HBSE Class 11 Sample Paper 2026 English Elective

MODEL PAPER

ENGLISH ELECTIVE
(Subject Code: 520)

Time Allowed: 3 Hours Class –XI Maximum Marks: 80
Session: 2025–26

General Instructions:

1. Reading time of 15 minutes is allotted to read the question paper.

2. The Question Paper contains four sections – READING, WRITING and LITERATURE.

3. Follow specific instructions in each section. Mention the correct question number while
answering.

SECTION – A: READING (10 marks)

Q1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: (5 Marks)

Our world today faces an unprecedented environmental crisis. From climate change to biodiversity loss,
the signs of ecological imbalance are visible across the globe. Human activities like deforestation,
excessive use of fossil fuels, and industrial pollution are contributing to this rapid deterioration. Scientists
have warned that if timely actions are not taken, the consequences may become irreversible. However, it
is not too late. By adopting sustainable practices, reducing carbon emissions, conserving water and
energy, and protecting natural habitats, we can restore balance and ensure a healthier planet for future
generations. Youth, in particular, have a crucial role to play in spreading awareness and bringing about
meaningful change through innovation, activism, and responsible choices.

1.1 What is the central idea of the passage?
a) Industrial development is necessary for progress.
b) Youth should focus only on their careers.
c) Human actions are harming the environment and must change.
d) Technology will solve all environmental problems.

1.2 According to the passage, how can we ensure a healthier planet?
a) Increase fossil fuel use
b) Focus on economic growth only
c) Adopt sustainable practices and protect natural habitats
d) Reduce the number of forests

3. Name two human activities mentioned in the passage that harm the environment.
4. What role does the passage suggest for youth in environmental conservation?
5. Mention any one consequence of ecological imbalance as per the passage.

Q2. Read the following unseen poem carefully and answer the questions that follow. (5 Marks)

Echoes of Dawn

The sky blushes with morning light,
Chasing shadows of the night.
Birds awake in gentle tunes,
Dancing rays embrace the dunes.

A dewdrop clings to blades of green,
Holding worlds yet never seen.
The breeze hums low, a waking song,
To stir the dreams that slept too long.

Each sunrise brings a chance to mend,
A time to grow, a path to bend.
With every glow, a day is born—
In echoes soft of early morn.

1. What message does the poem convey?
a) Nature is indifferent to time
b) Morning symbolizes new beginnings
c) Dreams are illusions
d) The night is more peaceful than day

2. Which poetic device is used in the line “The sky blushes with morning light”?
a) Simile
b) Personification
c) Metaphor
d) Alliteration

3. What clings to the blades of green in the poem?

4. How does the breeze affect the surroundings?

5. In one word, describe the tone of the poem.

SECTION – B: WRITING SKILLS AND GRAMMAR (20 marks)

Q3. Attempt any one of the following: (5 marks)

(a) Write a debate in 150–200 words either for or against the motion:
“Social Media Has Done More Harm Than Good to Teenagers.”

OR

(b) Write a debate in 150–200 words either for or against the motion:
“Online Learning Can Never Replace Traditional Classroom Education.”

Q4. Attempt any one of the following: (5 marks)

Write a paragraph in about 120–150 words on any one of the following topics:

(a) The Importance of Self-Discipline in Student Life
OR
(b) A Memorable Day from Your School Life

Q5. Choose the most appropriate option for each sentence: (10 marks)

1. You _______ finish your homework before going out.
a) can
b) should
c) may
d) need

2. He is very tired; he _______ have slept late last night.
a) might
b) should
c) must
d) can

3. She _______ to school every day, but today she is unwell.
a) go
b) goes
c) is going
d) gone

4. By the time we arrived, the show _______.
a) has started
b) was starting
c) had started
d) will start

5. The letter _______ by the postman yesterday.
a) delivers
b) delivered
c) was delivered
d) is delivered

6. A new road _______ in this area next year.
a) will build
b) is built
c) was building
d) will be built

7. He said, "I am reading a book."
a) He said he had read a book.
b) He said he is reading a book.
c) He said he was reading a book.
d) He says he was reading a book.

8. The teacher said, "Do your homework regularly."
a) The teacher said to do your homework regularly.
b) The teacher advised me to do my homework regularly.
c) The teacher told me I should do my homework regularly.
d) The teacher ordered me to do homework regularly.

9. There is _______ university near my house.
a) an
b) a
c) the
d) no article

10. She bought _______ umbrella and a raincoat from the market.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) no article

SECTION – C: LITERATURE (20 marks)

Q6. Read the following extract from a short story and answer the questions that follow. (5 marks)

The twilight of evening. Big flakes of wet snow are whirling lazily about the street lamps which have just
been lighted. Iona Potapov, the sledge-driver, is all white like a ghost. He sits on the box without stirring,
bent double. He seems petrified by the falling snow. His little horse, too, is white and motionless.

A passer-by shouts at him: “Drive on! Are you asleep?”
Iona stirs, starts and tugs at the reins. The little horse jogs forward slowly.

1. What is the tone of the passage?
a) Humorous
b) Melancholic
c) Angry
d) Excited

2. What does Iona’s stillness suggest in the scene?
a) He is enjoying the snow
b) He is lost in thought or grief
c) He is asleep
d) He is ill

3. Who is Iona Potapov and what is he doing in the passage?

4. What is the significance of the snow in the passage?

5. How does the little horse reflect Iona’s condition?

Q7. Read the following stanza carefully and answer the questions that follow: (5 marks)
When she first cried out
the peacock opened his tail
only his tail
it was her voice that surprised him—
she laughed
and the peacock turned away
walking slowly
like a blue-green fire.

1. What emotion does the peacock display in response to the girl’s cry?
a) Excitement
b) Surprise
c) Joy
d) Anger

2. Which literary device is used in the phrase “like a blue-green fire”?
a) Simile
b) Metaphor
c) Alliteration
d) Personification

3. What action did the peacock take when it heard the girl's voice?

4. How did the girl react to the peacock’s behavior?

5. What does the peacock’s movement suggest in the last line?

Q8. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (5 marks)

“Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search
for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. These passions have driven me into great
joy and also into deep sorrow. I have sought love because it brings ecstasy and peace. I have pursued
knowledge to understand the world and to find meaning in human life. And I have felt pity because of the
pain I see around me, which I cannot ignore.”

1. According to the passage, Russell sought love because it brings:

a) Wealth
b) Ecstasy and peace
c) Fame
d) Responsibility
2. Russell pursued knowledge in order to:

a) Win arguments
b) Travel the world
c) Understand life and the world
d) Become a teacher

3. How many passions governed Russell’s life?
4. What feeling does Russell experience when he sees people suffering?
5. Name any one of the three passions mentioned in the passage.

Q9. Do any one of the following questions in 150 to 200 words – (5 Marks)

Describe the character of Azam Khan in the story "A Pair of Mustachios."

OR

Why was the narrator shocked at the end of the story "The Luncheon"? What does he realize?

Q10. Do any one of the following questions in 150 to 200 words – (5 Marks)

Explain the problems faced by the refugees in the poem “Refugee Blues.” How does the poet show their
sadness and helplessness?

OR

Describe how the hawk sees itself in “Hawk Roosting.” What does the poem tell us about the hawk’s
power and attitude?

Q11. Do any one of the following questions in 150 to 200 words – (5 Marks)

Describe Mark Twain’s experience with his new watch. How does he use humour to show his frustration,
the series of repairs, and the way the watch becomes worse instead of better?

OR

Explain the main ideas presented by Chandrasekhar about creativity in science. How does he describe the
different types of creative minds, and what examples does he used to support his views?

Q12. Do any four out of the following five questions in 40 to 50 words:

(2x 4= 8 Marks)

a) How does the difference in the style of mustachios create conflict between Khan Azam Khan and
the shopkeeper? (A Pair of Mustachios)

b) Why does Paul ride the rocking-horse with such intensity, and what does he hope to achieve by
doing so? (The Rocking-horse Winner)

c) What makes Sherlock Holmes suspicious of John Garrideb, and how does he uncover the truth?
(The Adventure of the Three Garridebs)

d) Why does Pappachi feel bitterness throughout his life, and how does this affect his relationship
with his family? (Pappachi’s Moth)

e) How does the narrator adjust to life in America, and what role does Mrs. Croft play in shaping his
early experiences there? (The Third and Final Continent)

Q13. Do any four out of the following five questions in 40 to 50 words:

(2x 4= 8 Marks)

a) What does Devy say about the importance of oral tradition in tribal literature?
b) According to Ruskin, what qualities make a book “good,” and why does he compare books to
kings and rulers?
c) How does E. M. Forster explain the role of “story” in fiction, and why does he believe it is
essential for readers?
d) How does Kumudini Lakhia describe the significance of bridges in connecting people, cultures,
and experiences?

e) Why does Mark Twain become increasingly frustrated with his watch, and how do the repair
attempts make the situation worse?

Q14. Do any two out of the following three questions in 40 to 50 words: (2x2=4 Marks)

a) How does Shakespeare describe true love in the poem? Mention any one quality of true love that
he highlights.

b) What makes the telephone conversation between the poet and the landlady uncomfortable?
Explain briefly.

c) Why does Keats wish to escape from the world of reality? How does the nightingale’s song
influence this desire?