ENGLISH CORE 

CODE NO. 301 

CLASS – XII 

 2023-24 

Section A – 22 Marks (Reading Skills )

I.  Reading Comprehension through Unseen Passage (12+10 = 22 Marks) 

1. One unseen passage to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis and inference. Vocabulary assessment will also be assessed via inference. The passage may be factual, descriptive or literary. 

 2. One unseen case-based factual passage with verbal/visual inputs like statistical data, charts etc. to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation. Note: The combined word limit for both the passages will be 700-750 words. Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions and Short Answer type Questions (to be answered in 40-50 words) will be asked. 

Section B – 18 Marks (Creative Writing Skills )

II. Creative Writing Skills 

3.Notice, up to 50 words. One out of the two given questions to be answered.(4 Marks: Format :1 / Content : 2 / Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar : 1 ). 

4. Formal/Informal Invitation and Reply, up to 50 words. One out of the two given questions to be answered. (4 Marks: Format : 1 / Content : 2 / Accuracy of Spellingand Grammar :1 ). 

5. Letters based on verbal/visual input, to be answered in approximately 120-150 words. Lettertypes include application for a job with bio data or resume. Letters to the editor (giving suggestions or opinion on issues of public interest) . One out of the two given questions to be answered . (5 Marks: Format : 1 / Organisation of Ideas: 1/Content : 2 / Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar :1 ). 

6. Article/ Report Writing, descriptive and analytical in nature, based on verbal inputs, to be answered in 120-150 words. One out of the two given questions to be answered . (5 Marks: Format : 1 /Organisation of Ideas: 1/Content : 2 / Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar :1 ). 

Section C – 40 Marks (Literature: Text Book and Supplementary Reading Text) 

This section will have variety of assessment items including Multiple Choice Questions, Objective Type Questions, Short Answer Type Questions and Long Answer Type Questions to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation and extrapolation beyond the text. 

7. One Poetry extract out of two, from the book Flamingo, to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference and appreciation. (6x1=6 Marks) 

8. One Prose extract out of two, from the book Vistas, to assess comprehension, interpretation,analysis, evaluation and appreciation. (4x1=4 Marks) 

9. One prose extract out of two from the book Flamingo, to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation. (6x1=6Marks) 

10. Short answer type questions (from Prose and Poetry from the book Flamingo), to be answered in 40-50 words each. Questions should elicit inferential responses through critical thinking. Five questions out of the six given, are to be answered. (5x2=10 Marks) 

11. Short answer type questions, from Prose (Vistas), to be answered in 40- 50 words each. Questions should elicit inferential responses through critical thinking. Any two out of three questions to be done. (2x2=4 Marks) 

12. One Long answer type question, from Prose/Poetry (Flamingo), to be answered in 120-150 words. Questions can be based on incident / theme / passage / extract / event as reference points to assess extrapolation beyond and across the text. The question will elicit analytical and evaluative response from the student. Any one out of two questions to be done. (1x5=5 Marks) 

13. One Long answer type question, based on the chapters from the book Vistas, to be answeredin 120-150 words, to assess global comprehension and extrapolation beyond the text. Questions to provide analytical and evaluative responses using incidents, events, themes, as reference points. Any one out of two questions to be done. (1x5=5 Marks)

Prescribed Books 

1. Flamingo: English Reader published by National Council of Education Research and Training,New Delhi 

(Prose) 

The Last Lesson 

Lost Spring 

Deep Water 

The Rattrap 

Indigo 

Poets and Pancakes 

The Interview 

Going Places 

(Poetry) 

My Mother at Sixty-Six 

Keeping Quiet 

A Thing of Beauty 

A Roadside Stand 

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers 

2. Vistas: Supplementary Reader published by National Council of Education Research andTraining, New Delhi 

The Third Level 

The Tiger King 

Journey to the End of the Earth 

The Enemy 

On the Face of It 

Memories of Childhood 

     ○ The Cutting of My Long Hair 

     ○ We Too are Human Beings 

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT  

Assessment of Listening Skills - 05 marks. 

Assessment of Speaking Skills – 05 Marks 

Project Work - 10 Marks 

Short Summary and Questions on Deep Water

Flamingo Chapter No. 3

Deep Water by William Douglas

William Douglas

Ø  Feared Water
Ø  3/4 years old, went to beach with father knocked down, swept over by waves suffocated, frightened.

At 10/11 year old 

Ø  Decided to learn swimming, Y.M.C.A. pool, Yakima

Ø  pool safe 2/3 feet at shallow end, 9 feet at deep end
Ø  got water wings
Ø  fear back, beginning to feel comfortable
Ø  feeling short lived, another incident. 

Misadventure

Ø  big boy threw him into deep end
Ø  frightened, lungs ready to burst
Ø  decided to hit feet on bottom and return as a cork
Ø  came up slowly, opened eyes, water every where
Ø  swallowed water and choked
Ø  terrified, tried to scream, no sound
Ø  legs paralyzed, rigid
Ø  went down, second time
Ø  hit bottom, felt dizzy, paralyzed, rigid
Ø  groped for support, called for help, no result
Ø  went down third time
Ø  stopped struggling, legs limp
Ø  blackness swept his brain
Ø  was quiet, peaceful, drowsy 

On being conscious, he

Ø  found himself, lying on stomach, vomiting
Ø  heard voice of same boy
Ø  reached home-felt weak, trembled
Ø  wept, couldn't eat, frightened, avoided water

 Years later, Douglas

Ø  felt terrified near water
Ø  feared water, spoiled holidays
Ø  one October, decided to overcome fear
Ø  hired swimming instructor
Ø  practised swimming, five days a week, one hour daily
Ø  used belt that went through pulley on overhead cable
Ø  took three months to relax
Ø  learnt to put face in water, exhale, raise nose and inhale
Ø  learnt to kick with legs
Ø  instructor, taught for six months
Ø  made swimmer, no longer feared water
Ø  Douglas not confident
Ø  Went to lake Wentworth, dived of a dock

Ø  swam two miles, scared only once, kept swimming

Ø  went to Warm Lake, swam across back

Ø  no longer afraid, managed to conquer fear 

What we learn from the story: Douglas

Ø  felt who have known fear know feeling to be free.
Ø  recalled Roosevelt’s words
Ø  understood his will to survive and live fully
Ø  confident for facing challenges in future 

A. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each: (2 marks each)

1. How and when did Douglas develop an aversion to water?

2.What strategy of escaping drowning did Douglas have in mind? 

3.Why couldn’t Douglas implement his strategy of escaping drowning? 

4. What was the immediate effect of the drowning incident on Douglas? 

5.  How did Douglas feel after receiving training from the swimming instructor? 

6. Mention any two long term consequences of the drowning incident on Douglas. 

7. Why did the drowning experience deprive Douglas from the pleasure of water sports? 

8. What did Douglas do to overcome his fear of water? 

9. Why did the experience of conquering his fear of water have a deeper meaning for Douglas? 

10. “I screamed, but only the water heard me.” Why did Douglas scream and what does he mean? 

11. Mention two qualities of Douglas that helped him conquer his fear. 

12.  Even after receiving training from the instructor why did Douglas not feel confident to swim? 

 

B. Extract questions: (Objective type - 1 mark each)

1.      “I used every way I knew to overcome this fear, but it held me firmly in its grip. Finally, one October, I decided to get an instructor and learn to swim.”

i)                    Who is the speaker of the above line?

ii)                  What fear does he refer to?

iii)                How did it affect his water activities?

iv)                What did the speaker do to overcome his fear?

 

2.      “Now you can swim. Dive off and swim the length of the pool, crawl stroke.”

i)                    Who is the speaker of the above line?

ii)                 With whom is he giving the above instruction?

iii)               What is ‘crawl stroke’?

iv)               What is the outcome of the above instruction?

 

C. Answer the following questions in 100-125 words each: (6 marks each) 

1. Piece by piece, he built a swimmer.. How did the instructor help the author to become a swimmer and overcome his fear of water? 

2.What emotions did the author experience while he was drowning in the YMCA pool? How did he face the near-death experience? 

3. If we surrender to our fears, they overpower us; if we face them, they fade away. Do you agree? Why/Why not? Discuss with reference to the lesson “Deep Water”.

Short Summary and Questions_Lost Spring_Flamingo

FLAMINGO

Chapter No. 2

Lost Spring (Stories of Stolen Childhood) by Anees Jung

Saheb-e-Alam

-Name means - lord of the universe, migrated with his family from Dhaka in 1971, lives in Seemapuri, survives by ragpicking, doesn’t go to school, works barefooted.

 

Living Conditions: Lack of basic amenities, structures of mud, tin and tarpaulin, no sewage, no drainage,

no water, loses freedom when he starts working at a tea-stall.

 

Mukesh: Banglemaker of Firozabad, works in high temperatures, workplace small and dirty, working

conditions hazardous. Dreams of being a motor mechanic.

 

Similarities between Saheb-e-Alam and Mukesh

Ø have aspirations and desires like other children

Ø suffer from immense poverty and scarcity of food

Ø caught in the web of child labour

Ø leading a life of exploitation

Ø undergo physical, mental and emotional sufferings

 

Living Conditions in Seemapuri

on the outskirts of Delhi yet miles away from it, home to 10,000 ragpickers, make a living by picking garbage, mastered the art of rag picking, food and survival more important for their identity, live in a state of poverty. Garbage to them is gold because it is a means of survival, sometimes they find a rupee or even a ten rupee note and for children garbage is wrapped in wonder.

 

Hazards of Working in Glass Bangle Factory

Ø high temperatures, lack of proper ventilation and light,

Ø long working hours in front of hot furnace

Ø boys and girls assist parents in the dim light of flickering oil lamps.

Ø eyes are more adjusted to dark than light

Ø dust from polishing bangles affects their eyes.

Ø exploited by moneylenders, police, bureaucrats, politicians.

Ø fear of being ill-treated by police

Ø lack of a leader who can organize them

Ø live in state of intense poverty

Ø sleep on empty stomachs

Ø live in stinky lanes

Ø overcrowded with humans and animals.

  

A. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each: (2 marks each)

1. Why is the author’s advice to Saheb-e-Alam to go to school hollow?

2. Is Saheb-e-Alam hurt by the author’s failure to keep her promise of starting a school? Give a reasoned answer.

3. Bring out the irony in the name Saheb-e-Alam?

4. How is Seemapuri on the outskirts of the city but still miles away from it?

5. How do children of rag pickers become equal partners in survival?

 6. How has rag picking acquired the proportions of a fine art?

7. How did Saheb get tennis shoes? Why does he explain the author how he had got them?

8. Describe the working condition of bangle making of Firozabad.

9. “Garbage to them is gold.” Bring out the significance of this statement.

10. How does an adult and a child rag picker look at garbage differently?

11. Why is Saheb not happy with his new job?

12. How is the bangle industry of Firozabad a curse for the bangle makers?

13. What is the significance of bangles for an Indian woman?

14. Why don’t the bangle workers organise themselves into a co-operative?

15. Why hasn’t Firozabad changed with time?

16. What does Mukesh proudly say that his house is being rebuild?

17. Why is Mukesh’s dream of becoming a motor mechanic significant?

C. Extract questions: (Objective type - 1 mark each)

1.      “If at the end of the day we can feed our families and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would rather live here than in the fields that gave us no grain.”

i)                    Who is the speaker of the above line?

ii)                  What does ‘here’ refer to?

iii)                Where was the ‘fields’ as referred by the narrator?

iv)                Why did they leave that place forever?

2.      “Can a god-given lineage ever be broken?”

i)                    Who is the speaker of the above line?

ii)                 What lineage is the speaker talking about?

iii)               How does the above lineage wrap them up?

iv)               What is their social condition?

 

B. Answer the following questions in 100-125 words each: (6 marks each)

1.      “Survival in Seemapuri means rag picking.” Give a detailed account of the life and activities of the refugees from Bangladesh settled in Seemapuri.

2.      The life of bangle makers of Firozabad was full of obstacles which forced them to lead a life of poverty and deprivation. Elaborate.

3.      Poverty is a vicious cycle for refugees, slum dwellers and bangle makers. Discuss in the light of

the lesson?

Short Summary & QA-The Third Level

VISTAS (SUPPLEMENTARY READER)

CHAPTER-1

THE THIRD LEVEL by Jack Finney

Short Summary of the Chapter:

• ‘The Third Level’ is a story that weaves together a psychological journey of the narrator into past, present and moves towards future.
• Charley- 31 year old, an American narrates his unusual experience of having been to the third level.
• He discovers brass spittoons, flickering gas lights, everyone dressed, like 1890’s with old fashioned beards, side burns, fancy moustaches, engine with funnel shaped stack, newspaper.
• The World, few ticket windows etc.  in the third level.
• Charley goes to get the ticket for Galesburg - Illinois- Wonderful town, big houses, huge lawns, plenty of trees, people with lots of leisure time and surprises when the clerk says that it is not currency and he will be put behind the bars.
• Wife worried -takes him to his Psychiatrist friend.
• He refuses to believe -says it a waking wish dream fulfilment as he could not face the modern world which is full of fear, insecurity, war, worry, stamp collection a refuge from reality.
• Charley desperate to go to Galesburg & so exchanges new for old currency. But could never find the third level.
• Sam’s disappearance has something to do with Galesburg as he was fond of the place.
• One day while going through his stamp collection, he finds an envelope, containing a letter of July 18, 1894 written by Sam, who is living at Galesburg, assertions the Third level.
• Charley finds that Sam had bought old currency worth eight hundred dollars.
• Sam was Charley’s psychiatrist.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS: (SOLVED)

1.  Was the Third level a medium of escape for Charley? Why/Why not?
Ans. Yes, Charlie was engulfed in the trials and tribulations of life so he created the third level himself to seek refuge in it. It eased his tensions and pressures and provided him a platform to relax.

2.   Why is Grand Central compared to a tree?
Ans. Grand Central was compared to a tree because it was pushing out new corridors and staircases like roots. There may be a tunnel under the city up to Times Square and another to Central Park. Nobody knows about them. For many people it has been an exit, a way of escape through the years. So it is possible that it may have the tunnel Charlie got into.

3.   How did Charlie realize that he had reached the third level?
Ans. Charlie saw brass spittoons, flickering gas lights, everyone dressed like in the1890’s with mutton sleeves side burns and moustaches. The engine was with a funnel shaped stack. The newspaper was dated June 11 1894.There were fewer ticket windows. This made him realize that he was on the third level.

4.  Why did he wish to escape to Galesburg?
Ans. He wished to escape to Galesburg because it was a wonderful town with big houses, huge lawns, plenty of trees. The summer evenings were twice as long and people had lots of leisure time to sit out on the lawns. It was a peaceful world.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS: (UNSOLVED) for practice

1. What is First Day Cover?

2. What is referred to as ‘the obvious step’?

3. What does the third level refer to?

4. Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story?

Assignment 2- My Mother at Sixty-Six (Class XII)

My mother at Sixty Six by Kamala Das

A. Extract questions: (Objective type - 1 mark each)

   1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:         4 Marks          

Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday

Morning I saw my mother

Doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like

That of a corpse……

i)    Where was the poet going? Where did she come from?            1

ii)    What did the poet see?                                                              1

iii)   What did the poet compare her mother to? Why?                     1

iv)  Name the poetic device used in the last line.                             1

    2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:          4 Marks

. ………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……

(a)    Name the poem and the poet.                                                   1

(b)    What was the poet’s childhood’s fear?                                      1

(c)    What did the poet’s parting words signify?                                1

(d)    What did the poet do before departing? Why?                          1

    3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:         4 Marks

………and looked out of the window

At young trees sprinting, merry children

Spilling out of their homes…….

(a)    Name the poem and the poet.                                                   1

(b)    Why did the poet look out of the window?                                 1

(c)    What did the poet see outside the car?                                     1

(d)    Why have the trees been described as ‘sprinting’                     1

B. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each: (2 marks each)

1. Why did the poet compare her mother’s face to? Why?

2. What did the poet see outside the window? How do they contrast to the scene inside the car?

3. Why did the poet compare her mother to the late winter’s moon?

4. What were the parting words of the poet? What was its significance?

5. What did the poet do before departing? What did it signify?

Do it yourself:

Look for any other question (both SQ and LQ) asked in the previous year’s Question Papers of CBSE Board Examinations for Class XII. Try to answer them if you find it different from the ones given above.