HBSE Class 12 Sample Paper 2026 Answers English Core

MARKING SCHEME/ ANSWER KEY
SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER (2025- 2026)
ENGLISH CORE - CLASS XII

SECTION A : READING SKILLS (15 Marks)

Award 1 mark for the correct answer.
There is no partial credit
1 Unseen Passage (A) 10x1= 10
(i) (c ) The women who do housework
(ii) (d) All of the above
(iii) (a) I is true II is false
(iv) (c ) The economists
(v) (d) None of the above
(vi) Assorted
(vii) Vary
(viii) do housework/ take care of children/ carry out different works for husband/
carry out the responsibilities of family life.
(ix) She has to labour outside and inside her home. Her husband and children
contribute little to housework/ carry out the responsibilities of family life.
(x) When they are paid equally in the labour force and there is no division of
labour based on sex/gender.

OR
Unseen Passage (B)

(I ) ( d) Tael
(ii) (c ) Beasts were never used as a form of money.
(iii) (c ) Both I and II are true
(iv) (b) Latin language
(v) (a) Kill them
(vi) Primitive
(vii) to answer a need of mankind ( any other similar response)
(viii) New pastures
(ix) obvious
(x) To bring uniformity in the coins of standard shape, weight and size. It was necessary for the
State to mint coins.

2 Note Making 5 marks
Title 1 mark, Abbreviation 1 mark, content 3 marks
Notes
Title : Wealth of Books ( Accept any other appropriate title also)
(1 ) Books Universal Source of Knowledge
1.1 Books on science
1.2 space
1.3 Literature, politics
(2 ) Books Popularize Ideas & Knowledge
2.1 They increase research in various fields
2.2 spread prog. views
2.3 advancement of civilization, lang. & lit.
2.4 Provide intellect. Wealth, mental & spiritual growth

(3) A Great Heritage

3.1 in old times inscribed on rocks, pillars, parchment
3.2 Modern books, attractive forms,
3.3 character of permanence
(4) Growth of Literacy & Libs
4.1 Higher % of liter.
4.2 growth of libs. In villages and towns
4.3 increased publishing business

Abbreviations

1 Lang. --------------- Language

2 Lit. -------------- Literature

3 Libs. -------------- Libraries

4 Liter. -------------- Literacy

SECTION B GRAMMAR 10x1 = 10

Award 1 mark for the correct answer.
There is no partial credit 3
3.1 Modals 2x1=2
(i) would
(ii) must
(iii) (b) May
3.2 Change the narration 2x1 = 2

(i) Geeta asked Ravi how they could find a solution to that problem.
(ii) Keats says that a thing of beauty is joy forever.
(iii) (a) The doctor advised the patient to drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration.
3.3 Articles 2x1= 2
(i) the, the
(ii) no article (X)
(iii) (d) X
3.4 Change the Voice 2x1 =2
(i) I was made to cry by her
(ii) Sit down, please. / Please, sit down.
(iii) (d) None of the above
3.5 Tense/ correct form of verb 2x1 =2
(i) had watched
(ii) has been looking
(iii) (b) visits

SECTION C : CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS ( 15 marks)
4 NOTICE 5 marks
Format – 1 mark

Box , NOTICE ( centre), Heading ( Centre), date of issue (aligned left), Signature with
designation ( bottom left)

 Award full marks if all aspects included.
 Award ½ mark if more than one aspect is missing.

 Award zero mark if more than two aspects are missing.

Content – 3 marks

Suggested value points
• Correct format
• Drawing attention
• Date, time , venue
• inviting the students
• last date
• Line with reference to the undersigned

Accuracy - 1 mark
 Award full marks if there is one or two grammatical/ spelling mistake/ mistakes
 Deduct ½ mark if there are more than two grammatical/spelling mistakes
OR

4 Advertisements 5 marks
Format 1 mark
Box, Heading, content, contact no., address/ email
 Award full marks if all aspects included
 Award ½ mark if more than one aspect is missing.
 Award zero marks if more than two aspects are missing.

Content 3 marks
Suggested value points
 Format
 Catchy phrase
 Height , education, job etc
 Address, mobile no

Accuracy - 1 mark

• Award full marks if there is one or two grammatical/ spelling mistake/ mistakes
• Deduct ½ mark if there are more than two grammatical/spelling mistakes

OR

Poster making
Format 1 content 3 Accuracy 1
Title / Topic, catchy slogan, message, Proper spacing, issuing authority etc.

Content 3
 Format
 Communal Harmony
 message
 Drawing
(any other relevant point)

Accuracy - 1 mark
• Award full marks if there is one or two grammatical/ spelling mistake/ mistakes
• Deduct ½ mark if there are more than two grammatical/spelling mistakes

5. Letter 5 marks
Format 1 mark
Sender’s address, date, Receiver’s address, subject and salutation/ salutation and subject,
complimentary close

Award full marks if all aspects included.
Award 0.5 marks if more than one aspect is missing.
Award zero marks if more than two aspects are missing.

Content 2

Award full marks if

 All points included ( Format , tense , formal tone, vocabulary etc.)
 Well developed with sustained clarity
Award 1.5 marks if
 Almost all points included
 Reasonably well developed
Award 1 mark if
 Some points included
 Fair attempt at developing the ideas
Award 0.5 marks if
 Most of the points not included
 Limited awareness about the task given

Expression 1 mark
Award full marks if
 Tense, tone and vocabulary are appropriate
 Coherence and relevance of ideas
Award 0.5 marks if
 There is little deviation ( tense, tone , vocabulary)
 Almost relevant

Accuracy - 1 mark
• Award full marks if there is one or two grammatical/ spelling mistake/ mistakes
• Deduct ½ mark if there are more than two grammatical/spelling mistakes

OR
Content
 Reference to the advertisement
 Bio data
 Formal tone

6 . Report 5 marks
Format 1 mark
Box, Title/ heading, place, date, name of reporter
 Award full marks if all aspects included.
 Award 0.5 marks if more than one aspect is missing.
 Award zero marks if more than two aspects are missing.

Content - 2 marks
Suggested value points
A Report should answer the questions
 What
 Where
 When
 How

Expression 1 mark
Award full marks if
• Tense, tone and vocabulary are appropriate
• Coherence and relevance of ideas
Award 0.5 marks if
• There is a little deviation ( tense, tone , vocabulary)
• Almost relevant

Accuracy - 1 mark
• Award full marks if there is one or two grammatical/ spelling mistake/ mistakes
• Deduct ½ mark if there are more than two grammatical/spelling mistakes

OR

Format 1 ( Heading/ Title, name of writer, class)

Content 2
Suggested value points
 Beginning, middle and end
 Popular practice with school children
 They like adventure, sometimes misadventure
 Enjoy taking free lifts
 Not aware of the hazards involved in it
 Unsafe, cases of murder, kidnaping etc.

(any other relevant point)
Expression 1 mark
Award full marks if
• Tense, tone and vocabulary are appropriate
• Coherence and relevance of ideas
Award 0.5 marks if
• There is a little deviation ( tense, tone , vocabulary)
• Almost relevant
Accuracy - 1 mark
• Award full marks if there is one or two grammatical/ spelling mistake/ mistakes
• Deduct ½ mark if there are more than two grammatical/spelling mistakes

SECTION D LITERATURE (40 MARKS)
7A 5x1= 5
Value Points
(I ) (b) Death
(ii ) (b) Metaphor
(iii ) (a) Statement 1 is true but 2 is false
(iv ) (a) Explanatory
(v ) (d) Pablo Neruda
OR
7B 5x1 =5
I ) (d) Some shape of beauty
(ii) (a) scarcity
(iii) (c ) Both I and II are true
(iv ) (b) Pall
(v ) (b) Alliteration

8A 5x1= 5
( i) (a) Temptation
(ii) (a) I is true but II is false
(iii ) (b ) Franz
(iv ) (c ) chirping ------- onomatopoeia
(v ) (c ) He was not prepared for the test on participles

OR

8B 5x1 =5
(I ) (b) Champaran
(ii) (a) Emaciated
(iii) (c ) Louis Fisher
(iv) (b) !917
(v) (a) in 1916 at Lucknow

9 (A) Value Points 1X4 - 4 marks
(i) True
(ii) Thirty one
(iii) Present time
(iv) Train station/ Terminal/railway station
Or
9 (B)
(i) False
(ii) Fourteen
(iii) Young lads/ small children
(iv) He has a burnt face/ his half face was burnt with acid/ he thought he had an ugly face

10 Answer in 40-50 words 3x2 =6 marks
Content 1 mark Expression 1 mark
( Deduct ½ mark for two or more grammatical/ spelling mistakes)
(a) Suggested value points
 Sahukars, the middlemen, policemen, keepers of law, politicians, the bureaucrats
etc.
( any other relevant point)

( b) Suggested value points
 All terror and fear are psychological/ fear of death makes us die every moment/
we can overcome it
( any other relevant point)

(c ) suggested value points
 Work in a cubicle / tear newspaper day in and day out/ seems doing next to
nothing

( any other relevant point)
( d) Suggested value points
Went with Rajkumar Shukla/ dressed like peasant/ servant thought him to be an
untouchable/ the drop from his bucket may pollute water
( any other relevant point)

(e ) empty space/utilize these empty spaces in writing
( any other relevant point)

11 Answer in 40-50 words 2x3 = 6
Content 2 mark Expression 1 mark

( Deduct ½ mark for two or more grammatical/ spelling mistakes)

(A) Suggested value points
 Rich in imagery
 Use of simile
 Metaphor, personification
 contrast
( any other relevant point)

( b) Suggested value points
 Roadside stand owners suffer from childish longing/ wait for prospective
customers/keep the window open to attract customers/no one comes to buy/ all
in vain
( any other relevant point)

( c) Suggested value points
 Patriarchal mindset/ dominating/ cruel/the cause of Jennifer’s suffering
(any other relevant point)

( any other relevant point)

12. Answer in 40-50 words 2x2 = 4 marks
Content 1 mark Expression 1 mark

( Deduct ½ mark for two or more grammatical/ spelling mistakes)
(a) Suggested value points
 Supercontinent existed 650 million years ago/centered around present day
Antarctica/ human had not arrived/ rich in flora and fauna/ separated into
countries
( any other relevant point)

(b ) Suggested value points
 Speaking – The ten days infant spoke like an adult/ Arrogance- displayed sense of
arrogance by saying,” Let the tigers beware.”/ raised intelligent questions/ fearless
( any other relevant point)

( c) Suggested value points
 Loyal wife/ loving mother/affectionate/ self-resect/educated
( any other relevant point)

( d) an old man/ had tin leg/ owner of the garden/ Derry entered by climbing the wall
(any other relevant point)
13 Answer in 120-150 words 1x5 =5 marks
Content 3 marks Expression 2 marks ( Fluency 1 Grammar 1)
(a) Suggested value points
 Linguistic chauvinism; carrying pride in one’s language too far
 Order from Berlin / a naked example of it/ linguistic imposition worst thing
 M. Hamel’s love for French/ patriotism/ regrets/ key to their freedom/village
elders realization/ respect for M. Hamel/ Franz’s realization
( any other relevant points)

OR
(b) Suggested value points
 The peddler leads a monotonous life/ compare the world to a big rattrap
 Riches, shelter/joys, goods etc. are baits/hard to overcome these temptation
 Steal 30 kroner/not respecting the confidence of crofter/ falls into the trap
 Edla Willmanson ‘s affection, kindness, love understanding/ raised to captain/ gets
strength to come out
( any other relevant points)

14 Answer in 120-150 words 1x5 =5

Content 3 marks Expression 2 marks ( Fluency 1 Grammar 1)
(A ) Suggested value points
 Satire on pride and stubbornness/chief astrologer’s prediction
 Bull and tiger enemy/ death by tiger/ royal infant’s miracle/ tiger hunting
campaign
 Risks taken by the king/ planning/ killed 99 tigers
 Last tiger missed bullet / fate
 Irony- unexpected end/ killed by a wooden tiger/ prediction proved
or

(B) Suggested value points
 Crucial to understand earth’s past, present and future
 World’s geological history is trapped in it.
 Super- continent- Gondwana existed 650 millions years ago

 India and Antarctica/ present world
 Climate, dinosaurs , human arrival
 Hold half million year carbon in its layers of ice
 Can know how the future will be.
(any other relevant point)