COMPULSORY
ENGLISH
Grade:
XII
Time
:3 hrs.
F.M.:
75
Candidates are required to give answers in their own words as far as
practicable. The figure in the margin indicates full marks.
Attempt ALL the questions:
1. Read the
following passage and do the activities that follow.
The Zebras’ long
walk across Africa
James Gifford
investigates some interesting new research into migration patterns of zebras
living in Botswana in southern Africa.
A
For
any animal to travel over 270 km in Botswana partly across the sand and low
bush terrain of the Kalahari Desert is a remarkable achievement. But to do so
in 11 days and without any obvious motivation, as this zebra population does,
is quite extraordinary. On average their journey involves an exhausting
round-trip of 588 km – between the Makgadikgadi salt pan area and the Okavango
river – making it second only to the great trek undertaken by the zebra herds
in the Serengeti National Park. However, what is even more incredible still in
my view is that until recently it was completely unheard of.
B
Hattie
Bartlam, a researcher, discovered this migration while she was tracking zebra
groups, officially known as harems, by the Okavango River for her PhD, Each
harem consists of a stallion and his seven or eight mares with juvenile foals.
There is no loyalty between zebras beyond this social group, though harems
often gather together into so-called herds. For her study, Hattie had planned
to compare the small-scale movement patterns of 11 different zebra herds in the
area.
C
In
December, when the annual rains had transformed the roads into rivers, Hattie
was, therefore, more than a little surprised when she checked the data sent by
the radio collars she fits to the zebras she is tracking to find that six of
the harems were 270 km away on the edge of the Makgadikgadi, a huge
mineral-rich area where salt has collected over the years as water evaporates
in the heat. Then, when the last of the moisture from the rains had disappeared
in May the following year, five of those harems came wearily back to the
Okavango. This raised the question: why, despite a plentiful supply of food and
water, were the zebras being drawn eastwards to the salt pans? Even more
difficult to understand was what made six of the groups travel so far, while
the other five remained by the Okavango.
D
This
discovery created quite a buzz in the research community. I decided to visit
Hattie and she explained that a century ago the large number of Botswana’s
zebra and wildebeest herds and the resulting competition for grass made
migration essential. One of the migration tracks went from the Okavango to
Makgadikgadi. But in the late 1960s, giant fences were put up to stop foot and
mouth and other diseases spreading between wildlife and domestic cattle. One of
these went across the migration track. Though the animals could get round the
obstacle, each leg of their journey would now be 200 km longer – an impossible
distance given the lack of permanent water on the extended route. Even today,
with the fence gone (it was taken down in 2004), there is dangerously little
drinking water to support the zebras on the return journey to the Okavango.
E
As
a zebra can live up to 20 years, the migration must have skipped at least one
generation during the 40 or so years that the fences were up. This prompts
another question: it has always been assumed that the young of social
herbivores like zebras learn migratory behaviour from their parents, so how did
the latest generation learn when and where to go? Not from their parents, who
were prevented from migrating. Did they follow another species, such as
elephants? We may never know.
F
Hattie’s
data points to the conclusion that there are several zebra populations adopting
different behaviour. The first, like the vast majority of the Okavango zebras,
take it easy, spending the entire year by the river. The second group,
15,000-20,000 strong, work a bit harder. They divide their time between the
Makgadikgadi salt pans and the Boteti River, which is reasonably nearby. They
sometimes struggle to find water in the Boteti area during the dry season,
often moving 30 km in search of fresh grazing. Their reward: the juicy grass
around the Makgadikgadi after the rains. The final group of zebras, whose
numbers are more modest (though as yet unknown), must surely be considered as
among the animal kingdom’s most remarkable athletes. By moving between the
Okavango and the salt pans, they enjoy the best of both worlds. But the price they
pay is an extraordinary journey across Botswana.
G
Endangered
species naturally tend to grab the headlines, so it’s refreshing for a
relatively abundant animal like the zebra to be the centre of attention for
once. Zebras are a vital part of the food chain: understanding their migration,
in turn, helps us to interpret the movements of their predators, and Hattie’s
research has shed light on the impact of fences on migratory animals. So what
triggered her interest in zebras? She explains that it is easier to get funding
to study exciting animals like lions. Crucial as that undoubtedly is, she
believes that herbivores like zebras are key to understanding any ecosystem.
The scientific community is fortunate that people like Hattie are willing to
take the hard option.
A. Fill in the
blanks with appropriate words from the passage. [5X1-5]
a. Zebras tend
to live together in small units, which experts call harems
b. A male zebra
has charge of a number of adult mares and their young.
c. Those units
of zebra sometimes assemble in bigger groupings or herds
d. It is still
clear that the zebra's loyalty only extends to the small unit
they live in.
e. According to
Hattie study of zebra is also important for understanding any ecosystem.
B. Choose only
one suitable heading from column (B) for the each paragraph of the passage
given in the
column (A): [5x1-5]
Column (A) Column (B)
(Paragraphs) (Heading)
a) A nearly
a record in the zebra world.
b) C some
confusing information.
c) D An
obstruction on the traditional route...
d) F three
different ways of living..
e) G Why
it is important to study zebras.
C. Answer the
following questions. [5x1=5]
i) What was
Hattie's plan to study about zebra?
Hattie's plan was to study about zebra
migration.
ii) How did
Hattie feel when she heard some of the zebras had travelled so far?
Hattie felt surprised when she heard
some of the zebras had travelled so far.
iii) What does
the writer indicate when describing the different Botswana zebra populations?
The writer indicates their obvious
motivation is quite extraordinary when describing the different Botswana zebra
populations.
iv) Why do
zebras migrate?
zebras migrate to enjoy the best of both
worlds.
v) What does the
writer suggest in the final paragraph?
The writer suggests that zebras are
vital part of the food chain, and understanding any ecosystem in the final
paragraph.
2. Write short
answers to the following questions. [5x2=10]
a. How did the
neighbours respond to the woman's pregnancy? (Neighbours)
The neighbours respond to the woman's
pregnancy by being happy when they knew that the woman is pregnant. The
neighbours used to helps pregnant woman. The neighbours helps pregnant woman in
the beginning period of her pregnancy. The neighbours used to her in different
situation. Sometimes, the neighbour used to vegetables, for their survival,
woods for their woman. Like this, the neighbours took care and respond to the
pregnancy.
b. How was
Gouvernail different from Mrs. Baroda's expectation? (A Respectable Woman)
Gouvernail was different from Mrs.
Baroda's expectation. She expected him to be friendly, a bit talkative and
interesting guy and sort of attractive. When her husband told her about
Gauvernail, she had made a different perspective about him in her mind. But
when he arrived he was totally different. He was tall and skinny. He was not so
friendly neither was he talkative. And also he was not that attractive and
interesting.
c. What does the
line "The news like squirrels ran' mean? (A Day)
The line "The news like squirrels ran'
means published newspapers which reached everyone's house by the hawkers early
in the morning. Squirrels are faster running creatures. The light of the sun
spreads rapidly too. So, the line indicates that the news of sunrise was faster
like the speed of quirrels.
d. What does the
speaker pray for in the poem? Why? (Every Morning I Wake)
The speaker prays for every person and
for long lives in the poem because the god is the only creature of everyone.
The speaker prays for the grace and blessings to the people with the god
because only god helps the poor creatures.
e. Why did the
writer dislike school? (On Libraries)
The writer disliked school because there
he had to listen to the teachers passively and follows them. He could not read
there as his will. He loved to read in libraries because he could choose any
book as he liked.
3. Write long
answers to the following questions. [2x5-10]
a. How does the
poet highlight the magnificence of the God in the poem Every Morning I
Wake"?
Every Morning I wake' is a poem written
by Dylan Thomas in 1914. He is an English novelist. In this poem he highlights
the magnificence of god.
In the poem, the
poet has pray for god for the long lives of every person. He prays for the
morning sun and sunset too. As a morning sun indicates about a beginning life
and sunset indicates the end of life. The poet highlights the magnificence of
the God in the poem. The poet prays for the people in the poem. He assembles
the live of people. He likes the evening when the sun sets, and enjoy the
moment. God has power to magnificence the world. God makes the sun starts a day
and Sunsets end the day. After all, it is universal which is made naturally.
The god has much magnificence to control the world.
The poet
highlights the magnificence of God via the speaker's daily prayers in the
morning and at night. God knows the entire essence of the creature; therefore
it is god's blessings that see us through another day.
b. A Nepali
proverb says "Neighbours are companions for wedding procession as well as
for funeral procession." Does this proverb apply in the story
'Neighbours"? Justify.
"Neighbours are companions for
wedding procession as well as for funeral procession." Neighbours are
people who live nearby us. The above proverb is those really very true. Even it
is any wedding or funeral neighbours are the one who arrives first. Not all our
relatives live nearby us. So, they can't just arrive on time every time we need
them. But neighbours are there even if it is a small thing or big.
The proverb also
applies in the story Neighbours. The young couple never asked for the help but
they always helped. They helped them in different ways even when the young
couple never understood that they were helping. When they were trying to build
something and they failed even after trying so much their neighbours helped
them. During the time when they were trying to do farming in the house garden
their neighbours helped them. The young couples never liked their neighbours
even then the neighbours helped so much during the time of woman's pregnancy.
So, really the
neighbours had helped them a lot. They helped the young couples without even
expecting anything from them.
4. Study the bar
graph given below and write an interpretation of it in about 150 words. [7]
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Enrollment of
students in Different Steams at a college
In the given bar
graph, it indicates that in 2016 AD, humanities consists of many students about
600 at this college. In same year, there are few (about 120) students join
science stream, about 230 students Join management in same year.
In 2017 AD,
Science steams consists the highest. There are altogether 420 students in
science, 340 students in humanities, and 200 in management. In 2018 AD, science
has more students (350), Management has 310 students, and humanities has 305
students. In 2019 AD, humanities and science have same number of students (200)
and management has a about 600 students. In 2020 AD, Science has altogether 500
students. Management has more student than humanities.
In 2016 AD,
humanities has higher students, science in 2020 and Management in 2019. The
number of students in science and management is increasing but in humanities it
is decreasing.
5. What changes
have started to occur in Nepali families in recent days? What impacts will they
bring on the society? Write an essay on it. [8]
Nepal is a developing country. Nepal is
still behind than other country in terms of development. Nepal was a
patriarchal country where women's were not allowed to work and read. Only men
were allowed to go out and work.
Previously,
there were a lot of problems in Nepal such as Chaupadi Pratha. In this ritual,
girls during their menstruation period were kept in shed (the place where cows
live) just because people thought they were untouchable during those days, Dowry
system' was very popular previously. The father of bride anyhow had to fulfill
the demands of the groom's family otherwise the bride was tortured a lot. The girls
were not allowed to study and go out to work.
Nowadays, Nepali
families thought have changed. It has improved a lot than previous times. Now,
when the girls are having their period they are told to take rest inside the room
as it is a good thing to have periods. Now, girls proudly go to school and work
outside. There is no discrimination between boys and girls. Girls are not
forced to get married in childhood by their parents. It is a good change indeed,
such changes helps in country's development as well. Nowadays, girls and boys
work together and are progressing really well also. If such changes are taken
more seriously, it would be beneficial for the society as well. But still there
are some villages which need to change their thought and it will happen sooner
or later.
6. Write a
review of a movie you have watched recently. [10]
Baghban
This is an old
movie but I watched it some days ago. Actually, I have watched this movie a lot
of times. This movie is really very good. The story is extraordinary.
In this movie,
Amitabh Bachchan is a highly honest job holder and his wife is a housewife.
They love each other a lot. One fine day, it was time for his retirement. He
decided to call all of his four sons to him as it was the time of Holi. He
wanted now that it's time for their children to take care of them. They
celebrated Holi really nicely with all fun singing and dancing. The Holi festivals
ends and he decides to discuss his thought with his four sons. And when they
asked them to take care of them now as it's their time to relax now. The sons
said we can't take both of you together as we have a lot of responsibilities
within our family. They kept a condition in front of their parents saying that
each son will keep them in their house for 6 months but they need to be
separated. Amitabh Bachchan doesn't want this to happen as he wanted to give
his time to his wife now but because of his wife he had to agree with them. They
got separated and went to their sons' house separately. They used to write
letters to each others. Their sons and daughter in law were very rude to them.
They treated them very badly. During the time of this separation he wrote a
book and named it Baghban. The book got published and got very famous. During
the time of getting award all his sons were present in the function including
Salman Khan. He was not their son by blood but they were the one who gave him
education and a better lifestyle.
When he had to give
his speech he told everything and when it was time to introduce his son he
called Salman Khan despite of having four sons. At last, where the sons
regretted and asked for forgiveness they didn't forgive them.
This is a
beautiful movie which makes us realize the importance of our parents. The movie
inspires us that we should always love and take care of our parents in their
old age.
7. Do as
indicated or choose appropriate option from the bracket and rewrite the
sentences. [10×1=10]
a. Respect the
flag. (Change into passive)
Let the flag be respected.
b. She told me
that I hadn't played with her the previous day. (Change into direct)
She said, "You didn't play with me
yesterday?"
c. She had come
here ....... 25th September. (Write appropriate preposition)
She had come here on 25th September.
d. Nobody likes
him,........? (Write question tag)
Nobody likes him, do they?
e. A pair of
trousers........... expensive. (is/are/has/have)
A pair of trousers are expensive.
f. He made
me....... my homework. (to do/do/done/doing)
He made me do my homework.
g. Had they not
cancelled the ticket of the bus, .............. (they wouldn't have killed in
the bus accident/they would have been killed in the bus accident/they wouldn't
have been killed in the bus accident)
Had they not cancelled the ticket of the
bus, they would have been killed in the bus accident.
h. She is a
nature lover and ........ (so do I/so am I/so are I/so is I)
She is a nature lover and so am I.
i. An agreement
was made between ......... (he and I/me and him/him and me/him and I)
An agreement was made between him and
me.
j. She'd better
not bunk the class, .......? (write question tag)
She'd better not bunk the class, had
she?
8. Do as
instructed. [5x1=5]
a. Using the
given prefixes, make a word of each
i. mono ii. semi
b. Define
patriarchal family.
c. The synonym
of 'fortune' is:
i. serendipity ii. past iii.
mite iv. peanuts
d. The word
'delicate' has its closest meaning to:
i. intricate ii. flimsy iii. lurid iv. dainty
e. Find a pair
of homophones from the following:
i. bow/bow ii. air/heir iii.
cache/catch iv. sit/cheat
Answer:
a. Using the
given prefixes, make a word of each
i. Monopoly ii. Semicircle
b. Define
patriarchal family.
Family which ruled or controlled by men;
giving power and importance only to men.
c. The synonym
of 'fortune' is:
i. serendipity
d. The word
'delicate' has its closest meaning to:
dainty
e. Find a pair
of homophones from the following:
air/heir
All the Best
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