Model Question 2082 with Solution

 

Grade XII

Optional English

Time: 3 hrs.                                      Full Marks: 75

Candidates are required to give their answers in their own words as far as practicable. The figures in the margin indicate full marks.

Group ‘A’

Write the correct answer, choosing from the options given below. [11×1=11]

1.     Which language family does Sanskrit language belong to?

i. Dravidian                              ii. Indo-European        

iii. Sino-Tibetan                       iv. Uralic

2.     Which of the following best describes "language shift"?

i.       The process of a language evolving naturally over time

ii.     When a community switches from using one language to another, often due to social, economic, or political factors

iii.  The preservation of a language by a community

iv.  A situation where a language becomes extinct over time

3.     What is a pidgin language?

i.       A fully developed language used for everyday communication

ii.     A simplified language developed for communication between speakers of different languages

iii.  A language spoken only in rural areas

iv.  A dialect of a widely spoken language

4.     How does Holmes solve the mystery in the story the "The Three Students"?

i.    By questioning the suspects

ii.  By using small clues and logical thinking

iii.                       By checking the university records

iv.                       By following footprints in the snow

5.     What is the central theme of "Once More to the Lake"?

i.    The dangers of modernization

ii.  The passage of time and nostalgia

iii.                       The importance of education

iv.                       The beauty of nature

6.     Meta-language is a language that ........

i. is superior to other languages                  ii. describes a language

iii. is an indigenous language            iv. is a native language

7.     What does the phrase "untrodden ways" suggest about Lucy in the poem "She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways"?

i.    She was adventurous and travelled widely.

ii.  She lived in a remote and unnoticed place.

iii.                       She followed the latest trends.

iv.                       She had many admirers.

8.     "I've told you a million times to clean your room!" is an example of ..........
i. Metaphor                             ii. Hyperbole       

iii. Alliteration                                   iv. Irony

9.     What does Joe Keller do at the end of the play "All My Sons"?

i. He confesses his crimes to the police.
ii. He leaves his family to start a new life.
iii. He kills himself.
iv. He is arrested.

10.                        Why does Ann reveal the truth about Larry’s death to Chris?

i. She feels that Chris deserves to know the truth.
ii. She is angry with Joe Keller.
iii. She believes Larry’s death was a result of Joe's actions.
iv. She wants to end her relationship with Chris.

11.                        Who is regarded as the father of class perspective?

i. Ferdinand de Saussure            ii. Roman Jacobson

iii. Jacques Derrida                    iv. Karl Marx     

Group ‘B’

Write short answers to the following questions. [8×5=40]

12.                        What do you mean by language family? Discuss the major language families of the world briefly.

Answer: A language family is a group of languages that come from the same parent language. These languages share many similar words and grammar.

a.     The Indo-European Language Family: It is the largest language family of the world. It includes languages like English, Hindi, Nepali, Spanish, and Russian. People in Europe, South Asia, and the Americas speak them.

b.     The Sino-Tibetan Language Family: It is the second largest language family in the world. It includes languages like Chinese and Burmese.

c.      The Niger-Congo Language Family: It is the biggest in Africa with over 1500 languages.

d.     The Afro-Asiatic Language Family: It includes Arabic, Hebrew, Amharic, and Hausa, spoken in North Africa and the Middle East.

e.      The Dravidian Language Family: It includes Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, spoken in southern India and Sri Lanka.

13.                        What is dialect? What are its types? Discuss with examples.

a.     Answer: It is a variety of language spoken in one part of a country or by people belonging to a particular social class. There are two types of dialect: geographical dialect (regional) and social dialect (sociolect).

i.    Geographical/regional dialect: It is a variety of language that is different from place to place. It shows the geographical identity of the speaker. For example: British English is different from American English in terms of pronunciation, words, and spelling.

ii.  Social dialect (Sociolect): It is a variety of language used by people belonging to a particular social class. It reflects age, education, socio-economic background of the speaker. For e.g. Black English is different from Standard American English.

14.            Why do you think that the Buddha was once born as a Banyan Deer? (Brahmadatta and the Banyan Deer)

Answer: I think the Buddha was once born as a Banyan Deer to teach an important lesson of compassion and non-violence. In the story, the Banyan Deer showed great kindness by offering his own life to save a pregnant doe. This act of selflessness and love for others made even King Brahmadatta change his ways and stop killing animals. As the Buddha always taught peace and kindness, it makes sense that he took birth as a wise and caring deer. Through this form, he helped people learn that all creatures deserve love, care, and the right to live in peace and safety.

 

 

15.                        How does Paul’s fantasy(imagination) about living in luxury influence his actions in the story? (Paul's Case)

Answer: Paul’s fantasy about living in luxury greatly influences his actions in the story. He is unhappy with his simple, middle-class life and dreams of a rich and glamorous world. He believes that only wealth can bring him happiness. This strong desire makes him ignore his real life and responsibilities. He steals money from his job to live out his dream in New York City, buying expensive clothes and staying in a grand hotel. But when his crime is discovered, he feels hopeless. Paul cannot accept returning to his old life, so he ends his life. His fantasy leads to his downfall.

16.                        Justify the significance of the title of the essay "Not Nothing".

Answer: The title “Not Nothing” is meaningful because it shows that even the smallest life, like a fly, is important. The essayist Stephen Cave explains that every living being, no matter how tiny, has a long history and plays a role in the world. When a creature dies, it is not “nothing” — it is a big loss. Life is valuable, and death should not be taken lightly. The title reminds us that no life is useless or meaningless. Every death matters. So, we should care for animals and avoid killing, even small ones. Life is always something, never “nothing.”

OR,

Discuss the marketing approach of Japanese Car Company. (How Lean Production Can Change the World)

Answer: The marketing approach of the Japanese car company, especially Toyota, is based on lean production. This method focuses on using fewer workers, less space, and less money to produce cars. It makes cars in small amounts, only when customers need them. This way, there is no need to store many cars, and space is saved. Dealers do not have to pay high rent. Toyota also follows a zero-error rule, meaning the cars are made with high quality, so there is less need for repair. This approach reduces waste, saves money, and makes customers more satisfied. It is more successful than mass production.

 

17.                        What are the two types of worlds that the poet talks about in the poem "If I Should Die"? What will happen to those worlds after her death?

Answer: In the poem "If I Should Die," the poet talks about two types of worlds: the natural world and the human world. The natural world includes things like the sun, bees, and birds. The human world includes people and their daily work or business. The poet says that both of these worlds will continue even after her death. The sun will still shine, bees will buzz, birds will build nests, and people will keep doing their jobs. Life will go on as usual. Her death will not stop the world. This shows that death is natural and not something to fear.

18.                        Write short note on reader's perspective.

Answer: It is an approach that focuses on how readers interpret and react to a literary text. It emphasises that meaning is created by the reader’s individual experiences and responses, rather than being fixed by the text alone. Different readers may understand the same text in different ways, and their interpretations can change over time.

19.                        Differentiate between class perspective and gender perspective.

Answer: Difference between sex and gender is given below:

Sex	Gender
It is the biological and physiological differences between men and women.	It is the social and cultural differences between men and women.
It is determined by biology.	It is constructed by society and culture.
It is based on physical attributes and sex organs.	It is based on personality traits, behaviours, and roles.
It has two main categories: male and female.	It has two main categories: masculine and feminine.
Sex remains the same regardless of time and culture.	Gender roles and expectations may differ across time and culture.

 

OR,

What is a text? Is there any relationship between text and literature? Discuss.

Answer: A text is any written or spoken piece of language that communicates a message. It can be a story, poem, article, speech, or even a conversation. Text is the basic form of communication in language. Literature is a special kind of text that is creative and artistic. It includes poems, stories, dramas, and novels. So, all literature is text, but not all texts are literature. The relationship between text and literature is that literature uses text to express deep thoughts, emotions, and imagination. Without text, literature cannot exist. Text is the medium, and literature is the artistic use of that medium.

Group ‘C’

Write long answers to these questions. [3×8=24]

20.                        How does “Lullaby” convey the tension between modernity and tradition in Native American culture? Discuss how the story reflects the challenges faced by Native American communities in maintaining their cultural identity.

Answer: The short story "Lullaby" by Leslie Marmon Silko shows the struggle between modern life and Native American traditions. The main character, Ayah, is an old Native American woman who remembers her past and the pain caused by changes brought by white people. Her children were taken away, her husband became sick, and her life changed because of modern rules and systems. The story shows how modern life has hurt Native culture, language, and values.

Ayah holds on to her traditions, memories, and language even when everything around her changes. She sings a lullaby in her native language at the end, showing the importance of tradition and identity. The story reflects how hard it is for Native American people to keep their culture alive when they are forced to follow new ways. "Lullaby"tells us how important it is to protect one's roots, culture, and language, even in a changing modern world.

 

 

 

21.                        "Lord! Make me a Sheep" is a satire on human conducts and behaviour. Explain.

Answer: "Lord! Make Me a Sheep" is a satirical poem by Laxmi Prasad Devkota that criticizes human behavior and society. The speaker, tired of the struggles and responsibilities of human life, wishes to become a sheep. He believes the sheep lives a simple, carefree life without sin or the burden of human complexities. The sheep symbolizes innocence and purity, which, in the speaker’s eyes, makes it a better being than humans. The poem satirizes human society by mocking traits like selfishness, greed, religious hypocrisy, and immoral behavior. It points out how humans are caught in unhealthy competition for material wealth and fame, often forgetting true values.

Devkota criticizes the artificiality in society and the divisions created in the name of religion, showing how these flaws make human life painful and difficult. The poem’s humour and irony emphasize the contrast between the innocent sheep and corrupt human society.

OR,

Define ballad. Discuss "King Lear and His Three Daughters" as a ballad.

Answer: A ballad is a type of poem that tells a story, often focusing on a tragic or heroic event. It is usually written in short, simple stanzas with a regular rhythm and rhyme. Ballads often include dialogue, repetition, and a focus on emotional or dramatic situations. These poems are meant to be sung or recited, and they typically convey themes of love, loss, or fate.

"King Leir and His Three Daughters" is a ballad that tells the tragic story of King Leir, based on the famous play "King Lear" by Shakespeare. The poem focuses on the king’s mistake of trusting his two deceitful daughters, Goneril and Regan, who flatter him with false love, while his honest daughter, Cordelia, refuses to do so. Her honesty leads to her being punished. The ballad explores themes such as betrayal, loyalty, and the consequences of blind trust. It ends in tragedy, with the death of Cordelia, King Leir, and his wicked daughters, showcasing the fatal impact of the king's poor judgment.

 

 

22.                        Discuss the role of the American Dream in "All My Sons." How does Arthur Miller critique the concept of the American Dream through the experiences of the Keller family? In what ways does Joe Keller’s pursuit of success lead to his downfall?

Answer: In All My Sons, Arthur Miller critiques the concept of the American Dream through the experiences of the Keller family. The American Dream is based on the idea that anyone can achieve success through hard work and determination. Joe Keller, the father, believes in this dream and strives for success, focusing on financial prosperity and providing for his family. However, Miller exposes the dark side of this dream. Joe’s ambition leads him to prioritize success over morality, making unethical decisions that ultimately result in tragedy.

Joe Keller’s pursuit of success directly contributes to his downfall. He sells faulty airplane parts during World War II, which leads to the deaths of young soldiers, including his own son, Larry. His actions are driven by the desire for wealth and security, but in the end, his choices destroy his family. Joe’s failure to acknowledge the value of human life over material success is what causes his tragic end, highlighting the flaws in the pursuit of the American Dream.