NBSE Class 12 Question Paper 2022 English

Total number of printed pages : 7 NB /XII/ENG/1

2022
ENGLISH
Full marks : 80 Time : 3 hours

General instructions:
i) Approximately 15 minutes is allotted to read the question paper and revise the
answers.
ii) The question paper consists of 14 questions. All questions are compulsory.
iii) Marks are indicated against each question.
iv) Internal & general choice have been provided in some questions.
N.B: Check to ensure that all pages of the question paper is complete as indicated on the
top left side.

SECTION-A (Literature)

1. Answer any five of the following questions: 5x2=10

(a) Whom does the soldier remember fondly from his childhood days and
why?
(b) What are the wants and desires of the youth in Liberia as expressed by
Sirleaf ?
(c) “Sunshine girl”, everybody said and Susan smiled for she had understood
where her shine came from. Where did Susan’s shine come from?
(d) What did Red Chief do when he learn that the two kidnappers were
planning to leave him behind?
(e) What was the excuse Bill and Sam made up to convince the boy to go
home?
(f) What are the promises of EQ development?

2. Answer any one of the following questions in about 150 words: 5

(a) What kind of person was Jean- Victor? What does his act of volunteering in
place of the Duke tell you about him?
(b) What challenges did Susan face to follow her dreams and how did she learn
to believe in herself?
(c) Define Emotional Intelligence. Explain the four factors of Emotional
Intelligence.

3. Read the lines from the poem and answer any two questions that follow,i.e.,any
two from I,II,III,IV:

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I. If this be error, and upon me prov’d,
I never writ, nor no man ever lov’d.

(a) What is the error the poet is referring to? 1
(b) What would be the consequence if the poet is proved wrong? 1
(c) Find one pair of rhyming words in the above extract. 1

II. I am not yet born, rehearse me
In the parts I must play and the cues I must take when
Old men lecture me, bureaucrats hector me, mountains
Frown at me, lovers laugh at me, the white
Waves call me to folly and the desert calls
Me to doom and the beggar refuses
My gift and my children curse me.

(a) Who is the speaker here? 1
(b) What does the speaker want to be rehearse on? 1
(c) What does the line ‘the white waves call me to folly and the desert
calls me to doom’ mean ? 1

III. Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What heart heard of, ghost guessed:
It is the blight man was born for,
It is Margaret you mourn for.

(a) What has the heart heard that neither the mouth nor the mind can
express? 1
(b) What ‘blight’ was man born for? 1
(c) Who, in reality, Margaret is mourning for? 1

IV. Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley’d and thunder’d.

(a) Describe the scene as evident in these lines. 1
(b) What did the soldiers do despite being attacked by cannon from all
sides? 1
(c) What according to the poet, did the world do? 1

4. Elucidate the central theme of the poem, ‘Spring and Fall’.
Or 4
Even after realizing that their commander had ‘blundered’, the soldiers kept
charging forward. Write a note on the soldiers as portrayed in the poem, ‘The
Charge of the Light Brigade’.

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5. Moreover he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tiber,he hath left them you,
And to your heirs forever, Common pleasures,
To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?

(a) Who is reading the will and to whom? 1
(b) What does Caesar’s will say? 2
(c) Explain the line, ‘ Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?’ 2
Or
Write the character sketch of Mark Antony. 5

6. Answer any two of the following questions in about 150 words: 5x2=10

(a) Give a detailed character sketch of Mr. Hiram Otis.
(b) How did the Otis family react when the ghost first appeared?
(c) The Canterville Ghost is a simple ghost story. Would you agree with this
statement or do you think that the story has different aspects to it.
Substantiate your answer with reasons.

SECTION –B (Reading)

7. Air pollution is an issue which concerns us all alike. One can willingly choose or
reject a food, a drink or a life comfort, but unfortunately there is little choice for
the air we breathe. All, what is there in the air is inhaled by one and all living in
those surroundings. Air pollutant is defined as a substance which is present while
normally it is not there or present in an amount exceeding the normal
concentrations. It could either be gaseous or a particulate matter. The important
and harmful polluting gases are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone and
oxides of sulphur and nitrogen. The common particulate pollutants are the dusts
of various inorganic or organic origins. Although we often talk of the outdoor air
pollution caused by industrial and vehicular exhausts, the indoor pollution may
prove to be as or a more important cause of health problems.
Recognition of air pollution is relatively recent. It is not
uncommon to experience a feeling of ‘suffocation’ in a closed environment. It
is often ascribed to the lack of oxygen. Fortunately, however, the composition
of air is remarkably constant all over the world. There is about 79 percent
nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen in the air, the other gases forming a very small
fraction. It is true that carbon dioxide exhaled out of lungs may accumulate in a
closed and overcrowded place. But such an increase is usually small and
temporary unless the room is really airtight. Exposure to poisonous gases such
as carbon monoxide may occur in a closed room, heated by burning coal inside.
This may also prove to be fatal.

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What is more common in a poor ventilated home is a vague
constellation of symptoms described as the sick building syndrome. It is
characterized by a general feeling of malaise, headache, dizziness and irritation
of mucous membranes. It may also be accompanied by nausea, itching, aches,
pains and depression. Sick building syndrome is getting commoner in big cities
with small houses, which are generally over furnished. Some of the important
pollutants whose indoor concentrations exceed those of the outdoors include
gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and organic
substances like spores, formaldehydes, hydrocarbon aerosols and allergens.
The sources are attributed to a variety of construction materials, insulations,
furnishings, adhesives, cosmetics, house dusts, fungi and other indoor products.
By-products of fuel combustion are important in houses with
indoor kitchens. It is not only the burning of dried dung and fuel wood which is
responsible, but also kerosene and liquid petroleum gas. Oxides of both
nitrogen and sulphur are released from their combustion. Smoking of tobacco
in the closed environment is an important source of indoor pollution. It may not
be high quantitatively, but significantly hazardous for health. It is because of
the fact that there are over 3,000 chemical constituents in tobacco smoke,
which have been identified. These are harmful for human health.
Micro-organisms and allergens are of special significance in the
causation and spread of diseases. Most of the infective illness may involve
more persons of a family living in common indoor environment. These include
viral and bacterial diseases like tuberculosis. Besides infections, allergic and
hypersensitivity disorders are spreading fast. Although asthma is the most
common form of respiratory allergic disorders, pneumonia are not uncommon,
but more persistent and serious. These are attributed to exposures to allergens
from various fungi, moulds and other organic materials. Indoor air ventilation
systems, coolers, air conditioners, dampness, decay, pet animals, production
and handling of the causative items are responsible for these hyper-sensitivity
diseases.
Obviously, the spectrum of pollution is very wide and our
options are limited. Indoor pollution may be handled relatively easily by an
individual. Moreover, the good work must start from one’s own house.

I. (a) What are air pollutants? 1
(b) How is indoor smoking very hazardous? 1
(c) What is sick building syndrome? How is it increasing? 2
(d) In what form are the air pollutants present? 2

II. Give the synonyms of the words from the passage: 2x1=2
(a) gather
(b) humidity

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8. Read the following passage and prepare notes on the contents of the passage and
summarize in about 80 words using the notes that you have made: 4+3=7
Happy is the man who acquires the habit of reading when he is young. He has
secured a life long source of pleasure, instruction and inspiration. So long as he has
his beloved books, he need never feel lonely. He always has a pleasant occupation of
leisure moment, so that he need never feel bored. He is the possessor of wealth more
precious than gold. Ruskin calls books, ‘Kings’ Treasures’-treasures filled not with
gold and silver and precious stones, but with riches more valuable than these-
knowledge, noble thoughts and high ideals. Poor indeed is the man who does not read,
and empty is his life.
The blessings which the reading habit confers on its possessor are many.
Provided we choose the right kind of books, reading gives the highest kind of
pleasure. Some books we read simply for pleasure and amusement-for example, good
novels as novels and books of imagination must have their place in everybody’s
reading. When we are tired or the brain is weary with serious study, it is a healthy
recreation to lose ourselves in some absorbing story written by a master hand.
However, to read nothing but books of fiction is like eating nothing but cakes and
sweetmeats. As we need plain, wholesome food for the body, so we must have serious
reading for the mind. We can choose the reading according to our taste. There are
many noble books on history, biography, philosophy, religion, travel and science
which we ought to read and which will give us not only pleasure but education. We
can also develop the taste for serious reading so that in the end it will give us more
solid pleasure than even novels and books of fiction.
Poetry should not be neglected either for the best poetry gives us noble
thoughts and beautiful imaginings clothed in lovely and musical language. Books are
the most faithful of friends. Our friends may change or die; but our books are always
patiently waiting to talk to us. They are never cross, peevish or unwilling to converse
as our friends sometimes are. No wonder a reader becomes a “book –lover”.

SECTION-C (Writing)

9. You are Michael Konyak. You have passed your HSSLC examination and you
are looking for an admission in St. Peter’s College Dimapur. Given below is the
aforementioned college form. Fill in all the necessary details.
Section-I
Applicant’s Details
First name________Last name_______
Date of birth______
Permanent address___________
Nation of citizenship______
Contact no_______

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Section- II
HSSLC Details
School last attended________
Stream________
Pass Percentage___________
Subjects______ _____ _____ ______ ____ ______
Or 4
Read the conversation between Jayden and Mrs. Martha. Jayden had to go out
for a football match and so, he left a message for his mom. Write the message in
about 50 words.
Mrs Martha: This is Mrs Martha. Could I speak to Mrs Roseline?
Jayden: Sorry! Mom is not at home.
Mrs Martha: Are you her son Jayden?
Jayden: Ye aunty, can I take a message for mom?
Mrs Martha: Please tell your mom that she is invited to a tea party at 4 pm
tomorrow at Heritage Café. Some other friends will also be there. At the party,
there will be a talk by the noted writer Arundhati Roy.
Jayden: Ok aunty, anything else?
Mrs .Martha: Yes, please tell your mom that I will come and pick her up.
Jayden: Yes aunty. I will convey your message.

10. You are Aron / Angel, the school captain of Spring Valley School, Phek. Your
school is observing the 32nd National Road Safety Week and you are asked to
deliver a speech in the morning assembly to create awareness about road safety
and the danger of rash and reckless driving. Write the speech in about 200
words.
Or 5
Write an article in about 150- 200 words on the topic, ‘The Importance of Career
Guidance’.

11 . You saw an advertisement in the local daily newspaper and wish to apply for the
post advertised. Write a job application with a covering letter. Give your
essential details in a CV. Sign your name as Justin/Emily. 6

SALES MANAGER WANTED
Candidate should be 25-30 years of age, should be a graduate with at least 2
years of experience as assistant or sales manager, must be fluent in English,
with good communication skills and have sound computer knowledge.
Apply to the CEO Puma Showroom, Kohima-797001

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SECTION-D (Grammar)

12. Rewrite the following as directed: 3x1=3

a. I was sleeping on the couch. The telephone rang. (Combine the sentence using
Past Perfect Continuous Tense)
b. He ______(spend) most of his time playing game. ( Present Perfect Tense)
c. I __________(work) on my assignment for a while. ( Future Continuous
Tense)

13. Write the meaning of the following idioms and phrases and make sentences of
your own: 3x1=3

a. Be in high spirits
b. Cross the bridge when you come to it
c. Stick to one’s guns

14. Fill in the blanks with correct modals: 4x1=4

a. He____speak five languages, including French.
b. I looked everywhere for my glasses but I_____find them anywhere.
c. I_____like to see the owner .
d. This is impossible, it _______be a mistake.

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