NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA SAMITI, REGIONAL OFFICE, BHOPAL

TERM-I, 2024-25
SUBJECT- English Core
CLASS – XII
Time: 3 Hrs. M.M: 80

General Instructions:
i) This paper is divided into three sections: A, B & C. All sections are compulsory.
ii) Strictly adhere to the word limit, while answering the questions.
iii) Complete any one section altogether before moving onto the next section.
iv) Read the instructions, given separately with each question or section, very carefully.

Section-A
Reading skills

Q1. Read the following passage carefully. (12)

Phobias are intense and irrational fears of specific objects, situations, or activities
that can significantly disrupt a person's daily life and well-being. These debilitating anxieties
can manifest in numerous forms, ranging from common fears like heights and spiders to
more unusual ones like clowns or buttons. While most people experience some level of fear,
phobias are characterized by their excessive, uncontrollable nature, causing individuals to go
to great lengths to avoid the object of their dread.
Phobias often develop during childhood or adolescence, though they can emerge at
any stage of life. Traumatic experiences, learned behaviours from family members, or
genetic predispositions are some common factors contributing to their development. Once
established, phobias can become deeply ingrained and challenging to overcome without
professional intervention.
Physical and emotional symptoms accompany phobias. Physical manifestations may
include rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
Emotionally, individuals may experience overwhelming anxiety, panic attacks, a sense of
impending doom, or the need to escape the situation entirely.
Agoraphobia, social phobia, and specific phobias are among the most common
types. Agoraphobia involves fear of situations that might be difficult to escape, leading many
sufferers to avoid crowded places or leaving their homes altogether. Social phobia entails an
intense fear of social situations, making individuals exceedingly self-conscious and
apprehensive about judgment or embarrassment. Specific phobias encompass a wide array
of fears, such as fear of flying, needles, or public speaking.
Treatment for phobias often involves a combination of cognitive-behavioural therapy
(CBT) and exposure therapy. CBT helps individuals identify and modify negative thought
patterns associated with their phobia, while exposure therapy gradually exposes them to the
feared object or situation under controlled conditions. This process helps desensitize the
person to their fear and fosters a sense of control.
In some cases, medication may be prescribed to manage the anxiety and physical
symptoms associated with phobias. However, it is typically used in conjunction with therapy
rather than as the sole treatment method.
Phobias can be distressing and disruptive, but with appropriate support and
intervention, many individuals can learn to manage their fears effectively. Seeking
professional help early on is essential, as untreated phobias can lead to avoidance
behaviours that restrict a person's life and limit their potential for growth and happiness.
With the right approach, individuals can reclaim their lives from the grasp of phobias and
embrace a world free from irrational fear.
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer the questions given below.
1.1. When do phobias typically develop? 1
A. During early adulthood.
B. During childhood or adolescence.
C. During old age
D. At any stage of life.
1.2. What are some common factors that contribute to the development of phobias? 2
1.3. What are some physical symptoms of phobias? 1
A. Excessive happiness and excitement.
B. Rapid heartbeat, sweating, and trembling.
C. Deep breath and alertness.
D. Mild fever and restlessness.
1.4. What are some emotional symptoms of phobias? 1
A. Overwhelming joy and euphoria.
B. A sense of impending doom and panic attacks.
C. Contentment and relaxation.
D. A feeling of fulfilment and achievement
1.5. How does social phobia manifest in individuals? 1
1.6. What is exposure therapy, and how does it help treat phobias? 2
1.7. Mention whether the following statement is TRUE/FALSE: 1
“Agoraphobia involves a fear of social situations, making individuals exceedingly self-
conscious and apprehensive about judgment or embarrassment.”
1.8. Fill in the blank: Exposure therapy gradually exposes individuals to the feared object
or situation under __________ conditions. 1
1.9. Find a sentence from the options given below which has a word which means, ‘a
condition that makes somebody/something to behave in a particular way or suffer from
medical condition.’ 1
A. "A child may inherit a predisposition to panic attacks"
B. "Any delay will prejudice the child's welfare"
C. "She was certain that fate was with her and everything was predestined."
D. The car company started a sister company to buy and sell preowned cars.
1.10. Suggest the most appropriate title for the passage. 1
A) “Understanding the Origins of Phobias”
B) “Overcoming Irrational Fears: A Comprehensive Guide”
C) “The Impact of Phobias on Daily Life”
D) “Types of Anxiety Disorders: A Closer Look”

Q2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. (1X10=10)

The White Revolution, known as Operation Flood, was launched in 1970. It was an
initiative by India’s National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and was the world’s biggest
dairy development programmed. It transformed India from a milk deficient nation into the
world’s largest milk producers. Operation Flood was based on the experimental pattern set
up by Verghese Kurien, chairman and founder of AMUL, who was named the Chairman of
NDDB and was also recognized as the architect of Operation Flood.
There were three phases of the White Revolution in India.
Phase 1: This phase started in July 1970 with the objective of setting up dairy cooperatives in
18 milk sheds in 10 states. They were to be linked with the four best metropolitan markets.
By the end of this phase in 1981 there were 13,000 village dairy cooperatives covering
15,000 farmers.
Phase 2: It aimed at building on the designs of phase 1 and on the assisted Dairy
development programmes in Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. By the end of this
phase in 1985 there were 136 milk sheds, 34,500 village dairy cooperatives and over 36 lakh
members.
Phase 3: This phase emphasised on consolidating the gains of the earlier two phases by
improving the productivity and efficiency of the dairy sectors for long term sustainability. It
ended in 1996 and by that time there were 73,300 dairy cooperatives and over 9.4 million
farmer members. It ended the imports of milk solids in India and India started exporting milk
powder to many foreign nations.

2.1. The White Revolution was responsible for turning India to__________ .
a. a milk deficient nation
b. World’s largest milk producer
i. The first statement is correct
ii. The second statement is correct
iii. Both statements are correct
iv. Neither of the statement is correct

2.2. The major achievement of White Revolution was __________.

a. It ended the imports of milk solids in India.
b. India started exporting milk
i. Only first statement is correct
ii. Only second statement is correct
iii. Both statements are correct
iv. Neither of the statement is correct
2.3. In increasing order, the share of following states in Milk Production in India is ______
a. Gujrat
b. Maharashtra
c. Uttar Pradesh
d. Andhra Pradesh
i. acd&b
ii. cad&b
iii. bad&c
iv. cda&b
2.4. Phase 3: This phase emphasised on consolidating the gains of the earlier two phases
by_
a. improving the productivity and efficiency of the dairy sectors.
b. for long term sustainability
c. Phase three ended in 1995
d. 9.4 million farmer members of dairy co-operatives.
i. Statement ‘a’ is correct
ii. Statement ‘b’ is correct
iii. Statements a, b &d are correct
iv. Statement ‘a’ and ‘b’ are correct.
2.5. Milk production in Maharashtra and MP is_________
2.6. Milk production in Haryana and Tamil Nadu together is closest to_______.
2.7. The word 'sustainability’ in the passage means the ability to________.
2.8. Who was known as the architect of Operation Flood and why?
2.9. What was the development in phase 2 of the White Revolution in India?
2.10. What did phase 3 emphasise on?
Section-B
Creative Writing skills

Q3. Attempt ANYONE of two, in about 50 words. (4)

A. You are Rahul /Rashmi, the President of the Literary Club of St. Tomas Public School
Bhubaneswar. The Literary Club has decided to organize an inter-school debate competition
on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the school. Write a notice in about 50
words, informing the students of your school about the competition.
OR
B. Your school is going to organise a week-long tree plantation programme in and
around the school beginning from 2nd October, 2024. Draft a notice for the students of std
IX-XII to participate as volunteers by registering their names. Give all the necessary details.
You are Swagat/Ankita, the captain of your school.

Q4. Attempt ANYONE of two, in about 50 words. (4)

A. You are Natasha/Nitesh, the President of Rotary Club, Raipur, which is organising a
workshop on ‘women empowerment’ on 30 September 2024. Draft a formal invitation to
invite Prof. P K Tiwari, a famous litterateur from University of Raipur as the chief speaker for
the workshop.
OR
B. Write a formal reply to Mr. and Mrs. Jain accepting the invitation to attend the
birthday of their son Raj. You are Om/Rashmi, B/1-22, Ambiranagar, Sambalpur.
Q5. Attempt ANYONE of two, in about 120-150 words. (5 Marks)
A. While scrolling through the internet you come across a debatable topic ‘is Social
Media Making the People Unsocial? ‘You decide to write a letter in about 120-150 words to
the Editor of The National Herald to share your views on the topic. Draft the letter and sign
yourself as Tanmay/ Tammana, Ring Rd, Sector 21, Rourkela, Odisha.
OR
B. You are Anjali, residing at B-94, Township Road, Sunabeda. You come across the
following classified advertisement in a local daily. Write a letter applying for the position of a
volunteer for the Each One Teach One Campaign.
Situation vacant
Wanted committed volunteers, 18 years and above, to teach underprivileged children for
two hours a week, in the district of Ganjam, ability to speak, read and write Odia fluently.
Experience is not necessary. All volunteers to receive training. Contact: N V Reddy,
Coordinator, Each One Teach One, Ganjam, Odisha.

Q6. Attempt ANYONE of two, in about 120-150 words. (5 Marks)

A. There is a shift from content-based to skill-based education. In addition to
foundational subjects, interesting courses such as design, digital competency and
entrepreneurship are being offered to students. This breakaway from conformity has
brought out the latent potential in students as they are now selecting courses based on
their choice/interest and talent. Write an article in 120-150 words expressing your views on
the topic ‘Changing trends in Education’. You may use the given input.
NOW: EARLIER:
Diverse subjects limited subjects
integrated syllabus Rigid subject streams
aptitude focus academic focus
technology based rote learning
competency based pen and paper

OR
B. You are Karan / Kirti of L.M. Memorial Public School, Bhopal. Your school has
adopted a village as a social responsibility. Students are being taken to teach the children of
that village on a regular basis. Write a report, for your school magazine, on the various other
programmes organized there in 150-200 words.
Suggested value points:
 Selected students from each standard are taken there every weekend.
 Free books and stationery are being provided.
 Children are given time to spend with each other, play games and interact.
 Various talent hunts have been organized.
 Special care is devoted to hygiene and sanitation.
Section-C
Literature (Text Book and Supplementary Reading Text)

Q7A. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow: (1X6=6)
Fishermen in the cold sea
Would not harm whales
And the man gathering salt
Would look at his hurt hands.
7A.1. What does the poet expect of the fisherman?
A. To stop going to sea
B. Due to introspection, he abandons killing whales.
C. Not harm any sea creature
D. be still and do nothing
7A.2. What figure of speech has been used in the first line of the stanza or in words ‘cold
sea’?
7A.3. How ‘Keeping Quiet’ is going to help the man who works as ‘salt gatherer’?
A. He will get time to take care of his wounded hands.
B. He will not work as ‘salt gatherer’.
C. He will introspect about the type of work he does.
D. None of the above.
7A.4. Complete the following analogy correctly.
Mining: Coal:: collecting: __________
7A.5. What does the expression ‘hurt hands’ imply?
A. Destruction that humans have caused to themselves.
B. Destruction caused to environment in pursuit of man’s selfish needs.
C. Both (a) and (b)
D. None of the above.
7A.6. Fill in the blank appropriately
The tone of the poet in the given extract is_______________.

OR

Q7B. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow: (1X6=6)
It is in the news that all these pitiful kin
Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in
To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,
Where they won't have to think for themselves anymore,
While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,
Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits
7B.1. The news of the hour is___________________
i) The people like the farmers will be bought out
ii) They are going to be relocated
iii) They wouldn‘t have to fend for themselves
iv) All the above
7B.2. What is the tone of the poet in the above lines?
A. Aggressive B. Tolerant C. Sarcastic D. Resigned. E. Sentimental
Choose the most appropriate option:
(i) Only (A) (ii) (B) and (C) (iii) (A), (D) and (E) (iv) Only (C)
7B.3. Point out the irony in ‘mercifully gathered in’.
7B.4. Complete the following analogy correctly.
Furrow followed free: alliteration: ............ : oxymoron.
7B.5. On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to (1) and (2)
given below:
(1) The politicians are referred as ‘greedy good-doers’.
(2) The politicians have ulterior motives.
(i) (1) is true but (2) is false.
(ii) (2) is true but (1) is false.
(iii) (2) is the reason for (1).
(iv) Both (1) and (2) cannot be inferred from the extract.
7B.6. Explain why merciful have been called ‘greedy good-doers’ and ‘beneficent beasts of
Prey’?

Q8A. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow: (1X4=4)
“The child will grow up to become the warrior of warriors, hero of heroes, champion
of champions. But...” they bit their lips and swallowed hard. When compelled to continue,
the astrologers came out with it. “This is a secret which should not be revealed at all. And
yet we are forced to speak out. The child born under this star will one day have to meet its
death.”
8A.1. Who is the child in the above lines?
8A.2. What does the narrator mean by the phrase ‘bit their lips?’
a) They hesitated
b) They spoke confidently
c) They replied angrily
d) They replied happily
8A.3. Find out a word in the above extract which means the same as ‘uncover’
8A.4. Which line is the most humorous?
OR
Q8B. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow: (1X4=4)
Sadao had taken this into his mind as he did everything his father said, his father who
never joked or played with him but who spent infinite pains upon him who was his only son.
Sadao knew that his education was his father’s chief concern. For this reason, he had been
sent at twenty-two to America to learn all that could be learned of surgery and medicine. He
had come back at thirty, and before his father died, he had seen Sadao become famous not
only as a surgeon but as a scientist. Because he was perfecting a discovery which would
render wounds entirely clean, he had not been sent abroad with the troops. Also, he knew,
there was some slight danger that the old General might need an operation for a condition
for which he was now being treated medically, and for this possibility Sadao was being kept
in Japan.
8B.1. What does the author mean by ‘perfecting a discovery’?
a) Honing the discovery
b) Making the discovery perfect
c) Making himself perfect
d) Both A and B
8B.2. Why was Dr. Sadao never sent abroad with the troops?
8B.3. What does the word ‘troops’ mean?
a) Group of Soldiers
b) Group of Generals
c) Group of Brigadiers
d) Group of Commanders
8B.4. What was the effect of Sadao’s father’s chief concern being his education?

Q9A. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow: (1X6=6)
“Honoured and noble Miss, “Since you have been so nice to me all day long, as if I
was a captain, I want to be nice to you, in return, as if I was a real captain — for I do not
want you to be embarrassed at this Christmas season by a thief; but you can give back the
money to the old man on the roadside, who has the money pouch hanging on the window
frame as a bait for poor wanderers. “The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat who would
have been caught in this world’s rattrap if he had not been raised to captain, because in that
way he got power to clear himself. “Written with friendship and high regard, “Captain von
Stahle.”
9A.1. Which of the following cannot be attributed to the peddler according to the extract
given above?
A. Indebtedness B. reform
C. self-pity D. self-awareness
9A.2. How would you characterize the mood of the extract?
A. Optimistic and hopeful B. Mysterious and restful
C. ominous and despairing D. thoughtful and anguished
9A.3. Why did the peddler gift a rat trap as a Christmas Present?
9A.4. ‘You can give back the money to the old man on the roadside’. The old man referred
here is ………………….
A. Captain von Stahle B. Crofter
C. Nils Olof D. Mr. Willmansson
9A.5. Why did the peddler refer himself as a captain?
A. Because he was a captain in reality
B. Because he was disregarded as a captain
C. Because he was regarded as a captain.
D. Because he was not a captain in reality
9A.6. The communication made in the extract includes ………………
i. a promise ii. regret
iii. an apology iv. shame
A. Option 4
B. Option 2
C. Options 1 and 3
D. Options 1 and 4
OR
Q9B. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow: (1X6=6)
“In those days I worked in a cubicle, two whole sides of which were French windows.
(I didn't know at that time they were called French windows.) Seeing me sitting at my desk
tearing up newspapers' day in and day out, most people thought I was doing next to nothing.
It is likely that the Boss thought likewise too. So, anyone who felt I should be given some
occupation would barge into my cubicle and deliver an extended lecture. The 'boy' in the
make-up department had decided I should be enlightened on how great literary talent was
being allowed to go waste in a department fit only for barbers and perverts.”
9B.1. 'I' in the first line stands for
(i)Legal advisor (ii) Kothamangalam Subbu
(iii)Office boy (iv) author
9B.2.'The Boss thought likewise too 'implies that the author .........
(i)Also thought that he was industrious
(ii) never doubted his capability
(iii) had unflinching trust in him
(iv) was doing almost nothing
9B.3.The boy in the make-up room felt disappointed because ........
i) He aspired to become an actor/scriptwriter but was enrolled in makeup
department
ii) His talent was going wasted
iii) He was involved in too many trivial jobs
iv)both (i) and (ii)
9B.4.The job of the author was to……………….
9B.5.Which studio is mentioned in the above extract?
9B.6. Find out the phrase from the extract which means “to intrude”.
Q10. Answer ANY FIVE of the following questions in about 40-50 words each. (5X2=10)
A. Aging is a factor that is indispensable in our life. But it was too difficult to accept
as seen in the life of Kamala Das when she had looked at her mother. Do you
think the poet does not accept this philosophy of life and ruminates over the
past? Elucidate. (My Mother at Sixty-Six)
B. How and why was M Hamel dressed differently that day? (The Last Lesson)
C. Anees Jung’s pen picture of Seemapuri is very dismal. Explain
D. According to Keats what moves away the pain and suffering from human life? (A
Thing of Beauty)
E. Why was Douglas keen to overcome his fear of water?
F. Why was Gandhiji against taking help from C. F. Andrews?
Q11. Answer ANY TWO of the following questions in about 40-50 words each. (2X2=4)
A. What convinced Charley that he had reached the third level at Grand Central
Station and not the second level?
B. How is Antarctica a crucial element in the debate on climate change.
C. Why did Hanna have to wash the wounded man herself?
Q12. Answer ANY ONE of the following questions in about 120-150 words. (5)
A. In the story ‘Deep Water,’ how does the protagonist, William Douglas, overcome
his fear of water? Discuss the qualities and strategies that help him face this
challenge.
B. In ‘The Rattrap,’ how does the concept of transformation play a central role in the
peddler’s character development? Discuss the peddler’s journey from pessimism
to hope, emphasizing the moments of change.
Q13. Answer ANY ONE of the following questions in about 120-150 words. (5)
A. In “The Third Level,” what role does the concept of escapism play in the lives of
the characters? How does the third level of the Grand Central Station symbolize
an escape from reality, and what impact does it have on the protagonist, Charley?
B. In “The Enemy,” How did Dr. Sadao rise above narrow prejudices of race and
country to help a human being in need?

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Internal Assessment
ASL: 10 Marks
Project: 10 Marks
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