ENGLISH-B (New Syllabus)
Total Time: 3 Hours 15 minutes [Full Marks: 80]
Special credit will be given for answers which are brief and to the point. Marks will be deducted for spelling mistakes, untidiness and bad handwriting. Figures in the margin indicate full marks for the questions.
1. Complete the sentences which follow, choosing the correct answers from the alternatives given: [1 x 5 = 5]
(i) When Leela’s mother noticed that Leela’s gold chain was missing, it was –
(a) morning (b) evening (c) afternoon (d) noon
(ii) Sir Mohan’s tie was special because –
(a) it was a gift from his wife (b) it was gifted by a British soldier (c) it consisted of the national emblem of India (d) it bore the emblem of the Balliol College of Oxford University.
(iii) After marriage Jimmy wanted to go –
(a) North (b) South (c) East (d) West
(iv) Mother Teresa began her Nobel Lecture with the prayer of –
(a) St. John (b) the Bible (c) St. Francis of Assisi (d) the Gospel
(v) The two sides of ‘Art’ are –
(a) painting and sculpture (b) fine arts and functional arts (c) sculpture and fine arts (d) painting and functional arts
2. Answer any five of the following questions in a single sentence each: [1 x 5 = 5]
(a) What was Leela’s box filled with?
(b) Who according to Sidda was his previous master?
(e) What did Lachmi take out from the brass carrier?
(d) Who was Mike Dolan?
(e) Who cannot differentiate between a painting and a photograph?
(f) What according to Mother Teresa is the beginning of love?
(g) Where did Sir Mohan have his suit from?
(h) What did the clerk at the prison give Jimmy Valentine?
(i) Who should accompany students in museums and picture galleries?
(j) “That is the blessing of God for us.”- What is the ‘blessing’ referred to here?
3. Answer any two of the following questions in not more than 100 words each: [5 x 2 = 10]
(a) How did Leela try to make Sidda write? What was the result? [3+2]
(b) “He was dismayed”- Who was he? When was he dismayed and why? What did he do then? [1+2+2]
(c) “Ben Price investigated the scene of the robberies and was heard to remark…”- Who was Ben Price? – What did he say? What did he know of Jimmy’s habits? [1+1+3]
(d) Why is ‘encounter with Nature’ important for the learners? How can they be introduced to Nature? [2+3]
(e) Why did Mother Teresa say that the poor people are great people? [5]
4. Complete the sentences which follow, choosing the correct answers from the alternatives given: [1 x 5 = 5]
(1) Early morning the air of London is –
(a) foggy (b) full of smoke (c) polluted (d) smokeless
(ii) To the rose the worm is –
(a) adorable (b) deceitful (c) loving (d) invisible
(iii) In the poem “Brotherhood”, the poet’s fate is written by –
(a) the moon (b) the night (c) Claudius Ptolemy (d) the stars
(iv) The wind blows in from –
(a) the ships on the sea (b) the sea (c) the land (d) the mountains
(v) To announce his presence the lover –
(a) taps on the pane (b) clears his throat (c) lights the matches (d) whispers
Answer any five of the following questions in a single sentence each: [1 x 5 = 5]
(a) What is the object of Wordsworth’s celebration in the poem “Upon Westminster Bridge”?
(b) What do the stars write?
(c) How long is the sea-scented beach?
(d) What does the word ‘dark’ in the expression ‘dark secret love’ stand for?
(e) What does the word ‘hail’ mean in the poem “Daybreak”?
(f) How does Browning describe the half-moon?
(g) What does the expression ‘little do I last” refer to?
(h) Why is the rose sick?
(i) What did the poet never feel before he experienced that early morning?
(j) What does the wind shout to the forest?
6. Answer any two of the following questions in not more than 100 words each: [5 x 2 = 10]
(a) What does the poet mean by “I am a man little do I last”? What does he try to convey through the expression “the night is enormous”? [2+3]
(b) “Dull would he be of soul…”- Who says this and where? Who prompts the poet to say this? What does the poet want to convey here? [2+1+2]
(c) What role does the worm play in the poem “The Sick Rose”? [5]
(d) “And a voice less loud…”- Whose voice is referred to here? Why is the voice full of joy and fear’? Describe the meeting. [1 + 2 + 2]
(e) “It crossed the churchyard with a sigh”- Who crossed the churchyard? Why did it sigh? What did the wind say while crossing? Why did it say so? [1+1+1+2]
7 Complete the sentences which follow, choosing the correct answer from the alternatives given (attempt any five): [1 x 5 = 5]
(i) Aegeon came to Ephesus because he was –
(a) searching his sons (b) lost (c) searching his wife (d) searching his younger son
(ii) Antipholus of Syracuse married –
(a) Adriana (b) Luciana (c) daughter of the Duke Menaphon (d) none of them
(iii) Donalbain fled to –
(a) England (b) Scotland (c) Ireland (d) France
(iv) The third spirit looked –
(a) as armed head (b) a crowned child (c) eight shadows of kings (d) a bloody child
(v) Desdemona was the daughter of –
(a) Iago (b) Casio (c) Brabantio (d) Duke of Venice
(vi) After the trial, Othello readily went to –
(a) Desdemona (b) War of Cyprus (c) Florence (d) War of Turkey
(vii) Sir Rowland De Boys was a trusted friend of –
(a) Frederick (b) the lawful Duke (c) Adam (d) Rosalind
(viii) When Duke Frederick banished Rosalind, Celia –
(a) felt very grief-stricken (b) was undoubtedly happy (c) approved of her father’s decision (d) turned rebellion
(ix) By nature Sebastian was –
(a) coward (b) weak (c) brave (d) clever
(x) Viola was introduced at the Duke’s court as –
(a) a page of the Duke (b) a maidservant (c) an officer (d) the Duke’s wife
8. Answer any one of the following questions in not more than 100 words: [5 x 1 = 5]
(a) Who rescued Viola from the danger of fighting a duel? Why did he do so? [1 +4]
(b) Why was Oliver proved an unworthy brother? Why did Oliver wish to destroy Orlando? [3+2]
(c) What role did the handkerchief play in bringing about Desdemona’s ruin? [5]
(d) Why did Macbeth want to murder Banquo and his sons? How was Banquo murdered? [2+3]
(e) Who were the two participants in the wrestling match? Whom did Celia and Rosalind try to dissuade? What was the result? [2 + 1 + 2]
9 (a) Rewrite the following sentences without changing their meanings: [1 x 7 = 7]
(i) Training in drawing will develop their power of observation. [Change the voice]
(ii) The night is enormous. I look up at it. [Join into a Complex sentence]
(iii) The poet says, “The river glides at its own sweet will.” [Change the mode of Narration]
(iv) She produced a two-anna bit from the knot in her sari. She dismissed to coolie. [Join into a Simple sentence]
(v) The fellow, with his knowledge of the household, might come at night and loot. [Split into two simple sentences]
(vi) I believe that we are not real social workers. [Change into an Affirmative sentence]
(vii) Our family is healthy, our family is united. [Change into a Negative sentence]
(b) Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions: [1/2×6 =3]
Fine arts liberates our mind _____ constraints of sorrow and conflicts _____ our daily lives _____ _____ world of aesthetic delight, while with its touch of magic, functional art brings beauty _____ the objects of our daily use, and to our lives, and provides us _____ of livelihood.
10. Write a paragraph in about 150-200 words on “Role of Smart Phones in the lives of Indian Youth”.
[Hints: Introduction – What is a smartphone – place in daily life – features – advantages and disadvantages – conclusion]
OR
Develop the following outline into a short story in about 150 to 200 words. Give your story a suitable title. [2+8=10]
Hamelin — a town in Germany troubled by many rats— people demanded actions — Mayor announced a reward for killing the rats — A piper came — played his magical pipe —- rats followed him —Mayor refused reward — played pipe again — all children followed him — never returned.
11. Draft a newspaper advertisement in not more than 50 words announcing the loss of your Madhyamik Mark Sheet and Admit Card. [5]
OR.
Draft an advertisement for the classified of an English daily in not more than 50 words wanting to sell a space you have in a shopping complex. [5]
12. A cricket coaching centre is opening shortly in your locality. Prepare a commercial leaflet in not more than 50 words providing the necessary information. [5]
OR.
A branded shoe franchise is offering a 40% flat discount on all items till stocks last. Design a commercial leaflet for this. [5]
You may also follow:
1) Previous Year Annual English Question – 2014, Class XI, WBCHSE
2) Previous Year Annual English Question – 2015, Class XI, WBCHSE
3) Previous Year Annual English Question – 2016, Class XI, WBCHSE
4) Previous Year Annual English Question – 2017, Class XI, WBCHSE
5) Previous Year Annual English Question – 2018, Class XI, WBCHSE
6) Previous Year Annual English Question – 2019, Class XI, WBCHSE
7)Previous Year Annual English Question – 2022, Class XI, WBCHSE