HBSE Class 12 English Core Question Paper 2017 Set B

CLASS : 12th (Sr. Secondary) Code No. 2001
Series : SS-M/2017
Roll No. SET : B
ENGLISH (Core)
[ For all Groups I, II, III ]
ACADEMIC/OPEN
(Only for Fresh Candidates)
(Evening Session)

Time allowed : 3 hours ] [ Maximum Marks : 80
• Please make sure that the printed question paper are contains 13 questions.
• The Code No. and Set on the right side of the question paper should be
written by the candidate on the front page of the answer-book.
• Before beginning to answer a question, its Serial Number must be written.
• Don’t leave blank page / pages in your answer-book.
• Except answer-book, no extra sheet will be given. Write to the point and do
not strike the written answer.
• Candidates must write their Roll Number on the question paper.
• Before answering the question, ensure that you have been supplied the
correct and complete question paper, no claim in this regard, will be
entertained after examination.

General Instructions :
(i) This question paper is divided into four Sections : A, B, C and D.
(ii) All the sections are compulsory.
(iii) Attempt all the parts of a question together.
(iv) Stick to the word limit wherever prescribed.
SECTION – A
(Reading Skills) [ M. M. 09
1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :
2001/ (Set : B) P. T. O.

(2) 2001/ (Set : B)
The eastern skies were turning slowly from black to pale green with the
coming of dawn, and we still had not found our elusive amphibian. The
hunters explained that it was useless continuing the search once it was
light, for then the frog would not show itself. This meant that we had
some two hours left in which to track down the beast and capture it. At
last damp, cold and dispirited we came to a broad flat valley filled with
great boulders through which a stream picked its way like a snake.

We had moved about half-way up this valley when I decided to break off
for a cigarette. I came to a small pool that lay like a black mirror ringed
all around with tall rocks. Choosing a smooth dry stone to sit on I
switched off my torch and sat down to enjoy my smoke.

Almost immediately afterwards something jumped into the pool with a
loud plop. I switched on my torch quickly and shone it on the surface of
the water, but there was nothing to be seen. Then I flashed the beam
across on the moss-covered rocks which formed the lip of the pool.
There, not a yard from where I was sitting, squatting on the extreme
edge of a rock. sat a great, gleaming, chocolate-coloured frog. His fat
thighs and the sides of his body were covered with a tangled belt of
something that looked like hair. I sat there hardly daring to breathe, for
the frog was perched on the extreme edge of the rock, overhanging the
pool; he was alert and suspicious, his legs bunched ready to jump. If he
was frightened, he would leap straight off the rock and into the dark
waters. For perhaps five minutes I remained as immobile as the rocks
around me, and gradually, as he got used to the light, the Hairy Frog
relaxed.

Questions : 1×4=4

(i) What expedition is described in the passage ?

(a) Eating

2001/ (Set : B)

(3) 2001/ (Set : B)
(b) Fighting

(c) Hunting

(d) Mountaineering

(ii) Which animal has been found to jump into the pool ?
(a) A water snake
(b) A crocodile
(c) A whale
(d) A hairy frog

(iii) Why was the colour of the sky changing ?

(a) Coming of dawn

(b) Coming of rain

(c) Coming of storm

(d) Coming of night

(iv) What for did the narrator stop ?

(a) For drinking

(b) For smoking

(c) For jumping in the pool

(d) No reason

OR
As we alighted from the plane onto the tarmac of one of the smallest
international airports in the world, a picture perfect sight greeted us. A
quaint airport terminal surrounded by green mountains, so tranquil
and beautiful even on a wet, grey morning, it simply took our breath
away. We had landed in the kingdom of Bhutan, one of the most
isolated nations in the world with more than 70 percent of the harsh
terrain under forest cover.
2001/ (Set : B) P. T. O.

(4) 2001/ (Set : B)
Our holiday was luxurious enough for the first couple of days in
Thimpu and Paro. We saw the national animal, the Takin and the
Dzongs that serve as the administrative and religious nerve centres.
We were put to test soon enough on a half-day trip to Taktsang, the
most revered temple in Bhutan. The temple is perched high on a
granite cliff some 800 mtr. above the Paro valley and the walk through
the beautiful forests of poplar and pines is about 10 kms. in all. It gave
us an idea of the terrain we would be up against and it possibly helped
reassure our trek guide.
For the first time we encountered the ingenuous Bhutanese system of
using running streams to power a rotating prayer wheel and tinkling
bell.
The next day, armed with walking sticks, light jackets, sun caps and
high spirits, we set off. Enjoying the sunny weather, we walked through
small villages and scenic farmlands on our way into the wilderness. For
the first three days of our trial followed the fresh water river, the Paro
Chhu through forest of blue pine-thick with the dangling Spanish Moss
that is believed to be an indicator of the level of the oxygen in the air.
The mountains were never far away in this stunning scenario.

Questions : 1×4=4
(i) Name the country whose airport has been described in the passage
:
(a) India
(b) Pakistan
(c) China
(d) Bhutan
(ii) What is the national animal of Bhutan ?
(a) Takin

(b) Dzong

(c) Both (a) & (b)

2001/ (Set : B)

(5) 2001/ (Set : B)
(d) None of the above
(iii) What ingeniuous Bhutanese system of running stream is
mentioned here ?
(a) Power of rotating prayer wheel

(b) Tinkling bells

(c) Both (a) & (b)

(d) Neither (a) nor (b)
(iv) What is behind to be an indicator of the level of the oxygen in the
air ?
(a) Spanish Moss
(b) Spanish Loss
(c) Russian Moss
(d) Russian Loss
2. Read the following passage carefully and make notes on it using
headings and sub headings. Supply an appropriate title also : 4 + 1 = 5
There is an enemy beneath our feet-an enemy the more deadly for his
complete impartiality. He recognizes no national boundaries, no
political parties. Everyone in the world is threatened by him. The
enemy is the earth itself. When an earthquake strikes, the world
trembles. The power of a quake is greater than anything man himself
can produce. But today scientists are directing a great deal of their
effort into finding some way of combating earthquakes, and it is
possible that at sometime in the near future mankind will have
discovered a means of protecting itself.
An earthquake strikes without warning. When it does, its power is
immense. If it strikes a modern city, the damage it cause is as great as
if it has struck a primitive village. Gas mains burst, explosions are
caused and fires are started. Underground railways are wrecked.
Whole buildings collapse, bridges fall, dams burst. Gaping crevices
appear in busy streets. If the quake strikes at sea, huge tidal waves

2001/ (Set : B) P. T. O.

(6) 2001/ (Set : B)
sweep inland. If it strikes in mountain regions, avalanches roar down
into the valley. Consider the terrifying statistics from the past. 1755 :
Lisbon, capital of Portugal – the city destroyed entirely and 450 killed.
1970 : Peru-50,000 killed.
In 1968, an earthquake struck Alaska. As this is a relatively
unpopulated part, only a few people were killed. But it is likely that this
was one of the most powerful quakes ever to have hit the world.
Geologists estimate that during the tremors, the whole of the state
moved over 80 feet farther west into the Pacific Ocean. Imagine the
power of something that can move an entire subcontinent ! this is the
problem that faces the scientists. They are dealing with forces so
immense that man cannot hope to resist them. All that can be done is
to try to pinpoint just where the earthquake will strike and work from
there. At least some precautionary measures can then be taken to save
lives and some of the property.

SECTION – B
(Grammar/Writing Skills) [ M. M. : 26

3. Attempt any two from each sub-part :

(a) Change the form of narration : 1×2=2

(i) He said to me' "May you win a scholarship!"

(ii) The Principal said to the peon, "Bring this file to me".

(iii) Her husband cried, "How stupid you are!"

(b) Supply articles wherever necessary : 1 × 2 = 2

(i) ……………. Bible is a holy book.

(ii) It is ……………. Umbrella.

(iii) His wife is ……………. European.

2001/ (Set : B)

(7) 2001/ (Set : B)
(c) Fill in the blanks with suitable modal auxiliary verbs given in the
brackets : 1×2=2

(i) Work hard other wise you ……………. fail.

(will/can/shall).

(ii) You ……………. get a prize.

(will/shall/can).

(iii) ……………. you live long! (May/Can/Will)

(d) Change the following sentences into passive voice : 1 ×
2=2
(i) Seeta writes a letter.
(ii) A nurse is dressing his wounds.
(iii) Who will win the elections ?

(e) Use the correct form of the verb given in brackets : 1 ×
2=2

(i) When Nehru ……………. (write) his will ?

(ii) He thanked me for what I …………….(do).

(iii) He ……………. (visit) us next week.

4. Attempt any two of the following : 3×2=6
(a) A youth festival is being organized at your school. As cultural
secretary of club invite names of those who would like to participate
in this youth festival.
(b) You are a business man. You need a personal driver for your Honda
city car. Draft a suitable advertisement.
(c) Design a poster educating people how to conserve water.
5. Attempt any one of the following :

2001/ (Set : B) P. T. O.

(8) 2001/ (Set : B)
(a) Prepare a report of the Annual Prize Distribution function held in
your school last week. You are Lokesh and student editor of school
magazine. 5
(b) Write a paragraph in about 100 words on "Your Best Friend".
6. Write a letter to the librarian of your school requesting him to remit
your library fine. 5
SECTION – C
(A) Main Reader [Prose] [ M. M. : 20

7. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :

It had happened when I was ten or eleven years old. I had decided to
learn to swim. There was a pool at the Y. M. C. A. in Yakima that
offered exactly the opportunity. The Yakima River was treacherous.
Mother continually warned against it, and kept fresh in my mind the
details of each drowning in the river. But the Y. M. C. A. pool was safe
It was only two or three feet deep at the shallow end; and while it was
nine feet deep at the other, the drop was gradual. I got a pair of water
wings and went to the pool. I hated to walk naked into it and show my
skinny legs. But I subdued my pride and did it.

Questions : 1×5=5
(i) Name the chapter and its author.
(ii) What does Y. M. C. A. stand for ?

(iii) Name the river mentioned in the passage.
(iv) Did the writer enter the YMCA pool ?

(v) Find words from the passage which mean the same as :

(a) Chance

(b) Dangerous
2001/ (Set : B)

(9) 2001/ (Set : B)
OR

During one of the long dark evenings just before Christmas, the master
Smith and his helper sat in the dark forge near the furnace waiting for
the pig iron, which had been put in the fire, to be ready to put on the
anvil. Every now and then one of them got up to stir the glowing mass
with a long iron bar, returning in a few moments, dripping with
perspiration, though, as was the custom, he wore nothing but a long
shirt and a pair of wooden shoes.

All the time there were many sounds to be heard in the forge. The big
bellows groaned and the burning coal cracked. The fire boy shovelled
charcoal into the maw of the furnace with a great deal of clatter.
Outside roared the waterfall, and a sharp north wind whipped the rain
against the brick-tiled roof.

Questions : 1×5=5
(i) Name the chapter and its author.

(ii) Who sat in the dark forge near the furnace ?

(iii) What sounds were coming from the furnace ?

(iv) What was he wearing as was the custom ?

(v) Find words from the passage which mean the same as :

(a) Shining

(b) Put through shovels

8. Answer any one of the following : 5

(a) How was the Champaran episode the first victory of civil
disobedience in modern India ? (Indigo)

(b) Write a brief character sketch of Subbu.
2001/ (Set : B) P. T. O.

( 10 ) 2001/ (Set : B)
(Poets & Pancakes)

9. Answer any five of the following : 2 × 5 = 10

(i) What are some of the positive views on interviews ?

(ii) What does the story "Going Places" tell us about Sophie's brother
Geoff ?

(iii) What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day
?

(iv) Where has Saheb come from ?

(v) Why was Douglas determined to get over the fear of water ?

(vi) Why did the peddler decline the invitation ?

(vii) Where did Raj Kumar Shukla meet Gandhi ?

SECTION – C
(B) Main Reader [Poetry] [ M : M : 11

10. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow :
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,

2001/ (Set : B)

( 11 ) 2001/ (Set : B)
and for once could do nothing,
Questions : 1×5=5
(i) Name the poem and the poet.

(ii) What does the poet want ?

(iii) With whom does the poet not want to have dealing ?

(iv) How is life defined in the stanza ?

(v) Find words from the stanza which mean the same as :

(a) Misunderstand

(b) Lethargy

OR
A thing of beauty is a joy forever
Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness; but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Questions : 1×5=5
(i) Name the poem and the poet.
(ii) What is source of joy for ever ?
(iii) What will never pass into nothingness ?
(iv) What is beauty associated with ?
(v) Find words from the stanza which mean the same as :
(a) A Cluster of trees
(b) Peaceful
2001/ (Set : B) P. T. O.

( 12 ) 2001/ (Set : B)
11. Answer any two of the following : 3×2=6

(i) What is the man at the stall waiting for all the day ?
(ii) How will Aunt Jennifer's hands look when she is dead ?
(iii) How do you know that Kamala Das' mother is old and weak ?
SECTION – D
(Supplementary Reader) [ M. M. 14

12. Answer any one of the following : 5
(a) Why did Tishani Doshi visit Antarctica ? What does she say about
Gondwana ?

(b) What did Dr. Sadao and his wife Hana see one day ?

13. Answer any three of the following : 3×3=9

(i) Who is Jo ? How does she respond to her father's story-telling ?

(ii) Who is Derry ? Why does he go to Mr. Lamb's garden
?

(iii) What kind of a person was Evans ?

(iv) How does Bama describe the scene of threshing ?

S
2001/ (Set : B)