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THE INDIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL, KUWAIT

TIME ALLOWED : 3 HOURS NAME OF STUDENT : …………………………………………………

MAX. MARKS : 100 ROLL NO. : ……………….. CLASS/SEC : ……………..

NO. OF PAGES : 6

ENGLISH CORE

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SECTION A: READING

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: 20

(1) I want to share with you, the life lessons these events have taught me. I will begin with

the importance of learning from experience. It is less important, I believe, where you start. It

is more important how and what you learn. If the quality of the learning is high, the

development gradient is steep, and, given time, you can find yourself in a previously

unattainable place.

(2) Learning from experience, however, can be complicated. It can be much more difficult to

learn from success than from failure. If we fail, we think carefully about the precise cause.

Success can indiscriminately reinforce all our prior actions.

(3) A second theme concerns the power of chance events. As I think across a wide variety of

settings in my life, I am struck by the incredible role played by the interplay of chance events

with intentional choices. While the turning points themselves are indeed often fortuitous, how

we respond to them is anything but so. It is this very quality of how we respond

systematically to chance events that is crucial.

(4) Of course, the mindset one works with is also quite critical. It matters greatly whether one

believes that ability is inherent or that it can be developed. The former view, a fixed mindset,

creates a tendency to avoid challenges, to ignore useful negative feedback and leads people to

plateau early and not achieve their full, potential. The latter view; a growth mindset, leads to

a tendency to embrace challenges, to learn from criticism and enables people to reach higher

levels of achievement.

- (5) The fourth theme is cornerstone of the Indian spiritual tradition: self-knowledge. Indeed,

the highest form of knowledge, it is said, is self-knowledge. I believe this greater awareness

and knowledge of oneself is what ultimately helps develop a more grounded belief in oneself,

courage, determination, and, above all, humility - all qualities which enables one to wear

one's success with dignity and grace.

(6) I would like to end with some words of advice. Do you believe that your future is

preordained, and is already set? Or, do you believe that your future is yet to be written and

that it will depend upon sometimes fortuitous events? Do you believe that these events can

provide turning points to which you will respond with energy and enthusiasm? Do you

believe that you will learn from these events and that you will reflect on your setbacks? Do

you believe that you will examine your successes with even greater care? I hope you believe

CODE : N 301 SERIES : II TERM /FN/ 2018 - 2019

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that the future will be shaped by several turning points with great learning opportunities. In

fact, this is the path I have walked to much advantage.

(7) A final word: when, one day, you have made your mark on the world, remember that, in

the ultimate analysis, we are all mere temporary custodians of the wealth we generate,

whether it be financial, intellectual, or emotional. The best use of all your wealth is to share it

with those less fortunate.

(8) Go forth and embrace your futue with open arms, and enthusiastically pursue your own

life journey of discovery!

1.1 Choose the most suitable answers from the choices listed

(1) What according to the writer is more important in learning? (1)

(a) books

(b) experience

(c) accidents

(d) success

(2) If the quality of learning is high, the learning gradient is (1)

(a) Shallow

(b) Deep

(c) Steep

(d) High

(3) What can reinforce our prior actions? (1)

(a) Failure

(b) Success

(c) Action

(d) Inactions

(4) A fixed mindset leads people to (1)

(a) Create a tendency to avoid challenges

(b) Ignore useful negative feedback

(c) Not achieve their full potential

(d) Reach the apex of success

(5) What is the corner stone of Indian spiritual tradition? (1)

(a) Yoga

(b) Meditation

(c) Self knowledge

(d) Prayer

1.2 On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following in your own

words: 6 Marks

(i) Why does the writer feel it is easier to learn from failure than from success? 1

(ii) How can experience help a person or an enterprise to grow? 1

(iii) According to the writer how does one benefit from chance events? 1

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(iv) How do people with a positive mindset benefit from experience? 1

(v) According to the writer what are the qualities that are essential for a person to succeed

gracefully? 1

(vi) Explain the phrase: "We are all merely temporary custodians of the wealth we generate."

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1.3. Answer any 3 of the following. 2x3=6

(i) Why is learning from experience important?

(ii) What are the 2 mindsets?

(iii) How does self knowledge help a person to succeed?

(iv) Write any 2 ways people face their future or their outlook on it.

1.3 Pick out words/phrases from the passage which are similar in meaning to the

following: 3 Marks

(i) Hard to believe (Para 3)

(ii) Foundation (Para 5)

(iii) Caretakers (Para 7)

2) Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: [10]

1. A dominance and hierarchy exists for everything, including space. A dominant animal

controls the space around it. Even in grooming, hierarchy is reflected. Grooming is simply a

cleaning mechanism, and it is highly effective, as one can see by comparing lions and

baboons. Although lions are clean animals, the backs of their necks, where they cannot reach

to clean, are thick with ticks, whereas the baboon's hair is totally free of them as the inferior

baboons clean the dominant one's neck.

2. This dominant hierarchy is a form of animal social structure in which a linear or nearly

linear ranking exists, with each animal dominant over those below it and submissive to those

above it. In most of the cases this hierarchy is relatively stable from day-to-day. Direct

conflict is rare as the weaker animal itself steps aside when it sees the dominant or much

stronger around in its path. These submissive displays and their calming effect on the

dominant animal, evolve because they avoid or prevent fighting as it may result in

unnecessary injury to a social group dependent on one another for their welfare.

3. Japanese monkeys were intensely studied during the 1940s. Their discipline was

surprising. In the morning, the group would set out from its sleeping sites to a feeding station

established by Japanese zoologists. They walked always in the same order, the young males

frolicking on ahead and at the sides, the dominant male walking in the centre, together with

the females and the infants. .

4. The meek ones lagged behind in submission. They fed always in similar order of ranks: the

dominant monkeys first, then the others in descending gradation of status. And, while resting,

the dominant males surrounded by females and infants, occupied the most attractive area in

the middle of the feeding station, where no subordinates were allowed to encroach.

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5. There is no mistaking a dominant male monkey. These are superbly muscled monkeys.

Their hair is sleek and carefully groomed; they walk calm, assured and majestic. They move

in an apparent disregard of lesser monkeys, who scatter at their approach. For to obstruct the

path of a dominant male or even to venture, too near to him is an act of defiance, and

monkeys learn from young that such a challenge will draw a heavy punishment.

6. The animal behaviour has always fascinated humans and extends back millions of years,

perhaps even to times before the ancestors of the species became human in the modern sense.

It was the demand as they need to observe the distinctive traits of animals before hunting

them or domesticating them for personal or professional use.

(i) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes using headings and

subheadings. Use recognizable abbreviations, wherever necessary (minimum 4). Use a

format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it. [5]

(ii) Make a summary of the passage in about 80 words. [5]

SECTION - B

3 Write a classified advertisement for 'lost & found' column of a local newspaper stating the

loss of your books and important documents while travelling in a bus. 4

Or

Design and draft a poster to high light the important of trees in our life, appealing the people

to plant more and more trees.

4 Last month you bought a digital camera from Modern Electronics Jabalpur. Now you find

something wrong with it. It is not working properly. Write a letter to the dealer complaining

about the problem. (100-125 words) 6

Or

Write a letter to the Editor of a local daily about any major problem India is facing now.

(100-125 words)

5. Write a report for a newspaper about an accident which you witnessed. (150-200 words)

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Or

Write a paragraph in 80 words on "Importance of being free'. (150-200 words)

6. You have to speak at a debate in school on the topic Science and Technology - Boon or

Bane. Prepare your speech in favour or against the same. (150-200 words) 10

Or

You have to speak at the school assembly on the topic ‘The India of My Dream’. Write the

speech in 150-200 words.

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SECTION - C

7. Read the extract and answer the questions that follow. (1x4)

… A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Its loveliness increases, it will never

Pass into nothingness; but will keep

A bower quiet for us…

(a) A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Explain.

(b) Why doesn’t a beautiful thing ‘pass into nothingness’?

(c) What does the poet mean by ‘a bower quiet for us’?

(d) Name the poem and the poet.

Or

Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.

The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band

Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand…

(a) What is Aunt Jennifer doing in the above lines?

(b) Why are her fingers ‘fluttering’?

(c) Explain: ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’

(d) What fact of marital life is depicted?

8. Answer any 4 of the following questions in 30 -40 words. (3x4=12)

(a) Why was Gandhi in Lucknow in 1916? What happened there that was to change the

course of Indian history?

(b) Sophie idolized her brother Geoff. Justify.

(c) What was Dr. Sadao’s first reaction when he saw the soldier? What was the dilemma?

(d) What had upset Jo about the Skunk’s story? How did Jack react to it?

(e) What was Derry’s mother’s reaction to his meeting with Lamb?

(f) Who was Evans? Why were precautions taken for the smooth conduct of the

examination?

9. Answer any one of the following questions in 120 – 125 words. 6

(a) Rajkumar Shukla unwittingly played an important role in freeing the peasant

community in India. Discuss.

(b) It is natural for teenagers to have unrealistic dreams. What would you say are the

benefits and disadvantages of such fantasising?

(c) Civil disobedience had triumphed for the first time in modern India. When and

how was it?

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10. Answer any one of the following questions in 120 – 125 words. 6

(a) Bama’s experience is that of a victim of the caste system. What kind of discrimination

does Zitkala Sa’s experience depict? What are their responses to their respective

situations?

(b) How were Derry’s and Lamb’s views different?

(c) Discuss Dr. Sadao’s feelings for the Americans.

11. Answer any one of the following questions in 120 – 125 words. 6

(a) Write a brief character sketch of Griffin.

(b) Give a brief description of Mr. Marvel’s character.

12. Answer any one of the following questions in 120 – 125 words. 6

(a) What did Mrs. Hall observe when she took dinner to the stranger’s room?

(b) Narrate the first meeting of Marvel with the Invisible Man.

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THE INDIANCOMMUNITY SCHOOL KUWAIT

II TERMINAL EXAMINATION XII ENGLISH ANSWER KEY

SECTION A: READING

1.1

1) B. Experience

2) C. Steep

3) B. Success

4) C. Not achieve their full potential

5) C. Self knowledge 1x5=5

1.2. 1x6=6

i. It is less important where you start. It is more important how and what you learn.

ii. Learning from experience, however, can be complicated. It can be much more

difficult to learn from success than from failure. If we fail, we think carefully about

the precise cause.

iii. While the turning points themselves are indeed often fortuitous, how we respond to

them is more important

iv. It leads to a tendency to embrace challenges, to learn from criticism and enables

people to reach higher levels of achievement.

v. Self-knowledge, belief in oneself, courage, determination, and, above all, humility.

vi. We need to share our wealth.

1.3 Any 3 out of 4 2x3=6

i. It is less important, where you start. It is more important how and what you learn. If

the quality of the learning is high, the development gradient is steep, and, given time,

you can find yourself in a previously unattainable place.

ii. The fixed mindset, creates a tendency to avoid challenges, to ignore useful negative

feedback and leads people to plateau early and not achieve their full, potential. The

growth mindset, leads to a tendency to embrace challenges, to learn from criticism

and enables people to reach higher levels of achievement.

iii. The highest form of knowledge, it is said, is self-knowledge. This greater awareness

and knowledge of oneself is what ultimately helps develop a more grounded belief in

oneself, courage, determination, and, above all, humility - all qualities which enable

one to wear one's success with dignity and grace.

iv. Future is preordained, and is already set.

Future is yet to be written and that it will depend upon sometimes fortuitous events.

Events can provide turning points to which one will respond with energy and

enthusiasm.

One will learn from these events and will reflect on setbacks.

Examine one’s successes with even greater care.

The future will be shaped by several turning points with great learning opportunities.

1.4 1x3=3

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i. Incredible

ii. Grounded

iii. Custodians

2.

i. Notemaking 5+5=10

Title – 1

Notes with minimum 4 proper abbreviations (no text message abbreviations) 3

Key to abbreviations, in a box. 1

ii. Summary

One third of the original passage, no abbreviations. 5

SECTION B

3. Classified Advertisement or Notice 4

To be written in a box, maintaining the minimum number of words (inside 50)

No graphics

4. Letter of Complaint / Letter to the Editor 6

Format – 1, Language – 1 Content 4

Marks not to be awarded if the Formal Letter Format is not used

5. Report / Paragraph 10

Title – 1, Language – 2, Clarity – 2, Content - 5

6. Debate / Speech 10

Heading – 1, Language – 2, Clarity – 2, Content – 5

SECTION C

7. 1X4=4

(a) Beauty never fades. It goes on increasing as time goes by. What is beautiful will

stay so even with passing of time

(b) It will be remembered forever

(c) We shall remember the beautiful things always, in some corner of our mind.

(d) A Thing of Beauty (Endymion) by John Keats

(Answers may vary in the above)

(a) Aunt Jennifer is making a tapestry of leaping tigers

(b) She is distraught

(c) It is not the literal weight of the small wedding band she is wearing, it is the “weight”

of a life of trials and tribulations that she had endured in her marital life

(d) May be a domineering or assertive, even abusive spouse. The trauma that she had to

face, living with such a person

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8. Answer any 4 3x4=12

(a) Gandhiji went for the Annual convention of the Indian National Congress in Lucknow

– 2301 delegates – many visitors – met poor peasant Rajkumar Shukla – he pleaded

with Gandhiji to visit his hometown – brought to his notice the plight of the indigo

farmers – this fuelled the campaign to drive out the British from India

(b) Geoff had been 3 years out of school – an apprentice mechanic – travelled to work

every day to the far side of the city – he lived her life of hopes and dreams – she

romanticised his life – she imagined his life as an exotic one of visiting far off places,

meeting new people – wished to ride off with him on his motorbike to exotic places

(c) Dr. Sadao and his wife Hana thought of putting him the soldier back I the sea. Scared

of being marked as traitors for sheltering the enemy – they realised that if they turned

him in he would certainly be killed – he was repulsive to them – but Sadao knew that

as a doctor he had to save the young man

(d) Roger Skunk’s mother felt that Roger should smell like a skunk and not like roses –

she took him back to the wizard and made him change back to the old Roger again –

this upset Jo – she wanted the wizard to hit mummy and not change Roger - Jo’s

reaction upset Jack – he wanted Jo to understand that Roger’s mother knew what was

best for Roger

(e) Derry’s mother was apprehensive of Mr. Lamb – she was influenced by what people

said about him – warned to keep away from him – she tried to stop Derry – Derry was

determined to go back and listen to things that mattered – things that nobody ever

said to him

(f) Evans – a young prisoner in the Oxford prison – wanted to appear for his O Level

Examination in German – notorious for breaking out of prison – done it thrice –

known as Evans the Break – precautions taken to guard him against any ploys of

escaping

9. Answer any one of the 3 1x6=6

(a) Rajkumar Shukla met Gandhiji in 1916 – Annual Convention of the Indian

National Congress in Lucknow – he doggedly followed Gandhiji – told him about

the plight of the indigo farmers of Champaran – the injustice of sharecropping -

the landlord system in Bihar – Rajkumar was illiterate – was resolute to convince

Gandhiji – he followed Gandhiji to Kanpur and other parts of India – he believed

tat only Gandhiji could help the poor peasants – followed him to his ashram in

Ahmedabad – at Calcutta, finally he convinced Gandhiji to take up the cause…the

rest is history!

(b) Fantasy is the creative imagination or unrestrained fancy – known often as day

dreaming – common phenomenon among teenagers – not harmful but should not

be excessive – in this fantasy world one can have whatever one wants, go

wherever one likes – but excessive fantasising may lead to obsession and makes

one forget the real world – may be physically present but mentally absent – will

also lose touch of the environment around – will find it difficult to grasp and

retain concepts – a sort of escapism - but daydreamers will have sensitivity, depth

and intelligence – can be given space and nurtured – but can be dangerous if not

under control – will lose sense of time and space

(c) Gandhiji received a summons to appear in court when he defied the order to leave

Motihari – by morning the peasants demonstrated to lend their support – their

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spontaneous demonstration in thousands was the beginning of their liberation

from fear of the British -officials powerless – had to seek Gandhiji’s help to

control –

Prominent lawyers from Bihar came to confer with Gandhiji – convinced them to

lend their voice and support to the sharecropping cause – the lawyers promised to

help – Gandhiji’s case was dropped – Civil disobedience triumphed for the first

time in India

10. Answer any one of the 3 6

(a) Both autobiographical extracts – based on 2 distant cultures – depicts the lives of

two girls from marginalized cultures – looking back at the childhood – Zitkala Sa

Native American – late 19th century – the indignation suffered by the natives at the

hands of the settlers, mostly Christians. She resented the treatment – the rigid

boarding school system – of answering to the bell for everything – as a native

American she valued her long hair – it was a symbol of courage and victory – but she

is forced to cut it – this is the sign of cowardice in her tribe Bama on the other hand

was a Tamil Dalit – she was aghast, as a child, to see and understand the

discrimination shown to the so called low caste people or untouchables – both the

girls grew up to raise their voice against discrimination and indignity suffered by

women – strong women’s voices

(b) Both Derry and Lamb are physically challenged – both have different outlooks –

Derry burnt face – lamb, tin leg – Derry’s face and soul were scarred – he is

withdrawn, and wass upset at people’s reaction to his face – did not like sympathy –

feels awkward and abnormal – sense of isolation – heightened by mother’s over

protectiveness – Lamb believed that beauty was relative – enjoyed everything – bees

in the garden, birds singing, the weeds and plants growing unrestricted in his garden,

children climbing over the wall, even when children call him lamey Lamb – he tells

Derry that he has arms and legs, eyes, ears, tongue and brain – tells him to get on with

his life – hating people will not do anyone any good – worse than the acid that ruined

Derry’s face – never judge anyone by their appearance –

(c) Dr. Sadao remembers his life in America – he used to be lonely – so far away from

home- remembers the professor at whose house he had met Hana another homesick

person – remembers his professor in anatomy and the fat landlady – Americans were

prejudiced – difficult to live there as a Japanese - he believed that Japanese were

superior while Americans were dirty and ignorant – but then, the dirty old landlady

took care of him when he was very ill – she was kind and charitable – remembering

the kindness of the people who had helped him, he tries to be kind and helpful to the

wounded soldier

11. Answer any one of the 2 6

(a) Griffin is the model of science without humanity – obsessed with his experiments – he

hides his work – runs out of money – kills his father – becomes a fanatic of scientific

experiments – learns to to invisible – circumstances add to his obsession in staying

invisible – his invisibility is not a boon as he cannot enjoy the money he gets – he

cannot buy anything – not even food – he is helpless – but he has no remorse – tries to

create an antidote – he is selfish – he has no compunctions in stealing from any one –

has a quick temper - his painfully suppressed rage / uncertain temper/ evil temper are

mentioned in the novel – griffin is also an albino which made the experiment a lot

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easier – his condition may have made him more vulnerable for the need to hide from

society

(b) Mr. Marvel is short, fat and a loner – local tramp – Griffin’s first accomplice –

reluctant helper – griffin thinks he is stupid – Marvel wears shabby old fashioned

clothes - he is lazy – and is leisurely – does not like work nor excitement – he gains

all the money he stole from Griffin – gets to keep it as nobody can prove that it is not

his- he gets more money for telling the story of the Invisible Man – buys a tavern –

from tramp to tavern owner

12. Answer any one of the 2 6

(a) Griffin does not notice Mrs. Hall as he was busy with his experiments – she cleans

up the straw – is angry that the room is dirty – Griffin turns to look at her – she

sees that he has no eyes – he is angry that she had come in without permission –

she is angry about the straw in the room – when she complains he tells her to

charge him for the mess

(b) Marvel fins a pair of boots in the ditch – they are too large for him – he hears a

voice telling him that they are good boots – he does not agree – they talk for a

while – then Marvel turns round and finds that there is nobody with him – Marvel

thinks he has had too much tp drink - the voice convinces him that it is real – the

voice tells him that he would throw marbles at him to show it is real

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