Uttarakhand Board Class 12 Question Paper 2023 for English

Uttarakhand Board
Question Paper
CLASS 12

w
Rolt No. No. of printed pages : 8

1O3 4O3 {IGB}
2A2g^
ENGLISH
Time:3hoursl tMax.Marks:80
Note : (i) This question paper is divided into three sections - A, B and C.
(ii) AII questions are compulsory. Marks are indicated against each
question.
(iii) Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever
necessary. R^ead these instructions very carefully and foilow them
faithfuliy"
(iv) Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

Section - A (Reading)

1 Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow-

(A) If the prospect of skiing down alrnost 20 kilornetres of white slopes of the
Gar'hwal Himalayas flanked by conifers and oaks with the l{anda Devi in the
backEround excites yo,ur imagination, head for Aurli - it is a place for all
seasons. What is a lush green rireadow in summer tunns into a pristine
u,rl'rite snowcape in the winter months - perfect for exciting adventure spotts

as well as for a relaxed, laid - back holiday.

(B) The drive frorn Rishikesh to loshirnath (253 kilometres) is lined with several
prayags (confluence of rivers), including the famous Rudraprayag. It was
early spring that saw as heading towards loshinnath, and as we inched
close4 our excitement grew incredibly - such was the beauty of the view in
front of us. The neddish-orange of the abundant flame of the forest in full
bloom contrast with the green, white and bh.re of the landscatse brilliantly.

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(e) Fronn Joshimath, Auli is a mere 16 kilemetres. There are two ways to get
to Auli-the haring road and the exciting ropel If you are a iittle adventurous
and opt fon the cable cai, you will have .ehe best views *f the surrounding
hills and also of the f\anda Devi, We dici and, as the cable car progressed
along the 3.8 kilometne-long ropeway (Asia's longest), we were surrounded
by huge white peaks. The ground below was ehanging colours too - the
natural green was stneaked with white and, as we went furtheri the white
tosk over completely. Soon twinkling lights were emanating from a small
carnp, visible down below. That was our destination the resort glittering in
the night. We stepped on the extrernely hand and slippery snow with obvious
oelight. At such a high eltitude, the warm welcorne that the rooms of the
resort afforded carne as a pleasant surprise. The wooden interior; with a
centraily heated system aided by additionai heating provided by 'bukhari'
{srnall angeethees or stoves), made us more than comfortable. It was
howeve6 a little while before the mind could detach itself from the awesome
environs we were in and we could finally sleep.

(D) A breathtaking view awaited us at dawn, through the window of the room!
We were wonder struck as we realised once agaln that we had slept ln
the
Iap of these snowclad peaks. A quick cup of tea warrned us enough to
con]e out of our cosy roo!'n and we made our way uphill to a nearby
ternpie" Our climb was well worth it. A panoraanic view of the Hinnalayan
peaks that wene just getting ready to en:braee the golden dawn welcome
us. Peaks with attitudes varying between 5800 rnetres to 7g00 metres
such as Ghauri and i-'lat!'li (nesernbling a horse ar'rd an elephant, respectively),
and the most well-known of them all, the t\anda Devi was visible. The
Nanda Devi (7817 rnetres) * narne literally rneans - 'blessed goddess, -
is
the highest peak of the Garhwal and is considered the rnost difficult to
ctirnb. Aiso called the 'Fearl of Himalayas', the gnaceful symmetry of its

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double peaks is, indeed,
a visual treat. The rest of the
day saw as skiing
over the slopes of Auli"
Auli has hosted the Nationar
skiing Games for the
last two years,

(E) D.lsk rnade the place, if possible,
even more beautifur. In the
stark contrast
to dawn, we now witnessed
a sirhouetted Nanda Devi
basking in the Erory
of the setting sun. The sight
reft an inderibre impression
on our minds; we
knew, it would lure us back
to Auli, time and again.
(a) For whom is Auli the perfect
destination?
(b) what excited the writer whire Z
driving ts Joshimath?
(c) Though Auti was cold, the z
rooms in the resort were
very comfortabie.
How?
2
(d) What is the distance
from Rishikesh to Auli?
1
(e) Write two adjectives
that describe Nanda Devi.
2
(f) Choose the correct option
and write in your answer
book" L x3-3
(I) Find the word from para
A which means pure *
(i) perfect (ii) ftank (iii) pristine
(II) Find the word from para B
which means in a larqe quantitv
(i) incredibly (ii) abundant
(iii) contrast
(III) Find the word from para
E which means
renooved. @
(i) lure (ii) stark
2 Read the passage given
(tii) indefibte
berow and answer the questions
Butterflies are found on that foilow _
all contlnents except Antarctica"
that there are approximatety scientists estirnate
15,000 species of butterfries.
A butterfly is a day-
flying insect' Like the other
insects, the bufterfry,s
rife cycre consists of four
stages: the eEg, the rarva,
the pupa and tl.re adurt"
Butterfries have rarge,

often
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brightly coloured wings.

Butterflies feed on nectar from flowers and also sip water from dannp
patches. They get energy from sugars in nectar and gather sodium which is vital

for their reproduction. Several species of butterflies need more sodiurn than the
one provided by nectar. They are, therefore, attracted to sodiurn in salt and
they land sometimes on people, attracted by human sweat. Besides damp
patches, some butterflies land on dung, rotting fruit or carcasses to get rninerals

and nutrients. Butterflies are impoftant as pollinators for some species of plants,
although they do not carry as much pollen load as bees do. They are howeveq
capable of moving pollen over greater distances,

Butterflies sense the air using their antennae for scent, wind and nectar.
The antennae come in various shapes and colours. Vision is developed well in
butteflies and most species are sensitive to the ultraviolet spectrum.
Many butterflies are migratory by nature and are capable of long distance
flights. Particularly famous migrations are those of the 'Monarch buttedly' group
which travel from Mexico to northern USA and southern Canada, a distance of
about 4000 to 4800 km. Other known migratory species include the 'Painted
Lady Butterfly'. Spectacular and large scale migrations of the butterflies, associated

with the Monsoons, are seen in peninsular India. It !s suggested that most
rnigratory butterflies are those that belong to semi-arid areas where breeding
seasons are short. The life-histories of their host plants also influence the
strategies of the butterflies. They migrate during the day and depend on the sun
to orient thernselves. They can see polarised light and use it for orientation
even in cloudy conditions, when the sun is not visible.

Butterflies can comrnunicate with one-another through colour chernicals,
sound and physical actions. Colour patterns are used to signal their sex o!'

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species' Chemical pheromones are used by both sexes
of some butterflies to
attract the opposite sex or to signal species identity in couftship.
A few butterflies
make clicking sounds to protect their space while others make
such sounds to
attract ants that in turn protect them. Physical actions, such as
aggressive flight
or postures are used in courtship or protect resources, such as
lmportant flowers.
(a) on the basis of your reading of the above passaEe, make notes on it using
heading and sub-heading.
5
(b) write a summary of the above passage in about 80 words using the
notes
made by you and also suggest a suitable tiile.
3

Section - B (Advanced Writing Skilts)

3 You are Prabal/Prabha servinE as manager in
universal Finance company. you
have a special scheme for car loans for public. Draft
a suitable adveftisement !n
about 50 words to be published in Times of India.
4

OR

Design a poster in not more than 50 words, against
the ill-effect of plastics on
the environment' Suggest an alternatlve. You are Madhav/Malti
residents of
Pantnagar.

4 The municipal authorities of your city have banned
the use of polythene bags. This
has revived the use of the jute bags, which has positively
affected the local traders
and farmers. write a repoft about this event in about
100-125 words. 6

OR

You are Ritesh/Radha. As a representative
of your school, you have attended a
workshop on creative writing. write a report in
about 100-125 words for
publication in your school rnagazine.

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5. Write a letter to the superintendent of police (Traffic) on the overcrowding of
school buses and the safety of school children. Give your suggestions to avoid
accidents of the vehicles used for ferrying school children. you are Mohit/Leela
of LZ/B Mohit Nagar, Haridwar. g

OR

Write a letter to the editor of a daily newspaper expressing your views on the
need of computer education at primary level in all government schools.

5 write an article in 150-200 words on "India of My Dreams',. 6

OR

write an afticle in about 150-200 words on "Fight Against covlD-1g".

Section - C (Literature)

7 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that foliow:

Fishermen in the cold sea

would not harm whales

and the man gathering salt

would look at his hurt hands
(a) What would the fishermen not do?
1

(b) What would the man gathering salt do?
1

(c) What tirne or moment is the poet talking of?
1

OR
Such the sun, the moon,

Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon

For sirnple sheep; and such are daffodils

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With the green world they live
in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling
covert make
'Gainst the hot season;
(a) What does the poet
mean by shady boon?
1
(b) Where do daffodils live
ln?
1
(c) What is the meaning
of ,coollng covert,?
1
8 Answei'any three of the foilowing
questions in 30_40 words
each_ 2x3_6
(a) why is Shakespeare wicked and
the map is a bad exampre?
(b) what will counting up to twelve
and keeping stil heip uis achieveT
(c) what was the prea of the fork
who had put up the roadside
stand?
(d) What is the theme of the poem ,Aunt
Jennifer,s Tigers,?
9 Answer the foilowinE questions
in 30_40 words each_
(a) what was the fuil name of saheb? Zx4=g
Did he know what it meant?
represent? what did it
(b) How did Douglas overcome his
fear of water?
(c) Who is lit,e Derek? What does
he say about Sophie?
(d) what are some of the positive
views on interview?
10 Answer the foilowing question
in 125-150 words_
7
why was Kothamangaram subbu I
considered No. 2 in Gemini
studios?
)
OR
Why do you think Gandhi
considered the Champaran
turning-point in his iife? episode to be a rl

11. Answer the following guestion e
in 125_150 words_
Give a brief account of how 4 d
the hundredth tiger was found
and hunted down. n
OR
rll
Why is Antarctica the place
to go, to understand the Earth,s
future? present, past and

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12. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each- 2x4=8
(a) What do you infer from Sam's letter to Charley?
(b) What makes lack feel caught in an ugly middle position?
(c) Who is Mr. l-amb?
(d) What advice did Bama's brother give her so that she may overcome the
hum!liation of being born an untouchable?

*****

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