English Paper I (Language and Writing) Writing Time: 3 Hours

Class: XII Total Marks: 100

SECTION A: Writing [60 Marks]

Question I [30]
Write an original essay of about 450 to 500 words using the features of an argumentative essay
on any ONE of the following topics. (You are reminded that you will be awarded marks for
orderly and correct presentation of material, use of appropriate features and style and accuracy
of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.)

a) Should social media platforms regulate comments more thoroughly?

b) Excessive alcohol consumption in minors – does it stem from too much freedom and lack
of parental control?
c) Should parents push their kids into extracurricular activities such as music or sports?

Question II [30]
Write an original story of about 450 to 500 words featuring ten soldiers, a horse, bandits, and
an old army mansion by employing all the elements of short story. Emphasis should be made
on conflict in your story.
You are reminded that in the above task, you will also be assessed on the use of language,
content, and mechanics of writing a short story.

SECTION B:
Nature of Language & Grammar [40 Marks]

Question III [10]

a) For each of the following questions there are four responses: A, B, C &D. DO NOT
choose more than ONE response. If there are more than one choice written, NO score
will be awarded. (1x3)
1. As per Robert Lawrence Trask and Peter Stockwell, A honeybee scout, which has
discovered a source of nectar, returns to its hive and performs a dance, watched
by other bees. The watching bees respond by flying off to locate the
nectar. Which feature of language were they hinting at?
A. arbitrariness C. open-ended system
B. Displacement D. cultural transmission

2. Which of the following statement is not related to language?

A. All languages are systems.
B. Languages are highly structured.
C. All languages change in same way.
D. Languages are conventional.

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3. What do you mean by language family?
A. Language spoken in family.
B. Language spoken in various countries.
C. Group of related languages having same origin.
D. Same language spoken in different parts of the world.

b) Answer the questions given below:

1. How do people acquire and develop language? (2)

2. WORD PUZZLE: Read the statements given below and use them as clues to
find THREE EXAMPLES related to etymology hidden in the puzzle. Write the
words neatly. (3)
a) A blend is a word made by combining other words or parts of words in such a
way that they overlap or and is infixed into the other. What is the blended
word of Breakfast and Lunch?

b) A majority of words used in English today are of foreign origin. The process
of acquiring foreign words is called borrowing. Find the borrowed word from
the puzzle.

c) Compounding is process in which two separate words join to produce a single

form. Find the compounded word.

A F C M P L A C E Y
D L O O K T N A L D
F O K O J C T T E N
H A B R U N C H P A
V W K S N P A D H U
M Q H S G Y A G A E
S Z D A L U N T N T
U X R L E L O D T F
T Y H C D J A C S O

3. Explain Meta-Linguistic System as a feature of Language. (2)

Question IV [1x5]
Rearrange each set of the words given in the figures to form a proper sentence. DO NOT MISS
any word while constructing the sentence. AVOID using any punctuation other than the ones
given. THE FIRST WORD OF EVERY SENTENCE has been identified for you. Follow the
given example. You don’t have to draw tables in your answer sheet.

Example: stop full of the sentence used end

sente fuls fulse fulsenten

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or sign is exclamation at the . of
fuls
Answer: Full stop or sign of exclamation is used at the end of the sentence.

1. are , those sentences give order which .

an direct a command or sentences imperative

Answer: Imperative

2. which those ask questions sentences , .

sentences interrogatives called , are

Answer: Those

3. those emotions exclamatory expresses , sentences

, which are feelings . and our called

sentences

Answer: Those

4. those or which wish express , hope ,

are optative , called prayer sentences , .

sentences

Answer: Those

5. sentence . in sentence an , assertive

the become indirect exclamatory sentence

s

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Answer: In

Question V [1x5]

For each of the following questions there are four responses: A, B, C & D. Choose the alphabet
corresponding to your response and WRITE it neatly in your answer sheet. DO NOT write more
than ONE response. If there is more than one choice written, NO score will be awarded.

1. Worry always makes us weak,________?

A. doesn’t it? D. didn’t it?
B. mustn’t it?
C. won’t it?
2. All spoke well of the principal. Which part of speech is ‘All’
A. Noun C. Adjective
B. Pronoun D. Adverb

3. They made him the captain. Pick out the complement.

A. They C. Captain
B. Him D. The

4. She _______ writing ten minutes ago.

A. finishes C. has finished
B. have finished D. finished

5. Down human history, the slow and steady _______ the race
A. always win C. have always won
B. has always won D. had always won

Question VI [1x10]
Keeping the meaning similar as far as possible to the original sentences, rewrite the sentences
according to the instructions given in the brackets:
1. A ripe orange is wondrous thing. (Frame 'wh-' question to get underlined part as an
answer)
2. Despite  poverty  , he is happy (change into a complex sentence)
3. The king was so terrified that he hardly ate anything.(Remove 'so---that')
4. The advent of technology has brought in so many changes. (Change the voice)
5. Dorji can write faster than me. (Change to negative)
6. “If I were your boss, I would show you the way.” (Rinchen told Deki that if…)
7. His ego was wounded but he stood firm. (Despite…)
8. The teacher said to me, “Shut the door.” (Change into indirect speech)
9. As soon as we heard the noise, we rushed to the spot. (Begin: No sooner)

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10. No sooner had I closed the door than someone knocked. (Use: As soon as)

Question VII [1x10]

Each of the sentences has ONE error in it. Identify it and write it in the ERROR COLUMN and
the correct answer in the ANSWER COLUMN. Draw column accordingly in your answer sheet.
(An example has been done for you.)

Example: The daffodils is a good poetry.

Error Answer
Poetry Poem

1. A laughter by one can make others laugh.

Error Answer

2. A bread is better than no bread.

Error Answer

3. The Queen takes keen interest in people welfare

Error Answer

4. History told us that we have fought many wars against the Tibetans.
Error Answer

5. The PM is visited us tomorrow.

Error Answer

6. I am the youngest of the brothers, isn’t it?

Error Answer

7. He have been chosen the chief.

Error Answer

8. Lord Buddha, who teach us great ahimsa, (non-violence) was a great man.
Error Answer

9. The snowfall destroy the crops.

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Error Answer

10. They are showing us great hospital.

Error Answer

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