grandeur of the dooms’.
legacy left behind by the great ancestors/ beautiful buildings and ruins/ mausoleums 1 mark
Ans.
and dooms dedicated to the mighty dead/ ancestors
(iv)
Short answer type questions (Any five)
Distribution of marks:
8 Content: 1 mark 2 X 5 =10
Expression : 1 mark marks
(deduct ½ a mark for two or more grammatical/spelling mistakes)
How is the mother tongue important to a person? What does M.Hamel, the
Q.(a)
teacher say about it?
- acts as a binding force / creates unity among people
- when people are enslaved the mother tongue is like a key to prison, people
Ans. 1+1=
should hold fast to their mother tongue (any one) 2 marks
(a)
- French is the most beautiful , clearest and the most logical language, we must
guard it and never forget it
Q(b) Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her meeting with Danny Casey?
- Jansie would not keep it a secret / the whole neighbourhood would come to
Ans. know
2 marks
(b) - Jansie might also tell her brother and father / Sophie did not want a row

Q.(c) How bad were the living conditions in which Mukesh and his family survived?
no drainage or running water / devoid of sewage / stinking lanes choked with garbage /
Ans. houses that were hobbles / crumbling walls, wobbly doors / no windows / crowded with
2 marks
(c) humans and animals in a primeval state
(any two)
Why has the poet mentioned ‘merry children spilling out of their homes’ in the
Q.(d) poem? (My Mother at Sixty-Six)

- the sprinting children represent joy, energy and zest
- the mother’s pale, wan face is a reminder of a grim reality – fear of separation
Ans. from near and dear ones
2 marks
(d) - sharp contrast between the children and the mother/ youth and old age
(any two)

Q.(e) How is Antarctica different from the place you live in?
pristine region / no human existence / no billboards / no buildings / ubiquitous silence
Ans. 2 marks
interrupted only by the occasional avalanche or calving ice sheet / days go on and on in
(e)
surreal twenty four hour austral summer / immensity

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(any two)
On seeing Roger Skunk again with a very bad smell, how did the little animals
Q.(f)
react first and then later on when he had lost it?
Roger Skunk smelt bad, had no friends, got his smell changed to smell of roses/ little
Ans. animals gathered around him and played many games/ mother Skunk hits the wizard 2 marks
(f) and got Roger skunk’s old smell back. Eventually all got used to the way he was/ did
not mind it at all.
1+1=
Q.(g) “I felt like sinking to the floor”, said Zitkala-Sa. When did she feel so and why? 2 marks
Ans. When the blanket was removed from her shoulder, she felt humiliated and ashamed
(g) because of the immodest / closely clinging clothes
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 presentations may be accepted as equally correct 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]
Q.9 How did Douglas develop a fear of water?
Suggested value points
Ans.9 - When waves knocked him down and swept over him at the California beach –
he was four years old
- This fear of water became intense when he was thrown into the YMCA
swimming pool by a bully / older boy, he was frightened when he was tossed 6 marks
into the deep end of the pool
- He struggled hard, finally gave up the fight and became unconscious

(any other relevant point)
(any three points)
OR
Q.9 How did Civil Disobedience triumph at Motihari? (Indigo)
Suggested value points
- exploitation and oppression of farmers of Champaran, forced to grow Indigo
Ans.9 - Gandhiji reached Champaran and started his protest at the request of Raj Kumar
Shukla
- challenge to the British Government, Gandhiji likely to be arrested
- farmers turned up in large numbers outside the court and police station to court
arrest, Gandhiji did not want to set a bad example as a law breaker on the other 6 marks
hand he wanted to render himself to the humanitarian cause for which he had
come
- Civil disobedience continued, landlords were finally made to sign an agreement
favourable to Indigo farmers and had to pay 25 % of the profit and surrender
part of their prestige
(any other relevant point)
(any three points)

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Distribution of marks:
Content: 3 marks
10 Expression: 3 marks 6 marks
grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling [1½ marks]
coherence and relevance of ideas and style [1½ marks]

Q.10 Describe briefly the scene at the third level of Grand Central as seen (or seemed to
be seen) by Charley.

Ans. Suggested value points
10
- fewer tickets windows
- smaller rooms
- people dress like eighteen-ninety something
- information booth- made of wood 6 marks
- ticket clerk with green eyeshade and longed black sleeve protector
- lights were dim and flickering
- open-flame gas lights
- brass spittoons on the floor
- small Currier and Ives locomotive
- stack of papers “The World”- printed , June 11, 1894

(any other relevant point)
(any three points)
OR
Q.10 How did Dr. Sadao resolved the conflict in his mind between his loyalty to his
country and his duty as a doctor?

Ans. - his duty was to save lives
10 - decided to operate on the PoW
- had studied in the US but working in the army
- loyal towards his country 6 marks
- informed General Takima about the PoW
- provided all the facilities for Tom to escape when the assassins did not arrive as
promised by the General

(any other relevant point)
(any three points)

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