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Candidates must write the Q.P. Code
on the title page of the answer-book.
Series :
WXYZ/S
Set – 1
Q.P. Code
Roll No.
ENGLISH (
Core
)
Time allowed : 3 hours Maximum Marks : 80
General Instructions :
Read the following instructions very carefully and strictly follow them :
(i) This question paper has 13 questions. All questions are compulsory.
(ii) This question paper contains three sections — Section A : Reading Skills,
Section B : Creative Writing Skills and Section C : Literature.
(iii) Attempt all questions based on specific instructions for each part. Write the
correct question number and part thereof in your answer sheet.
(iv) Separate instructions are given with each question/part, wherever necessary.
(v) Adhere to the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.
• Please check that this question paper contains 19 printed pages.
• Q.P. Code given on the right hand side of the question paper should be written on
the title page of the answer-book by the candidate.
• Please check that this question paper contains 13 questions.
• Please write down the Serial Number of the question in the answer-book
at the given place before attempting it.
• 15 minute time has been allotted to read this question paper. The question paper
will be distributed at 10.15 a.m. From 10.15 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., the candidates
will read the question paper only and will not write any answer on the
answer-book during this period.
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*ENGLISH-CORE*
#
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SECTION A
Reading Skills (22 marks)
1. Read the following passage carefully : 12
(1) Travel, they say, broadens the mind, but who exactly are ‘they’ ? These
mysterious sages seem to know a thing or two about the transformative
power of packing a suitcase and jetting off to distant lands.
As Mark Twain wisely put it, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry
and narrow-mindedness.” Indeed, leaving behind your familiar
surroundings and completely involving yourself in a new culture is like
enrolling in a crash course in the School of Life.
(2) Take, for instance, the confusing world of foreign languages. You might
think you know how to navigate a city because you can book a hotel and
call a taxi, but try finding your way through a maze of winding streets
in an old European town. Suddenly, “Where is the train station ?’’
seems sadly not enough. It’s a humbling experience, much like realising
that ‘piazza’ is Italian for ‘square’ and not a type of pizza. But therein
lies the beauty: each navigational blunder is a lesson, each wrong turn
a new entry in your personal map of life.
(3) Then there are the historical landmarks. Visiting the Colosseum isn’t
just a chance to take an Instagram-worthy selfie; it’s a real-life history
lesson that textbooks can only dream of. As you stand in the shadow of
this ancient arena, you might find yourself daydreaming about
gladiators and emperors, only to be jolted back to reality by a selfie
stick to the face. Travel has a way of making history real, even if it
sometimes includes the odd bruise.
(4) Moreover, travel teaches resilience and adaptability. Missed flights,
lost luggage, and questionable hotel rooms can turn even the most
meticulously planned vacation into a comedy of errors. Yet, these are
the moments that foster growth and creativity. Who knew you could
fashion a comb out of a hotel toothbrush and a bit of resourcefulness.
(5) Travel is a passport to a world of knowledge, where every stamp tells a
story and every journey is a chapter in the grand, unfinished novel of
your life. So, next time you find yourself lost in a foreign city,
remember: you’re not just a tourist; you’re a student of the world, and
the curriculum is as vast as your curiosity.
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Answer the following questions, based on the above passage :
(i) According to Mark Twain, how does travel influence people ? 1
(ii) How does the author use the metaphor of ‘crash course in the School
of Life’ to interpret the value of travel ? 1
(iii) The comparison of ‘navigational blunder’ to a ‘lesson’, in the context
of travel, primarily highlights : 1
(A) the inevitability of getting lost while travelling.
(B) the educational value of travel experiences.
(C) the frustration of not knowing a foreign language.
(D) the importance of planning every detail of a trip.
(iv) Provide one textual evidence with reference to paragraph (4) to
prove that travel promotes creativity. 1
(v) The significance of historical landmarks in the context of travel,
according to the passage, is __________. 1
(vi) Give two instances of the author’s resilience and adaptability during
his travels. 2
(vii) Complete the analogy with one word from paragraph (4) : 1
fragility : weakness : : __________ : strength
(A) adaptability
(B) ingenuity
(C) resilience
(D) creativity
(viii) How does the following statement define a traveller ? (paragraph (5)) 1
‘You’re not just a tourist; you’re a student of the world, and the
curriculum is as vast as your curiosity.’
(ix) Reflect on the author’s perspective on travel as an educational
journey. How does this viewpoint of the author challenge
conventional forms of education ? 2
(x) Complete the sentence suitably : 1
The author refers to travel as a passport to the world of knowledge
because __________.
End of Document
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