Specimen Paper English II for Immediate Preparation for Board Examination

LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

                                                              ENGLISH Paper            

                                                                      (Two hours)

Answers to this paper must be written on the paper provided separately. You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes.

This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.

The time given at the head of the paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.

Attempt five questions in all.

You must attempt one question from each of the Sections A, B and C and any two other questions.

The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ]

SECTION A-DRAMA

The Merchant of Venice: Shakespeare

Question 1.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Nerissa: Quick, quick, I pray thee; draw the curtain straight:

The Prince of Arragon hath ta’en his oath,

And comes to his election presently.

1.                  Which casket did Prince Arragon choose? What did he find inside? What did he expect to find inside the casket which he chose?  (3)

2.                  Name the suitor who chose the gold casket. Why did he choose gold casket?  (3)

3.                  How did Portia respond when Arragon failed to choose the right casket?

4.                  After the exit of Prince Arragon who comes to the scene? What message does he bring?

5.                  What was written on the scroll which Arrangon found inside the casket? (5)

Question II

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Antonio: I once did lend my body for his wealth;

Which, but for him that had your husband’s ring,

Had quite miscarried: I dare be bound again,

My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord

Will never more break faith advisedly.

1.                  Who is he speaking to?  Whom did he lend his money? What promise did his break? (3)

2.                  Whom did Bassanio give the ring? Why? What promise did he make to Portia on receiving the ring? (3)

3.                  Who calls the ring ‘ a hoop of gold’? What does it mean? What was written on the ring? (3)

4.                  The play ends with a reference to a ring. Who makes the reference? What does he say? (3)

5.                  What is the content of the letter that Portia gives at the end of the play? Who wrote the letter? What good news she shares with Antonio? (4)

SECTION B-POETRY

A Collection of Poems

Question III

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way

Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit

1.                  What do you understand by ‘clear stream of reason”? What

is reason? (3)

2.                  What is the “dead habit” according to the poet? What should happen to dead habits? Why or why not? (3)

3.                  How does dead habits obstruct the realization of freedom? (3)

4.                  Who is ‘thee’? What significance does ‘thee’ has in the works of the poet? (3)

5.                  What is personification? Give an example from the poem. Explain it. (4)

Question 4

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Tell me not in mournful numbers

Life is but an empty dream!

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

1.                   What does the poet wish to signify by the term “mournful numbers”? Explain the third line of the extract. Give an example for metaphor from the extract. (3)

2.                   Explain : “Life is real! Life is earnest!” (3)

3.                   What does “dust” refer to? To which belief does the poet refer here? (3)

4.                   What is compared to the sound of muffled drums? And why? What is the destination of “our hearts”?

5.                   To what does the poet compare the world? Why is such a comparison made? Explain “bivouac of life.” (4)

SECTION C-PROSE

A Collection of Short Stories

Question 5

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Several years passed. It was Autumn again. Mini’s wedding match had been fixed. She was to get married during the puja holidays.

1.Who is the Kabuliwala? What is his relationship with the narrator? (3)

2. What was the fear Mini had in his first meeting with the Kabuliwala? What did the narrator do to remove the fear from Mini?  (3)

3. How did Mini’s mother respond to her relationship with the Kabuliwala? What kind of a person was Mini’s mother? (3)

4. What did the Kabuliwala expect when he came to meet Mini on her wedding day? How did Mini respond? (3)

5. What is memorabilia? Describe the memorabilia the Kabuliwal had in his pocket. (4)

Question 6

How Alagu Chowdhari and Jumman Sheikh conduct themselves once they were chosen as the head panch? (16)