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

Read the following extract a.nd answer the questions given below:
And we with our small vanities,
our controlled hunger for climbing
and getting as far as everybody else has gotten 
because it seems that is the way of the world:
an endless track of champions
and in a corner we, forgotten
maybe because of everybody else,
since they seemed too much like us
until they were robbed of their laurels,
their medals, their titles, their names.

(1) What is the way of the world?

(2) Do you think the middle-class people are satisfied with 
their lives? Explain.

(3) Name and explain the figure· of speech in the following lines:  ''Since they seemed so much like us.''
(4) Pick out the expressions from the extract showing the failure of man.

Read the extract and do the activities that follow: (4)

B1. Complete _____
Complete the following sentences:
(i) The boys considered the dentist as a ghost , because ________
(ii) Listening to the repeated scream, Tom thought that ________
(iii) The grinning mouths were models made of ________
(iv) The idea of carol-singing was given by _______

B2. Convert dialogue into a story:
Convert the above dialoguc into a story in about 50 words.

Read the following extract and answer the questions given below:

        But being named an 'AdarshGaon' is far from easy. Villages had to give a proposal after which a committee headed by Mr. Pawar inspected the villages. "The Villages had to show dedication in the struggle to fight mediocrity. They had to follow all the conditions of becoming an 'AdarshGaon'. We chose villages with a revolutionary spark, "Mr. Pawar says.

        Villages need to follow strict rules. The process begins with effective water management through the watershed technique and water auditing. taking responsibility for the village's natural resources-planting trees and stopping grazing. contributing labour for the village work, and then expanding to bring about behavioral changes in the people for harboring social change. Hiware Bazaar is free of any kind of addiction and there are no liquor or tobacco shops in the village. Vasectomy has been made compulsory, as is the pre-marital HIV test. 

        The 'AdarshGaon' model prides itself on being based on the joint decisions made by the Gram Sabha, where all the villagers are present. Even while selecting the new villages under the scheme, Mr. Pawar made sure that the decision to become an ideal village was taken by the entire village together.

        The greatest victory for Hiware Bazaar so far has been the reverse migration that the village has witnessed since 1989. As many as 93 families have come back to the village," from the slums in Mumbai and Pune," Mr. Pawar says.

Questions:

(1) What features of 'Adarsh Gaon' are given in this extract? 

(2) What is the procedure for selecting 'Adarsh Gaon'?

(3) What is the greatest victory for Hiware Bazaar?        

(4) Do you think all villages in Maharashtra should follow the ideals of Hiware Bazaar? why?

(5) Rewrite the following sentences in the ways instructed :

 i.  Mr. Pawar inspected the villages. 

    (Rewrite it using the noun form of the word underlined.)     

ii. Vasectomy has been made compulsory by the villagers.

   (Rewrite it beginning with-"The villagers........".)

iii. There are no liquor or tobacco shops in the village.

   (Rewrite it using 'neither......nor'.)

(6) Find out the words from the extract which mean: 

(i) causing a great change 

(ii) the quality of being average

Read the following extract and answer the questions given below :

But being named an 'AdarshGaon · is far from easy. Villages had to give a proposal after Which a committee headed by Mr. Pawar inspected the villages. "The villages had to show dedication in the struggle to fight mediocrity. They had to follow all the conditions of becoming an 'AdarshGaon '. We chose villages with a revolutionary spark." Mr. Pawar says. 

Villages need to follow strict rules. The process begins with effective water managc1nent through the watershed technique and Water auditing. taking responsibility for the village's natural resources -phmting trees and stopping grazing, contributing labour for the village Work, and then expanding to bring about behavioral changes in the people for harbouring social change. Hiware Bazaar is free of any kind of addiction and there are no liquor or tobacco shops in the village. Vasectomy has been made co1npulsory. as is the pre-marital HIV test. 

The 'AdarshGaon · n1odcl prides itself of being based on the joint decisions made by the (Gram Sabha, Where all the villagers are present. Even while selecting the new villages under the scheme, Mr. Pawar made sure that the decision to become an ideal village was taken by the entire village together. 

The greatest victory for Hiware Bazaar so far has been the reverse migration that the village has witnessed since 1989. As many as 93 families have come back to the village, "from the slums in Mumbai and Pune." Mr. Pawar says. 

(1) What features of 'AdarshGaon' are given in this extract?
(2) What is the procedure for selecting 'AdarshGaon'?
(3) What is the greatest victory for Hiware Bazaar? 
(4) Do you think all villages in Maharashtra should follow the ideals of Hiware Bazaar? Why? 
(5) Rewrite the following sentences in the Ways instructed : 

(i) Mr. Pawar inspected the villages. 
(Rewrite it using the noun form of the word underlined.)
(ii) Vasectomy has been made compulsory by the villagers.
(Rewrite it beginning with -"The villagers ........ ".) 
(iii) There are no liquor or tobacco shops in the village. 
(Rewrite it using 'neither ........ nor'.)

(6) Find out the words from the extract which mean : 

(i) causing a great change 
(ii) the quality of being average

Read the extract and complete the activities given below:

Punctually at midday, he opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook, and a bundle of Palmyra writing. His forehead was resplendent (glorious) with sacred ash and vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp abnormal gleam (shine) which was really an outcome of a continual searching look for customers, but which his simple clients took to be a prophetic light and felt comforted. The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced by their position placed as they were between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers (mustaches) which streamed down his cheeks: even a half-wit’s eyes would sparkle in such a setting. To crown the effect he wound a saffron-coloured turban around his head. This colour scheme never failed. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahlia stalks. He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked a path running through the Town Hall Park. It was a remarkable place in many ways. A surging crowd was always moving up and down this narrow road from morning till night. A variety of trades and occupations was represented all along its way: medicine sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and above all, an auctioneer of cheap cloth, who created enough din all day to attract the whole town. Next to him in vociferousness came a vendor of fried groundnut, who gave his ware a fancy name each day, calling it “Bombay Ice Cream” one day and on the next “Delhi Almond,” and on the third “Raja’s Delicacy,” and so on and so forth, and people flocked to him. A considerable portion of this crowd dallied before the astrologer too. The astrologer transacted his business by the light of a flare which crackled and smoked up above the groundnut heap nearby. Half the enchantment of the place was due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of municipal lighting. The place was lit up by shop lights. One or two had hissing gaslights, some had naked flares stuck on poles, some were lit up by old cycle lamps, and one or two, like the astrologer, managed without lights of their own. It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays and moving shadows. This suited the astrologer very well, for the simple reason that he had not in the least intended to be an astrologer when he began life; and he knew no more of what was going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen to himself next minute. He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers. Yet he said things which pleased and astonished everyone: that was more a matter of study, practice, and shrewd guesswork. All the same, it was as much an honest man’s labour as any other, and he deserved the wages he carried home at the end of a day.

A1. State if the given statements are True or False. (2)

i. The astrologer used to have the preparation of his business in quite professional way.

ii. The physical appearance of the astrologer hardly created an impact on the customers.

iii. The place was busy with a variety of occupations.

iv. The astrologer’s style of handling the business lies in his skills.

A2. Complete the given web. (2)

A3. The astrologer was a shrewd judge of a character. Explain with some details from the extract. (2)

A4. We need to understand even the smallest details of the business in order to succeed. Write your views. (2)

A5. Do as directed. (2)

1) It was a remarkable place in many ways.
(Choose the correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as an exclamatory sentence)

1. It was a remarkable place in many ways!
2. How a remarkable place in many ways it was!
3. What a remarkable place in many ways it was!
4. What remarkable in many ways the place it was!

2) He spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
(Choose the correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as a compound sentence)

1. He spread out his professional equipment but it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
2. He spread out his professional equipment and it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
3. He spread out his professional equipment that it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
4. He spread out his professional equipment and it had consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.

A6. Find the synonyms for the following words from the passage. (2)

1. Confusing
2. hanging around
3. difficult to understand
4. magical effect

A1. Soapy’s attempts to get into Winter Island:

A2. Complete the given statement in 30 words.

Soapy couldn’t enter the restaurant because ______

A3. Soapy had confidence in himself from the lowest button of his vest upward. Here the lowest button of his vest upward means ______

A4. If a person tries to damage the public property, how you will react in such a situation.
(write your response in 3/4 lines)

A5. Do as directed.

1) The policeman refused to accept Soapy even as a clue.
(Choose the correct alternative to transform as a negative statement)

1. The policeman didn’t accept Soapy even as a clue.
2. The policeman had never accepted Soapy even as a clue.
3. The policeman didn’t accepted Soapy even as a clue.
4. The policeman couldn’t accept Soapy even as a clue.

2) “Don’t you think that I might have had something to do with it?” said Soapy.
(Choose the correct alternative to change the sentence into indirect speech)

1. Soapy asked if he didn’t think that he might have something to do with that.
2. Soapy asked if he didn’t think that he might have had something to do with that.
3. Soapy asked if he didn’t thought that he might have had something to do with that.
4. Soapy asked if he didn’t think that he might had had something to do with that.

A6. Match the words in column A with column B:

Read the extract and complete the activities given below:

A1. True/False:   (2)

Read the following sentences and state whether they are true or false. Correct the false statements and rewrite them.

1. Soapy broke the glass of the shop window.
2. Nobody heard the breaking of the glass window.
3. The policeman chased Soapy.
4. Soapy did not run away from the place.

A2. Rearrange.   (2)

Rearrange the following statements in order of their occurrence in the extract.

1. The policeman refused to accept Soapy even as a clue.
2. Soapy took a stone and dashed it through the glass.
3. "Now, get busy and call a cop," said Soapy.
4. Soapy, with disgust in his heart, drifted along twice unsuccessful.

A3. Guess:   (2)

Read the following sentences and write down what it means.

1. "Don't you think that I might have had something to do with it?"
2. He told the waiter the fact that the minutest coin and himself were total strangers.

A4. Personal response:    (2)

Suppose you are a manager of a hotel, a poor boy has taken dinner in the hotel and then he found, he has not enough money to pay the bill. Describe how you will react in the situation.

A5. Language study:     (2)

1. On the opposite side of the street was a restaurant of no great pretensions.
2. Men who smash windows do no remain to chat with the police. (Make the above sentence simple)

A6. Vocabulary:     (2)

Match the following words 1n column 'A'. with their meanings in column 'B'.

Read the extract and solve the activities.

          The eight-and-a-half-hour-long day inside the hide was a fruitful as the Jambha tree standing tall on the edge of Umbarzara. Before wrapping up my day at this natural waterhole, I took entries of the avifauna in my field work. Since I was alone, I rushed to Pitezari village where I was stationed. I camouflaged the hide, took my essentials, and came out of the hide and stretched out to my heart's content. I lifted my camera bag and took the familiar trial to Pitezari. Negotiating the webbed leaves of Teakwood and Moha trees, trying to make minimal sound, I was treading cautiously among the wood. Walking alone in a jungle needs more alertness than walking with a companion. I was alone here like a fox. Following the trial silently, watching with wide-open eyes, my ears were grasping a variety of sound stunned me...
          'Khyak! Khyak! KhyakoSS Khyak!'
          It was a Langur alarm call. The leader of the gang of Langurs was sitting on the tall tree making alarm calls out of fear. Rest of the Langur brigade continued raising the alarm calls. The network of alarm calls was expanding its range as the petrified Langurs speeded to the trees near and far and secured their places on treetops. All this upheaval was created by only one animal's presence- a Leopard. Many animals make alarm calls when they see a predator - Tiger or a Leopard nearby. The Langur is more reliable when it comes to finding clues about the presence of the apex predators in the jungle. The mighty elusive Leopard of Umbarzara was out of his liar. He was on the prowl. The stealthily moving figure in spotted gold-black cloak was spied by these Langurs. Even the small ones from the legion of Langurs were giving alarm calls.
          'Chyak! Chyak!'
          I stayed put. Gauged the leader Langur's target sight and scanned the area visually. Took some steps. Stopped again. A fresh scat was lying before me on the trail. The bluish-purple flies were hovering over it. I was sure that the Leopard was somewhere near. The distant alarm call of four-horned antelope was adding to the chaos.

A1. Complete the given flowchart about the writer’s activities. (2)

A2. Enlist the clues which confirmed the presence of a leapard. (2)

A3. Complete. (2)

‘I was alone like a fox.’ The writer compares himself to the fox because ____________

A4. State what precautions you would take after finding yourself lost in a jungle. (2)

A5. Do as directed. (2)

i. The langur is the most reliable in finding clues in jungle about predators.
(Choose the correct alternative that gives the transformation of the given sentence in Positive Degree)

1. No other animal in jungle is as reliable as langur in finding clues about predators in jungle.
2. No other langur is as reliable as other animals in finding clues about predators in jungle.
3. Langur is as reliable as other animals in jungle in finding clues about predators.
4. Very few animals in jungle are as reliable as langur in finding clues about predators in jungle.

ii. I camouflaged the hide...
(Choose the correct alternative that has Simple Present Tense form.)

1. I camouflage the hide
2. I am camouflaging the hide
3. I have camouflaged the hide
4. I can camouflage the hide

A6. Find a word from the extract which mean the following: (2)

1. To hide oneself by covering up with natural or artificial material to mislead the enemy.
2. Finishing the work
3. Making oneself safe from danger
4. To successfully walk over

Read the extract and complete the activities given below:

A1. Choose and rewrite the two correct statements from the following:    (2)

1. The writer had his entire education in English.
2. The writer wished to run away from IIT and even Mumbai.
3. The senior guy was co-operative and he encouraged the writer.
4. The writer could overcome his feeling of depression with his own efforts.

A2. The writer developed an inferiority complex during his stay in Mumbai. Enlist the causes:    (2)

1. ____________
2. ____________
3. ____________
4. ____________

A3. Point out the qualities of the writer that you have come across while reading the extract.    (2)

Negative qualities:

1. ______________
2. ______________

Positive qualities:

1. ____________
2. ____________

A4. Give any four suggestions to improve English communication skills.   (2)

A5. Language study:    (2)

(i) ‘I was quite happy getting into IIT, but my joy was short-lived' ....      (Choose the correct alternative showing proper use of ‘though’)

1. Though I was quite happy getting into IIT, but my joy was short-lived.
2. I was quite happy getting into IIT, though my joy is short-lived.
3. Though I was quite happy getting into IIT, my joy was short-lived.
4. I was quite happy though getting into IIT, my joy was short-lived.

(ii) ‘I felt extremely humiliated and upset.’ (Identify the correct exclamatory form of the above sentence.)

1. What humiliated and upset I felt!
2. How humiliated and upset I felt!
3. How extremely humiliated do I feel!
4. What a humiliated and upset I felt!

A6. Match the following words in column ‘A’ with their antonyms in column ‘B’.    (2) 

Read the given extract and complete the activities given below:

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.

The earth, that is sufficient,
I do not want the constellations any nearer,
I know they are very well where they are,
I know they suffice for those who belong to them.

(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens,
I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go,
I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them,
I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.)

A1. Pick out the two lines which describe the phrase ‘good fortune’. (2)

1. ____________________________
2. ____________________________

A2. ‘Still here I carry my old delicious burdens’ Give reasons for this statement. (2)

A3. Name and explain figure of speech used in the following line. (2)

‘The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose’

A4. Express your own views regarding the following line. (2)

‘Song of the open road’

A5. Compose four lines on ‘Journey of life’. by using rhyming word. (2)

Appreciation:

Read the given extract and write the appreciation of the given poem based on the following aspects.

• About the poem, significance of the title.
• Form of the poem, theme and its significance.
• Poetic style, language features, poetic devices.
• Inspirational message, values, morals reflected.
• Your opinion and critical evaluation of the poem.

Appreciation:

Read the given extract and write the appreciation of the given poem based on the following aspects.

• About the poem, significance of the title.
• Form of the poem, theme and its significance.
• Poetic style, language features, poetic devices.
• Inspirational message, values, morals reflected.
• Your opinion and critical evaluation of the poem.

Read the given extract and complete the activities given below:

No stir in the air, no stir in the sea,
The Ship was still as she could be;
Her sails from heaven received no motion,
Her keel was steady in the ocean.

Without either sign or sound of their shock,
The waves flow’d over the Inchcape Rock;
So little they rose, so little they fell,
They did not move the Inchcape Bell.

The Abbot of Aberbrothok
Had placed that bell on the Inchcape Rock;
On a buoy in the storm it floated and swung,
And over the waves its warning rung.

When the Rock was hid by the surge’s swell,
The Mariners heard the warning Bell;
And then they knew the perilous Rock,
And blest the Abbot of Aberbrothok.

A1. Complete the web. (2)

A2. Give reasons. (2)

Abbot of Aberbrothok placed a bell on the Inchcape rock because _____________________

A3. If you were Abbot of that era, what would you do to make the ship safe from crashing at Inchcape rock. (2)

A4. Complete the table. (2)

A5. Compose a short poem. (2)

No stir in the air, no stir in the sea,
____________________________________
____________________________________
Her keel was steady in the ocean.

On the deck the Rover takes his stand,
So dark it is they see no land.
Quoth Sir Ralph, “It will be lighter soon,
For there is the dawn of the rising Moon.”

“Canst hear,” said one, “the breakers roar?
For methinks we should be near the shore.”
“Now, where we are I cannot tell,
But I wish we could hear the Inchcape Bell.”

They hear no sound, the swell is strong,
Though the wind hath fallen they drift along;
Till the vessel strikes with a shivering shock,
“Oh Christ! It is the Inchcape Rock!”

Sir Ralph the Rover tore his hair,
He curst himself in his despair;
The waves rush in on every side,
The ship is sinking beneath the tide.

Read the given extract and write a poetic appreciation of the poem with the help of the following points.

• About the poet and the title
• The theme
• Language/poetic devices used in the poem
• Special features
• Your opinion about the poem

Read the following extract and complete the activities given below:

A1. Rearrange the following incidents as per their occurrence in the poem:   (2)

1. Sir Ralph the Rover cursed himself in despair.
2. The vessel strikes with a shivering shock.
3. The mariner wished to hear the Inchcape Bell.
4. Ralph the Rover heard one dreadful sound.

A2. Complete the tree diagram to describe the reasons that resulted in the sinking of the ship.    (2)

Mistakes in the following Questions

A3. Accept any reasonably correct answer: (2)

A4. Poetic device: (2)
The figure of speech – ‘Inversion’ the word order is changed for rhyme. Correct order should be:

‘The Rover could hear one dreadful sound.’

A5. Composing lines: (2)
[Accept any reasonably correct answer/lines]

Appreciation:

Read the extract and Write the appreciation of the poem:

They hear no sound, the swell is strong;
Though the wind hath fallen, they drift along,
Till the vessel strikes with a shivering shock,-
O Christ! It is the Inchcape Rock!'

Sir Ralph the Rover tore his hair;
He curst himself in his despair;
The waves rush in every side,
The ship is sinking beneath the tide.

But even in his dying fear
One dreadful sound could the Rover hear,
A sound as if with the Incheape Bell,
The Devil below was ringing his knell.

Write the poetic appreciation of the extract given below:

Read the extract and complete the activities given below:

A1. Select and write the two Statements from the given list which justify the theme of the poem.

1. The poet is blunt and direct in his expression of love.
2. Internal beauty is as important as the external beauty.
3. The poet is in love with the lady’s outward beauty.
4. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

A2. Complete the following web describing the various aspects of the lady’s beauty. One is done for you at the centre place.

A3. Write your idea of 'a beautiful person' in your own words.

A4. Find out and explain an example of 'Antithesis’ from the given extract.

A5. Compose a poem of your own in about 2 to 4 lines on the topic 'Beauty'.

Write a summary of the above extract with the help of the following points and suggest a suitable title :
Points : Kalpana's affection towards India and Indians her humble - nature her love for the earth Harrison's visit to India.