MBOSE Class 12 Question Paper 2023 for English Alternative

Total No. of Printed Pages—12
HS/XII/A. Sc. Com./Ae/23

2023

ALTERNATIVE ENGLISH

Full Marks : 100

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 Part—A (Objective Questions) serially.

(iii) Attempt all parts of a question together at one place.

( PART : A—OBJECTIVE )
( Marks : 50 )

SECTION—I
( Marks : 30 )

1. Fill in the blanks by choosing the right word from the
alternatives given in the brackets (any five) : 1×5=5

(a) Benjamin was the oldest animal in the farm, and
the _____ tempered.

( worst / bad )

/24 [ P.T.O.

( 2 )

(b) The commandments were written on the tarred
wall in great white letters that could be read _____
yards away.

( thirty / twenty )

(c) The _____ led through a forest that reminded one of
a cathedral.

( trail / spoor )

(d) “That will keep him busy for a _____, said Xingu.”

( month / week )

(e) Taking a four-anna coin, Sethji threw it down with
as much bold assurance as if he _____ no value to it.

( attached / detached )

(f) Sethji realised that he was up against a _____
opponent, a regular champion.

( rough / tough )

(g) Quick was _____ at his own disappointment.

( amused / shocked )

(h) A man so plump and bold could not allow himself
even to appear upset by the _____ of his children.

( affection / roughness )

HS/XII/A. Sc. Com./Ae/23/24 [ Contd.

( 3 )

2. Write whether the following statements are True or False
(any five) : 1×5=5

(a) Mr. Jones’ trap was drawn by Clover, the motherly
mare.

(b) The pigs revealed that during the past six months,
they had taught themselves to read and write.

(c) At the end of the ekka ride, Sethji was willing to shell
out three annas and nothing more.

(d) The jaguar’s eyes were as large as dinner plates.

(e) Sometimes the jaguar keeps travelling steadily for
a thousand miles.

(f) Robert Quick returned home after a holiday.

(g) Jenny reproached her sister for her inability to
control her laughter after their father was bitten
by Snort.

(h) Sethji enjoyed every opportunity of a free meal.

3. Fill in the blanks by choosing the right word from the
alternatives given in the brackets (any five) : 1×5=5

(a) The _____ lore of love and life.
( intricate / complex )

(b) So shall thy _____ spirit yearn
To seek from its blind prayer release.
( cleansed / chastened )

HS/XII/A. Sc. Com./Ae/23/24 [ P.T.O.

( 4 )

(c) Another _____ was reached when we were twice
attacked.
( phase / stage )

(d) _____ and put down copious notes.
( Observed / Absorbed )

(e) And hers the _____ and the calm.
( stillness / silence )

(f) The _____ clouds their state shall lend.
( floating / flying )

(g) Four seasons fill the _____ of the year.
( length / measure )

(h) Or else he would forego his _____ nature.
( mortal / immortal )

4. Write whether the following statements are True or False
(any five) : 1×5=5

(a) The Lord is disappointed with Naidu’s prayer.

(b) The Soul’s prayer is a soliloquy.

(c) At the beginning of the pilgrimage, the pilgrims were
very enthusiastic.

(d) Wordsworth laments the death of Lucy.

HS/XII/A. Sc. Com./Ae/23/24 [ Contd.

( 5 )

(e) Lucy’s natural instincts will be curbed and she shall
instead absorb only what nature teaches her.

(f) The Human Seasons is not a sonnet.

(g) Old age is compared to summer by Keats.

(h) The poem, Enterprise concludes on an optimistic
note.

5. Answer any five of the following questions in
2/3 sentences each. Choose either Group—A or
Group—B. 2×5=10

GROUP—A

(a) How was the convict treated in prison?

(b) Why did the Bishop not inform the police about the
thievery?

(c) How did the Bishop help the convict get to Paris?

(d) What was the offer made by the Bishop to Mere
Gringoire? Why did she refuse the offer?

(e) Why did Persome accuse Marie of being ungrateful?

(f) Who bought the salt-cellars from the Bishop? Why
was he the preferred customer?

(g) Give at least two instances from the play that prove
that the Bishop was very kind to the people.

HS/XII/A. Sc. Com./Ae/23/24 [ P.T.O.

( 6 )

GROUP—B

(a) What did Ross witness on the night of Duncan’s
murder?

(b) How does Macbeth describe sleep?

(c) How did Lady Macbeth make the preparations for
Duncan’s murder?

(d) Why did Lady Macbeth decide that they needed to
get into their nightgowns?

(e) What was the reason behind Macbeth’s inability
to pronounce ‘Amen’, while he was in Duncan’s
chamber?

(f) What did Macbeth wish for when he heard the
knocking at the castle door? Who was at the door?

(g) On what conditions was Banquo willing to follow
Macbeth’s advice?

SECTION—II
( Marks : 20 )

6. Answer any five of the following questions in
2/3 sentences each : 2×5=10

(a) How did the animals behave after they achieved
success in their rebellion against Man?

(b) What are some of the characteristics of the
jaguar?

HS/XII/A. Sc. Com./Ae/23/24 [ Contd.

( 7 )

(c) How do you know that Sethji gave great importance
to keeping up appearances?

(d) How will Sarojini Naidu benefit from pain?

(e) How is Benjamin, the donkey, different from the
other animals?

(f) What were Kate and Jenny doing in the garden
when their father arrived?

(g) What does a person love to ruminate upon during
the summer of his life?

(h) How did the pilgrims spend their time in the second
stage?

(i) What gift will the murmuring rivulets give to
the girl?

7. Rewrite the following sentences as directed : 1×10=10

(a) He was shouting so much that we could not hear
the music.

( Rewrite the sentence using ‘too’ )

(b) He is not liked by anyone.

( Change the voice )

(c) She was standing _____ him.

( Choose the correct word : beside/besides )

HS/XII/A. Sc. Com./Ae/23/24 [ P.T.O.

( 8 )

(d) John is so negative about everything.

( Add a question tag )

(e) We are credibly informed that the murderer has
given himself up to the police.

( Substitute the underlined words
with one word )

(f) His behaviour annoys me greatly.

( Change the voice )

(g) The boat was drowned in the river.

( Correct the sentence )

(h) They were prohibited _____ entering the village.

( Insert an appropriate preposition )

(i) I was afraid that if I asked him again he _____ refuse.

( Choose the correct word : may/might )

(j) They live _____ the same roof.

( Insert an appropriate preposition )

HS/XII/A. Sc. Com./Ae/23/24 [ Contd.

( 9 )

( PART : B—DESCRIPTIVE )
( Marks : 50 )

8. Answer any two of the following questions : 5×2=10

(a) How does man tyrannize the animals?

(b) Describe how Rod and his team finally capture the
jaguar.

(c) How do we know that Seth Chetaram considered
religion more important than money?

(d) What were Mr. Quick’s feelings during the Committee
members meeting? What did he decide to do?

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

(a) What is God’s answer to Sarojini Naidu’s prayer?

(b) “The work was done—.”
What is the ‘work’ referred to by Wordsworth?

(c) Describe the difference between the Spring and
Winter seasons of a man’s life according to Keats.

(d) What made Nissim Ezekiel come to the conclusion
that ‘Home is where we have to gather grace’ in the
poem, Enterprise?

HS/XII/A. Sc. Com./Ae/23/24 [ P.T.O.

( 10 )

10. Explain with reference to the context (any two). Choose
either Group—A or Group—B. 5×2=10

GROUP—A
( The Bishop’s Candlesticks )

(a) “If people lie to me they are poorer, not I.”

(b) “You are like a child, I can’t trust you out of my
sight.”

(c) “It was my fault. I led him into temptation.”

(d) “So anything you do for me you’re doing to the
devil, understand?”

GROUP—B
( Macbeth )

(a) “Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,
Chief nourisher in life’s feast.”

(b) “A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, And yet
I would not sleep.”

(c) “What should be spoken here, where our fate,
Hid in an auger-hole, may rush and seize us?”

(d) “Most sacrilegious Murther hath broke ope
The Lord’s anointed Temple, and stole thence
The life o’ th’ building!”

HS/XII/A. Sc. Com./Ae/23/24 [ Contd.

( 11 )

11. Write a précis of the following passage and give a suitable
title : 8+2=10
Art occupies a position of great importance in the modern
world. It obviously does not mean that modern art is
better than the art of other generations. The quality, not
the quantity, of modern art is important. Most people
take conscious interest in art as art. And more people
take to devote themselves to its practices than at any
other period. Our age, though it has produced many
masterpieces, is a thoroughly aesthetic age. The increase
in the number of practitioners and amateurs in all the
arts is not unconnected with the decrease in the number
of religious believers. To minds whose religious needs
have been denied their normal fulfilment, art brings
a certain spiritual satisfaction in its lowest forms. In its
higher and more significant forms it is a philosophy as
well as a ritual. The Arts including music and certain
important kinds of literature have been, at most periods,
the handmaids of religion. Their principal function was
to prove religion with the visible or audible symbols
which create in the eyes of the beholder those feelings
which for him personally are of God. Divorced from
religion, the arts are now independently cultivated for
their own sake. The aesthetic beauty which was once
devoted to the service of God has not set up a God of
its own. The cultivation of art for its own sake has
become a substitute for religion.

12. Read the passage given below and answer the questions
that follow :
A life of action and danger moderates the dread of death.
It not only gives us fortitude to bear pain, but teaches
us at every step the precarious tenure on which we hold

HS/XII/A. Sc. Com./Ae/23/24 [ P.T.O.

( 12 )

our present being. Sedentary and studious men are
the most apprehensive on this line. Dr. Johnson was
an instance in point. A few years seemed to him soon
over, compared with those sweeping contemplations on
time and infinity with which he had been used to pose
himself. In the still life of a man of letters there was
no obvious reason for a change. He might sit in an arm
chair and pour out cups of tea to all eternity would it
had been possible for him to do so. The most rational cure
after all for the inordinate fear of death is to set a just
value on life. If we mere wish to continue on the scene
to indulge our headstrong humour and tormenting
passions, we had better be gone at once; and if we only
cherish a fondness for existence according to the good we
desire from it, the pang we feel at parting with will not
be very severe.
Questions :

(a) What type of people are afraid of death and why? 3

(b) How can we get rid of the fear of death? 1

(c) What idea do you form about Dr. Johnson from
this passage? 2

(d) Give the meaning of the following words : 4
(i) Sedentary
(ii) Fortitude
(iii) Inordinate
(iv) Headstrong

HHH

HS/XII/A. Sc. Com./Ae/23/24 K23—7980