CBSE

Question Paper 2017

Delhi Set-1
CBSE Class-12 English Core

General Instructions:

1. This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary.
Read these instructions very carefully and follow them faithfully.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

SECTION - A
(READING)

Q1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (12)

1. We sit in the last row, bumped about but free of stares. The bus rolls out of the dull
crossroads of the city, and we are soon in open countryside, with fields of sunflowers as far
as the eye can see, their heads all facing us. Where there is no water, the land reverts to
desert. While still on level ground we see in the distance the tall range of the Mount Bogda,
abrupt like a shining prism laid horizontally on the desert surface. It is over 5,000 metres
high, and the peaks are under permanent snow, in powerful contrast to the flat desert all
around. Heaven Lake lies part of the way up this range, about 2,000 metres above sea-level,
at the foot of one of the higher snow-peaks.

2. As the bus climbs, the sky, brilliant before, grows overcast. I have brought nothing warm
to wear: it is all down at the hotel in Urumqi. Rain begins to fall. The man behind me is
eating overpoweringly smelly goat's cheese. The bus window leaks inhospitably but reveals a
beautiful view. We have passed quickly from desert through arable land to pasture, and the
ground is now green with grass, the slopes dark with pine. A few cattle drink at a clear
stream flowing past moss-covered stones; it is a Constable landscape. The stream changes
into a white torrent, and as we climb higher I wish more and more that I had brought with
me something warmer than the pair of shorts that have served me so well in the desert. The
stream (which, we are told rises in Heaven Lake) disappears, and we continue our slow

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ascent. About noon, we arrive at Heaven Lake, and look for a place to stay at the foot, which
is the resort area. We get a room in a small cottage, and I am happy to note that there are
thick quilts on the beds.

3. Standing outside the cottage we survey our surroundings. Heaven Lake is long, sardine-
shaped and fed by snowmelt from a stream at its head. The lake is an intense blue,
surrounded on all sides by green mountain walls, dotted with distant sheep. At the head of
the lake, beyond the delta of the inflowing stream, is a massive snow-capped peak which
dominates the vista; it is part of a series of peaks that culminate, a little out of view, in Mount
Bogda itself.

4. For those who live in the resort there is a small mess-hall by the shore. We eat here
sometimes, and sometimes buy food from the vendors outside, who sell kabab and naan
until the last buses leave. The kababs, cooked on skewers over charcoal braziers, are
particularly good; highly spiced and well-done. Horse's milk is available too from the local
Kazakh herdsmen, but I decline this. I am so affected by the cold that Mr. Cao, the relaxed
young man who runs the mess, lends me a spare pair of trousers, several sizes too large but
more than comfortable. Once I am warm again, I feel a pre-dinner spurt of energy dinner
will be long in coming and I ask him whether the lake is good for swimming in.

5. "Swimming?" Mr. Cao says. "You aren't thinking of swimming, are you?"

6. "I thought I might," I confess. "What's the water like?"

7. He doesn't answer me immediately, turning instead to examine some receipts with

exaggerated interest. Mr. Cao, with great off-handedness, addresses the air. "People are often
drowned here," he says. After a pause, he continues. "When was the last one?" This question
is directed at the cook, who is preparing a tray of mantou (squat white steamed bread rolls),
and who now appears, wiping his doughy hand across his forehead. "Was it the Beijing
athlete?" asks Mr. Cao.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statements
given below with the help of options that follow:
(a) One benefit of sitting in the last row of the bus was that:

(i) the narrator enjoyed the bumps.

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(ii) no one stared at him.

(iii) he could see the sunflowers.

(iv) he avoided the dullness of the city.

(b) The narrator was travelling to:

(i) Mount Bogda

(ii) Heaven Lake

(iii) a 2000-metre-high snow peak

(iv) Urumqi

(c) On reaching the destination the narrator felt relieved because:

(i) he had got away from the desert.

(ii) a difficult journey had come to an end.

(iii) he could watch the snow peak.

(iv) there were thick quilts on the bed.

(d) Mount Bogda is compared to:

(i) a horizontal desert surface

(ii) a shining prism

(iii) a Constable landscape

(iv) the overcast sky

Answer the following questions briefly:

(e) Which two things in the bus made the narrator feel uncomfortable?
(f) What made the scene look like a Constable landscape?
(g) What did he regret as the bus climbed higher?
(h) Why did the narrator like to buy food from outside?

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(i) What is ironic about the pair of trousers lent by Mr. Cao?
(j) Why did Mr. Cao not like the narrator to swim in the lake?
(k) Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:

(i) sellers (para 4)

(ii) increased (para 7)

Ans. (a) (ii) no one stared at him.

(b) (ii) Heaven Lake

(c) (iv) there were thick quilts on the bed.

(d) (ii) a shining prism

(e) The two things that made the narrator uncomfortable are the overpowering smell of the
goat's cheese being eaten by the man sitting behind and the leaking of the bus windows.

(f) A few cattle drinks at a clear stream flowing past moss-covered stones made the scene
look like a Constable Landscape.

(g) As the bus climbed higher, the narrator regretted of not bringing anything warm to wear.
(h) The narrator liked to buy food from outside as kababs, cooked on skewers over charcoal
braziers were good, highly-spiced and well-done.

(i) The pair of trousers lent by Mr. Cao are several sizes too large but more than comfortable.

(j) Mr. Cao did not like the narrator to swim in the lake because many people drowned there.

(k) (i) vendors, (ii) exaggerated

Q2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (10)

1. Thackeray reached Kittur along with a small British army force and a few of his officers.
He thought that the very presence of the British on the outskirts of Kittur would terrorise the
rulers and people of Kittur and that they would lay down their arms. He was quite confident
that he would be able to crush the revolt in no time. He ordered that tents be erected on the
eastern side for the fighting forces and a little away on the western slopes tents be put up for

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the family members of the officers who had accompanied them. During the afternoon and

evening of 20th October, the British soldiers were busy making arrangements for these
camps.

2. On the 21st morning, Thackeray sent his political assistants to Kittur fort to obtain a
written assurance from all the important officers of Kittur rendering them answerable for
the security of the treasury of Kittur. They, accordingly, met Sardar Gurusiddappa and other
officers of Kittur and asked them to comply with the orders of Thackeray. They did not know
that the people were in a defiant mood. The commanders of Kittur dismissed the agents
orders as no documents could be signed without sanction from Rani Chennamma.

3. Thackeray was enraged and sent for his commander of the Horse Artillery, which was
about 100 strong, ordered him to rush his artillery into the fort and capture the commanders
of the Desais army. When the Horse Artillery stormed into the fort, Sardar Gurusiddappa,
who had kept his men on full alert, promptly commanded his men to repel and chase them
away. The Kittur forces made a bold front and overpowered the British soldiers.

4. In the meanwhile, the Desais guards had shut the gates of the fort and the British Horse
Artillery men, being completely overrun and routed, had to get out through the escape
window. Ranis soldiers chased them out of the fort, killing a few of them until they retreated
to their camps on the outskirts.

5. A few of the British had found refuge in some private residences, while some were hiding
in their tents. The Kittur soldiers captured about forty persons and brought them to the
palace. These included twelve children and a few women from the British officers camp.
When they were brought in the presence of the Rani, she ordered the soldiers to be
imprisoned. For the women and children, she had only gentleness, and admonished her
soldiers for taking them into custody. At her orders, these women and children were taken
inside the palace and given food and shelter. Rani came down from her throne, patted the
children lovingly and told them that no harm would come to them.

6. She, then, sent word through a messenger to Thackeray that the British women and
children were safe and could be taken back any time. Seeing this noble gesture of the Rani,
he was moved. He wanted to meet this gracious lady and talk to her. He even thought of
trying to persuade her to enter into an agreement with the British to stop all hostilities in lieu

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of an inam (prize) of eleven villages. His offer was dismissed with a gesture of contempt. She
had no wish to meet Thackeray. That night she called Sardar Gurusiddappa and other
leading Sardars and after discussing all the issues came to the conclusion that there was no
point in meeting Thackeray who had come with an army to threaten Kittur into submission
to British sovereignty.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage complete the statements given
below with the help of options that follow:

(a) Thackeray was a/an:

(i) British tourist

(ii) army officer
(iii) adviser to Rani of Kittur
(iv) treasury officer

(b) British women and children came to Kittur to:

(i) visit Kittur

(ii) enjoy life in tents
(iii) stay in the palace
(iv) give company to officers

Answer the following questions briefly:

(c) Why did Thackeray come to Kittur?
(d) Why did the Kittur officials refuse to give the desired assurance to Thackeray?
(e) What happened to the Horse Artillery?
(f) How do we know that the Rani was a noble queen?
(g) How in your opinion would the British women have felt after meeting the Rani?
(h) Why did the Rani refuse to meet Thackeray?
(i) Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:

i. entered forcibly (para 3)

ii. aggressive/refusing to obey (para 2)

Ans. (a) (ii) treasury officer

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(b) (iv) give company to officers

(c) Thackeray came to Kittur to terrorise the rulers and people of Kittur so that they would
lay down their arms.

(d) Kittur officials refused to give the desired assurance to Thackeray as no documents could
be signed without sanction from Rani Chennamma.

(e) When the Horse Artillery stormed into the fort, Sardar Gurusiddappa, who had kept his
men on full alert, commanded his men to chase them away. The British Horse Artillery men,
being completely overrun and routed, had to get out through the escape window.

(f) The Kittur soldiers had captured forty persons, including twelve children and a few
women. For the women and children, Rani had only gentleness. She took them inside the
palace and gave them food and shelter.

(g) The British women were touched by this gentle and noble gesture of the Rani. They would
have felt safe and secured.

(h) The Rani refused to meet Thackeray because he had come with an army to threaten
Kittur into submission to British sovereignty.

(i) (i) stormed

(ii) defiant

Q3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (8)

The most alarming of mans assaults upon the environment is the contamination of air,
earth, rivers, and sea with lethal materials. This pollution is for the most part irrevocable; the
chain of evil it initiates is for the most part irreversible. In this contamination of the
environment, chemicals are the sinister partners of radiation in changing the very nature of
the world; radiation released through nuclear explosions into the air, comes to the earth in
rain, lodges into the soil, enters the grass or corn, or wheat grown there and reaches the
bones of a human being, there to remain until his death. Similarly, chemicals sprayed on
crops lie long in soil, entering living organisms, passing from one to another in a chain of
poisoning and death. Or they pass by underground streams until they emerge and combine
into new forms that kill vegetation, sicken cattle, and harm those who drink from once pure

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wells.

It took hundreds of millions of years to produce the life that now inhabits the earth and
reached a stage of adjustment and balance with its surroundings. The environment
contained elements that were hostile as well as supporting. Even within the light of the sun,
there were short wave radiation with power to injure. Given time, life has adjusted and a
balance reached. For time is the essential ingredient, but in the modern world is no time.

The rapidity of change and the speed with which new situations are created follow the
heedless pace of man rather than the deliberate pace of nature. Radiation is no longer the
bombardment of cosmic rays; it is now the unnatural creation of mans tampering with the
atom. The chemicals to which life is asked to make adjustments are no longer merely calcium
and silica and copper and all the rest of the minerals washed out of the rocks and carried in
the rivers to the sea; they are the synthetic creations of mans inventive mind, brewed in his
laboratories, and having no counterparts in nature.

(a) On the basis of your understanding of the above passage make notes on it using headings
and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary-minimum four) and
a format you consider suitable. Also supply a title to it.

(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words.

Ans. (a) PATH TO ANNIHILATION

1. Humans Exploiting Nature

1. A. contamination of environment
1. A.I. Rd, ch
1. B. irrevocable damage

2. Self-Destruction
2. A. ch causing poisoning
2. B. rd causing deaths

3. What are humans Missing Out?

3. A. bal with nature
3. B. humans progressing swiftly
3. C. nature unable to cope

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4. Worsening Situation
4. A. mutilation
4. B. atomic bomb destruction
4. C. synthetic malts

(b) Our Environment is slowly being destroyed by human, and the main culprit being the
chemicals along with the harmful nuclear radiation. We are exposed to them through a
'poison and death chain'. The chemicals enter the soil through rain or repeated sprinkling on
crops and enter our body. The environment has been exposed to these difficulties always.
Everyone has fought and evolved to adjust with nature, as these atrocities came from nature
itself. But the man-made challenges are difficult to deal with.

Q4. You are Vikram/Sonia, a Hon's graduate in history with specialization in Medieval India.
You are well acquainted with places of historical interest in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, you are
looking for the job of tourist guide. Write an advertisement in about 50 words for the
situations wanted column of a local newspaper. Your contact no. 999751234. (4)

OR

While walking in a park in your neighbourhood you found a small plastic bag containing
some documents and some cash. Write a notice in about 50 words to be put on the park
notice board asking the owner to identify and collect it from you. You are Amar/Amirita
9399123456.

JOB HUNT
I am Sonia, an Hon's graduate in History with specialisation in Medieval India. I am
currently looking for a job of tourist guide. I am always entrenched with the passion
of visiting historical places. This passion has made me well acquaint with all the
historical interest in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. If looking for candidates with this profile
contact me on 999751234

OR

Lodhi Garden, New Delhi

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 NOTICE

LOST AND FOUND

March 09, 2017

A small plastic bag containing some documents and some cash has been found near
the gate no. 2 of Lodhi gardern. The documents consist of some balance sheets and
images. If anyone has lost such bag, please collect the same from me. My contact no.
is 9399123456

Amrita,
B-57, Lodhi Colony

Q5. In our society, we do not give to our women the respect and status that they deserve.
Women are stared at, stalked and even molested. We need to change the male mindset about
women. Write a letter in 120-150 words to the editor of a national newspaper giving your
views on the problem. You are Omar/Amna, A114 Mall Road, Delhi. (6)

OR

You want to spend a week-long holiday at Shimla in the month of October. You have decided
to stay at Hotel Snowview. Write a letter in 120-150 words to the manager to book a room.
Mention the dates, facilities in the room, food, sight-seeing facilities etc you will need. You
are Amar/Amrita M114, Lake Road, Karnal.

Ans.

A 114 Mall Road

Delhi

March 09, 2017

The Editor
The Times of India
New Delhi

Sir,

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Subject: Safety of women

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the attention of all
the well learned citizens of the nation towards the increasing incidents of eve-teasing in our
Indian society. Whether it is a small girl or an aged lady or a college or office going woman,
such incidents are creating great sense of fear in the minds of all.

We do talk about women empowerment on a regular basis and ask everyone citizen of this
nation to be a part of it. But, unfortunately, even after repetitive gender sensitisation
campaigns, the people are not learning. Woman is still considered the second gender in the
society. We forget to realise that this second gender make up the half of the population of the
nation, and they will feel unsafe in the society, it would not take much time for the society to
lose its existence.

India is now developing with a rapid pace and so should its society develop. The fight for
women safety is not a fight of an individual or of a particular gender, but is the fight of all
the humans as if the society fails to serve half of its population, its end would not be too far.

Yours truly,
Amna

OR

M114, Lake Road

Karnai

March 09, 2017

The Manager,
Hotel Snow view
Shimla

Sir,

Subject: Rooms reservation request

I am traveling to Shimla in the month of October with fifteen more people. I would like to
book 5 rooms for the same. My itinerary details are as follows:

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Arrival October 5, 2017

Rooms required 5 rooms including 2 suites

Departure: October 10, 2017

You are requested to confirm the reservations and let me know for further inquiries.

Yours truly
Amrita

Q6. Our performance in Rio Olympics has told us that we do not pay enough attention to
athletics and outdoor games. It is time we revised our attitude. Sports should be an
important part of school's daily routine. Write an article in 150-200 words in 'Importance of
Outdoor Games'. You are Sreeja/Thomas. (10)

OR

Cultural Society Sunshine Public School, Nellore organised an adult literacy camp in its
neighbourhood. Write a report in 150-200 words on the camp for your school newsletter. You
are P.V. Sunitha, Secretary. Use the following clues: no. of volunteers hours spent in
teaching location of the class chairs, blackboards no. of people attending the camp
benefit.

Ans.

Importance of Outdoor Games

By Sreeja

Games like cricket, hockey, tennis, football and badminton are outdoor games that are
played in the open. They are games that involve physical activity and also a spirit of healthy
competition. Outdoor games are important to relax ourselves and to charge our batteries, as
the proverb goes 'All work and no play maks Jack a dull boy'.

In this age, where children are suffering from obesity, outdoor activities form an important
part of their curriculum. Outdoor games also have long term benefits on health. They help
the kids stay fit and healthy, and as they feel tired at the end of the day, they will sleep on

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time as well.

Outdoor games develop a competitive spirit and also boosts up their confidence level and
self-esteem. They learn to interact, and also to build strategies to win. In this tech savvy age,
it is very important for the children to leave their televisions, laptops and videos games. They
should go out and learn the importance of outdoor activities in their daily routine.

OR

Adult Literacy Camp

P.V. Sunitha
Secretary, Cultural Society
Sunshine Public School, 9 March 2017

An adult literacy camp was organized on 8 March 2017 in our neighbourhood. The activities
of the camp were carried out by the cultural society of the school and there were a total of 20
volunteers. The chief guest for this occassion was Mrs. Kavita Naik, a renowned social
worker. There were 500 people who were a part of the camp. They were divided into
different groups and free classes were given to them. A cleanliness drive was also organized
to teach them the importance of cleanliness. There was also a small talk on ethics, moral
values, discipline and punctuality. Free books and stationary were distributed to them. Later,
the chief guest presented the volunteers with appreciation certificates. She congratulated
everyone for organizing this noble event.

Q7. Your PGT English Ms. Geetha is a short story writer also. 'Sky is not Far' is a collection of
her latest short stories. This book has won a national award. Write a speech in 150-200 words
you will deliver in her honour in the morning assembly. (10)

OR

'Private cars should be banned in the congested commercial areas of the cities.' Write a
debate in 150-200 words either for or against the motion.

Ans.

Honoring the Gem Amongst Us- Ms. Geetha

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I feel honored and privileged to have been given the opportunity to stand before you all and
say a few words of appreciation for our very own and beloved Ms. Geetha (PGT, English).
What a person she is! She has not only inspired us to evolve as students and better human
beings but has also, given us the courage to believe in our dreams and try to fulfill them.

Good morning to one and all present here. I Ragini Joshi, on behalf of the students of
Bachelor's in English is going to present a speech in the honor of the author of a national
award winning book 'Sky Is Not Far'. The book is a collection of short stories penned by her.
As the title itself suggests, the book is a set of stories which are not just tales but are an
account of inspirational journeys, undertook by common people and achieving not so
common goals in life.

Ms. Geetha, through her stories, not just the ones she has written in the book, but the ones
she told us in class, has inspired each one of us and made us believe that sky is the limit and
of course, 'it is not so far'. I am proud to say that I have been one of the students in her class,
who has looked up to her and is a huge fan of her master pieces.

Thank you, maam, for mentoring us and making us believe that though life may not be a bed
of roses, there is nothing which is impossible to achieve.

Thank You

OR

Respected judges and teachers.

Today I stand before you to present my views for the motion on the topic given for debate. I
believe that private cars should be banned in the congested commercial areas of the cities.

There is no end to the number of vehicles being driven around the city each day. Traffic jams
has become a rather common problem and it has only increased in the last ten years. In my
opinion, allowing private cars to congested commercial areas only adds to the problem. Long
traffic jams do not only mean consumption of extra fuel but it also means that more number
of people would suffer from respiratory diseases due to pollution. If people take the public
transport to work or hire a cab which runs on CNG and comes with an option of pooling, the
problem of constantly rising pollution and heavy traffic jams can be reduced by many-folds.

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The earth belongs to all of us and it is our duty to safeguard it and keep it clean for our future
generations. Thus, the first step towards protecting our environment would be to stop
abusing the available amount of petroleum and avoid creating pollution.

Thank you for listening to my views patiently.

Q8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: 1 4 = (4)
Far far from gusty waves these children's faces.
Like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pallor;
The tall girl with her weighed-down head.
(a) Who are these children?
(b) Which figure of speech has been used in the first two lines?
(c) Why is the tall girl's head weighed down?
(d) What does the word, 'pallor' mean?

OR

Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen,

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
(a) Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer's tigers?
(b) How are they described here?
(c) How are they different from Aunt Jennifer?
(d) What does the word, 'chivalric' mean?

Ans. (a) The poet is talking about the children who go to the elementary school in a slum.

(b) The two figures of speech used in the two lines are:

Alliteration 'Far from gusty waves'

Simile 'Like rootless weeds'

(c) The head of the tall girl is weighed down because she is ill and exhausted.

(d) The word 'pallor' describes the pale and unhealthy appearance of the slum children.

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 OR

(a) The tigers are called Aunt Jennifer's tiger as they are knitted by her. With their
chivalrous, ferocious, bright and carefree attitude, she creates an alternate world for herself.

(b) Aunt Jennifer's tigers are described as ferocious, fearless, always harmful, sleek and
chivalric.

(c) The tigers are depicted as brave, strong, confident and happy. They are fearless beings
and the presence of men does not scare them a bit. Contrarily, Aunt Jennifer is burdened by
a life which, most probably, others chose for her.

(d) The word 'chivalric' refers to the confidence of the tigers about their power and brevity in
their actions.

Q9. Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words each: 3 4 = 12
(a) Why did Franz not want to go to school that day?
(b) What was Sophie's ambition in life? How did she hope to achieve that?
(c) What kind of pain does Kamala Das feel in 'My Mother at Sixty-six'?
(d) How can 'mighty dead' be things of beauty?
(e) Why was the Maharaja once in danger of losing his kingdom?
(f) What was the basic plot of each story told by Jack?

Ans. (a) Franz did not want to go to school that day because not only he was late for the
school but also because he had not even prepared his lesson on participles.

(b) Sophie wishes to rise above her middle-class status and to obtain sophistication. She
aspires to open a boutique or become an actress or fashion designer. Though she belongs to a
middle-class society, she never misses in taking a plunge because she does not come across
as one who accepts regrets in life. The dreams sometimes proved unachievable to Sophie but
she took the refuge of dreams to fulfill her desires. She gracefully maintained the balance
between reality and dreams and in this way, lived her unachievable dreams.

(c) When the poet looks at her mothers face she found that it had become pale and withered.
She realized that her mother was at the edge of her life and her end was near. The thought
that her mother would be soon separated form her caused unbearable pain and ache in the
poets heart.

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(d) The grandeur of death lies in the promise of an eternal sleep which continues
unperturbed without the usual earthly concerns and strife that plagues us daily. The dead
also have a power over us, they do not leave us free but instill themselves in our memory.
The death live on in those who are alive.

(e) The Maharaja had not allowed the British officer to hunt tigers in kingdom and so there
was fear of losing his own kingdom to the British. So, the King thought of a plan to lure the
officer and his wife by extending some really expensive gift. So he ordered few rings worth
three lakh of rupees from a jeweler and sent them to duraisani. The bill raised was the price
of those rings.

(f) The basic plot of all the stories told by Jack deals with the idea whether the parents should
always decide what their children should do or give the children the freedom to make their
own choices. It is visible from the clear contrast between the adult's perspective of live and a
child's own world view.

Q10. Answer the following question in 120-150 words: (6)

Garbage to them is gold. How do ragpickers of Seemapuri survive?

OR

The peddler thinks that the whole world is a rattrap. This view of life is true only of himself
and of no one else in the story. Comment.

Ans. Seemapuri is a place on the outskirts of New Delhi. Those who live there are unlawful
residents who came from Bangladesh in 1971. It is a place where about 10,000 ragpickers
live. They live without identity and have no basic amenities, yet they are happy here because
they could get food which is more important than identity. It is a slum where they could find
many things and rag picking was their only means of survival.
Rag picking is the means of survival for the ragpickers. According to the author, it is their
"daily bread, a roof over their heads, even if it is a leaking roof". Thus, it is equivalent to gold
for them. Besides, for the children it is "wrapped in wonder" for they, at times, chance upon
"a rupee, even a ten-rupee note"

OR

The life of the peddler is bound with loneliness. This idea of being completely alone made the

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peddler a cynic. After stealing the money, the peddler tried to escape through the forest but
soon got lost. Left in despair, he recollected his own thoughts on the world being a giant
rattrap. A sudden realisation came to him that he had finally got himself caught in the
rattrap because he allowed himself to be tempted by the bait, the thirty kronor bills. Even the
kindness of the iron master and especially his daughter failed to make the peddler optimistic
about the world. The rattrap seller expressed himself strongly realising that the worldly bait
had, once more, tempted and trapped him. Unlike the other characters in the story, peddler
is the only one who got succumbed to loneliness and is far away from the human bonds of
love and sympathy that made him the cynic and consider the world as a rattrap.

Q11. Answer the following question in 120-150 words: (6)

Untouchability is not only a crime, it is inhuman too. Why and how did Bama decide to fight
against it?

OR

Good human values are far above any other value system. How did Dr. Sadao succeed as a
doctor as well as a patriot?

Ans. Bama first encountered untouchability when she saw an elder of her caste walking
along the street from the direction of the bazaar. Initially the vision made her to laugh but
then she saw the elder walk up straight to the landlord, bowing low and extending the packet
towards him, cupping the hand that held the string with his other hand. Bama's brother
Annan explained her the whole incident in detail. He explained that since they were born
into the community of the marginalised, they were never given any honour, dignity or
respect. They had all been stripped of the basic rights of any person. But if they studied and
made progress then they could shake off all these indignities. So, he advised his sister to
study with care and learn all she could. If she was always ahead in her lessons then people
would come to her of their own accord and attach themselves to her. These words that
Annan had spoken to Bama made a very deep impression on her and spurred her to study
hard with all her breath and being. She stood first in her class and many of the children from
upper caste became her friend. In this way, she rebelled against the injustice of
untouchability

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 OR

As a doctor, Sadao, knew the value of a human life. He risked his own life by saving the
American sailor, even though he knew that he could go to prison for hiding a prisoner of
war. He cleaned the American's wounds, fed him and nursed him back to health. When the
American was feeling healthy, he gave him provisions such as food and a boat, and allowed
him to escape from Japan. As a Japanese citizen, he fulfilled his duty by telling the General
about the American. Even though the General forgets to send his assassins, Sadao cannot be
blamed for the American's "escape". Thus, we can say that Sadao carried out his
responsibilities, as a doctor, and as a Japanese citizen.

Q12. Answer the following question in 120-150 words: (6)

Describe Marvel as an opportunist.

OR

George Eliot has portrayed Godfrey as a morally weak character. Comment.

Ans. Thomas Marvel was distraught and harried from his time with the Invisible Man, he
wanted to be let out and that is why he offered his resignation. The Invisible Man wanted to
use him as a tool because there were a lot of things that he needed to do which he couldn't
due to his condition. Marvel however was not willing to be made a tool and he decided to
snivel and grovel his way out of his predicament. He said he would be the worst possible
tool, his heart was weak and he was most likely to mess up the Invisible Man's plan out of
sheer funk and misery. Marvel had by this time realized the dangerous predicament he had
unwittingly got himself into because the Invisible Man seemed like a man possessed in his
work. Marvel began to rant against him saying that he wished he was dead, that it was
devilish hard and unendurable but to no avail, all his entreaties were ineffectual and fell on
deaf ears. The Invisible Man was bent upon making use of him and threatened to twist his
wrist if Marvel did not pipe down. It could much worse if Marvel played up and then he
would have to deal with the wrath of the Invisible Man. So, Marvel's attempt towards
offering his resignation was unsuccessful because the Invisible Man succeeded in bullying
and threatening him into submission. However, Marvel became the chink in the armour so
to speak for the Invisible Man, he held the key to the three manuscript books which would
help perpetuate the state of invisibility for the Invisible Man. If he hadn't turned on him and

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given himself up to the police, the Invisible Man would not have been apprehended in his
demonic task of unleashing a reign of terror. Eventually, Thomas Marvel became the
landlord of a little inn near Port Stowe, a short and corpulent little man with a nose of
cylindrical proportions, wiry hair and a sporadic rosiness of visage who retained his ill-
begotten ownership over the Invisible Man's prized possessions.

OR

Godfrey Cass is a character who does not display any developmental arch till the end of the
story. He is a coward without any moral fortitude though he is not an evil person. He has no
desire to harm anyone but gets co-opted into certain schemes. He does not like to shoulder
responsibility or account for his actions, and avoids conflicts. Eliot does not offer much
insight into his character, his early marriage fell apart but we are made to believe that it was
not his fault, he cares for Eppie but he doesn't work on it. He is an indecisive man, afraid of
taking tough decisions and lets others take charge of his life and actions. The weakness and
moral ineptitude of his character is given as a reason for his failure to act upon his good
intentions. Godfrey's self-realization towards the end does not bring closure to the events in
the novel, he still fails to do his duty for his daughter.

Q13. Answer the following question in 120-150 words: (6)

How does Dr. Cuss's encounter with Griffin end in a disaster?

OR

What kind of life did Silas lead at Lantern Yard?

Ans. The stranger had no wish to entertain nosy neighbourhood people, he did not speak a
word and simply glared at Mr Cuss for intruding upon his private space. The stranger had
merely sniffed and kept on sniffing all the time that Mr Cuss was present. Any question put
to him succeeded in enraging him further but when he accidentally revealed his empty
sleeve, there was a moment of confusion which the stranger and Mr Cuss shared before the
former turned the latter out of his room. Mr. Cuss was visibly shaken from this encounter.
However, what is clear from this encounter is that the stranger was in a perturbed state of
mind, he was working on a problem whose solution seemed to elude him constantly.

OR

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Silas Marner came to Raveloe fifteen years back. Before coming to Raveloe, he lived in a
town to the north, named Lantern Yard. Silas Marner of Lantern Yard was absolutely
different from the Silas Marner of Raveloe. He was a very religious man and had many
friends. cheated easily by the person whom he trusted the most. Silas had a best friend
named William Dane. Silas suffered cataleptic fits, which made William think of him being
possessed by Satan. Silas had knowledge of curing diseases with herbs, which he learnt from
his mother. The Senior Deacon, who Silas was watching over died, and the church members
also accused him of stealing the bag filled with church's money. Sara, the girl who Silas got
engaged with, broke off with him. With all the happenings going against him, Silas lost his
faith in God and man. He left Lantern Yard and came to Raveloe as a man completely
opposite of what he used to be.

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