AHSEC – Class 12 | English Solved Question Paper -2014

1.       At 4.30 P.M., Abha brought in the last meal he was ever to eat; it consisted of goat’s milk, cooked and raw vegetables, oranges and a concoction of ginger, sour lemons and strained butter with juice of aloe. Sitting on the floor of his room in the rear of Birla House in New Delhi, Gandhi ate and talked with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Deputy Prime Minister of the new government of independent India. Maniben, Patel’s daughter and secretary, was also present. The conversation was important. There had been rumours of differences between Patel and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. This problem like so many others had been dropped into the Mahatma’s lap.

2.       Abha, alone with Gandhi and the Patel’s, hesitated to interrupt. But she knew Gandhi’s attachment to punctuality. Finally, therefore, she picked up the Mahatma’s nickel-plated watch and showed it to him. ‘I must tear myself away’, Gandhi remarked, and so saying he rose, went to the adjoining bathroom and then started towards the prayer ground in the large park to the left of the house. Abha, the young wife of Kanu Gandhi, grandson of the Mahatma’s cousin, and Manu, the granddaughter of another cousin, accompanied him; he leaned his forearms on their shoulders. ‘My walking sticks’, he called them.

3.       During the daily two-minute promenade through the long, red-sandstone colonnade that led to the prayer ground, Gandhi relaxed and joked. Now, he mentioned the carrot juice. Abha had given him that morning.

4.       ‘So you are serving me cattle fare,’ he said, and laughed.

5.       ‘Be used to call it horse fare,’ Abha replied. Ba was Gandhi’s deceased wife.

6.       ‘Isn’t it grand of me, ‘Gandhi bantered, ‘to relish what no one else wants?’

7.       ‘Bapu (father), ‘said Abha, ‘your watch must be feeling very neglected. You would not look at it today.’

8.        ‘Why should I, since you are my timekeepers?’ Gandhi retorted.

9.       ‘But you don’t look at the timekeepers,’ Manu noted. Gandhi laughed again.

a)      What did Gandhi eat in his last meal?

b)      Who were the persons present when Gandhi ate his last meal?

c)       What was the problem that had been dropped into Gandhi’s lap?

d)      Why did Abha show Gandhi the nickel plated watch?

e)      Who were the time keepers of Gandhi?

f)       What is the cattle fare referred to?

Ans. (a) In his last meal, Gandhi ate goat’s milk, cooked and raw vegetables, oranges and a concoction of ginger, sour lemons and strained butter with juice of aloe.

          (b) When Gandhi ate his mean, Sardar Vallabhabhai Patel, Deputy Prime Minister of the new government of Independent India and Maniben, Patel’s daughter and secretary, were also present.

          (c) There had been rumors of differences between Patel and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. This Problem had been dropped into the Mahatma’s lap.

          (d) It was time for Gandhi’s morning walk. Gandhi was very punctual and as he was late that day, Abha showed him the nickel-plated watch.

                (e) Abha, the young wife of Kanu Gandhi, grandson of the Mahatma’s cousin, and Manu, the granddaughter of another cousin were the time keeper of Gandhi

2. Write a poster in not more than 50 words stressing upon the need for improving the health condition of the younger generation for a happier life.                                                                                                                              5

Ans:                                                      

       Or

    You are Rima/Rahim, a resident of 16, Bapuji Nagar, Tinsukia. You have lost your suitcase containing valuable documents while travelling from Tinsukia to Jorhat by train. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words, for publication in an English daily giving details of the bag, when you had lost it and Giving your contact address requesting the finder to return it to you.

Ans:

3. Write a report on a road accident giving imaginary details of the accident and the steps taken by the concerned authorities towards medical relief to the accident victims. (Words limit 125).                                                                        5

Ans:                                                                           

Or

    Write an article on ‘Television: Advantage and disadvantages’ to be published in the college magazine. (Your article should not exceed 135 words).                                                                                                                                                5

4. Write a letter to the editor on an English daily drawing the attention of the authorities concerned to the poor condition of the roads in your locality. You are Manav/Manasi living in Mirza, Kamrup.                                                        10

Ans:

Mirza, Kamrup

12^TH November, 2017

The Editor

The Assam Tibune

Guwahati (Assam)

Subject : Poor road condition.

Sir,

Kindly allow me to draw the attention of concerned authorities (address) through the columns of your esteemed newspaper to the bad condition of the road in our locality.

The bad conditions of the road cause a lot of inconvenience to the people, causing traffic jams during the peak office hours and frequent accidents. It also causes severe damages to the running vehicles. Poor drainage system is also responsible for damaging to the roads. It is a well-expressed fact that the people of locality pay a huge amount of vehicle tax. Hence it is the fundamental right of the citizens to have better roads for their vehicles.

Keeping the above in view, I hope that the concerned authorities will initiate expeditious steps to ensure a good formation of the road in our area.  

Thanking you                                                                                                                                 yours’ truly

                                                                                                                                                     Manav/Manasi

Or

You are Arunabh/Mandira. You have seen an advertisement for the post of receptionist in a Multi-National Company in Bangalore. Write a formal application for the post in response to the advertisement.                      10

Ans:

Examination Hall

12^thDecember, 2017

The Manager

Human Resource Department

ABC Pvt. Ltd

Bangalore

Subject: An application for the post of receptionist.

Sir,

This is in esponse to your advertisement in ‘The Assam Tribune’ dated 10/12/2017 regarding the post of a receptionist. I wish to apply for the same post.

I am outgoing, deligent and open to learning and have good command over English speaking. I have all the requisite qualification and experience. I did my graduation from Sri Ram College, Delhi in Commerce stream. I worked as a receiptionist  in XML Pvt. Ltd. Guwahati  for 1 year. I want to enhance my skills and grow in my career my working in your company as a receptionist.

As regard my qualification and experience , I am enclosing my bio- data for your kind consideration.  I shall be available for an interview on any day of your convenience.

If selected I shall discharge my duties with utmost devotion and sincerity to your full satisfaction.

Yours sincerely

Arunabh

ENCLOSURE:

1.       Testimonials

2.       Bio- data

NAME                               :                Arunabh

FATHER NAME                :                S.K Dutta

ADDESS                             :                Examination Hall, Tinsukia College, Tinsukia (Assam)

CONTACT                          :                9987XXXXXX

DATE OF BIRTH                :                xx/xx/1993

NATIONALITY                   :                Indian

RELIGION                          :                Hindu

MARITAL STATUS            :                Unmarried

GENDER                            :                Male

AGE                                   :                26 years

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

WORK EXPERIENCE:

SKILLS:

–          Excellent written and verbal communication skills

–          Working knowledge of Tally, Excel, MS-Word.

Achievements:

–          Games secretary of Tinsukia college student Union(2014-2015)

–          Winner of Inter –college Debate Competiton (2014-2015)

Hobby: Interacting with people, reading books, cricket etc.

Language Known: Hindi, English, Bengali, Assamese.

I solemnly declare that all the above information are correct to the best of my knowledge.

Date:    12/12/2017                                                                                                       Arunabh

5. Change the form of Narration in the following sentences:                                                        2×2=4

a)      The lady said to the salesman, “What is the price of this Barbie doll?” The salesman said to her, “It is a bit expensive. But I can give to you at a 20 percent discount”.

ANS: The lady asked the salesman what the price of that Barbie doll was. The salesman replied her that It was a bit expensive. But he could give to her at a 20 percent discount”.

b)      One day Mohan told me that he would become a doctor and leave Assam. I asked him if he knew anything about medicine.

Ans: One day Mohan said to me,’’ I shall become a doctor and leave Assam. I said to him,’’ Do you know anything about medicine?’’

6. Change the voice of any three of the following sentences:                                                      1×3=3

a)      The student was told to leave the room.

Ans: The teacher told the student to leave the room

b)      Guwahati is called the gateway to the North East.

Ans: People call Guwahati the gateway to the North East.

c)       They laughed at us.

              Ans: We were laughed at by them.

d)      My umbrella has been broken.

Ans: Someone has broken my umbrella

e)      The thief was beat up by the mob.

Ans: The mob beaten up the thief.

f)       You will be asked to deliver the letters.

Ans: Someone will ask you to deliver the letter.

7. Rewrite any five of the following questions using the verbs given in brackets in their correct tense forms:        1×5

a)      I wish I (know) her.

Ans: Knew

b)      The meeting (begin) when we arrived at the auditorium.

Ans: had begun.

c)       The first world war (last) for four years and ended in 1918.

Ans: had been lasted

d)      As soon as I came in she (leave) the room.

Ans: had left.

e)      I usually (go) to bed at 11 o’clock.

Ans: Go

f)       To hate man (be) the biggest crime.

Ans: Is

g)      Please stop singing because I (try) to work.

Ans: am trying

8. Rewrite any four of the following sentences filling in the blanks with appropriate prepositions:             1×4=4

a)      The train arrived ____ the station a minute ago.                         Ans: at

b)      My birthday is ____ 24 August.                                                        Ans: on

c)       The office is closed ____ the second and fourth Saturdays.       Ans: on

d)      Our school is ____ Chandmari.                                                         Ans: at

e)      We have been staying ____ a hotel near the bus stop.               Ans: in

f)       The girl standing ____ the two boys is their sister.                       Ans: between

9. Rewrite any four of the sentences as directed:                                             1×4=4

a)      This is the best book on the subject. (Change into comparative degree)

Ans: This book is better than any other book on the subject.

b)      No other boxer is as great as Mary Com. (Change into superlative degree)

Ans: Mary Kom is the greatest boxer.

c)       None but Anita can do the sum. (Change into Affirmative)

Ans: only Anita can do the sum.

d)      I know his name. (Change into a complex sentence)

Ans: I Know what his name is.

e)      Everybody must admit that Tendulkar is a great cricketer (Change into negative)

Ans: Nobody can deny that Tendulkar is a great cricketer

f)       I shall never forget you. (Change into interrogative)

Ans: Shall I ever forget you?

10. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:

a)      But after the airport’s

Security check, standing a few yards

Away, I looked again at her, wan, pale

As a late winter’s moon and felt that old

Familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,

But all I said was, see you soon, Amma,

All I did was smile and smile and smile.

Questions:

                                 i.            What did the speaker do after the security check?                                                                           1

Ans: After the security check the speaker stood a few yard away and looked her mother again.

                               ii.            Why did the poet compare her mother’s face to a late winter’s moon?                                  2

Ans: The poet compares her mother’s face to a late winter’s moon. Just as a ‘late winter’s  moon’ looks colourless and dull because of mist and fog, the poet’s mother‘s face looks pale and lacks shine due to old age. Moreover, winter is the last season and old age is the last phase of life.

iii.What was the poet’s childhood fear?                                                         1

Ans: The poet’s childhood fear is that she might lose her mother and never see her again.

Or

b)      But soon

Put that thought away and looked out at Young

Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling

Out of their homes

Questions:

                                 i.            Who looked out at the young trees?                                                       1

Ans: The poet looked out at the young trees

                               ii.            Which thought did the speaker put away?                                           1

Ans: The poet put away the thought of her mother approaching death.

                              iii.            What do young sprinting trees signify?                                                  1

Ans: Young sprinting trees signify the energetic action of the youth.

                             iv.            What did the poet see the children doing?                                           1

Ans: The poet see the children coming out of their homes and playing.

11. Answer any three of the following questions in 30-40 words:                               2×3=6

         i.            What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?

Ans: The poet is pained to see her mother’s dull and colourless face. She is hurt to see that her mother’s face looks like that of a dead body. She realized that her mother was at the edge of her life and her end was near. she is afraid of the fact that she may not see her mother alive next time.

       ii.            Explain the statement: “I saw my mother…………her face ashen like that of a corpse”.

Ans: While driving to cochin airport the poet saw her mother dozing. Her face looks pale and ashen-grey like that of a corpse.  There was no shine on her face. The poet realized her mother approaching death. This pains the poet heart.

      iii.            What is the message that Keats wants to convey through ‘A thing of beauty’.

Ans: The very first line of the poem conveys the message of the poet. John Keats was a worshipper of beauty. The message that the poem conveys is that a thing of beauty gives us endless joy. It helps us to come out of sadness and hopelessness. The memory of such a thing is a source of everlasting happiness.

     iv.            Which things irritated the passerby who stopped at the roadside stand?

Ans: Many things irritated those passers by who stopped at the roadside stand. The badly painted buildings spoilt the landscape, the writings on the signboard were defective, the letters ‘N’ and ‘S’ weren’t properly written and most importantly, the place didn’t provide much stuff for shopping.

       v.            What is ‘this sadness’ that Neruda talks of?

    Ans: The poet refers to the ‘sadness’ which arises due to the fact that people fail to understand themselves. Today, we are so busy in achieving materialistic success that we have no time to introspect and analyse our actions. This results in sadness. We can understand ourselves only if we stop all our actives for moments and do some quiet introspection.

12. Answer any five of the following questions:                                                                                 1×5=5

a)      ‘I started for school very late that morning’. Who is the ‘I’ here?

 ANS: ‘I’ refers to Franz.

b)      Who is the author of ‘Lost Spring’?

Ans: Anees jung

c)       What does the author of ‘Lost Spring’ find Saheb doing every morning?

Ans:The author of the lost spring finds Saheb scrounging for gold in the garbage every morning.

d)      Where is Champaran situated?

Ans: Champaran was in the foothills of the Himalayas, near the kingdom of Nepal

e)      Who is the writer of ‘Going Places’?

Ans: A.R Barton is the writer of ‘Going Places’.

13. Answer any five of the following questions in 30-40 words:                                   2×5=10

a)      Why was the lesson called the last lesson?

Ans: The lesson was called the last lesson because  an order had come from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.  As the new master was supposed to come on the following day, it was the last French lesson of the old master.

b)      What had been put up in the bulletin board?

Ans: . For the last two years all bad news had come from the bulletin board. An order that had come from Berlin had been put up on the bulletin board. The order was that from the next day only German would be taught in the school of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher would join the school from the following day.

c)       What does Saheb look for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?

Ans: In the garbage dumps, Saheb looks for useful items which can be sold for cash. These items can be sold for cash. They are just like ‘gold’ for him. Sometimes he finds a rupee even a ten rupee note, if luck favours.

Saheb and his family live in Simapuri, a slum on the periphery of Delhi. Saheb and his family had migrated from Bangladesh.

d)      Is Saheb happy working at the tea-stall? Why?

Ans: . Saheb got a job at a tea stall where he was paid Rs. 800 and all his meals but Saheb seems unhappy because he has lost his freedom. The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag. The bag was his but the canister belongs to the owner. Saheb is no longer his own master.

e)      Give a brief description of Peacock Island?

Ans: Peacock island was located in the middle of river Brahmaputra.When viewed from Rowntree’s bungalow on the other bank, it offered a splendid view with the dome of a Hindu Temple just visible through the trees. The author said jockingly that he never discovered peacocks but only monkeys on the island

f)       What theme does the story “Going Places” explore?

Ans: The story ‘going places’ explores the theme of adolescent fanaticizing and hero worshipping. Sophie a young girl fanaticizes her meeting with a Danny Casely and becomes responsible for her own sadness and disappointment

14. Answer any one of the following questions in 80-100 words:                                                5

a)      Describe the miserable plight of the people of Firozabad?

Ans: The bangle makers of Firozabad are exposed to multiple health hazards while working. Many of them are children who work near hot furnaces during daylight, often losing their eyesight before adulthood. Years of mind-numbing toil have killed all initiative and the ability to even think of talking up another profession. They are not able to organise themselves into a cooperative due to bullying and exploitation by the politicians, authorities, moneylenders and middlemen. They live in stinking lanes choked with garbage, having homes with crumbling walls, wobbly doors, no windows, overcrowded with families of humans and animals coexisting in a primeval state. They have not even enjoyed even one full meal in their entire lifetime because of their poverty.

b)      Describe the efforts made by RK Shukla to persuade Gandhi to go to Champaran.

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla a poor peasant from Champaran went to the annual convention of the Indian National Congress party in Lucknow, to meet Gandhi. He told Gandhi that he wanted him to come to their district. Gandhi told Shukla that he had an appointment in Cawnpore. From Cawnpore he had to visit other parts of India. Shukla followed Gandhi everywhere. Then Gandhi returned to his ashram near Ahmadabad and Shukla followed him to the Ashram also. He did not leave Gandhi’s side for weeks and pleaded Gandhi to fix a date to come Champaran. Gandhi was impressed by Shukla’s steadfastness and asked the latter to come to Calcutta on such and such a date Gandhi asked him to come and take him from there. Months later Shukla met Gandhi at the Calcutta station and both left for Champaran.

15. Answer any one of the following questions in 125-150 words:                              7

a)      Draw a character sketch of the Tiger King in your own words.

Ans: The tiger king as the name suggests was brave man, and did not fear killing tigers with bare hands, when his bullet missed the mark.

b)      Why is Antarctica the place to visit for understanding the earth’s present, past and future?( Not in syllabus now)

16. Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words:                                  2×4=8

a)      What did the chief astrologer predict about The Tiger King?

Ans: When he was born, the astrologer foretold that he would grow up to be a warrior of warriors, hero of heroes and champion of champions, but one day he will have to meet his death. He predicted that his death would be caused by a tiger.

b) How did the narrator reach Antarctica? ( not in syllabus)

c) How do people comment so painfully about Derry’s face? And Why?

Ans: Derry has a burnt face . By looking at his face people comment him ‘poor boy’ and some by saying that only a mother can love such a terrible face. They comment in this way because they find Derry’s face really terrible. Morever they don’t understand Derry’s feelings.  

b)      Why did Zitkala-Sa feel uncomfortable in the dining room?

Ans: Zitkala-Sa was already feeling uncomfortable in her new dress when she entered the dining hall. A small bell was tapped. Thinking that they had to be seated, Zitkala pulled out a chair and sat on it. But to her surprise everybody kept standing. A ‘paleface woman’ watched her keenly. She was getting up when the second bell rang and all were seated. Then a third bell was tapped. Everyone picked up his knife and fork and began eating and she began to cry.

c)       Why did Bama feel terribly sad and provoked?

Ans: On knowing the fact why the older carried the packet with a strings, she didn’t want to laugh any more. She felt terribly sad. She felt so provoked and angry that she wanted to touch those wretched vadais herself. She felt bad that people had to bow low and work so hard for their masters.

d)      Who should be friends, according to both Derry and Mr. Lamb?

Ans: According to both Derry and Mr. Lamb people who might never see each other again but still retain the friendship, should be friends.