2024


Time: 3 Hours                                                                                              

Max Marks: 50


PART – A


Answer the following questions in one sentence each. (10 x 1 = 10)


Q1. Explain the major theme of ‘Sonnet 29’.

Ans. The major theme of ‘Sonnet 29’ is that love brings emotional uplift and contentment, transforming feelings of despair and envy into happiness and self-worth.


Q2. Why does the poet want to be a pagan in The World is Too Much with Us?

Ans. He wishes to be a pagan so he could feel a closer, more spiritual connection with nature, which modern materialistic life has made impossible.


Q3. Write two characteristics of Gangu in the story The Child.

Ans. Two characteristics of Gangu are his broad-mindedness and selfless love, shown by his decision to marry Gomti despite societal criticism and his unconditional acceptance of her child from a previous marriage. 


Q4. How much money did the astrologer usually charge per question?

Ans. The astrologer usually charge three pies per question.


Q5. What did Della buy for Jim?

Ans. Della bought a beautiful platinum fob chain for Jim’s pocket watch. It was simple, elegant, and perfectly suited to the treasured watch Jim had inherited from his father and grandfather.


Q6. State the reason of brain-drain in India according to Gopal.

Ans. According to Gopal, primary cause of brain drain in India is the lack of a conducive working atmosphere. He felt that talent was not sufficiently recognized or supported in India, unlike in America where he experienced greater appreciation for his abilities.


Q7. What does the 'Service of India' mean by Nehru?

Ans. 'Service of India,' as stated by J.L. Nehru in his "Tryst with Destiny" speech, primarily means the dedicated, incessant striving to uplift the millions who suffer by working to end poverty, ignorance, disease, and inequality of opportunity in the nation.


Q8. What made the narrator nervous in a bank in 'My Financial Career"?

Ans. The narrator felt nervous in the bank because he was inexperienced, intimidated by the formal environment, and afraid of making mistakes while opening an account.


Q9. Explain the line, 'Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear in 'Bangle-Sellers"

Ans. The line compares bangles to a bride's mixed emotions: the "bridal laughter" represents her joy at marriage, while the "bridal tear" represents her sadness at leaving her parents' home. The sound and appearance of the bangles are used to symbolize these two powerful, yet contrasting, feelings. 


Q10. What kind of world does the poet want in 'When the Mind is Without Fear?

Ans. The poet wants a world of freedom, knowledge, and unity, where individuals are not afraid, minds are not narrow, and people are united by reason, not divisions of caste, creed, or superstition. This is a world where people can think freely and strive for perfection, living with dignity and self-respect. 


PART – B


Answer the following questions in 4-5 lines each. Each question carries 4 marks. (4 x 4 = 16)


Q11. Transform the following sentences from Active to Passive:


1. Can you drive a truck?

Ans. Can a truck be driven by you?


2. The wild elephant killed a villager.

Ans. A villager was killed by the wild elephant.


3. Please write to me in time.

Ans. Please let a letter be written to me in time.


4. She will have sung a song.

Ans. A song will have been sung by her.


Q12. Explain the following legal terms:


1. Appeal - An appeal is the formal process of a party requesting a higher court to review, and potentially change, the decision made by a lower court.


2. Pledge - A pledge is the bailment of personal property, the "pledge", as security for a debt or the performance of a promise.


3. Genocide - Deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic group.


4. Will - A legal declaration stating how a person wishes his/her possession to be disposed off after death.


Q13. Fill in the blanks with suitable tense forms of the verbs given in the brackets:


1. We _ (Eat) ice-cream in the summer.

Ans. eat


2. She _ (Not realise) how difficult it was.

Ans. did not realise


3. Neither food nor sweet _ (Be) served.

Ans. was


4. Make any more mistake and I _ (dismiss) you.

Ans. will dismiss


Q14. Punctuate the following sentences with punctuation marks:


1. bombay is not as big as delhi

Ans. Bombay is not as big as Delhi.


2. may you live long

Ans. May you live long!


3. wash scrape and grate the carrots

Ans. Wash, scrape, and grate the carrots.


4. she is calm composed and disciplined

Ans. She is calm, composed, and disciplined.


PART – C


Answer the following questions in 400 words each. Attempt any three. Each question carries 8 marks. (3 x 8 = 24)


Q15. Justify the title of the story 'An Astrologer's Day.

Ans. The title “An Astrologer’s Day” appears simple at first, but it carries deep symbolic and thematic significance that reflects both the outer life and inner turmoil of the central character. On the surface, it suggests an ordinary day in the life of a street astrologer who sits under a tamarind tree, decorated with saffron clothes and mystical props, earning a living by telling fortunes. However, as the story unfolds, we realize that this particular “day” is anything but ordinary, this one day becomes the turning point of his entire life. The title’s apparent simplicity cleverly masks the tension, drama, and moral complexity that the astrologer experiences. The author deliberately chooses an understated title to highlight how extraordinary events can lie hidden beneath the everyday routines of ordinary people. The astrologer seems confident and wise, but this day reveals the truth that his profession is merely a disguise for a haunted past. His encounter with Guru Nayak transforms an ordinary working day into a moment of reckoning, reminding readers that life often presents unexpected confrontations without warning.


More importantly, the title draws attention to the irony of the astrologer’s life. While he pretends to read the fate of others with confidence, he himself is a man running from his own destiny. This day forces him to face the very man he once tried to kill, bringing his buried guilt and fear back to the surface. In that sense, the story becomes not just a snapshot of his daily occupation but a study of how one day can change a life’s direction. The calm, almost mundane title contrasts sharply with the tension of the encounter, creating a narrative surprise that deepens the reader’s engagement. It also emphasizes the unpredictability of life. No one, not even an astrologer, can truly foresee what lies ahead. Through this title, the author subtly mocks blind faith in astrology while portraying the astrologer as a clever survivor shaped by circumstances rather than supernatural insight.


Thus, the title “An Astrologer’s Day” serves multiple purposes: it sets a realistic tone, creates irony, hints at the twists to come, and captures the essence of a man whose ordinary routine collides with his troubled past. In presenting this single day as pivotal, the author suggests that destiny is not controlled by stars or predictions, but by human choices and unexpected encounters. The title, therefore, encapsulates the story’s central message, that behind every ordinary life lies a hidden narrative waiting to surface.


Q16. Write a critical appreciation of the poem ‘Bangle-Sellers’.

Ans. Sarojini Naidu’s “Bangle-Sellers” is a lyrical and culturally rich poem that celebrates the beauty, emotions and life-stages of Indian womanhood through the symbolic world of bangles. At first glance, the poem appears to describe the colourful trade of the bangle-sellers, but a deeper reading reveals that the bangles are not mere ornaments. They represent the hopes, dreams, joys, and responsibilities that shape a woman’s life. The poem opens with the cheerful call of the bangle-sellers who wander from village to village, offering their delicate glass bangles to women of all ages. Their call is not just a marketing cry; it reflects the vibrant traditions and social rituals that give rhythm to Indian life. The poet’s choice of colours, silver, blue, pink, purple, sunlit gold, creates vivid imagery, making the poem almost visual in its beauty. These colours symbolise different emotional phases: the playful innocence of maidenhood, the warmth and hope of marriage, and the calm dignity of motherhood and maturity.


A striking feature of the poem is how Naidu uses bangles to portray a woman’s journey from youth to adulthood. For young girls, she describes bangles “like the mist of a mountain stream,” capturing the freshness and purity of childhood. For brides, she chooses red and orange tones, colours of passion, love, and new beginnings. These bridal bangles echo dreams of devotion and the promise of partnership. For older women, she presents rich, deep-hued bangles that mirror the wisdom and serenity that come with experience. In doing so, the poet dignifies every stage of a woman’s life, suggesting that beauty is not limited to youth but evolves with age and responsibility.


The poem’s tone is celebratory but also quietly reflective. Through the bangle-sellers, Naidu subtly highlights the social roles expected of women while honouring the strength with which they embrace these roles. The rhythmic language, alliteration, and musical quality of the poem reflect her skill as the “Nightingale of India.” But beyond its melody, the poem carries emotional depth. The poet gently acknowledges both the joy and the burden of womanhood without slipping into sentimentality.


In essence, “Bangle-Sellers” is a tribute to Indian womanhood, capturing its tenderness, resilience and inner richness. Through the simple metaphor of bangles, Naidu paints a complete portrait of a woman’s life, reminding readers that every phase, youthful, passionate, or serene, is equally valuable and worthy of celebration.


Q17. Critically evaluate the poem ‘The World is Too Much with Us’.

Ans. William Wordsworth’s sonnet “The World Is Too Much with Us” is a heartfelt critique of the growing materialism of the early Industrial Age, yet its concerns feel just as urgent today. Written in the Romantic era, the poem mourns how human beings have drifted away from nature, losing the deep emotional and spiritual connection that once grounded them. In about fourteen tightly crafted lines, the poet blends personal frustration with a universal warning about what happens when society forgets its roots in the natural world.


The poem opens with a powerful accusation: people are “out of tune” with the rhythms of nature because they are consumed by the pursuit of wealth and possessions. The poet suggests that the more we focus on “getting and spending,” the more we squander our ability to experience genuine wonder. Here, nature is not simply scenery; it represents a source of emotional nourishment that modern life threatens to drain away. The poet’s tone is not cold or judgmental, but sorrowful, as though he is witnessing humanity willingly give up something precious.


Nature’s imagery, such as the “booming sea” or the gentle movement of the winds, contrasts sharply with the spiritual emptiness the poet sees in human behaviour. By portraying natural elements as dynamic and alive, he shows what we miss when we disconnect from them. These moments of vivid imagery also remind us of the Romantic belief that nature is a pathway to insight, healing, and a deeper sense of self.


In the sestet, the poet makes a dramatic emotional leap, wishing he could be a pagan just to regain a sense of awe in nature. This is not a literal desire but a poetic expression of desperation; he longs for a worldview that still recognised divinity in the natural world. References to mythological figures like Proteus and Triton evoke magic, wonder, and a sense of sacredness, qualities he feels the modern world has silenced.


Overall, the sonnet is both a lament and a plea. Wordsworth urges readers to recognise the spiritual cost of excessive materialism and to rediscover the power of nature to inspire, comfort, and transform. His message remains timeless: when we lose touch with the natural world, we risk losing an essential part of ourselves.


Q18. Write a paragraph on “The role of technology in education”.

Ans. Technology has transformed the way we learn and teach, making education more accessible, engaging, and effective than ever before. Today, classrooms are no longer limited to physical spaces; with the help of digital tools, students can access knowledge from anywhere in the world. Online learning platforms, educational apps, and digital libraries provide vast resources that cater to different learning styles, whether visual, auditory, or interactive. This makes learning more personalized, allowing students to progress at their own pace and explore subjects beyond the traditional curriculum.


Teachers also benefit from technology, as it helps them design more dynamic lessons. Smartboards, projectors, and interactive simulations make complex concepts easier to understand. For example, a biology teacher can use 3D models to explain human anatomy, making the learning process more practical and memorable. Additionally, technology enables better communication between students and teachers. Platforms like email, discussion forums, and video conferencing allow students to clarify doubts, collaborate on projects, and receive timely feedback, even outside school hours.


Another significant role of technology in education is fostering critical thinking and creativity. Coding programs, robotics kits, and virtual labs encourage students to experiment, solve problems, and innovate. These tools not only make learning fun but also prepare students for future careers in a rapidly changing, tech-driven world. Moreover, technology helps bridge educational gaps. Students in remote or underprivileged areas can now access the same quality resources as those in urban schools, reducing inequalities and promoting inclusive education.


However, it is important to use technology wisely. Excessive screen time or over-reliance on digital tools can affect concentration and social skills. Therefore, a balanced approach that combines traditional teaching methods with modern technology works best.


In conclusion, technology has revolutionized education by making learning more interactive, flexible, and inclusive. It empowers both teachers and students, fosters creativity, and opens doors to knowledge that were once unreachable. When used responsibly, technology is not just a tool but a partner in shaping a brighter, more informed future for learners everywhere.