ALOK PUBLIC SCHOOL

HALF-YEARLY EXAM(2021-22)
CLASS XII DATE:20/09/2021
Time: 90 Minutes Max. Marks 40
General Instructions:
1. The Question Paper contains THREE sections.
2. Section A-READING has 18 questions. Attempt a total of 14 questions, as per specific
instructions for each question.
3. Section B-WRITING SKILLS has 12 questions. Attempt a total of 10 questions, as per
specific instructions for each question.
4. Section C-LITERATURE has 30 questions. Attempt 26 questions, as per specific instructions
for each question.
5. All questions carry equal marks.
6. Each question is of 0.8 mark.There is no negative marking

READING
I.Read the passage given below.
Academics has always been an essential part of human development. It prepares us to survive in the
outside world and establish an identity of our own. However, is an individual’s development restricted to
merely academics? In India, from an early age, we have been taught that education is limited to the
boundaries of academics only; the idea of getting out into the field, for gaining practical experience, is
always considered a hoax. This has hindered students’ development. However, the truth is that education
represents a considerably broader field than we know of it. Our teaching, from the basics, has been
focused on getting good grades and job offers, rather than being creative and unique.

In the 21st century, the pure academic type of education is slowly paving way for a whole new type. The
paradigm shift in the whole education system is evident. People have now come to understand that
education is a 360 degree activity that should focus on students’ overall development, rather than
restricting him/her to the classroom.

Co-curricular activities that take place outside the classroom but reinforce or supplement classroom
curriculum, in some way, have become a point of focus today. These activities help in the growth of the
child, in more than one way. Participating in such activities helps youngsters grow mentally, socially, and
individually. Intellectual development of a student is developed in the classroom, but for aesthetic
development, such as team-building, character-building, and physical growth, students must step out into
the outside world. For instance, if a student is a part of the school football team, he/she will learn
team-work and coordination, in a practical manner, which cannot be taught in the class.

Similarly, in colleges and institutions, there is a need for practical exposure so that the students can
experience the actual working of an industry. For example, taking a student to a manufacturing firm will
give him/her the real insight and better learning of the industry. Catering to this change, most
professional colleges including B-Schools have started providing practical exposure to students through
regular guest lectures, industrial visits, conferences, seminars, cultural festivals, and so on. With industry
visits, students are able to better identify their prospective areas of work in the overall organizational
function. Moreover, they help enhance interpersonal skills and communication techniques. In addition,
guest lectures are equally important for all–round development of students. It is a great way for students
to gain maximum exposure, as guest speakers talk about their real-life experiences and not what is there
in the text books.

Through such events, students are made to participate and coordinate different events wherein, they get
to know how exactly things are managed. Classroom teaching provides the foundation, and co-curricular
or extracurricular activities provide practical exposure and opportunities to implement what students
learn in the classroom. This helps in developing the overall personality of the students, inculcating
various soft skills in them, which otherwise are difficult to teach. Clearly, life beyond academics creates
creative and empowered professionals.

Based on your understanding of the above passage, answer any eight of the questions given
below by choosing the most appropriate option:

Q1.Students’ development is hindered by

A.limiting education to academic boundaries. B.getting out to the field.
C.being creative and unique. D.gaining practical knowledge.

Q2.The shift in the education system means

A.to restrict to classroom activities. B.to focus on academic development.
C.to ignore 360 degree activity. D.to focus on overall development.

Q3.Co-curricular activities that take place outside the classroom help in

A.teamwork and coordination. B.mental and social growth.
C.character building. D.all of the above

Q4.Guest speakers talk about

A.all-round development. B.their real-life experiences.
C.what is in textbooks. D.gaining exposure.

Q5.Classroom teaching provides

A.practical exposure. B.opportunities to implement what is learnt in the classroom.
C.chance to learn soft skills. D.the foundation.

Q6.Life beyond academics facilitates

A.organizational functions. B.creativity.
C.professional fields. D.industrial visits.

Q7.Which of the following is OPPOSITE to the word ‘facilitated’ in para 1?

A.limited B.restricted
C.hindered D. all of the above

Q8.Which of the following words can replace the word ’prospective’ in para 4 without changing the
meaning of the sentence?
A.past B.expected
C.likely D. Both b and c
 Q9.Which of the following can be the most suitable title for the above passage?
A.The importance of academics B.Class Teaching---An essential part of school life
C.Importance of practical experience and co-curricular activities in student life
D.Professional development

Q10.Which of the following is FALSE in context of the passage?

A.Education is a 360 degree activity

B.Co-curricular or extracurricular activities provide practical exposure.
C. Life beyond academics creates dull professionals.
D.Guest lectures are equally important for all–round development of students.

II. Read the passage given below.

1.Status of domesticated elephants Records indicate that the management of domesticated elephants in
Nepal has a long history and is said to have begun in 1903. At one time there were 31 elephant camps
throughout the lowlands of Nepal. The capture and training of wild animals was a common practice in the
past. A total of 17 domesticated elephants were released into the wild in 1914 and 10 wild elephants
were captured for domestication during 1954-1970. Although the reason for releasing elephants into the
wild is not mentioned in reports, it can be assumed that those elephants were released because of the
difficulty of finding them work and because of their old age.

Table 1. Elephant populations at ten year intervals between 1903 and 1973

Years 1903 1913 1923 1933 1943 1953 1963 1973

No. of 328 234 198 199 180 136 80 47

elephants

Fig. 1. Declining trend of domesticated elephant populations at ten-year intervals between 1903 and
1973
Registration of domesticated elephants

2.Since the enactment of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029 in 1973, the capture of
wild elephants for domestication has been strictly prohibited and no wild elephant has been captured.
There is no report of breeding among the cow elephants kept by the private sector at hotels and safari
camps, except one at the Tiger Tops in 1980 and one very recently in 2000, in KMTNC/RBNP. The Tiger
Tops calf was later trained at the government-owned elephant breeding center in RCNP and the recently
born calf is being taken care of by the KMTC/RBNP itself.

3.The registration system is only applied to government-owned elephants and consists of giving a new
name to a calf. There is a tradition in Nepal of accompanying the names of elephants with a word
identifying their sex: Gaja or Prasad denotes a male and Kali denotes a female. Before the restoration of
the multi-party democratic system in 1990 in Nepal, the birth of a baby elephant used to be reported to
the Royal Palace which provided a new name for the calf and appointed a caretaker for the elephant who
then received the food rations for the baby elephant. After the baby reached the age of eight years, it
was treated as an adult and received full rations. Since 1990, the Department of National Parks and
Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has provided names for baby elephants after being sent news of a birth
by the concerned warden. In addition, the following recommendations have been made for the welfare of
domesticated elephants.

● Because of the lack of sheds in elephant camps, the chained elephants are under the open
sky throughout the year, even during the cold frosty nights of winter and the hot sunny days
of summer, which shortens the lives of elephants. Therefore, the construction of sheds in all
government and private elephant camps is required.
● Because of the lack of compound walls in all elephant camps, the intrusion of domestic
cattle poses a serious threat of transmitting various diseases to the elephants. To prevent
this, the construction of compound walls is essential.
● There are inadequate in-house store facilities and space to store food rations,
fodder/grasses and straw. These should be provided in all elephant camps.
● Reduced availability of fodder during the lean period means that there is a high level of
damage to the surrounding vegetation caused by trampling. To sustain the elephant fodder
supply in perpetuity the plantation of palatable species is recommended for government as
well as for privately kept elephants.
● Personnel employed in the elephant camps have had to learn to take care of the elephants
on their own. Training in all aspects of elephant care and management should be provided to
staff at all levels.
● There is a need for research and monitoring of the domesticated elephants' impact on
parks/reserves and buffer zones as an integral part of national park management.

On the basis of your reading of the passage and other visual inputs, choose the correct option to
answer the questions which follow: (Any 10)

Q11.The data presented in the passage has been compiled with the help of ____.
A. Hearsay B. People’s opinion C. Official Records D. Passage does not specify

Q12.On analyzing elephant population data, their population is found to be_

A. decreased over the years B. remained the same
C. increased over the years D. increased in year 1943

Q13.What were the reasons for releasing the elephants into the wild?
A. Old age and government orders B. Shortage of work and government orders
C. Government orders and shortage of space D. Old age and shortage of work
Q14.What peculiar thing was observed in the year 1933?
A. A slight increase in the number of domesticated Elephants.
B. A slight decrease in the number of domesticated Elephants.
C. No change D. It stays the same as the decade 1923.

Q15.Where were most of the elephant camps located?

A. The Himalayas B. Lowlands of Nepal
C. Lowlands of Assam D. Terai region of Gorakhpur

Q16.Registration system of domesticated elephants is only applied to---------

A. government-owned elephants B.private -owned elephants
C.all wild elephants D.all of the above

Q17.Challenges to conservation of elephants include-----

1. lack of sheds in elephant camps
2.lack of compound walls in all elephant camps
3.inadequate in-house store facilities
4.Reduced availability of fodder during the lean period

A. 1,2 & 3 B.1 &3

C.1,3 & 4 D.1,2,3 & 4

Q18.The word in para 1 that means the opposite of ‘restoration’-------

A.repair B.re-establishment
C.neglect D.fixing

WRITING
III. Answer any four out of the five questions given, with reference to the context below.

A notice is a written or printed announcement .It is generally written in a formal tone.

Notices are factual and to-the-point.

Q19.Identification marks should be a part of which of the following types of notice?

A.Notice for lost and found B.Notice for seminars C.Notice for events D.Notice for submissions

Q 20.Read both the statements and choose which one is true.

Statement A: Notice is always written in a box.
Statement B: The word notice to be given just after the organisation or institution’s name.
A.Only A is true B.Only B is true C.Both A and B are true D.Both A and B are false

Q21.The purpose of a notice is to_________

A.Promote a product B.Inform a large number of people about something
C.A formal means of communication in an organization. D.Both b and c

Q22.All the information in a notice must be given in a _______________manner.

A.concise and simple B.elaborate and simple C.elaborate and attractive D.detailed and complex
Q23.The President of R.W.A. Chelavoor Heights, Kozhikode, has to put up a notice to inform residents
about a power-cut for their residential area
Select the appropriate title for the notice.
A.Choosing Own Power Cuts B.Scheduled Power Cut
C.The Need to Save Power D.Power and Resident Safety

IV. Answer any six of the seven questions given, with reference to the context below.

Karan works for an advertising agency.He has to write an article to promote advertising as a career.
The advertisement industry has a tremendous impact on the younger generation. As citizens of the
modern world, advertisements have become a part of the daily lives of youngsters and they have got
used to being bombarded with numerous advertisements over the course of their day.

Q.24 Select the option that lists an appropriate title for Karan’s article.
A.Impact Of Advertisements On The Younger Generation B.Advertising--A career option
C.Advertisements-----A necessity D.Advertisements in daily life

Q.25 Which option (a-b), should Karan choose to elaborate on reasons for choosing advertising as a
career option?
A.helps one explore the creative side B.gives space to think independently
C.It's fast-paced and innovative. D.all of these

Q26.Which option would help Karan with the appropriate organisation of relevant ideas for
this article?
A. A wide range of career options-advertising specialists are always in demand-Abundant networking
opportunities- no bounds to creativity
B.lucrative career opportunities---more money---less effort-------flexible working hours
C.flexible working hours-----no risk job-----no bounds to creativity------social networking
D.highly paid----no risk job----creative freedom-------active life

Q.27 Which closing statement, from those given below, would be appropriate for Karan’s article?
A.Advertising is a good career choice as every company needs them in order to survive and prosper.
B.The major advantage of working in an advertising agency is that you can finally practice the freedom to
express your thoughts and earn a lot of money at no risk.
C.Advertising is fun.
D.This career option is specially for the ones who easily get bored of everything around them.

Q28.Which of the following is true for the body of an article?

A.It introduces the main idea of the topic
B.It contains causes and effects,advantages and disadvantages etc.
C.It discusses the relevance of the topic.
D.All of these
Q29.An article does not include-----
A.Suggestions B.Content that urges readers to think
C.Factual Information D.Non-authentic information

Q30.Which of the following is the objective of Karan’s article?

A.To express personal opinion B.To persuade people
C.To entertain people D.To present information which can be useful

LITERATURE

This section has sub-sections: V, VI, VII, VIII, IX. There are a total of 30 questions in the section.
Attempt any 26 questions from the sub-sections V to IX.

V. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

It had happened when I was ten or eleven years old. I had decided to learn to swim. There was a pool at
the Y.M.C.A. in Yakima that offered exactly the opportunity. The Yakima River was treacherous. Mother
continually warned against it, and kept fresh in my mind the details of each drowning in the river. But the
Y.M.C.A. pool was safe.It was only two or three feet deep at the shallow end; and while it was nine feet
deep at the other, the drop was gradual. I got a pair of water wings and went to the pool. I hated to walk
naked into it and show my skinny legs. But I subdued my pride and did it.

Q31.The misadventure at the Y.M.C.A pool happened when

A.Douglas was accompanied by friends B.he was with his father
C.he was alone D.he was with his mother

Q32.His mother warned him against swimming in the Yakima River because
A. it had strong currents B.it was meant only for boating
C. many people had drowned there D. it had no lifeguards around

Q33.The writer decided to learn to swim when he was about

A. ten or eleven years old B.fifteen or sixteen years old
C.twenty years old D. eighteen years old

Q34.Why did Douglas’ mother recommend that he should learn swimming at the Y. M.C.A swimming
pool?
A.Because it was local B.Because it was safe
C.Because it was shallow D.Because it was shallow and safe

Q35.The word that means the same as the word ’treacherous’ in the paragraph above----
A.reliable B.deceptive
C.faithful D.trustworthy
VI. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

“I will learn to drive a car,” he answers, looking straight into my eyes. His dream looms like a mirage
amidst the dust of streets that fill his town Firozabad, famous for its bangles. Every other family in
Firozabad is engaged in making bangles. It is the centre of India’s glass-blowing industry where families
have spent generations working around furnaces, welding glass, making bangles for all the women in the
land it seems.
Q36.Who is ’ I’ in the above extract?
A.Saheb-e-alam B.Mukesh C.Anees Jung D.None of these

Q37.What is his dream?

A.to become a car driver B.to become a car -mechanic C.to be a rag picker D.to be a bangle-maker

Q38.Under what kind of environment are the children forced to work in the glass blowing industry?
A.dingy cells without air and light. B.well-lit rooms
C.hygienic conditions D.proper ventilation

Q39.The word that means the same as the word ’mirage’ in the paragraph above----
A.dream B.illusion C.desert D.reality

Q40.Who employs the local families of Firozabad?

A.Bureaucrats B.Merchants C. Politicians D.The glass blowing industry

VII. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

It would be an exotic moment

without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.

Q41.Without rush, without engines’ refers to

A. no mindless activity B. no hurry to go to the office C. no travelling D. no holidaying

Q42.The man looking at his hurt hands is a

A. salt gatherer B. diamond cutter C. rag-picker D. surgeon

Q43.‘Fishermen not harming whales’ means

A. not causing extinction of whales B.humans not causing harm to animals
C. not going for fishing D. not disturbing the sea

Q44.’Sudden strangeness’ is one of the following poetic devices:

A. simile B. personification C. alliteration D.repetition

Q45.What does the poem Keeping Quiet teach us?

A .how to maintain silence B. not to make noise
C.speaking creates noise D. To be peaceful , thoughtful and have feelings of brotherhood
VIII. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

Have you ever been there? It’s a wonderful town still, with big old frame houses, huge lawns, and
tremendous trees whose branches meet overhead and roof the streets. And in 1894, summer evenings
were twice as long, and people sat out on their lawns, the men smoking cigars and talking quietly, the
women waving palm-leaf fans, with the fire-flies all around, in a peaceful world. To be back there with the
First World War still twenty years off, and World War II over forty years in the future... I wanted two tickets
for that.

Q46. Who does ‘you’ refer to?

A. Charley’s psychiatrist, Sam Weiner B. Charley’s wife, Louisa
C. The reader D. Nobody in particular, it is a figure of speech

Q47.Choose the option that best describes the society represented in the above extract.
A. content, peace-loving B. leisurely, sentimental
C.orthodox, upper class D.comfortable, ancient

Q48.Imagine that the city of Galesburg is hosting a series of conferences and workshops. In which of the
following conferences or workshops are you least likely to find the description of Galesburg given in the
above extract?
A. Gorgeous Galesburg: Archiving a Tourist Paradise
B. Welcome to the home you deserve: Galesburg Realtors
C.Re-imagining a Warless Future: Technology for Peace
D.The Woman Question: The world of women at home

Q49. “tremendous trees whose branches meet overhead and roof the streets” is NOT an example of
(i) imagery (ii) metaphor (iii) alliteration (iv) anachronism
A. Options (i) and (ii) B. Options (i) and (iii)
C. Options (ii) and (iii) D.Options (ii) and (iv)

Q50.Select the option that signifies the condition of people of the ‘modern world’ .
(1) unsure (2) lazy (3) offensive (4) anxious (5) afraid

A. (1) and (3) B. (2) and (5) C. (2), (3) and (4) D. (1), (4) and (5)

IX. Attempt the following.

Q51.Pick the quote that best describes the theme of the story ‘The Enemy’.
A. World belongs to humanity, not this leader, that leader or that king or prince or religious leader. World
belongs to humanity.
B. You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the
ocean does not become dirt.
C.The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.
D.To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.

Q52.When people are enslaved, what key do they have to the prison, according to M.Hamel?
A. their behaviour B. power C.aggressiveness D.mother tongue
Q53.Which of the following is a conclusion that can be drawn from the story’ The Third Level’?
A.Reality is indeed stranger than fiction. B.With all its worries, modern life is not worth living.
C.The past is undoubtedly better than the present. D.Imagination might be the only great escape.

Q54. ‘That’s why they left, looking for gold in the big city.’ Here ‘gold’ indicates
A.misfortune of circumstances B. ample wealth C.means of survival D. a sign of luxury

Q55.What do the parting words "See you soon Amma" in ‘My Mother at 66’ signify?
A. her carelessness B. Her optimistic farewell full of cheerfulness
C.she bids goodbye like this D.she is in a hurry

Q56.Based on the poem ‘An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum’ , choose the correct option with
reference to the two statements given below.
Statement 1: The poet is in anguish at the plight of the children in slums and is sympathetic towards
them.
Statement 2: The poet presents an exaggerated version of the struggles of the slum children, to garner
sympathy.
A. Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false. B.Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true.
C.Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true. D.Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot be inferred.

Q57.What is the metaphorical symbol of Seemapuri in the lesson?

A. Poverty B. Exploitation C. Enjoyment D. A little hell

Q58.The most appropriate justification for the title of the chapter ‘Deep Water’ is that
A. it's about the dangerous depth of the swimming pool.
B. It reveals the author’s lack of surety about overcoming his fear of swimming.
C. it underlines the author’s fear of water and how he overcomes it.
D. it includes the methods of the author’s coach to overcome the fear of deep water.

Q59. Based on the poem, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.

Statement 1: The earth without the beautiful things is a place full of despair and unpleasantness.
Statement 2: The ornate band created by human beings; ushers hope in their lives.

A.Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false.

B.Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true.
C.Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be inferred.
D.Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot be inferred.

Q60.Choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.
Statement 1: Sadao and Hana cared about the soldier but were worried about the consequences of
being considerate.
Statement 2: Sadao and Hana wanted to shirk their responsibilities of looking after an injured soldier,
who could be an American.

A.Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false B. Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true.
C.Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true D.Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are false.