HSC Arts (English Medium) १२ वीं कक्षा - Maharashtra State Board Important Questions for English

Read the extract and do the activities that follow:
The duke senior and his follower were sitting down to a meal one day when Orlando rushed out from among the trees, his sword in his hand. ‘Stop, and cat no more!’ he cried. The Duke and his friends asked him what he wanted.
‘Food,’ said Orlando. ‘I am almost dying of hunger’. They asked him to sit down and eat, but he would not do so. He told them that his old servant was in the woods, dying of hunger. ‘I will not eat a bite until he has been fed,’ Orlando said.
So the good Duke and his followers helped him to bring Adam to their hiding-place, and Orlando and the old man were fed and taken care of. When the Duke learned that Orlando was a son of his old friend sir Rowland de Boys, he welcomed him gladly to his forest court.
Orlando lived happily with the Duke and his friends, but he had not forgotten the lovely Rosalind. She was always in his thoughts andevery day he wrote poetry about her pinning it on the trees in the forest. ‘These trees shall be my books,’ he said, ‘so that everyone who looks in the forest will be able to read how sweet and good Rosalind is’.
Rosalind and Celia found some of these poems pinned on the trees. At first they were puzzled, wondering who could have written them; but one day Celia came in from a walk with the news that she had seen Orlando sleeping under a tree, and she and Rosalind guessed that he must be the poet. Rosalind was happy to think that Orlando had not forggoten her, because she loved him as much as he loved her.

A1. Complete - (2)
Complete the following sentences:
(i) Rosalind was happy to think _______
(ii) The Duke and his followers helped Orlando to bring _________
(iii) Orlando pinned the poems written about Rosalind on ______
(iv) When the Duke cam to know that Orlando was a son of his old friend, he _________

A2. Write a gist: (2)
Write a gist of the above given extract in about 50 words.

Read the following extract and rewrite it as if Daisy is the narrator:
[You may begin with: "I grew on the bank of a ditch ______"]

There was a little flower garden with painted wooden palings in front of it: close by was a ditch on its fresh green bank grew a little daisy: the sun shore as warmly and brightly upon it as on the magnificent garden flowers, and therefore it thrived well. One morning it had quite opened, and its little snow-white petals stood around the yellow center, like the rays of the sun, It did not mind that nobody saw it in the grass and that it was a poor despised flower; on the contrary, it was quite happy, and turned towards the sun, looking upward and listening to the song of the lark high up in the air.

The little daisy was as happy as if the day had been a great
holiday, but it was only Monday. All the children were at school,
and while they were sitting on the forms and learning their lessons, it sat on its thin green stalk and learned from the sun and from its surroundings how kind God is, and it rejoiced that the song of the little lark expressed so sweetly, and distinctly its own feelings. With a sort of reverence the daisy looked up to the bird that could
fly and sing, but it did not feel envious. " I can see and hear," it
thought; "the sun shines upon me, and the forest kisses me. How
rich I am!"

Read the following extract and convert it into a dialogue (about 8 sentences):

[You may begin with : Rosalind: 'O, excellent young men.......']

'O, excellent young men!' cried Rosalind, delighted, and the Duke called out: 'No more! No more!'

'I beg you to let us go on, 'said Orlando. 'I have hardly begun!'

The Duke turned to ask Charles how he was, but the man lay without moving on the ground. 'He cannot speak, my lord,' said one of the nobles.

'Take him away,' said the Duke and then he turned to Orlando. 'What is your name, young man?' he asked.

'Orlando, my lord, the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys,'Orlando answered and the Duke looked at him in angry surprise. Sir Rowland de Boys had been faithful to the Duke Senior, and therefore Fredricks enemy.

'Your father was my enemy', said Frederick. 'I would have been better pleased by your brave deed if you had told me of another father.'

'I am proud to be Sir Rowland's son, 'answered Orlando angrily,' and I would not change my place to be the heir of this dukedom.'

The Duke and his lords went away, Leaving Orlando alone with Rosailand and Celia. Celia was angry with her father for speaking so unkindly to Orlando. 'Would have done this in my father's place?' she said to Rosalind. 

'My father loved Sir Rowland as much as his own soul,' Rosalind said to Celia,' and all the world agreed with him. If I had known that this young man was Sir Rowland's Son I should have begged him with tears not to take so great a risk.'

Extend the given extract by adding an imaginary paragraph of your own (about 120 words)

A couple of days later, I was walking around the camp, around the barracks, near the barbed-wire fence where the guards could not easily see. I was alone.

On the other side of the fence, I spotted someone: a little girl with light, almost luminous curls. She was half-hidden behind a birch tree.

I glanced around to make sure no one saw me. I called to her softly in German. 'Do you have something to eat?'

She didn't understand.

I inched closer to the fence and repeated the question in polish. She stepped forward. I was thin and gaunt, with rags wrapped around my feet, but the girl looked unafraid. In her eyes, I saw life.

She pulled an apple from her woollen jacket and threw it over the fence.

I grabbed the fruit and, as I started to run away, I heard her say faintly, 'I'II see you tomorrow."

Write a summary of the above extract with the help of the following points and suggest a suitable title.

Organic farming – depends on – ensures soil fertility by – organic agriculture promotes – difficulty for farmers because – burden on the consumer.

Read the following extract and rewrite it from the point of view of Tom.
[You may begin with: I crossed from the right to the centre and said that it was a queer place ...... ]

Read the following extract carefully and convert it into a dialogue between Daisy and Lark.

You may begin with: 'Daisy: Why are you singing so sadly, little bird?'

Read the following extract and extend it by adding an imaginary paragraph of your own in about 120 words :

Orlando lived happily with the Duke and his friends, but he had not forgotten the lovely Rosalind. She was always in his thoughts and every day he wrote poetry about her, pinning it on the trees in the forest. 'These trees shall be my books', he said, 'so that everyone who looks in the forest will be able to read how sweet and good Rosalind is.'

Rosalind and Celia found some of these poems pinned on the trees. At first, they were puzzled, wondering who could have written them; but one day Celia came in from a walk with the news that she had seen Orlando sleeping under a tree. and she and Rosalind guessed that he must be the poet. Rosalind was happy to think that Orlando had not forgotten her, because she loved him as much as he loved her.

One day she and Celia met Orlando. He did not recognize them because of their stained faces and simple clothes. He thought they were a shepherd boy and his sister. He made friends with them.

Read the following extract and convert it into a dialogue between Rosalind and Orlando:
[You may begin with: Rosalind: Dear Orlando, it's better not to fight with Charles.]

Next day, the wrestling match was arranged to take place in front of the Duke's palace. Celia and Rosalind happened to be there when the Duke and his lords arrived, so they decided to stay and watch the fight. Frederick spoke to Orlando and tried to persuade him not to fight the Wrestler, but Orlando was determined.
At last, Frederick turned to Rosalind and Celia and said: 'Speak to him, ladies; see if you can persuade him.'
Charles had just fought three other young men and had nearly killed them. It seemed certain that Orlando would be treated in the same way. And so the two girls spoke to the tall, good-looking young man, begging him not to fight. 'You have seen cruel proof of this man's strength', said Celia. 'We pray you for your own sake to give up this fight. Do not run such a risk!'
'Please do what we ask, young sir,' said Rosalind. 'No one will call you a coward: We will ask the Duke to stop the wrestling.' But Orlando answered: 'Please do not be angry if I refuse to do what you ask. It is not easy to say no to ladies who are so beautiful and gentle. But let your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial. No one will be sorry if I am killed, because I have no friends to love me. I fill up a place in the world which may be better filled by another man if I leave it empty.'

Write a news item on any one of the following headlines with proper dateline, lead/intro paragraph, and a short continuing paragraph:

(i) India wins T20 series.
{ii) Railway suspends two officials over derailment

Read the following counter-view section and develop a view section in about 120 words. Suggest a suitable title :

Look at the table given below and write a short paragraph based on it in about 120 words :
The following table shows irregular rainfall causing low groundwater level in Nashik district, and Talukawise its worst hit villages.

Imagine that you are going to interview a great social worker or reformer. Frame a set of 8-10 questions for the interview :

Your college has organised 'A Health Awareness Programme' to emphasise the importance of healthy food and say goodbye to 'Junk food'.

As a class representative, prepare a speech in about 100 words to be delivered during the inaugural function. You may use the following points :
(1) Importance of healthy food.
(2) Regular and proportional diet, avoiding junk food.
(3) Importance of exercise.
(4) Add your own points.

Rewrite the following extract as if the girl with an apple is the narrator :

[You may begin like this: A stranger said something, in a language. I didn't understand.... '] 

I glanced around to make sure no one saw me. I called to her softly in German. "Do you have something to eat?" 
She didn't understand.  I inched closer to the fence and repeated the question 111 Polish. She stepped forward. I was thin and gaunt, with rags wrapped around my feet, but the girl looked unafraid In her eyes. I saw life. She pulled an apple from her woollen jacket and threw it over the fence. I grabbed the fruit and. as I started to run away, I heard her say faintly," I'll sec you tomorrow."  I returned to the same spot by the fence at the same time every day. She was always there with something for me to eat a hunk of bread or, better yet, an apple. We didn't dare speak or linger. To the caught would mean death for us both. 
I didn't know anything about her, just a kind farm girl, except that she understood Polish. What was her name? Why was she risking her lire for me?  Hope was in such short supply), and this girl on the other side of the ranch gave me some. as nourishing in its way as thc bread and apples.  Nearly seven months later. my brothers and I were crammed into a coal car and shipped 10 Theresienstadt camp in Czechoslovakia. "Don't return," I told the girl that day. "We're leaving." 

Composition :
Rewrite the story extract as if Oliver is the narrator.
[ You may begin as: "I had no knowledge of where my brother was ..... "]

        Oliver, therefore, had no knowledge of where his brother was, but Frederick refused to believe this. 'You have not seen him since the wrestling match!' he said disbelievingly. 'Sir, sir, that cannot be! You must find your brother, wherever he is. Do not dare to come back without him! If you do not bring him to me, dead or alive, within the year. I will take all your land and possessions and you will not be allowed to live anywhere within my dukedom'.
       And so Oliver also set out for the forest of Arden, in search of his brother Orlando. Rosalind and Celia. with the faithful Touchstone, wandered through the forest for many days. They grew so tired and hungry that they felt they could go on no longer in search of Rosalind's father, but at last they met a shepherd who told them that his master had a cottage for sale. They thankfully
bought the cottage and lived there, wandering through the forest every day and returning to the little house at night.
       Although Rosalind did not know it, her father was not very far away. He and the faithful lords who had accompanied him were happily settled in the forest. They had grown to love the simple
life they led. They found it safer and more sweet than the life of
the court, where people were often greedy and jealous and cruel.
They had enough food for their needs because they could 'hunt
the deer in the forest and grow their own fruit and vegetables.
They were full of contentment and good cheer.

Read the following extract and convert it into a dialogue (in about 8 to10 sentences):

[You may begin with: The first boy: ''Oh look! Here's a fine piece of..........."]

"Here is a fine piece of turf for the lark," said one of the boys, and began to cut out a square round the daisy, so that it remained in the centre of the grass.

"Pluck the flower off," said the other boy and the daisy trembled for fear, for to be pulled off meant death to it; and it wished so much to live, as it was to go with the square of turf into the poor captive lark's cage.

"No let it stay," said the other boy. "it looks so pretty."

And so it stayed and was brought into the lark's cage. The poor bird was lamenting its lost liberty, and beating its wings against the wires; and the little daisy could not speak or utter a consoling word. much as it would have liked to do so. So the forenoon passed.

"I have no water", said the captive lark," they have all gone out and forgotten to give me anything to drink. My throat is dry and burning. I feel as if I had fire and ice within me and the air is so oppressive. Alas! I must die. and part with the warm sunshine, the fresh green meadows. and all the beauty that God has created."And it thrust its beak into the piece of grass, to refresh itself a little.

Extend the given extract by adding an imaginary paragraph of your own (about 120 words):
         The lark bent its little head towards the flower, and its heart broke for want and longing. The flower could not, as on the previous evening. fold up its petals and sleep; it dropped sorrowfully. The boys only came the next morning; when they saw the dead bird. they began to cry bitterly, dug a nice grave for it. and adorned it with flowers. The bird's body was placed in a pretty red box; they wished to bury it with royal honours. While it was alive and sang they forgot it. and let it suffer want in the cage: now. they cried over it and covered it with flowers. The piece of turf. with the little daisy in it, was thrown out on the dusty highway. Nobody thought of the flower which had felt so much for the bird and had so greatly desired to comfort it.

Read the following proverb. Share your view and expand the ideas.

The wise man has long ears and a short tongue!

Expand the idea on your own on the following topic.

Time and tide wait for none