HSC Commerce (English Medium) १२ वीं कक्षा - Maharashtra State Board Question Bank Solutions for English

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)

Read the given extract and complete the activities gives below:

A1. Fill in the columns based on your understanding of the poem. (2)

A2. Complete the following web about what weavers compare the garments being woven by them. (2)

A3. Describe in your own words the steps or measures that you would take to solve the problems of weavers. (2)

A4. The rhyme scheme in the first stanza is ‘aabb’. Find rhyme scheme in the second and third stanza and also write down the rhyming pairs of words of the second and third stanza from the given extract. (2)

A5. Compose four lines on ‘importance of clothes.’ (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.

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.

Appreciation:

My father travels on the late evening train
Standing among silent commuters in the yellow light
Suburbs slide past his unseeing eyes
His shirt and pants are soggy and his black raincoat
Stained with mud and his bag stuffed with books
Is falling apart. His eyes dimmed by age
fade homeward through the humid monsoon night.
Now I can see him getting off the train
Like a word dropped from a long sentence.
He hurries across the length of the grey platform,
Crosses the railway line, enters the lane,
His chappals are sticky with mud, but he hurries onward.
Home again, I see him drinking weak tea,
Eating a stale chapati, reading a book.
He goes into the toilet to contemplate
Man's estrangement from a man-made world.
Coming out he trembles at the sink,
The cold water running over his brown hands,
A few droplets cling to the greying hairs on his wrists.
His sullen children have often refused to share
Jokes and secrets with him. He will now go to sleep
Listening to the static on the radio, dreaming
Of his ancestors and grandchildren, thinking
Of nomads entering a subcontinent through a narrow pass.

Read the extract carefully and write an appreciation of the poem considering the following points.

• About the poet and the title
• The theme
• Poetic style, Language, poetic devices.
• Special feature
• Values
• Your opinion about the poem

Read the given extract and complete the activities given below:

Is anybody happier because you passed his way?
Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through;
Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?

Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along?
Or a churlish sort of "Howdy" and then vanish in the throng?
Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way,
Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?

Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that's slipping fast,
That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed?
Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said;
Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?

Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say,
You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?

A1. Complete the following web. (2)

A2. You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today? Explain the meaning of these lines. (2)

A3. How does your ‘good deeds’ help others to rejoice? (2)

A4. Identify and write the lines from the poem which express the following figure of speech and explain it. (2)

A5. With the help of the following words compose four lines. (2)

• ____________ Share
• ____________ Give
• ____________ Care
• ____________ live

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:

Home again, I see him drinking weak tea,
Eating a stale chapati, reading a book.
He goes into the toilet to contemplate
Man's estrangement from a man-made world.
Coming out he trembles at the sink,
The cold water running over his brown hands,
A few droplets cling to the greying hairs on his wrists.
His sullen children have often refused to share
Jokes and secrets with him. He will now go to sleep
Listening to the static on the radio, dreaming
Of his ancestors and grandchildren, thinking
Of nomads entering a subcontinent through a narrow pass. wrists.

A1. Complete the given flowchart about father’s activities at home. (2)

A2. Find the lines to highlight the relation of children and father. (2)

1. ________________________________
2. ________________________________

A3. Would you like to celebrate ‘Father’s day’? If yes how/If not why? (2)

A4. Name the figure of speech in the following line and give one more example. (2)

“coming out he trembles at the sink”

A5. Read the following lines and add two poetic lines to rhyme with line. (2)

He will now go to sleep
Listening to static on the radio
_________________________________
_________________________________

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

Appreciation:

Is anybody happier because you passed his way?
Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through;
Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?

Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along?
Or a churlish sort of "Howdy" and then vanish in the throng?
Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way,
Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?

Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that's slipping fast,
That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed?
Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said;
Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?

Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say,
You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?

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

• 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.

Imagine, you have to leave early from home for an interview. Draft a message in about 100/150 words, to convey the same to your friend. Give your own reasons to support your message.

Imagine, you are not well and will not be able to attend lectures at college. Draft a message in about 100/150 words to convey the same to your teacher. Give your own reasons to support your message.

Imagine, you have planned different methods to study for your board exam. Draft a message in about 100/150 words, to give these details to your friend. Give your own reasons to support your message.

Imagine that you have to leave your hostel room to attend to a relative coming at the city hospital from your native place. Draft a message in about 100/150 words giving reason of your absence at the birthday party of your roommate at the hostel. Give your own reasons to support your message.

Imagine that you have won two entry tickets to a popular drama at a theater near you this weekend. Draft a message in about 100/150 words to convey the incredible news to your best friend.

You are highly passionate towards becoming a successful entrepreneur and therefore want to peruse your higher education in “Business Management”. Your background and skills have motivated you towards business and now you seek admission to accomplish a degree in “Business Management” at a reputed university. Prepare a ‘statement of purpose’ in about 100 to 150 words, which will help you to get admission to this University.

You have great thirst for knowledge in a foreign language of your own choice. You are also prepared to peruse your education abroad for the same. You are therefore seeking a university for a degree in a foreign language of your choice. Prepare a ‘statement of purpose’ in about 100 to 150 words, which will help you to get admission to this University.

You have developed good skills in English Language. You think of directing your skills for more specific goals. Now you aspire for a degree in “Mass Communication” at a specific university which provides this programme. Prepare a ‘statement of purpose’ in about 100 to 150 words, which will help you to get admission to this University.

You have been shortlisted for a scholarship to attend an online course in developing English speaking skills from the American Embassy in India. You always wanted to learn English from expert teachers in India and from native American trainers. The final selection will be made as per the statements of purpose given by the shortlisted candidates. Prepare a ‘statement of purpose’ in about 100 to 150 words, which will help you to get entry to the course.

There are limited vacancies for getting admission to a well-known music and dance academy in Mumbai. Dancing is your passion and you always wanted to pursue career in music and dance. Prepare a ‘statement of purpose’ in about 100 to 150 words, which will help you to join the academy.