Category: English

ENGLISH PAPER-2 

LITERATURE IN ENGLISH 

SECTION A 

THE TEMPEST ⎯ Shakespeare 

Q. 1 Choose two of the passages (a) to (c) and answer briefly the questions that follow: 

(a) Prospero : 

This blue-eyed hag was hither brought with child, 

And here was left by th’ sailors. Thou, my slave, 

As thou report’s thyself, was then her servant, 

And for thou wast a spirit too delicate 

To act her earthy and abhorr’d commands, 

Refusing her grand hests, she did confine thee, 

By help of her more potent ministers 

And in her most unmitigable rage, 

Into a cloven pine….. 

(i) What leads Prospero to talk about the ‘blue-eyed hag’? 

(ii) Why was she brought to this island?

(iii) What account do we get of Ariel’s suffering in the cloven pine? Who had saved him and how? 

(iv) How does Prospero describe the hag’s son? 

(v) What does Prospero threaten to do to Ariel now? What effect does his threat have on Ariel? 

(vi) Give the meanings of the following words in the context of the passage: 

                     abhorr’d,                cloven  

(b) Caliban : 

I prithee let me bring thee where crabs grow, 

And I with my long nails will dig thee pig-nuts, 

Show thee a jay’s nest, and instruct thee how 

To snare the nimble marmoset. I’ll bring thee 

To clustering filberts, and sometimes I’ll get thee 

Young scamels from the rock. Wilt thou go with me? 

(i) To whom is Caliban speaking these lines? 

(ii) Briefly describe the circumstance under which he had met them. 

(iii) Who does he think they are? Why? 

(iv) To which other person had Caliban shown such a slavish attitude? What had the result been? 

(v) How do his present listeners respond to his words? 

(vi) Give the meanings of the following words as they are used in the context of the passage:  

            Snare,             marmoset  

(c) Ariel      :Thy thoughts I cleave to. What’s thy pleasure? 

    Prospero  : Spirit, we must prepare to meet with Caliban. 

    Ariel        : Ay, my commander. When I presented Ceres 

                     I thought to have told thee of it, but I fear’d 

                     Lest I might anger thee. 

Prospero : Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets? 

(i) For whom is the term varlets being used? 

(ii) What comical behaviour of theirs does Ariel narrate now? 

(iii) Where had these people been going? Why? 

(iv) Where did Ariel leave them eventually? What did they do then? 

(v) What does Prospero tell Ariel to do? Why? 

(vi) Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the context of the passage: 

               cleave,                    varlets  

CANDIDA ⎯ George Bernard Shaw 

Q. 2 Choose two of the passages (a) to (c) and answer briefly the questions which follow: 

(a) Morell : (thoughtfully) Hm! Time for him to take another look at  Candida before she grows out of his knowledge. (He resigns himself to the inevitable, and goes out). 

Lexy looks after him with beaming worship.  Miss Garnett, not being able to shake Lexy, relieves her  feelings by worrying the typewriter. 

Lexy : What a good man! What a thorough loving soul he is!  (He takes Morell’s place at the table, making himself  very comfortable as he takes out a cigaret). 

Proserpine : (impatiently, pulling the letter she has been working at  off the typewriter and folding it) Oh, a man ought to be able to be fond of his wife without making a fool of  himself about her. 

Lexy : (shocked) Oh, Miss Prossy! 

(i) Who is Morell talking about? How does he react when he gets to know about the arrival of this person? 

(ii) What advice has Morell given Lexy about marriage? 

(iii) What does Proserpine say further to express her displeasure? 

(iv) When Lexy expresses unhappiness at Proserpine’s feelings against Candida,  How does Prossy defend herself? 

(v) Judging by Lexy’s disbelief, how does Proserpine condemn men’s ideas about women? 

(vi) How does Lexy voice his regret then?

(b) Marchbanks : 

(stopping her mysteriously) Hush! I go about in search  of love; and I find it in unmeasured stores in the bosoms  of others. But when I try to ask for it, this horrible  shyness strangles me; and I stand dumb, or worse than  dumb, saying meaningless things: foolish lies. And I see  the affection I am longing for given to dogs and cats and  pet birds, because they come and ask for it. (Almost  whispering) It must be asked for: it is like a ghost: it  cannot speak unless it is first spoken to. (At his usual  pitch, but with deep melancholy) All the love in the  world is longing to speak; only it dare not, because it is  shy! shy! shy! That is the world’s tragedy. (With a deep  sigh, he sits in the visitors’ chair and buries his face in his hands.) 

Proserpine : (amazed, but keeping her wits about her: her point of  honor in encounters with strange young men) Wicked people get over that shyness occasionally, don’t they? 

(i) Where are Marchbanks and Proserpine? 

(ii) How does Marchbanks offend Proserpine? 

(iii) What are Marchbanks’ ideas of love? 

(iv) What is ‘like a ghost’? Why has he used this reference? 

(v) What does Marchbanks tell about his shyness to Proserpine? 

(vi) Does Marchbanks agree with Proserpine when she says that wicked people  do not feel shy? 

(c) Marchbanks : [Convulsively]

Candida : Yes, onions. Not even Spanish ones: nasty little  red onions. You shall help me to slice them.Come  along. 

                  [She catches him by the wrist and runs out, pulling him after her. Burgess rises in  

                   consternation, and stands aghast on the hearth-rug,  staring after them.] 

      Burgess : Candy didnt oughter andle a hearl’s nevvy like that. Its going too fur with it.

(i) Why is Marchbanks disgusted by the onions? 

(ii) Why had he been similarly agitated a little earlier? 

(iii) How had Candida responded then? 

(iv) Why is Burgess shocked? 

(v) What does he get to know about Marchbanks soon? 

(vi) Why does Morell appear disinterested? 

SECTION B 

(Answer four questions on at least three textbooks which may include EITHER The Tempest OR Candida.) 

THE TEMPEST ⎯ Shakespeare 

Q. 3 Referring closely to Act IV, scene i: 

(a) Describe the blessings showered by Ceres and Iris on Miranda and Ferdinand.  

What is the significance of these blessings? 

(b) What did Prospero tell Ferdinand just before the masque? What did he emphasize and how did Ferdinand answer him? 

(c) What do you conclude about Prospero from the events that occur in the act?

 

Q. 4 Prospero refers to Caliban as “A devil, a born devil”. In this context, evaluate the  character and role of Caliban in the play. 

CANDIDA ⎯ George Bernard Shaw 

Q. 5 Referring closely to Act III of the play Candida: 

(a) Describe the conflict between Marchbanks and Morell regarding Candida.

(b) Describe the auction that Candida initiates. Why do you think she terms it an auction? 

(c) What is the reason for the choice made by her at the end of the play? 

 

Q. 6 In the play Candida, Shaw presents Candida as an unconventional woman. Discuss. 

THINGS FALL APART ⎯ Achebe 

Q. 7 Referring closely to the events, answer the following: 

(a) How is the Church established and what is the role of the white men in establishing it? 

(b) Why does Nwoyi secretly become attracted to the religion of the missionaries? What was his father’s reaction? 

(c) Which circumstances had led to the suicide of Okonkwo?

 

Q. 8 How is the story about why mosquitoes buzz around people’s ears relevant to the novel? 

 

Q. 9 “His whole life was dominated by fear of failure and of weakness.” Do you think this is  true of Okonkwo? Give your views with reference to the novel. 

CONTEMPLATIONS 

Q. 10 Referring closely to the essay ‘My Visions of India’, answer the following: 

(a) Relate the first and second vision of Dr. Kalam. 

(b) What does he say about his third vision?

(c) How does Dr. Kalam co-relate his message with the message of J. F. Kennedy?

 

Q. 11 Referring closely to the essay On being Idle, discuss how the writer treats a light subject  with a serious message. 

Q. 12 In the essay On the Decay of The Art of Lying, what makes Mark Twain argue that  “the Lie, as a Virtue, A Principle, is eternal”? According to Mark Twain, what is a silent  lie? What example does he give to demonstrate a silent lie? Why does he oppose injurious  truth and injurious lying?

ECHOES 

Q. 13  Referring closely to the short story B. Wordsworth: 

(a) Describe the interaction between B. Wordsworth and the young narrator. 

(b) What did the narrator learn from his friend? 

(c) Do you feel that B. Wordsworth was an escapist? Give reasons for your answer. 

 

Q. 14 How does Roald Dahl depict the theme of obsession in his short story, The Sound  Machine? 

Q. 15 How successful was the writer in bringing out the protagonist’s innate goodness in the  short story, Salvatore? 

REVERIE 

Q. 16 Referring closely to the poem Dover Beach: 

(a) Describe the moonlit scene described by the poet at the beginning of the poem.

(b) How does the poet introduce the note of melancholy and disturbance? In this context, what does he say about Faith? 

(c) What does the poet say about the world in which he finds himself? What is the only hope left for mankind? 

 

Q. 17 How is the power of the Music Makers brought out in We are the Music Makers? 

Q. 18 The poem John Brown presents two attitudes to war. Describe the two attitudes. Which  one do you sympathise with? Why?

ENGLISH PAPER -1 

(LANGUAGE) 

Q.1 Write a composition (in approximately 400 – 450 words) on any one of the following subjects: 

(You are reminded that you will be rewarded for orderly and coherent presentation of  material, use of appropriate style and general accuracy of spelling, punctuation and  grammar.) 

(a) Recently, you travelled to a place you found peaceful and rewarding. Describe the  place, the weather, the people and the local activities that make this destination  particularly attractive. 

(b) Narrate an experience when you took on a responsibility in your school that you  usually would not, and you were pleasantly surprised at the outcome. 

(c) “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” Express your views on this statement. 

(d) Solitude. 

(e) Students should be allowed to use electronic gadgets in the classroom. Argue for  or against this proposition. 

(f) Write an original short story that begins with the line: 

The lone young man who sat hunched on the park bench had an unusual gleam in  his eyes.

Q. 2 (a) As the Secretary of the Creative Arts Club of XYZ School, you organised an  inter-school drama competition. Write a report for the school magazine in not more  than 300 words, detailing the success of the event based on the following points: 

Date, time and place – objective of the event – inauguration – schools involved – judges invited – response of participants – reaction of audience – plan for similar  events in future.  

(b) As a member of the Student Council, you have been given the responsibility of  arranging for a career guidance workshop. Write a proposal in not more than  150 words, stating the steps you would take to make the workshop a success. 

 

Q. 3 Answer sections (a), (b) and (c). 

(a) In each of the following items, sentence A is complete, while sentence B is not.  

Complete sentence B, making it as similar as possible to sentence A. Write  sentence B in each case.  

Example:  

(0) (A) As soon as the bell rings, the children run out to play. 

(B) No sooner……..……………………………… 

Answer: (0) No sooner does the bell ring than the children run out to play.

1 – (A) When he returned, we asked him many questions. 

(B) On his………. ………………………….. 

2 – (A) He arrived and the crowd went hysterical with joy. 

(B) Scarcely……………………………………. 

3 – (A) The bus service has been interrupted by floods. 

(B) Floods………………………………………. 

4 – (A) This scenery is breath-taking. 

(B) How…………………………………………. 

5 – (A) You are entitled to a discount as long as the offer lasts. 

(B) So long….…………………………………… 

6 – (A) He is so tall that he cannot enter through this door. 

(B) He is too……………………………………… 

7 – (A) The doctor said to him, “Drink at least three litres of water every day.” 

(B) The doctor advised……………………………

8 – (A) Sunita is the best debater in our team. 

(B) No other……………………………………….. 

9 – (A) Not only did he score a century but also took three important  wickets. 

(B) Besides………………………………………… 

10 – (A) I am sorry I am unable to accompany you. 

(B) I regret my .…………………………………… 

(b) Fill in each blank with a suitable word. (Do not write the sentence.) 

1- The antique furniture was sold ____________ an auction. 

2- The tickets were sold _____________ within an hour. 

3- I realized I had walked __________ a trap, but it was too late. 

4- She had walked ___________ two hours before she realized she was lost.

5- Can he take _________ the additional responsibility? 

6- She takes _________ her mother in all her mannerisms. 

7- Neha turned _________ a new leaf after the incident. 

8- I did not expect so many people to turn _________ for the conference.

9- The students brought___________ the first issue of their magazine. 

10- Mowgli was brought _________ by wolves in the jungle. 

(c) Fill in the blanks in the passage given below with the appropriate form of the verb given in brackets. Do not write the passage but write the verbs in the correct order. 

When Albert Einstein ___________(1)(be) three years old, his parents  ________(2)(be) very worried. He __________(3)(seem) intelligent, but had not  spoken a single word. They _________(4)(take) him to many doctors who  ___________(5)(say) that they_________(6)(find) nothing wrong with the child.  One day, at the dinner table, Albert suddenly said, “The soup __________(7)(be) too hot.” The shocked parents _______(8)(ask) him why he ________(9)(remain)  silent for so long. The young child solemnly replied, “Everything  __________(10)(be) in order until now.” 

Q. 4 Read the passage given below and answer the questions (a), (b) and (c) that  follow: 

(1) My job as the District Veterinarian in Darrowby, Yorkshire has thrown up some  interesting moments. I was driving up to Pawson’s sheep farm one morning,  when I saw this rare sight. 

(2) I suppose it isn’t unusual to see a man pushing a pram in a town, but on a lonely  moorland road this scene merits a second glance. Especially when the pram  contains a large gray dog. I drew up beside them and stopped. 

(3) I looked at the pram, ancient and rusty, and at the big animal sitting upright inside  it. He was a cross-bred greyhound, and he gazed back at me with unruffled  dignity. I couldn’t help but admire his healthy and happy disposition. 

(4) “Nice dog,” I said. 10 (5) “Aye, that’s Jake.” The man smiled, introducing himself as Roddy. 

(6) That same evening, about eight o’clock, the doorbell rang. I answered it and  found Roddy on the front doorstep. Behind him, stood the ubiquitous pram. One  look at the prone dog warned me that something was terribly wrong.  

(7) I threw the door wide open. “Bring him in.”

(8) I grabbed the animal round the middle and we lifted him onto the table. I watched  in disbelief as the huge form lay there. There was no fight for breath, he was  unconscious. His pulse was rapid and feeble, yet he didn’t breathe. 

(9) Understanding the symptoms, I said, “Roddy, he is choking. I’m going to have a  look at his throat.”

(10) I pushed Jake’s jaws apart, depressed his tongue with a forefinger, and shone my  torch into the depths. He was the kind of good-natured dog who offered no  resistance as I prodded around. I shall always be thankful that at that very instant  the dog coughed, opening up the cartilages of the larynx and giving me a glimpse of the cause of all the trouble. There, beyond the drooping epiglottis, I saw for a  25 fleeting moment a smooth round object no bigger than a pea. 

(11) “I think it’s a pebble,” I gasped. “Right inside his larynx. I’ll have to get it out.” 

(12) I seized a pair of scissors and clipped away the hair from the ventral surface of the larynx. I dared not use a general anesthetic, and therefore I infiltrated the area locals before swabbing with antiseptic. 

(13) “Hold his head steady,” I said hoarsely, and gripped a scalpel. I cut down through  skin, fascia, and the thin layers of the muscle until the ventral surface of the  larynx was revealed. 

(14) And there it was. A pebble right enough―gray and glistening and tiny, but big  enough to kill. 

(15) I had to fish it out quickly and cleanly without pushing it into the trachea. I  leaned back and rummaged in the tray until I found some broad-bladed forceps,  then I poised them over the wound. Great surgeons’ hands, I felt sure, didn’t  shake like this. 

(16) I clenched my teeth, introduced the forceps, and my hand magically steadied as I  clamped them over the pebble. 

(17) I didn’t breathe at all as I bore the shining little object slowly and tenderly  through the opening and dropped it with a gentle rat-tat on the table. 

(18) “Is that it?” asked Roddy, almost in a whisper. 

(19) “That’s it.” I reached for a needle and suture silk. “All is well now.”

(20) The stitching took only a few minutes and by the end of it, Jake was bright-eyed  and alert, paws shifting impatiently, ready for anything.  

(21) He seemed to know his troubles were over.  

Adapted from: James Herriot’s Favorite Dog Stories 

(a) (i) Given below are four words and phrases. Find the words which have a  similar meaning in the passage: 

(1) deserves 

(2) undisturbed 

(3) being unable to breathe 

(4) wet and shining 

(ii) For each of the words given below, write a sentence of at least ten words using the same word unchanged in form, but with a different meaning from that which it carries in the passage: 

(1) middle (line 16) 

(2) wound (line 38) 

(3) introduced (line 40) 

(4) well (line 45)

(b) Answer the following questions in your own words as briefly as possible: (i) What was unusual about the pram on the moorland road? 

(ii) How did the narrator know that the dog was choking? 

(iii) Describe how the narrator found the cause of the choking? 

(iv) What preparations did the narrator make before the surgery? 

(c) Summarise how the narrator removed the pebble and saved Jake’s life.  

(Paragraphs 11 to 19). You are required to write the summary in the form of a  connected passage in about 100 words. Failure to keep within the word limit will  be penalised.