Class 11 Sample Paper 2023 English

Class 11 English Sample Paper 2023

PRACTICE QUESTION PAPER (2022-23)
ANNUAL EXAMINATION
CLASS - XI
ENGLISH CORE (301)

Time: 3 hours MM: 80 Marks

General Instructions:
1. The paper is divided into three sections Section-A: Reading Comprehension, Section-
B: Writing Skills and Grammar and Section-C: Literature. All the sections are
compulsory.
2. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.
3. Please write down the serial number of the question in the answer script correctly
before attempting it.
4. Separate instructions are given with each question, wherever necessary. Read these
carefully.

SECTION--A: READING COMPREHENSION

I. Read the following passage:
1. If your household is like mine, the memories of our 2005 summer holiday may well disappear
into the void that lies between the material past. You see, our paper photo album ends halfway
through 2004.
2. Since the arrival of the digital camera and the mobile camera phone has meant our photos are
'stored' (on two computers, two phones, the camera itself, in an online drive of friends). None of
the 'photos' has made it onto paper and into the album. They probably never will. In fact, techno-
challenged people like me fear these new pixel images will never become permanent, like the
pictures on screen in albums, whose pages are turned like the books of our lives.
3. The processing industry once hoped the snap would lead to more images being transferred to
paper because some households are yet to adjust to the latest forms of photographic display and
storage.
4. The most fundamental way photography has changed is that digital photos are virtually free. A
happy snapper can take hundreds of photos of an event, rather than ration the occasion to a dozen
composed shots. Digital snappers can become like the National Geographic photographers, who
take about 12,600 shots per assignment, knowing only ten will be used.
5. The photographer, however amateur, also becomes the editor. Once the images are transferred
to a computer, they can be tampered with. Don't like the person in the shot? Get rid of him. Want
to make London look sunny? Click on the blue sky. A double chin? Deft shading will fix that.
6. The photo, once a candid image and a priceless memory, becomes something that's cheaply
taken, easily discarded, and endlessly manipulated. It's easy to see why the photo processing
industry is having trouble coming to terms with the new century of snappers. An industry whose
slogan was the preservation of priceless family memories has found itself in a virtually
disposable world.
7. For more than a century, memories of who we were and where we've come from have been
refreshed by regularly turning the pages of our photographic chronology. Future generations will

have a different grab on their history. A series of mouse clicks will take through a kaleidoscope
of images of life caught on the run.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer the following questions given
below: 10X1=10 Marks

i. Why, in the present times, none of the 'photos' make it to the paper or album?
a. They are "stored" in electronic devices
b. They are too many to print
c. They are too much edited
d. They have lost their originality

ii. What opinion does the writer have of new pixel images?
a. They are the future
b. They will never be permanent memories
c. They have replaced albums
d. They can never be seen as a book of memories

iii. Why is the processing industry still not happy?
a. Their businesses are not growing
b. They find it difficult to adjust
c. Their business slogan has to be changed
d. They find people no longer interested in getting albums made

iv. Why is it said that the digital photos are virtually free?
a. Not have to worry about the roll count
b. Can take lots of photos even though a few are to be picked
c. One may click hundreds of photos and store them digitally
d. No need to worry about bad clicks

v. What is the writer’s opinion about the new age photos?
a. They have replaced an era of photo albums
b. They are merely a kaleidoscope of past life
c They are cheaply taken and have lost originality
d. Pixel images put a heavy load on computer hard-drives

vi. Which of these statements is incorrect about the new- age photos?
a. They are virtually indisposable
b. They no longer preserve priceless memories
C They can be captured in large numbers
d. They have begun to replace photo albums

vii. Why does the writer feel that in the present times, photographs have lost their genuineness?

viii. How have the new age photos made an editor out of the amateur photographer?

ix. Find a word similar in meaning to "beginner" in para 5.

x. Find a word similar in meaning to "timeline" in para 7.

II. Read the following passage:

1. India ranks third in the list of countries with the largest number of threatened turtle and tortoise
species in the world after China and Vietnam, an international report released on Thursday has
revealed.
2. The country has two of the world's 25 most threatened freshwater turtle species - Northern
River Terrapin (Batagur baska) found in the Sundarbans, West Bengal and the Red-Crowned
Roof Turtle (Batagur kachuga), found only within the riverine National Chambal Gharial
Wildlife Sanctuary (NCGWS) in Madhya Pradesh.
3. Another three species - South Asian Narrow headed Softshell Turtle (Chitra indica) from
NCGWS, Black Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia nigricans) from Assam, and the Arakan Forest Turtle
(Heosemys depressa) from Mizoram, were identified under the list of top 50 most threatened
species globally. This takes the tally in India to 7.4% under the world's 25 most threatened turtle
species and 10% of the top 50.
4. Additionally, the study identified the Keeled Box Turtle (Cuora mouhotii), Asian Giant
Tortoise (Manouria emys) in northeast India, and the Leith's Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia leithii)
from western India, as three other threatened species outside the top 50, assessed as critically
endangered. The details were revealed in the report - Turtles in Trouble: The World's 25+ Most
Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles - in Ojai, California, USA compiled by the Turtle
Conservation Coalition, an international body comprising eight conservation groups including
the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Turtle Surveillance Alliance
(TSA).
5. "Our study found that Asia was facing a crisis with 63% of the top threatened tortoise and
turtle species identified from the continent, followed by Africa and Latin America at 14.8%
each," Rick Hudson, President and Chief Executive Officer, TSA, that released the study, told
HT in a telephonic interview.
6. The study identified 356 tortoise and freshwater turtle species globally, of which, 148 or
60.4% of those species have been included in the IUCN 2017 Red List, and 41.6% of all turtle
and tortoise species are officially listed as 'Threatened' by IUCN criteria (categorised as
vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered). Of this, all species identified in India are listed
either under 'endangered' or 'critically endangered' categories. Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle
from China is the most threatened species worldwide.
(The Hindustan Times)

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions by choosing
the most appropriate option: 8X1=8 marks

i. Scientific name for the Red-Crowned Roof Turtle is:
a. Cuora mouhotii
b. Batagur baska
c. Batagur kachuga
d. Nilssonia leithii

ii. Pick the statement that is NOT TRUE according to the passage:
a. India has one of the world's 25 most threatened fresh water turtle species.
b. Three species of turtle were identified under the list of top 50 most threatened species
globally.
c. Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle from Korea is the most available species worldwide.
d. Asia was facing a crisis with 53% of the top threatened tortoise and turtle species
identified from the continent.

iii. What is India's count in the percentage of the world's 50 most threatened turtle species?
a. 7.4%
b. 8%
c. 8.4%
d. 10%

iv. What is the function of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)?
a. protection of turtle species
b. conservation of nature
c. conservation of turtle species
d. surveillance of turtles

v. Rick Hudson, President and Chief Executive Officer, TSA, that released the study, has said
that:
a. Asia was facing a crisis with 63% of the top threatened tortoise
b. Turtle species identified from the continent is also included under this
c. African and Latin American species comes at the second place
d. All of these

vi. Where is Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle, the most threatened species worldwide is found?

vii. Which word in the passage means the same as 'involving’? (para 4)

viii. Which word in the passage means the same as 'protection’? (para 4)

II. Read the passage given below:

The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global
pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified from an
outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Attempts to contain it there failed, allowing
the virus to spread to other areas of China and later worldwide. The World Health

Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of 26 August
2022, the pandemic had caused more than 599 million cases and 6.48 million confirmed
deaths, making it one of the deadliest in history.

COVID-19 symptoms range from undetectable to deadly, but most commonly include fever,
dry cough, and fatigue. Severe illness is more likely in elderly patients and those with certain
underlying medical conditions. COVID-19 transmits when people breathe in air contaminated
by droplets and small airborne particles containing the virus. Infected persons are typically
contagious for 10 days, and can spread the virus even if they do not develop symptoms.
Mutations have produced many strains (variants) with varying degrees of infectivity and
virulence.

COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and widely distributed in various countries since
December 2020. Other recommended preventive measures include social distancing, wearing
masks, improving ventilation and air filtration, and quarantining those who have been
exposed or are symptomatic. Treatments include monoclonal antibodies, novel antiviral
drugs, and symptom control. Governmental interventions include travel restrictions,
lockdowns, business restrictions and closures, workplace hazard controls, quarantines, testing
systems, and tracing contacts of the infected. The pandemic has triggered severe social and
economic disruption around the world, including the largest global recession since the Great
Depression.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covid-19_pandemic

a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it, using recognizable
abbreviations wherever necessary. Supply a suitable title. 5 marks
b) Write a summary of the above passage in about 50 words. 3 marks

SECTION-B: CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS AND GRAMMAR

IV GRAMMAR

i) Choose the best word from the options given below to fill the gaps: ½ X8=4 marks
Puppets (a)__________ among the oldest man-made objects that (b) _______ known to the
world. Archaeologists in Egypt and India have (c) __________ jointed clay models that (d) -
__________ operated by pulling their strings, which date back to 4,000 years. Historians tell
us that puppets (e) __________ created by nearly all peoples at all times. The first puppets (f)
__________ probably used mostly by adults. Tribal peoples, such as Native Americans, (g) -
__________ the puppets to represent people or animals in their religious rituals. People all
over the world (h) _________fascinated by them.

a) i. is ii. am iii. are iv. were
b) i. is ii. am iii. are iv. was
c) i. find ii. found iii. finding iv. fond
d) i. is ii. am iii. are iv. was
e) i. has been ii. is iii. was iv. Have been
f) i. was ii. were iii. are iv. had

g) i. using ii. Were using iii. used iv. Had used
h) i. were ii. was iii. will iv. are

ii. Rearrange any three of the following words/phrases to make meaningful sentences:
3X1=3 Marks
a) that he/to the finish/fight/he says/will
b) a couple of days/the money in/that he/he has promised/will return
c) he/though/finished late/he started/early
d) his/where/he hid/could not find/pursuers/

V. CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS

i. You are Vikram/ Sonia, a resident of 57, Civil Lines Rohtak. You are a young person of 32
with seven years of experience as an expert executive in a reputed medical firm. You seek an
immediate change to some other medical firm in Mumbai/Pune. Draft a suitable
advertisement in about 50 words for the 'Situation Wanted' column of a National Daily.
3 Marks
OR

You are Ranveer / Ravina of 254 Greater Kailash, New Delhi. You want to sell the first floor
of your newly constructed house. Draft an advertisement in the Indian Express under its
classified Advertisement column "Property for Sale' in about 50 words. Include all relevant
details like location, type of accommodation, cost and contact address including telephone
number etc.

ii. You were very upset about the reports of communal riots in various parts of the country.
As a concerned social worker, design a poster in not more than 50 words, highlighting the
importance of communal harmony. You are Vinay/Vineeta working with Indian Society for
Harmony, Delhi. 3 marks

OR

G20 leaders committed to the key goal of limiting global warming in the recent G20 Summit
held. Draft a poster in not more than 50 words with the theme ‘Global Warming’ for the
‘Environment Week’ to be observed by your school. You are Mohit/Mridula of Shyamlal
Vidyalaya, Delhi.

iii. Ragging has raised its ugly head again. A recent incident at a prestigious school has
shown that this evil has not yet come to an end. Write a speech for the morning assembly in
school in 120-150 words on ‘Ragging, an Evil’. You are Navtej/ Navita. You may use the
following points. 5 marks
➢ a practice from the British era
➢ original aim, respect for hierarchy
➢ enforcing traditions, discipline
➢ Prefect – a teacher substitute
➢ misuse of authority
➢ vulgar aspect
➢ fatalities

➢ solution

OR

It is increasingly felt that the youth of the country should be actively involved in social
service activities. Their involvement will give them first-hand knowledge of the actual
problems the people are facing and inspire them to play a more active role in nation building.
Write a speech in 120-150 words on “Youth and Social Service”. You are Deepak/Deepika,
Youth Secretary of the school.

iv. Academic excellence has been identified with achieving high grades and superior
performance. But academic excellence is more than just making good grades. What are your
views on the issue? Write a debate in 120-150 words either for or against the view
“Academic excellence is the only requirement for a successful career”. 5 marks

OR

Social media is a big part of many teens' lives. Is media responsible for the moral degradation
of teenagers? As Daivik/Daivika, write a debate either for or against the motion in 120-150
words.

SECTION-C: LITERATURE

VI. REFERENCE TO CONTEXT

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:
A. 3x1=3 marks
When did my childhood go?
Was it the time I realised
that adults were not all they seemed to be,
They talked of love and preached of love,
But did not act so lovingly,
Was that the day!

i.Who is ‘my’ in the above lines?
a. ‘my’ refers to the poet, Markus Natten
b. ‘my’ refers to the poet’s childhood
c. ‘my’ refers to the poet’s friend
d. ‘my’ refers to the poet’s father

ii.Why is ‘I’ confused?
a. Because ‘I’ do not seem to understand when he lost his childhood
b. Because ‘I’ could not search heaven and hell in geography.
c. Because ‘I’ is getting a lot of negative thoughts
d. Because ‘I’ has lost his mind

iii. Explain “But did not act so lovingly”

OR

Then sleek as a lizard, and alert and abrupt,
She enters the thickness, and a machine starts up

Chitterings, and a tremor of wings, and trillings.
The whole tree trembles and thrills.
It is the engine of her family

i.How does the alertness of goldfinch affect the tree?

ii.What has brought life to the tree?
a. Playing of the music
b. Singing of goldfinch
c. Starting of an engine
d. Entry of goldfinch

iii.The poetic device used in sleek as a lizard is :
a. personification
b. alliteration
c. metaphor
d. simile

B. 3x1=3 Marks
She did not believe in the things they taught at the English school and was distressed that
there was no teaching about God and the scriptures. One day I announced that we were being
given music lessons. She was very disturbed. To her music had lewd associations. It was the
monopoly of harlots and beggars and not meant for gentlefolk. She said nothing but her
silence meant disapproval. She rarely talked to me after that.

i.Which of the following was not taught in the English school?
a. scriptures
b. English
c. western science
d. music

ii.What does the “silence” signify?
a. disapproval
b. negligence
c. praise
d. indifference

iii.According to her, the music has “lewd associations”. What does this tell about the grand
mother?

OR

Further on, where the plains became more stony than grassy, a great herd of wild ass came
into view. Tsetan told us we were approaching them long before they appeared. “Kyang,” he
said, pointing towards a far-off pall of dust. When we drew near, I could see the herd
galloping en masse, wheeling and turning in tight formation as if they were practising

manoeuvres on some predetermined course.

i.By what name wild ass has been called in the extract?

a. stony
b. kyang
c. pall
d. herd

ii.What do you infer from the phrase ‘plains became more stony than grassy’?

iii. Which of the following word as used in the extract does not indicate a type of movement.
a. galloping
b. maneuvers
c. pointing
d. turning

C. 4x1=4 Marks
And what should I have done with them in a small rented room where the shreds of black-out
paper still hung along the windows and no more than a handful of cutlery fitted in the narrow
table drawer? I resolved to forget the address. Of all the things I had to forget, that would be
the easiest.

i. The word ‘them’ stands for
a. friends
b. things
c. feelings
d. the belongings

ii. The narrator resolves to forget the address as
a. it was meaningless to visit it
b. the belongings of her mother had lost their charm
c. Mrs. Dorling refused to allow her to come there
d. all of the above

iii. Find a word from the extract opposite to ‘abundance’

iv.Explain “Of all the things I had to forget, that would be the easiest.”

OR

And then, as by a miracle, the pigmy chest, which his hands enclosed, gave a short,
convulsive heave, another… and another… Andrew turned giddy. The sense of life, springing
beneath his fingers after all that unavailing striving, was so exquisite it almost made him
faint. He redoubled his efforts feverishly.

i. ‘Pigmy chest” refers to
a. the small front part of the child
b. the large chest of the child
c. the soft chest of the child
d. the chest of a pigmy

ii. The doctor redoubled his efforts as the child
a. was getting cold

b. was showing some signs of recovery
c. it was the last try left with him
d. was dead

iii.Find a word from the passage which means the same as’dizzy’

iv. Find word from the extract opposite in meaning to ‘Careless’
a. miracle
b. convulsive
c. giddy
d. exquisite

VII. Answer any two out of the following four questions in 30-40 words: 2x3=6 marks

a. Explain ‘Both wry with the laboured ease of loss’ in reference to the poem A
Photograph
b. Do you think it was the sheer luck or the skills of the Captain which saved the
voyagers? Explain.
c. How was Bakhar’s account of the Battle of Panipat different from what was written in
other history books?
d. The root cause of the generation gap presented in the poem “Father to son” lies in the
fact that it is only the father talking to his son rather than hearing or understanding
him. Explain.

VIII. Answer any one out of the following two questions in 30-40 words: 1x3=3 marks

How did Aram react when he saw the horse? Why could he not believe his eyes?
OR
In The tale of melon city, the king, is just and placid. Why does he then lose his temper?

IX. Answer any one out of the following questions in 120-150 words: 1x6= 6 marks

Describe the difficulties and disillusionment faced by Nick Middleton during his journey to
Mount Kailash in “The silk road”.
OR
In January 2005, History was created in the field of archaeology. Write an article on it with
reference to “Discovering Tut the Saga Continues.”

X. Answer any one out of the following questions in 120-150 words: 1x6=6 marks

What was the narrator’s experience when she went to visit Mrs Dorling’s house the second
time? Justify its outcome with reference to “The Address”?
OR
Does the lesson The Tale of Melon City mock the process of fair trial and proper judgement?
Elucidate.

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