SOLVED QUESTION PAPER OF MODEL EXAM 2016 FEBRUARY FOR PLUS TWO (ENGLISH)

HIGHER SECONDARY MODEL EXAMINATION -2016

HSEII                                     PART 1 ENGLISH

(Qns 1-4) Read the passage and answer the following questions.

“The third ‘L” is leadership that enables women to rise and fulfil their innate abilities and talents.Here there is plenty of room for improvement. The irony is that when women lead they tend to be as good a job as others, if not a better job.”

1. Who is the speaker

A) The speaker here is Christian Lagarde.

2. What are the two other “Ls” that the speaker mentions?

A) The two other “Ls” are learning and labour.

3. What according to the speaker are the merits of the decisions by women?

A) According to the speaker, the decisions made by women will be based on consensus-building, inclusion, compassion and with an aim of long term sustainability. They try to consider everyone equally and includes everyone around them.

4. What does the word ‘innate’ mean?

a) acquired b) practical c) inborn d) very valuable

A) inborn

5. Imagine that you are selected as the best NSS Activist by the NSS cell of Higher Secondary Education. You would be honoured by the Education Minister in the presence of the director, Higher Secondary Education and other dignitaries. You are supposed to deliver a speech that you would deliver.

A) Honourable Chief guests on the dias, Respected teachers and my dear friends, A warm good morning to one and all….

Today I am very much honoured by standing here to receive the prize for the best NSS activist. As I stand here my memories go back to the past. I recall the day when I expressed my views about conserving nature and save mother Earth to my loving parents by joining in the NSS organization. I am very much thankful to God and my loving parents for the kind of support rendered on me.

As a NSS Activist, my priority was to conserve and save nature by retaining its beauty for the upcoming generation. We should always think of our fore-fathers who sacrificed their valuable time for the conservation of nature. NSS has helped me a lot to conserve the rich natural heritage.

I take this auspices occasion as a time to inspire others. Let it be an inspiration to many to come for the protection of nature. I believe in the power of youth to do great wonder. I wish all the youngsters to devote their valuable time to bring the best in conserving our motherland and ourselves.

“Let’s not nip the buds, let it bossom”. Let’s stand together, join our hands to bring out the best and protect environment.

6. Insert suitable prepositions in the following blanks.

Last Saturday our parents had a big surprise ……… my sister and I . Excitedly, we packed our lunches and hopped ……. the car. Father drove the car …….. the freeway and finally we arrived ……..the Thrills and Chills Amusement Park.

A) for, into, along, at

7. Your class in enacting the play “The Hour of Truth” on your School annual day. Prepare a script for announcing the programme, introducing the play to the audience.

A)  Ladies and Gentlemen, a warm good afternoon to one and all of you…..

Now the time has arrived of the much awaited, heart touching famous play by the blessed writer Percival Wilde”. It is none other than the play “The Hour of Truth”. This wonderful play tells about the corruptive influence of money on people. Here we can see the protagonist trying to keep his truthful ways throughout his life. This is an ever green entertainer. It gives the message that the truth will be prevailing in the end. It is interesting to note the fact how God rewards honesty. “The Hour of Truth” is directed by our English teacher and background music by the “Drums” our own School band team. The curtain will be rising after the next bell. Watch and enjoy.

8. “He doesn’t have the courage to put out that fire by slapping it between his hands, so he tries to pour water on it. With great difficulty, he attempts to speak normally. you loose all common sense when you get angry, don’t you? A woman of such anger! Oof!”. (Matchbox)

Imagine that Ajit Nomita’s husband gets a chance to talk to Ratna, the colleague of Sudha Murty. How would he present his issues with his wife?

A) Hi Ratna, I am Ajit. I have heard a lot about you. It’s my pleasure to talk to you. I really appreciate all your efforts to make others happy by listening to them. I have come now to open my heart to you. Hope you would kindly listen to me. I am living with my wife Nomita in a mansion with twenty three other people. My wife Nomita comes from a poor family. I am really depressed after my marriage. I often have unpleasant experience. It always tortures my mind. I cannot sleep well. We often quarrel with each other. Her mother always writes letter to her asking money. I really hate her mother. So I don’t show the letters of her mother. That is the reason of our quarrel we had yesterday. How raging she was!! She called me ‘liar’ and ‘Vulgar man’. She questions me strongly about my misbehavior. Yesterday she found one such letter in my shirt pocket. Though I defended her saying that I had forgotten, she was burning with anger. She wanted to know why I had opened and read her letter. I made the excuse that I am her husband and I have the right to open her letter to find any case of  lovers. After this she became uncontrolled and burned the anchol of her own sari using matchbox. I was really upset and frightened. I put out the fire but I could not stop her anger. I don’t know what to do?She look at me as I have killed her someone. I can’t change my habit so suddenly. I am indeed very careless about her happiness. I am not able to behave well with my wife. Yes, it may be her dignity that I have killed. Further I wish to be good to her. Please guide me….

9. You have read about the activities of the SammaaN foundation in the lesson “A Three Wheeled Revolution”. Prepare a blog on the activities of the SammaaN Foundation.

A)        SAMMAAN A GIFT TO RICKSHAW PULLERS

DATE AND NAME

How inspiring is the story of “SammaaN Foundation” by Irfaan Alam. The poor rickshaw pullers in India are saved..SammaaN Foundation really works for the empowerment of poor rickshaw pullers. Irfaan Alam tries to empower the poor rickshaw pullers who live at the bottom of Indian hierarchy. SammaaN foundation ensures the dignity of the poor rickshaw pullers.

It made many innovations such as advertising, music, first aid, water supply, mobile recharge coupons..  etc in the rickshaws to increase the income of the rickshaw pullers. SammaaN also helped the rickshaw pullers to drive the rckshaws of their own. It is a good example in entrepreneurship. It really makes the difference in their outlook and way of life. It helps them to give better education opportunities for their children. It enables their family to work for the betterment of the society. SammaaN by Irfaan Alam is a inspiration to all to pursue their dreams. Really a grand salute to SammaaN….

10. Choose the right phrasal verbs to fill in the blanks.

A TV actor will (a) …….(Put up/put on/ put in) a doctor’s white jacket and talk about cough medicine. In a magazine ad, a woman in a business suit will help you (b) ……….(pick up/pick out/ pick off) the best investment firm.

A) a) put on  b) to pick up

11. Look at the following cottage. Write a short paragraph describing the hazards it presents.

A) This collage gives us a clear picture of the environmental disasters and the increasing hazards. It helps us to think about our attitude to nature. Today people are trying to live in new generation making changes in their style of life. As a result people witness for earthquakes, droughts, deforestation etc. Men are very busy to make development without caring nature. The above collage makes us think about our selfish nature. Flats and large buildings make the environment a difficult place to live. It really upsets the balance of nature. Nature loses its natural beauty and thereby our earth becomes a dangerous place to live. The recent floods occurred in Chennai are the result of men’s selfish nature. The buildings and the new development degrade the capacity of the soil. The harmful gases and smokes make the environment a hell. People become to be rich by any means. They are ready to make any investment in the name of development. Thus this collage really makes us think about our wrong attitude to nature and to work for the better environment.

12. “Humour is what adds to the spice of life. It reduces the tedium of a tension-ridden existence and makes life healthier. If a sense of humour is developed as a perspective of life, even unpleasant experiences will become less problematic, thereby enhancing physical and emotional well-being. (The Lighter Side)

Write an essay on “Laughter is the best medicine”. (Hints: laughter is contagious-reduces stress response-boosts immunity-combats depression-relieves pain)

LAUGH AND LIVE MORE!!!

Laughter is the best medicine for all diseases. If we have happiness, we can approach all challenges of life in a pleasant way. It adds spice and taste to life. There should be no day in our life without smile.

One sincere smile can make many changes. It can convey many messages. Our smiling face sometimes will act as a boost for others. It will encourage them to do their duties with energy. Here we can see the contagious power of laughter. By smiling we can make new friendships. When we approach one with a good smile, it certainly creates smile on their face too.

Laughter reduces the tension and stress of our life. When we laugh we forget all our problems and it makes our life joyful. Even in an unpleasant condition laughter acts a s a medicine. It helps one to face the challenges of life very easily. If a sense of humour is developed as a perspective of life, we can prevent unnecessary quarrel.

Laughter also boosts our immunity power. By laughing our pleasure centres get activated. It will give us immense happiness and energy. It gives us mental health as well as physical health. If our minds are happy we can treat all diseases in a calm way. Thus laughter boosts immunity and keeps our emotional well-being. That’s why we say laughter expands our life span.

Laughter also helps us to escape from depression. Life is like a coin. It has two sides. Happiness as well as sorrow. It is only when we have humour sense we can treat everything in a balanced manner. It ensures a positive attitude to our life. Smile helps one to get relief from their painful situations of life and to pick up the burden with refreshment.

Let me conclude my essay saying that laughter can make a large difference in our life. It can change our perspective and thus helps to embrace everything that comes to our life. So let’s all laugh and be merry always

13. “R.H Wood plays are well known for simplicity of language, dramatic settings and subtle presentation of stock characters.” Is this statement true with regard to the play “Post Early for Christmas”? Write an essay.

A) ‘Post Early for Christmas’ is a humorous and entertaining play written by R.H Wood. It is very much appreciable in its characterization and humour. The incidents in a post office creates a big bang of laughter in the audience and readers. It is because of the simplicity and presentation of the characters in an appealing manner.

The whole incidents appear to be very common. It is very much related to common life situations. All the dialogues and behaviour of the characters are really funny and interesting. The assistant is the only one who seems to be normal there. Every other character has their own speciality . This evokes smile and laughter in us. The play appears to be very realistic and almost all the characters use simple ordinary language. Each of their words reflect their behaviour.

Much of the funny moments in the play are created by the gentleman and the old fat lady. They make the readers laugh with their comic dialogues. But farmer appears to be a different one. He involves in everything around him and misleads every one. Thus he makes controversies in the play. He frightens everybody in the post office by mentioning of a time tomb. The tourister also creates laughter with his dialogues. He appears to be a strange man from a foreign country. But in fact he was an innocent man without any wrong. The presentation of the characters in the play has helped to treat a normal event very seriously. The final scene clearly shows us the pathetic condition of the postal assistant who suffers too much from the customers. She even makes a comment that animals are more sensible than humans.

The dramatic settings also adds flavor to the play. All characters act in a realistic manner as to make the audience enjoy the play well. Even the board kept in the post office ‘Post Early for Christmas’ itself serves as a message of the play. It helps us to do everything earlier to avoid any delay and disappointment in life. The mistaken parcel as a time bomb and the related events are presented in a wonderful manner. As a whole everything in the play gives us a visual treat. Therefore it is justifiable to comment that R.H Wood plays are well known for simplicity of language, dramatic settings and subtle presentation of stock characters.

14. Your friend is preparing for the Kerala Entrance Examination. What practical suggestions would you make to him to prepare better for it? Write Two suggestions.

(Use expressions like “I think you should……”, “If I were you I would……….’ ‘You could………’,  “I would like to suggest ………….”  Etc.)

A) I think you should practice the previous years’ question papers.

You could make a timetable for each subject. I would like to suggest you to follow the NCERT syllabus. If I were you I would refer to many books for scoring high in the exam.

15. A panel discussion is conducted in your School on the topic ‘Corruption in Democracy.’ Given below is an excerpt from the presentation made by a panelist during the panel discussion.

“Corruption is a global threat to development and democratic rule. It diverts public resources to private interests, leaving fewer resources to build schools, hospitals, roads and other public facilities. When development money is diverted to private bank accounts, major infrastructure projects and badly needed human services come to a halt. Corruption also hinders democratic governance by destroying the rule of law, the integrity of institutions, and public trust in leaders.”

Now prepare a brief script for panel discussion by the next panelist highlighting how corruption can be minimized.

A) Good Morning to everyone…… I totally agree with the views of A. Corruption has become a great threat to a democratic country. But we cannot fully overthrow corruption from our society because of the modern world. But we can minimize corruption if strict rules and regulations are laid down. Public resources should be given prime importance than the private interests. Most of the corruption in education sector can be removed by encouraging public schools and colleges. Strict rules should be enforced on private finance companies. Private hospitals should be discouraged and public hospitals should be encouraged. Similarly private firms should be discouraged. It is not possible to measure corruption, but it is possible to measure the perceptions of corruption. Often it is the State that inevitable creates a fertile ground for corruption.The growth of International trade and business has also created a suitable environment for corruption. Among the economic changes in recent times, privatization is the one that has been closely linked with corruption. It is good to note the definition of corruption, ‘It is the abuse of public power for private benefit.’ This is the definition used by the World Bank. From this definition it should not be concluded that corruption cannot exist within private sector activities. It exists in the private activities regulated by the government. Corruption reduces public revenue and increases public spending. It increases income inequality. It is generally believed that increasing the penalties for acts of corruption would reduce a country’s corruption. Corruption cannot be reduced without modifying the way governments operate. The fight against corruption is intimately linked with the reform of the state.To reduce corruption my humble suggestions are 1. Honesty and visible commitment by the leadership to fight against corruption. The leadership must show zero tolerance for it. Reduce the supply of corruption by Increasing  public sector wages, imposing strict penalties and instituting effective controls.

(Qns.16-18) Read the following lines from the poem Rice and answer the questions.

My father says, with obvious pride: ‘Son, we’ve stopped working on all the rice.

It was quite inconvenient. The farmer gained nothing- only fools turn to rice-farming for gain.

This is better money-what good times! The government gives rice to those who don’t have paddyfields.’

16. What was the poet’s father doing when he arrived?

A) The poet’s father was watching people setting up a machine for making rubber sheets.

17. ‘Only fools turn to rice-farming for gain’. Why did the father say so?

A) The father says so because nobody promotes the farming of rice. Rice farming was considered as inconvenient. Besides the farmers gained nothing. Rubber brought better money for them. Above all the government gives rice to those who have no paddy fields.

18. Bring out the satirical element in the above lines.

A) Chemmanam Chacko is a master satirist. When there is shortage of rice, people rush towards cash crops like rubber. For this they get support from government. It is really satirical when father says with pride to his son that they have stopped working on rice. The excuse ‘Only fools turn to rice-farming for gain’ also makes the readers laugh at the terrible condition. The dependence of the state to the centre for getting more rice again is a sharp criticism. It is again satirical when we read the line the government gives rice to those who don’t have any paddyfields. It is a pity that the people are ruled more by their greed and consumerism.

19. Read the following advertisement.

You wish to apply for a post. Prepare an application letter and a resume for the purpose.   

FROM

NAME

ADDRESS

PLACE

                                               

TO

THE MANAGER

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BIOMEDICAL GENOMICS

NETAJI SUBASH SANATORIUM

P O NSS

KALYANI

INDIA

Respected sir,

Sub: Job application letter

                        With reference to your advertisement found in the Hindu Daily, dated 24^th February, I would like to apply for the post of technical assistant in your firm.

I have passed my degree with 90 % marks in every higher levels. I am very much eligible in handling English, Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil languages. I have experience as lab technician in Rajamukhi hospital Chennai.

I assure you that if I were selected, I would work very sincerely for the betterment of your firm. Besides, I will be very obedient to obey the rules and regulations of your firm.

I enclose herewith my resume for your kind notification.

                                                RESUME

NITHYA MENON

123 MAIN STREET KARTHIK NAGAR, NILAYATHINKAL HOUSE KOLLAM 685457  CELL NO 8585854747

nithyamenon@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY:  A technical assistant with government and academic experience conducting mechanical research, writing research papers for publication for successful fund raising. Driven by an unquenchable thirst for working as a mechanical assistant

CORE QUALIFICATIONS:

·         Complex problem solving

·         Advanced mechanical and creative skills

·         Teamwork

·         Mechanical related  knowledge

·         Strong physics background

·         Development of  successful projects.

Experience

·         January 2012 to August 2014  Two years’ experience as Lab Technician In Rajamukhi Hospital in Chennai

·           large data sets collected through observation and experiment.

·           Prepared reports on research findings.

·          Through applied research with keen interest assisted in accurate observations and data collection.

·          Worked on research project funded by grants.

·          Wrote grant proposals.

·         Traveled to remote locations and often worked at night for better observation conditions.

·         Assisted in the development of computer software to analyze data.

·         Authored scientific papers for journals

·          Designed telescopes, lasers and other scientific equipment.

·         Conducted applied research related to GPS technology.

EDUCATION:

·         2007-2010  Graduate degree in Physics from Kerala University Campus

·         2011-2013 Post Graduation from Maharajas College Ernakulam

SKILLS:

·         Interested in Music,

·         Plays Guitar and knows swimming

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Member of the Charitable organization Pratheeksha

LANGUAGE SKILL:

English, Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil

20. Elaborate the ideas in the following lines.

      I am the twist that holds together

     The children in its sacred ring.

     Their knot of love, from whose close tether

     No lost child goes a-wandering.

A) These are the lines taken from the poem “Any Woman” by Katherine Tynan. This poem presents the sentiments and emotions of women.  She binds her children with strings of love. Children feel very safe in the warmth of her love. She is ready to do anything for the children. Thus women stand as real supporters for their family. She thinks that without a mother,  good children cannot be shaped. It is the woman who protects her children from all adversities. She even prays to God and the society not to take away her till her children grow up.

21. There are a few mistakes in the following passage. Identify them and write the correct form as shown in the example.

                                                                                                            Incorrect        correct

Educationists today is overwhelmingly                                  is                      are

concern about the future of the youngsters.                           concern            concerned

The common complaint is that the students doesn’t              doesn’t            don’t

Study; they are not interested. Some blame

Exposure to the media, others feels that the                           feels                 feel

present generation is not series enough                                   series               serious

(Qns 22-23) Each sentence given below contains an idiom/phrase. From the given alternatives, choose the one that best expresses the meaning of this idiom/phrase.

22. Are you having second thoughts about getting a pet?

a) deep thoughts b) doubts c) clear ideas d) none of these

A) doubts

23. David is the type of friend who stays with you through thick and thin.

a)  good times and bad times b) in happy moments c) criticizing d) none of these

A) good times and bad times

24. Read the following poem and compare it with “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost.

                                                Good Neighbours

To my shame I’ve been mending fences again,

a quaint habit I inherited from my father;

he would rather fix a fence than parley

repair and that it is where our views diverged.

He said fences were meant to make good

Neighbours. In the intervening years I had it

wrong, believing a fence was a line of defence.

along a disputed border. In my father’s sense

It was the commencement of a wider duty,

a line where trust and respect must meet

And mesh, where neighbours are defines.

Today he watched me fix the fence-naturally

It made eminent sense to him as my cattle had

raided his space. When I said it was his fence too,

That the problem was shared he agreed, and thanked me for making repairs. I would that he could have read my face.

(parley- to discuss with others to solve a disagreement; intervening- coming between two events; mesh- to fit together or match closely)

A) As it is said, ‘”Little deeds of kindness, little words of love can make the earth Eden like the Heaven above”, the poem “Good Neighbours”also conveys a similar idea. It is a poem which bears so much similarity with the poem “Mending Wall” written by Robert Frost.

In the poem, “good Neighbours”, a similar pattern of idea is observed. The poet feels shame for building walls but could not stop since it has become a habit which he inherited from his father. This is the point where both are keeping different views.

“Mending Wall” by Robert Frost is a narrative about two neighbours who meet every spring to repair the stone wall. The central theme of the poem “Mending Wall” is whether it is wise to erect walls among human beings. It highlights the idea that ‘good fences make good neighbours.’ The poem “Good Neighbours” is also such a poem which underlines the importance of fences to make good neighbours. It emphasizes the fact that fence is a line where trust and respect meet.

In the poem “Mending Wall”, the poet tells that there is something in nature that doesn’t like a wall. He attributes the cause of damaged wall to nature. Every spring the poet notices this and calls his neighbour to repair it. They mend the wall together. Thus it was really the strong bond of relationship between the poet and his neighbour. The mending of the wall really brought so much positive elements such as love and concern. We can also see the contrasting outlook of the poet and his neighbour. The poet had a wrong notion about the walls at that time. He thought wall is a kind of separation between them. But the poet’s neighbour believed that good fences make good neighbours. Thus we can see a neighbour who is sticking to his father’s advice.

In the poem, “Good Nighbours” too we can see the similar idea. The poet says that he got the habit of making fences from his father. The poet in this poem was also against making of the walls. According to him it was a line of defence. But his father had taught him that fences were meant to make good neighbours. We get much evidence of this from this poem. When the poet’s cattle ran to his neighbour’s ground, the fence was broken. Then the poet repaired it. The neigihour who saw this thanked the poet for his good deed.

Thus both the poems highlight the importance of making walls for maintaining good relationship. In “Mending Wall”, the poet Robert Frost makes use of many good images of apple trees, frozen ground, hunters with dogs, etc. He employs the figure of speech simile when he compares his neighbour as an old- stone age man. He also makes use of personification when he orders stones to stand still. We can also see number of funny facts such as ‘My apple trees will never get across and eat the cones under his pines”. The language used by the poet is very simple and attractive.

In the poem, “Good Neighbours”, alliteration is effectively used in the line, ‘fix a fence’. The poet also makes us of metaphor when he says that ‘fence was a line where trust and respect must meet’

As a whole both these poems convey the same message and begin in delight and ends in wisdom. The major difference between the poem, “Mending Wall” and “Good Neighbours” is the role played by nature. In “Mending Wall’, we can see the nature, disliking the wall. But in the poem, “Good Neighbours”, we cannot see any role of nature. The presence of supernatural force is also absent in the poem, “Good Neighbours”. In both the poems we can see different perspectives of making a wall. Both the poems share contrasting attitudes of different people. We can see different angles and perspectives of making a wall. It sometimes upsets the mindsets of the people. The ideas are conveyed in a clear and creative manner. Thus both these poems are highly relevant in the contemporary society where people create boundaries on the basis of races and nation and individual and society. It really sets up the mind of the readers to show tolerance and adjustment.

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