HSC Arts (English Medium) इयत्ता १२ वी - Maharashtra State Board Question Bank Solutions for English

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 following extract and answer the questions given
below:

So what is a city? It's a dense amalgamation of buildings and people. A city must provide equity and also be sustainable. As an architect who has been closely connected with Delhi and its planning, my wish list is more about the direction we need to take
so that future generations don't end up living in chaotic dysfunctional cities.

The first requirement for a city is a pragmatic plan. Many of our cities such as Delhi and Bhubaneshwar and even Port Blair in the Andamans have reasonably good master plans. Many also have City Development Plans which have been made an essential
requirement to draw funds from the government's Urban Renewal Programme (JNNURM). But they should be updated frequently based on the changing needs of its people.

And let's not forget its citizens-they need to be more proactively involved when evolving master plans. But often, there's a lack of planning and inadequate implementation systems. This applies to all essential components of city-streets, public transport system, traffic management, affordable housing, cars and parking, drainage, water supply, sewerage, and garbage. Any deficiency in these will lead to poor quality cities which won't be able to handle the pressure of increased population and changing needs.
The second requirement of a good city is good social infrastructure such as parks and places for leisure such as river and sea fronts. It needs to preserve and protect its heritage.

(1) What does a city require to emerge as a good city?

(2) What is the second requirement of a good city?

(3) What are the basic requirements to draw funds from the government's-Urban Renewal programme (JNNURM)?

(4) What suggestions will you give to make your city ideal?

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

(i) It's a dense amalgamation of buildings and people.
(Rewrite it using 'as well as'.)
(ii) A city must provide equity and also be sustainable.
(Rewrite it using another modal auxiliary showing "advice".)
(iii) The first requirement for a city is a pragmatic plan.
(Frame a 'Wh' ·question to get the underlined part as an answer.)

(6) Match the words in column 'A' with their meaning in 'B':

Write a blog on the following topic:

‘Man is free by birth.’

Write the following sentence in reported indirect speech:

He said, “If you find my answers satisfactory, will you give me five rupees?”

Write the following sentence in reported indirect speech:

The astrologer said, “You were left for dead. Am I right?”

Write the following sentence in reported indirect speech:

“I should have been dead if some passerby had not chanced to peep into the well,” exclaimed Guru Nayak.

Write the following sentence in reported indirect speech:

He told her, “Do you know a great load is gone from me today.”

Read a part of a conversation between Neha and Nidhi.

The above conversation is written in exact words spoken. If this conversation was to be reported by a third person then it would be written as:

Neha asked Nidhi where she was going. Nidhi replied that she was going for her music lessons.

Notice the changes in the reported sentence. Note the changes in pronouns, tenses, reporting, and reported verbs and other changes. Now find sentences from the text in the direct speech and convert them into the reported speech.

Read the following sentence given in indirect speech and convert them into direct speech.

Shirish said that he would not be able to solve the problem.

Read the following sentence given in indirect speech and convert them into direct speech.

Lata told me to give her a glass of water.

Read the following sentence given in indirect speech and convert them into direct speech.

Ananya exclaimed with joy that she had received the Ph.D. degree.

Read the following sentence given in indirect speech and convert them into direct speech.

Shilpa asked us if there was any other document to be typed.

Read the following sentence given in indirect speech and convert them into direct speech.

Swati said that she would not get the money.

Write a blog in the proper format on 'Personality Development' in about 100-150 words.

Blog Writing:

Write a blog in a proper format on 'Communication skills'. in about 100-150 words with the help of the following points:

• Importance of communication
• Aspects of communication skills
• Ways to improve them
• Add your own points

Write a ‘Blog’ in a proper format on "Cycling – A better way to Commute", with the help of the following points. (100-150 words)

• Choice of bike
• Safety equipment
• Road safety rules
• Benefits

Write a ‘Blog’ in a proper format on ‘Safety Measures’, with the help of the following points. (100-150 words)

• Need and Purpose
• Safety equipment and use
• Safety action plan
• Management and Implementation
• Advice/Suggestion/Guidance

Write a ‘Blog’ in a proper format on ‘Positivity in life’, with the help of the following points. (100-150 words).

• Hurdles/Problems in life
• Accepting facts and flaws
• Reorganisation/Restart
• Human instinct/Fight back
• Will to Win.

Write a ‘Blog’ in a proper format on ‘recipe of my favourite dish’, with the help of the following points. (100-150 words)

• Type of dish
• Why you like it
• Steps

Read the extract and complete the activities given below :

    Luxurious houses on the edge of a big city which one promoter sold with the tagline ‘‘Where Nature peeps through every window.’’ All the advantages of a modern lifestyle but with the added bonus of fresh air. But nature isn’t greenery alone; it also includes wild animals.
   While the view from the picture windows was easy on the eye, occasionally, it made them gulp with nervousness. At dusk, wild cats leaped out of the adjoining forest on to the top of the peripheral walls and strolled nonchalantly. Sometimes, they lounged on ledges with their long tails swinging freely, oblivious of the many worried human eyes pinned on them. Their cold yellow aggressive eyes turned black as their pupils dilated with failing light.
   Some Mumbaikars paid a lot of money to see leopards on safari in Africa. But to watch them from one’s own home was disconcerting. These predators were out of line, stepping off nature into the city. Why did the leopards not stay within the 100-square kilometre Sanjay Gandhi National Park? Perhaps, the leopards thought that if people could venture into nature to jog, walk and picnic, why couldn’t they hang around apartment blocks? If people could enjoy nature, couldn’t nature savour humanity’s offerings?
   Capturing leopards is extraordinarily simple. These curious cats seem incapable of resisting a free meal, walking into baited traps without hesitation. The reason the felines are attracted to their residential community is prey : stray dogs that live on rubbish heaps. Taking care of the food source is the best course of action, the volunteers said.

A1. Rewrite the following sentences as per their occurrence in the extract :

1. Instead of capturing leopards we can take care of their food.
2. Leopards leave their habitat and enter the human habitat.
3. Modern lifestyle and nature both attract the dwellers.
4. Leopards can enjoy human surroundings by leaving nature.

A2. Complete the following sentences :

1. Nature is a combination of ______ and ______
2. The best of both the worlds include ______ and ______
3. The wild animals are out of line as ______
4. The wild cats are attracted towards residential areas because ______

A3. Find out the words for leopards used in the extract :

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

A4. ‘‘If people could venture into nature to jog, walk, and picnic, why couldn’t the wild animals hang around apartment blocks?’’ Express your opinion.

A5. Rewrite the following sentences in the ways instructed :

1. Taking care of the food source is the best course of action.
   (Use infinitive form of the underlined word and rewrite.)

2. Nature isn’t greenery alone; it also includes wild animals.
   (Rewrite it by using ‘not only ... but also’.)

A6. Find a word for each of the following expressions from the extract :

1. Enjoy the taste of something
2. Embarrassing and confusing to watch
3. Not conscious or aware of something or someone
4. Relaxed and in an unworried manner