monthly test paper-1

KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN

                   Class: XII         Subject: English                                                                                                                   

             Time: 90 Minutes                                                                                Total Marks: 40

General Instructions:

1)      Read all the questions carefully and answer all the questions.

2)      Section A, B carries 10 marks and C carry 20 marks.

3)      Strictly adhere to the word limit given along each question.

Section-A (Reading)

A.1.Read the following passage and answer questions given below.                  1x5=5

One of the greatest advances in modern technology has been the invention of computers. They are widely used in Industries and in Universities. Now there is hardly any sphere of human life where computers have not been pressed in to service of man. We are heading fast on the close of this present century towards a situation when a computer will be as much part of man’s daily life as a telephone or a calculator.

Computers are capable of doing extremely complicated work in all branches of learning. They can solve the most complex mathematical problems or put thousands of unrelated facts in order. These machines can be put to varied uses. For instance, they can provide information on the best way to prevent traffic, or they can count the number of times the word “and” has been used in the Bible. Because they work accurately and at high speed, they save the research workers hard work. This whole process by which machines can be used to work for us had been called ‘automation’. In the future ‘automation’ may enable human beings for more leisure than they do today. The coming of automation is bound to have important social consequences.

Some years ago an expert on automation, Sir Leon Bagrit, pointed out that it was a mistake to believe that these machines could ‘think’. There no possibility that human beings will be “controlled by machines”. Though computers are capable of learning from their mistakes and improving on their performance, they need detailed instructions from human beings to operate. They can never, as it were, lead independent lives or” rule the world” by making decision of their own.

           Sir Leon said that in future, computers would be developed which would be small enough to carry in the pocket. Ordinary people would then be able to use them to obtain valuable information. Computers could be plugged into a national network and be used like radios. For instance, people going on holiday could be informed about weather conditions. Car drivers can be given alternative routes when there are traffic jams. It will also be possible to make tiny translating machines. This will enable people who do not share a common language to talk to each other without any difficulty or to read foreign publication. It is impossible to assess that importance of a machine of this short, for many international misunderstandings are caused simple through our failure to understand each other. Computers will also be used in ordinary public hospital, by providing a machine with a patient’s systems; a doctor will be able to diagnosis the nature of illness. Similarly machines could be used to keep a check on a patient’s health record and bring it up to date. Doctors will there for have immediate access to a great many facts which will help in their work. Bookkeepers and accountants too could be relieved of dull clerical work, for the tedious task of compiling and checking lists of figures could be done entirely by machines. Computers will also be able to tell the exact the age a man is going to live, with the help of his blood picture. Computers are the most efficient servants man has ever had and there is no limit to the way they can be used to improve our life style and life.

Q.1. What is the greatest advancement in modern technology? [1]

Q.2. Explain Automation? [1]

Q.3. What was the prediction of Sir Leon about the computers in future? [1]

Q.4. Name the areas where computers can be effectively used? [1]

Q.5. Find word in above passage which convey the similar meaning for       [1]

i) Difficult or complex

ii)  Collect or arrange

iii) Another choice

A.2. Read the following passage and answer questions given below.                      1x5=5

            The New Year is the time for resolution. Mentally, at least most of us could compile formidable lists of ‘do’s and ‘don’ts’. The same   old favorites recur year in and year out with the children, do a thousand and one job about the house, be nice to people we don’t like, drive carefully, and take the dog for a walk every day. Past experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment. If we remain deep rooted liars, it is only because we have so often experienced the frustration that results from failure.

         Most of us fail in our efforts at self-improvement because our schemes are too ambitious and we never have time to carry them out. We also make the fundamental error of announcing our resolution to everybody so that we look even more foolish when we slip back into our bad old ways. Aware of these pitfalls, this year I attempted to keep my resolution to myself. I limited myself to two modest ambitions, to do physical exercises every morning and to read more in the evening. An overnight party on New Year’s Eve provided me with a good excuse for not carrying out either of this new resolution on the first day of the year, but on the second, I applied myself assiduously to the task.

 The daily exercise lasted only eleven minutes and I proposed to do them early in the morning before anyone had got up. The self-discipline required to drag myself out of bed eleven minutes earlier than usual was considerable. Nevertheless, I managed to creep down into the living room for two days before anyone found me out. After jumping about in the carpet and twisted the human frame into uncomfortable positions. I sat down at the breakfast table in an exhausted condition. It was this that betrayed me. The next morning the whole family trooped into watch the performance. That was really unsettling but I fended off the taunts and jibes of the family good humoredly and soon everybody got used to the idea. However, my enthusiasm waned, the time I spent at exercises gradually diminished. Little by little the eleven minutes fell to zero. By January 10th I was back to where I had started from. I argued that if I spent less time exhausting myself at exercises in the morning. I would keep my mind fresh for reading when I got home from work. Resisting the hypnotizing effect of television, I sat in my room for a few evenings with my eyes glued to a book. One night, however, feeling cold and lonely, I went downstairs and sat in front of the television pretending to read. That proved to be my undoing, for I soon got back to the old bad habit of dozing off in front of the screen. I still haven’t given up my resolution to do more reading. In fact, I have just bought a book entitled ‘How to Read a Thousand Words a Minute’. Perhaps it will solve my problem, but I just have not had time to read it.

Q.1. Why most of us fail in our efforts for self-improvement? [1]

Q.2. Why is it a basic mistake to announce our resolution to everybody? [1]

Q.3. Why did the writer not carry out his resolution on New Year’s Day [1]

Q.4. Find out the words in the above passage which convey the similar meaning to the following. Write any two. [2]

(1) Overwhelming (2) Drawbacks (3) Decrease

SECTION B-(Text Books)

B.1. Read the extract below and answer questions that follow. [3 x1=3marks]

On sour cream walls, donations. Shakespeare's head,
Cloudless at dawn, civilized dome riding all cities.
Belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley. Open-handed map
Awarding the world its world. And yet, for these
Children, these windows, not this world, are world,
Where all their future's painted with a fog,
A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky,
Far far from rivers, capes, and stars of words.

a)      What do you think is the color of sour cream walls? Why poet used this expression?

b)      What are the two things mentioned in the poem represents civilized world?

c)      How the speaker feels about the donations? Give reason for your answer?

B.2.Answer any three of the following in 30-40 words each.      [2x3=6] 

a)      What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?

b)      What is the theme of the poem “An Elementary School classroom in a Slum”?

c)      How was the order from Berlin going to make a difference to the lives of the students?

d)      Write the character sketch of M. Hamel.

B.3. Answer the following in 125-150 words. Answer any three. [5x3=15]

a)      Justify the title ‘The Last Lesson’.

b)      Draw a pen portrait for Mukesh, Saheb and Savita.

c)      Bring out the literary devices in the poem “An Elementary School classroom in a Slum”.

d)      Mention the hazards of working in a glass bangles factory.

B.4. Explain the following in 30-40 words. [2x3=6]

a)      “Garbage to them is gold”.

b)      “Awarding the world its world”.

c)      “Their future’s painted with a fog”.