Half Yearly Assessment - September-2024
Class-12
Subject: English Core
Time: 90 Minutes
Μ.Μ.-40
General Instructions:
(i) Attempt all the questions as per instructions.
(ii) Attempt all the parts of a question together
(iii) Marks are indicated in front of each question. Write your answer as per the marks allotted to it.
(iv) For Multiple choice questions tick (/) the correct answer.
Section-A
1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing correct options given. 5
Maharana Pratap ruled Mewar only for 25 years. However, he accomplished so much grandeur during his reign that his glory surpassed the boundaries of countries and time, turning him into an immortal personality. He along with his kingdom became a synonym for velour, sacrifice and patriotism. Mewar, had been a leading Rajput kingdom even before Maharana Pratap occupied the throne. Kings of Mewar, with the cooperation of their nobles and subjects, had established such traditions in the kingdom, which augmented their magnificence despite the hurdles of having a smaller area under their command and less population. There did come a few thorny occasions when the flag of the kingdom seemed sliding down. Their flag, once again heaved high in the sky thanks to the gallantry and brilliance of the people of Mewar. The destiny of Mewar was good in the sense that barring a few kings, most of the rulers were competent and patriotic. This glorious tradition of the kingdom almost continued for 1500 years since its establishment, right from the reign of Bappa Rawal. In fact, only 60 years before Maharana Pratap, Rana Sanga, drove the kingdom to the pinnacle of fame. His reputation went beyond Rajasthan and reached Delhi. Two generations before him, Rana Kumbha, had given a new stature to the kingdom through victories and developmental work. During his reign, literature and art also progressed extraordinarily. Rana himself was inclined towards writing and his works are read with reverence even today. The ambience of his kingdom was conducive to the creation of high-quality work of art and literature. These accomplishments, were the outcome of a long-standing tradition sustained by several generations. The life of the people of Mewar must have been peaceful and prosperous during a long span of time, otherwise, such extraordinary accomplishment in these fields would not have been possible. This is reflected in their art and literature as well as their loving nature. They compensate for lack of admirable physique by their firm but pleasant nature. The ambience of Mewar remains lovely, thanks to the cheerful and liberal character of its people.
Questions
(a) Difficulties in the way of Mewar were:
(i) lack of cooperation of the nobility.
(ii) ancient traditions of the kingdom.
(iii) its small area and small population.
(iv) the poverty of the subjects
(b) Mewar was lucky because:
(i) all of its rulers were competent.
(ii) most of its people were competent.
(iii) most of its rulers were competent.
(iv) only a few of its people were incompetent.
(c) Whose reign was crucial as well as proved tobe his nemesis of Mewar?
(i) Maharana Pratap
(ii) Rana Sanga
(iii) Rana Kumbha
(iv) Bappa Rawal
(d) Who is the earliest King of Mewar mentioned in the passage?
(i) Bappa Rawal
(ii) Rana Sanga
(iii) Rana Kumbha
(iv) Maharana Pratap
(e) What was incorrect about Rana Kumbha's contribution to the glory of Mewar?
(i) He had given a new stature to the kingdom through victories.
(ii) He made his kingdom special with developmental work.
(iii) During his reign, literature and art progressed extraordinary.
(iv) He himself was never seen inclined towards writing.
2. Read the following passage carefully and make notes on it and also supply a suitable title 4+1=5
Shop till you drop is no longer a problem that only women with money in their purses and time on their hands suffer from. Excessive shopping and insatiable appetite for goods are causing problems in all countries which have hitherto promoted naked consumerism because personal debts are mounting, creating innumerable dificulties for credit card businesses. Millions are gripped by an insatiable appetite to spend and visit the frequent sales that keep occurring in New York, Milan, London or Paris. People can become compulsive buyers of anything from household gadgets, food, clothes, to cars. Compulsive buying has now been diagnosed as a disease and is the result of the growing advertising campaigns and competition in which shops and firms undercut each other with huge price discounts. If shops are closed and it is too late, there is always the possibility of shopping through the net. The addiction to shopping is spreading all over the world. In UK, 2.5 million people are gripped by the shopping fever. In America, a shopper's paradise, the number is much more at 15 million. With rising/incomes, millions of Indians could join the league of 'shopoholics'. It is called 'oniomania' which is a compulsive disorder that drives people to buy in a repetitive and uncontrolled manner regardless of consequences. Self-help groups are springing up to help compulsive shoppers. Because people affected by this problem suffer greatly from feelings of isolation, guilt and fear. It can lead to a breakdown of relationships under the burden of debt and deceit. Women are more vulnerable than men to this addiction because they tend to believe that to be valued by society, they have to look good. They are more insecure about their image and while they are shopping, they get a boost to their self- image from the attention they get from shop assistants. They come back feeling beautiful and successful. Men too are now joining the ranks of keen shoppers.
Section B- Writing Skills
3. Attempt any one of the following: 5
a. You are Asma/Ashish, the head girl/boy of XYZ international school. Your school soon going to publish the annual magazine next month. Write a notice for the notice board of your school inviting students to submit write-ups,
Ans.
