MBOSE Class 11 Sample Question Paper 2026 English Alternative

Meghalaya Board of School Education

SAMPLE
PAPERS

ALTERNATIVE ENGLISH

CLASS XI

Full Marks: 80

Time: 3 hours

The figures in the margin indicate full marks for the questions

General instructions:

i) Write all the answers in the Answer Script.
ii) Attempt all parts of a question together at one place.

SECTION – A

(Marks: 10)

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions. 10

In primitive times, people lived in caves and under the trees. They had no
houses. Agriculture was not there and people had to live on wild plants, wild fruits
and roots besides raw meat of animals which they hunted because even fire had
not been discovered. Then, civilization developed at a few places in the world. But
these civilizations were soon razed to the ground by barbarians who inhabited the
major parts of the world.
It is a matter of long evolution and conscious efforts on the part of man
that modern civilization has developed. Modern civilization is widespread and has
taken firm roots. It is dominating major parts of the world and the areas left to the
barbarians are only small pockets which are limited to certain remote areas in thick
forests, deep valleys and inaccessible places among the hills etc.
It is for this reason that the modern civilization seems to be long lasting if
not ever-lasting, and has no virtually no danger of being wiped out by the
barbarians. On, the other hand, it is endangered from within in a number of ways.
On the one hand, there are terrorists in almost all countries, including highly
developed countries. These people are anarchists by temperament and are no
better than barbarians. They can at a time destroy mankind or cause large-scale
destruction as the 9/11 episode testifies.
Another danger to modern civilization is from the lethal explosive weapons
such as nuclear weapons, chemical and bacteriological weapons and other
weapons of mass destruction. Modern civilization is still to overcome these
obstacles.
1. A. On the basis of reading the passage, answer the questions: 1X5=5

(i) How did people survive in primitive times? 1
(ii) How were barbarians responsible for the disappearance of the earliest civilizations?1
(iii) Are there barbarians still present in the modern world? If yes, where? 1

(iv) What threatens the survival of modern civilization? 1
(v) Who are anarchists by temperament? 1

1. B. Choose the correct option: 1x5=5
(i) What helped the evolution of modern civilization? 1
(a) Anarchists
(b) Man
(c) Barbarians
(d) Lethal weapons

(ii) What is the meaning of the word ‘razed’? 1
(a) Created
(b) Destroyed
(c) Changed
(d) Rectified

(iii) Who are the modern-day barbarians? 1
(a) Man
(b) Terrorists
(c) Bacteriological weapons
(d) Natives

(iv) Give the antonym of the word ‘remote’. 1
(a) Isolated
(b) Distant
(c) Hidden
(d) Obvious

(v) What are the obstacles faced by modern civilization? 1
(a) Lack of proper facilities
(b) Presence of barbarians in remote areas
(c) Terrorists and lethal explosives
(d) None of the above

SECTION - B
(Marks: 10)
GRAMMAR AND CREATIVE SKILLS

2. Write a precis of the following passage and give a suitable title: 8+2=10
Your mental attitude is a great determining influence in your daily life. Begin the day with
an expectant and energetic mental attitude towards your work and it will elevate and
enhance all your activities. The spirit in which you regard the world and your fellow-men
will be reflected back to you. When you are in the right mental attitude, many things will
seem to conspire and cooperate to advance your work and interests. Primarily it is your
mental attitude that makes the day happy and productive, or the contrary. You can
demonstrate the truth of this today by looking only for the best, to be intelligently
optimistic, and to have confidence in the eternal supremacy of God. Make more positive
resolutions regarding the things you ought to do and bring out every possible
reinforcement to bear upon such resolutions. Assert in vigorous tones the thoughts you
wish to establish as unconscious habits of your life, remembering always that while it is a
great thing to conceive a great idea, it is still greater to put it into execution.

3. GRAMMAR 10
(a) Rewrite the sentences correctly:
(i) I shall start working since Friday. 1
(ii) He is neither honest or industrious. 1

(b) Fill in the blanks using the correct form of verb:
(i) He ____ to be so kind to me. (use/used) 1
(ii) This book ____ six chapters. (has/is having) 1

(c) Change to direct or indirect speech:
(i) He said, “The horse died yesterday.” 1
(ii) The teacher said that the students had been learning their lessons in class. 1

(d) Insert appropriate prepositions:
(i) He is disqualified ____ participating. 1
(ii) He has the widest knowledge ____ us all. 1

(e) Insert suitable articles:
(i) I have lost ____ pen I purchased yesterday. 1
(ii) That was ____ proudest moment in my life. 1

SECTION – C

(Marks:50)

4. Choose the correct answer in the following: 1x10=10
(i) The stranger finally met the man in: 1
(a) Charing Cross
(b) Folkestone

(c) A boat sailing to France
(d) Boulogne

(ii) Rahim Khan’s younger son was named: 1
(a) Nuru
(b) Bundu
(c) Chhiddoo
(d) Nathoo

(iii) How many previous journeys had Najab made across the Rann? 1
(a) Three
(b) Four
(c) Five
(d) Two

(iv) The convict finally rose from his bed when the clock struck: 1
(a) Twelve
(b) Two
(c) Three
(d) Four

(v) Satish’s inkpot was set in a mother-of-pearl boat drawn by a: 1
(a) Greek sterling silver goose
(b) German silver goose
(c) German silver-plated swan
(d) French silver swan

(vi) What is the central idea of the poem, “Ode on A Grecian Urn”? 1
(a) Love and loss
(b) The timelessness of art
(c) Pastoral life
(d) The importance of nature

(vii) Who wrote the poem, “Laugh and Be Merry”? 1
(a) D. H. Lawrence
(b) William Cowper
(c) John Keats
(d) John Masefield

(viii) In the poem, “A Baby Running Barefoot” the poet does not compare the baby’s
feet to: 1

(a) Two butterflies that settle on a cup
(b) White flowers that nod in the wind
(c) To the song of a thrush
(d) The firm and silken young peony flowers

(ix) Which of the following statements is not true: 1
(a) Allen witnessed the murder of Metzker by Duff Armstrong
(b) According to the almanac, on August 29, 1856, the moon set at 11:57 pm
(c) Allen alleged that the murder was committed between twelve and two
o’clock at night
(d) All of the above

(x) Why did Brutus kill Caesar? 1
(a) He was envious of Caesar
(b) He was fearful of Caesar’s growing power
(c) He believed he was acting in the best interest of Rome
(d) He wanted to betray Caesar

5. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow: 2x5=10
(i) ‘The peasants shook their heads sympathetically. ‘Poor fellow, ‘they said, ‘he has
gone mad.’
(a) Who was the ‘poor fellow’ referred to? 1
(b) Why did the peasants think that he had gone mad? 1
OR
‘As Zaman stalked off, Aftab went in to break the news of their son’s escapade to
his wife. She would faint, he thought. He found her crouching with her back
against the mud wall. She did not even blink in surprise, once.’
(a) What was the news about their son that Aftab had to break to his wife? 1
(b) Why wasn’t his wife surprised? 1

(ii) ‘When I reached this place this evening I went to an inn, and they sent me away
on account of my yellow passport, which I had shown at the mayor’s office as
was necessary.’
(a) Who spoke the above words? 1
(b) Why was he sent away because of his yellow passport? 1

(iii) ‘Thou still unravish’d bride of quietness,
Thou foster child of silence and slow time…’
(a) Who is the ‘unravish’d bride of quietness’? 1
(b) Why does the poet say that it is the foster child of silence and slow time?1

OR

‘Laugh and be merry together, like brothers akin,
Guesting awhile in the rooms of a beautiful inn…’
(a) Explain the above lines. 2

(iv) ‘Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust in him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.’
(a) What does the poet ask us not to do? 1
(b) What should we do instead? 1

OR

‘And let the guerdon of my labor be
My fallen country! One kind wish from thee!’
(a) What labor has he performed for his fallen country? 1
(b) What is the meaning of the word ‘guerdon’? 1

(v) Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
(a) Why did the speaker say the above lines? 1
(b) When were the above words spoken? 1

OR

Well, Duff, I’ve got you set free. And it is your job now to stay free.
(a) How was Lincoln able to set Duff Armstrong free? 2

6. Answer the following questions in about 100 – 200 words. 5x6=30

(i) What was the story told by the stranger at Dabney’s? 5
OR
What led Rahim Khan to be so cruel and hard-hearted to everyone around him?
What caused him to change in the end? 2+3=5

(ii) How does love bring about a change in Najab’s character? Cite examples from
the text to support your answer. 5
OR
Give a character sketch of the bishop. Support your answer with examples from
the text. 5

(iii) Does the poem, ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ make a final statement on the relation
between the real and the ideal, and between art and real life? 5
OR
According to the poem, ‘Laugh and Be Merry’, what is the best way to live life? 5

(iv) What is William Cowper’s message in the poem, ‘Light Shining Out of Darkness’? 5

OR
Give a summary of the poem, ‘To India - My Native Land’. 5

(v) What was Todd’s opinion of congressmen and senators? How did Abraham
Lincoln counter Todd’s statement? 2.5+2.5=5
OR
How does Brutus justify Caesar’s assassination to the crowd? 5

(vi) Reference to the context: 5
(a) O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers.
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
OR
(b) If you stop and if everyone stops buying, there will be no more slave trade. 5

ALTERNATIVE ENGLISH

CLASS XI

FULL MARKS: 100

TIME: 3 HOURS

ANSWER KEYS

SECTION-A

(MARKS-10)

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions. 10
1. A (i) In primitive times, people lived in caves and under the trees. They lived on wild
plants, wild fruits and roots besides raw meat of animals which they hunted because
even fire had not been discovered.

(ii) Civilization had developed in a few places in the world. These civilizations were razed
to the ground by barbarians who inhabited the major parts of the world.

(iii) Yes, barbarians are still present in this world. They are found in certain remote areas
in thick forests, deep valleys and inaccessible places among the hills etc.

(iv) The presence of terrorists in almost all countries of the world even in highly
developed countries. These people are anarchists by temperament and are no better
than barbarians. They can at a time destroy mankind or cause large-scale destruction
as the 9/11 episode testifies.

(v) Another danger faced by modern civilization is from lethal explosive weapons,
chemical and bacteriological weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

1. B (i) b. man
(ii) b. destroyed
(iii) b. terrorists
(iv) d. obvious
(v) c. terrorists and lethal explosives

SECTION-B
(Marks:10)
GRAMMAR AND CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS

2. Precis 10
One’s mental attitude plays a very important role in one’s life and career. One’s
attitude must be healthy, active and reasonably optimistic. One must begin the day
with a happy, energetic and hopeful resolution with a firm faith in God’s moral
order and divine justice. This attitude will change the entire complexion of life and
make one more active, assertive and successful.

3. GRAMMAR 10
(a) Rewrite the sentences correctly:
(i) I shall start working from Friday.
(ii) He is neither honest nor hardworking.

(b) Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verb:

(i) used
(ii) has

(c) Change to direct or indirect speech:

(i) He said that the horse died the previous day/ the day before.

(ii) The teacher said, “The students were learning their lessons in class.”

(d) Insert appropriate prepositions:

(i) From

(ii) Amongst

(e) Insert suitable articles:

(i) the

(ii) the

SECTION-C

(Marks:50)

LITERATURE

4. Choose the correct answer in the following: 1X10=10
(i) c. A boat sailing to France
(ii) a. Nuru
(iii) b. Four
(iv) c. Three
(v) b. German silver goose
(vi) b. The timelessness of art
(vii) d. John Masefield
(viii) c. To the song of a thrush
(ix) d. All of the above
(x) c. He believed he was acting in the best interest of Rome

5. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow: 2X5=10
(i) (a) The ‘poor fellow’ referred to was Rahim Khan. 1

(b) The peasants thought that he had gone mad because they heard him
talking to himself. Rahim Khan was talking to the sparrows wondering who
would feed them when he died. 1
OR
(a) The news that Aftab had to break to his wife was that their son had
crossed to Pakistan on his own. 1
(b) His wife showed no surprise when he broke the news to her because she
already knew about it. She had given her gold bangle to Najab to take with
him to Pakistan. 1

(ii) (a) The above words were spoken by the convict, Jean Valjean. 1
(b) He was sent away because the yellow passport showed that he had been
in prison. The people turned him away because they were distrustful and
scared of a man who had been in prison. 1

(iii) (a) The ‘unravish’d bride of quietness’ is the Greek urn. 1
(b) The poet says that the urn is the ‘foster child of silence and slow time’
because the urn is untouched by the passage of time. It has remained for
centuries without being affected by time. It is the ‘foster child of silence’
because the urn can never speak to tell of the stories behind the paintings.
1 OR
(a) In the above lines, the poet compares this world to a beautiful inn where
we are only guests staying for a brief period. It is, therefore, necessary
for us to live in peace and harmony with each other and to treat each
other as brothers. 2

(iv) (a) The poet tells us that though we may not understand the mysterious ways of
God, we should not attempt to evaluate God’s nature as we are weak in our
understanding of him and our perspective as humans is limited. 1

(b) We should trust in God without questioning his ways. 1

OR

(a) The poet has embarked on a journey through history to bring back
fragments from the past which will remind his country that it once was a
great and powerful nation. He hopes that by doing this, India will rise again
from her state of enslavement, fight her oppressors and return to her
former glory. 2

(v) (a) The above lines were spoken by Cinna after Caesar’s assassination;
to proclaim that with Caesar’s death, Rome was now free from Caesar’s
dictatorship. 1

(b) The lines were spoken after the assassination of Caesar. 1

OR

(a) Duff Armstrong was accused of murder. A painter named Allen, alleged
that he saw Duff Armstrong murder Metzker on the night of August 29
1857. He claimed that he saw the murder with his own eyes and that
the murder took place between 12 midnight and 1:00 am on August 29
1857. When Lincoln asked how it could have been possible for him to
see the murder in the dark, Allen replied that he saw it by moonlight as
the moon was right above him. Lincoln produced an almanac in court
which showed that on August 29 1857, the moon had set at 11:57pm
which proved that Allen was not telling the truth when he said he saw
the fight and murder by moonlight. It would have been impossible for
Allen to see the murder take place in the dark, and so Lincoln was able
to prove Duff Armstrong’s innocence and Duff was set free. 2

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