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Board Paper of Class 12-Humanities 2015 English Delhi(SET 2) - Solutions

General Instructions:
(i) This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.
(ii) Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them faithfully.
(iii) Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.


  • Question 1
    Read the passage given below carefully :

    1. For four days, I walked through the narrow lanes of the old city, enjoying the romance of being in a city where history still lives - in its cobblestone streets and in its people riding asses, carrying vine leaves and palm as they once did during the time of Christ.

    2. This is Jerusalem, home to the sacred sites of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. This is the place that houses the church of the Holy Sepulchre, the place where Jesus was finally laid to rest. This is also the site of Christ's crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

    3. Built by the Roman Emperor Constantine at the site of an earlier temple to Aphrodite, it is the most venerated Christian shrine in the world. And justifiably so. Here, within the church, are the last five stations of the cross, the 10th station where Jesus was stripped of his clothes, the 11th where he was nailed to the cross, the 12th where he died on the cross, the 13th where the body was removed from the cross, and the 14th, his tomb.

    4. For all this weighty tradition the approach and entrance to the church is non-descript. You have to ask for directions. Even to the devout Christian pilgrims walking along the Via Dolorosa - the Way of Sorrows - first nine stations look clueless. Then a courtyard appears, hemmed in by other buildings and a doorway to one side. This leads to a vast area of huge stone architecture.

    5. Immediately inside the entrance is your first stop. It's the stone of anointing: this is the place, according to Greek tradition, where Christ was removed from the cross. The Roman Catholics, however, believe it to be the spot where Jesus' body was prepared for burial by Joseph.

    6. What happened next ? Jesus was buried. He was taken to a place outside the city of Jerusalem where other graves existed and there, he was buried in a cave. However, all that is along gone, destroyed by continued attacks and rebuilding; what remains is the massive - and impressive - Rotunda (a round building with a dome) that Emperor Constantine built. Under this, and right in the centre of the Rotunda. is the structure that contains the Holy Sepulchre.

    7. "How do you know that this is Jesus' tomb ?" I asked one of the pilgrims standing next to me. He was clueless, more interested, like the rest of them, in the novelty of it all and in photographing it, then in its history or tradition.

    8. At the start of the first century, the place was a disused quarry outside the city walls. According to the gospels, Jesus' crucifixion occurred 'at a place outside the city walls with graves nearby.....'. Archaeologists have discovered tombs from that era, so the site is compatible with the biblical period.

    9. The structure at the site is a marble tomb built over the original burial chamber. It has two rooms, and you enter four at a time into the first of these, the Chapel of the Angel. Here the angel is supposed to have sat on a stone to recount Christ's resurrection. A low door made of white marble, party worn away be pilgrims' hands, leads to a smaller chamber inside. This is the 'room of the tomb', the place where Jesus was buried.

    10. We entered in single file. On my right was a large marble slab that covered the original rock bench on which the body of Jesus was laid. A woman knelt and prayed. Her eyes were wet with tears. She pressed her face against the slab to hide them, but it only made it worse.

    On the basis of your understanding of this passage answer the following questions with the help of given options:

    (a) How does Jerusalem still retain the charm of ancient era?
    (i) There are narrow lanes.
    (ii) Roads are paved with cobblestones.
    (iii) People can be seen riding asses
    (iv) All of the above

    (b) Holy Sepulchre is sacred to _________.
    (i) Christianity
    (ii) Islam
    (iii) Judaism
    (iv) Both (i) and (iii)

    (c) Why does one have to constantly ask for directions to the church?
    (i) Its lanes are narrow.
    (ii) Entrance to the church is non-descript.
    (iii) People are not tourist-friendly.
    (iv) Everyone is lost in enjoying the romance of the place.

    (d) Where was Jesus buried?
    (i) In a cave
    (ii) At a place outside the city
    (iii) In the Holy Sepulchre
    (iv) Both (i) and (ii)

    Answer the following questions briefly:
    (e) What is the Greek belief about the 'stone of anointing'?
    (f) Why did Emperor Constantine build the Rotunda?
    (g) What is the general attitude of the pilgrims?
    (h) How is the site compatible with the biblical period?
    (i) Why did the pilgrims enter the room of the tomb in a single file?
    (j) Why did 'a woman' try to hide her tears?
    (k) Find words from the passage which mean the same as:
    (i) A large grave (para 3)
    (ii) Having no interesting features/dull (para 4) VIEW SOLUTION


  • Question 2
    Read the passage given below :

    1. We often make all things around us the way we want them. Even during our pilgrimages we have begun to look for whatever makes our heart happy, gives comfort to our body and peace to the mind. It is as if external solutions will fulfil or needs, and we do not want to make any special efforts even in our spiritual search. Our minds is resourceful − it works to find shortcuts in simple and easy ways.

    2. Even pilgrimages have been converted into tourism opportunities. Instead, we must awaken our conscience and souls and understand the truth. Let us not tamper with either our own nature of that of the Supreme.

    3. All our cleverness is rendered ineffective when nature does a dance of destruction. Its fury can and will wash away all imperfection. Indian culture, based on Vedic treatises, assists in human evolution, but we are not using our entire energy in distorting these traditions according to our convenience instead of making efforts to make ourselves worthy of them.

    4. The irony is that humans are not even aware of the complacent attitude they have allowed themselves to sink to. Nature is everyone's Amma and her fierce blows will sooner or later corner us and force us to understand this truth. Earlier, pilgrimages to places of spiritual significance were rituals that were undertaken when people became free from their worldly duties. Even now some seekers take up this pious religious journey as a path to peace and knowledge. Anyone travelling with this attitude feels and travels with only a few essential items that his body can carry. Pilgrims traditionally travelled light, on foot, eating light, dried chickpeas and fruits, or whatever was available. Pilgrims of olden days did not feel the need to stay in special AC bedrooms, or travel by luxury cars or indulge themselves with delicious food and savouries.

    5. Pilgrims traditionally moved ahead, creating a feeling of belonging towards all, conveying a message of brotherhood among all they came across whether in small caves, ashrams or local settlements. They received the blessings and congregations of yogis and mahatmas in return while conducting the dharma of their pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is like penance or sadhana to stay near nature and to experience a feeling of oneness with it, to keep the body healthy and fulfilled with the amount of food, while seeking freedom from attachments and yet remaining happy while staying away from relatives and associates.

    6. This is how a pilgrimage should be rather than making it like a picnic by taking a large group along and living in comfort, packing in entertainment, and tampering with environment. What is worse is giving a boost to the ego of having had a special darshan. Now alms are distributed, charity done while they brag about their spiritual experiences!

    7. We must embark on our spiritual journey by first understanding the grace and significance of a pilgrimage and following it up with the prescribed rules and rituals − this is what translates into the ultimate and beautiful medium of spiritual evolution. There is no justification for tampering with nature.

    8. A pilgrimage is symbolic of contemplation and meditation and acceptance, and is a metaphor for the constant growth or movement and love for nature that we should hold in our hearts.

    9. This is the truth!
    One the basis of your understanding of the above passage answer the questions that follow with the help of given options:

    (a) How can a pilgrim keep his body healthy?
    (i) By travelling light
    (ii) By eating small amount of food
    (iii) By keeping free from attachments
    (iv) Both (i) and (ii)

    (b) How do we satisfy our ego?
    (i) By having a special darshan
    (ii) By distributing alms
    (iii) By treating it like a picnic
    (iv) Both (i) and (ii)

    Answer the following as briefly as possible:
    (c) What change has taken place in our attitude towards pilgrimages?
    (d) What happens when pilgrimages are turned into picnics?
    (e) Why are we complacent in our spiritual efforts?
    (f) How does nature respond when we try to be clever with it?
    (g) In olden days with what attitude did people go on a pilgrimage?
    (h) What message does the passage convey to the pilgrims?
    (i) Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:
    (i) made/turned (para 3)
    (ii) very satisfied (para 4) VIEW SOLUTION


  • Question 3
    Read the passage given below :

    It is surprising that sometimes we don't listen to what people say to us. We hear them, but we don't listen to them. I was curious to know how hearing is different from listening. I had thought both were synonyms, but gradually, I realised there is a big difference between the two words.

    Hearing is a physical phenomenon. Whenever somebody speaks, the sound waves generated reach you, and you definitely hear whatever is said to you. However, even if you hear something, it doesn't always mean that you actually understand whatever is being said. Paying attention to whatever you hear means you are really listening. Consciously using your mind to understand whatever is being said is listening.

    Diving deeper, I found that listening is not only hearing with attention, but is much more than that. Listening is hearing with full attention, and applying our mind. Most of the time, we listen to someone, but our minds are full of needles chatter and there doesn't seem to be enough space to accommodate what is being spoken.

    We come with a lot of prejudices and preconceived notions about the speaker or the the subject on which he is talking. We pretend to listen to the speaker, but deep inside, we sit in judgement and are dying to pronounce right or wrong, true or false, yes or no. Sometimes, we even come prepared with a negative mindset of proving the speaker wrong. Even if the speaker says nothing harmful, we are ready pounce on him with our own version of things.

    What we should ideally do is listen first with full awareness. Once, we have done that, we can decide whether we want to make a judgement or not. Once we do that, communication will be perfect and our interpersonal relationship will become so much better. Listening well doesn't mean one has to say the right thing at the right moment. In fact, sometimes if words are left unspoken, there is a feeling of tension and negativity. Therefore, it is better to speak out your mind, but do so with awareness after listening to the speaker with full concentration.

    Let's look at this in another way. When you really listen, you imbibe not only what is being spoken, but you also understand what is not spoken as well. Most of the time we don't really listen even to people who really matter to us. That's how misunderstandings grow among families, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters.

    (A) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it, using heading and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary − minimum four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it.

    (B) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words. VIEW SOLUTION


  • Question 4
    Every year in the central park of the city a flower show is held in the month of February. Your school has received a circular from the District Collector inviting your students to visit it. Write a notice in about 50 words informing the students about the show and advising them to go and enjoy it. You are Navtej/Navita, Head Boy/Head Girl Sunrise Public School, Surat.
    OR

    Sarvodays Education Society, a charitable organisation is coming to your school to distribute books among the needy students. As Head Boy/Head Girl, Sunrise Public School, Surat, write a notice in about 50 words asking such students to drop the lists of books they need in the box kept outside the Principal's office. You are Navtej/Navita. VIEW SOLUTION


  • Question 5
    Recently you went to your native village to visit your grandparents. You saw that some of the children in the age group 5 − 14 (the age at which they should have been at school) remained at home, were working in the fields or simply loitering in the streets.
    Write a letter in 120-150 words to the editor of a national daily analyzing the problem and offering solutions to it. You are Navtej/Navita, M-114 Mount Kailash, Kanpur.

    OR

    When cricket teams go abroad the members are allowed to take their wives, even friends along with them. Does this fact distract them or help them to focus on their game in a better way? If it is good, why don't we allow our athletes to enjoy the same privilege?
    Write a letter to editor of a national daily in 120-150 words giving your views on the issue. You are Navtej/Navita, M-114 Mount Kailash, Kanpur. VIEW SOLUTION


  • Question 6

    Mobile phone of today is no longer a mere means of communication. Music lovers are so glued to it that they don't pay attention even to the traffic while crossing the roads. This leads to accidents sometimes even fatal ones.

    Write a speech in 150-200 words to be delivered in the morning assembly advising the students to be careful in the use of this otherwise very useful gadget. Imagine you are Principal of your school.

    OR

    Power shortage has become a norm even in the metropolitan cities. One way to face this situation is by prevention the wastage of power.

    Write a speech in 150-200 words on the importance of power in our daily life and how to save power at school and at home. Imagine that you are the Principal of your school.

    VIEW SOLUTION


  • Question 7
    Emotionally as well as intellectually, a woman is as good as a man if not better. Yet we don't allow her the same status as a man enjoys in society. Write an article in 150-200 words on 'Status of Women in Society'. You are Navtej/Navita.
     
    OR

    When children watch TV the adults generally scold them without realizing that some programmes on TV can be educative too. Write an article in 150-200 words on 'TV as a tool of instruction'. You are Navtaj/Navita. VIEW SOLUTION


  • Question 8
    Read the extract given below and answer the questions the follow :

    I saw my mother,
    beside me,
    doze, open mouthed, her face
    ashen like that
    of a corpse and realized with
    pain
    that she was as old as she
    looked but soon
    put that thought away,.......

    (a) What worried the poet when she looked at her mother ?
    (b) Why was there pain in her realization ?
    (c) Why did she put that thought away ?
    (d) Identify the figure of speech used in these lines.
     
    OR

    Far far from gusty waves these children's faces.
    Like rootless weeds. the hair torn round their pallor;
    The tall girl with her weighed-down head.

    (a) Who are these children ?
    (b) What does the poet mean by 'gusty waves' ?
    (c) What has possibly weighed−down the tall girl's head ?
    (d) Identify the figure of speech used in these lines. VIEW SOLUTION


  • Question 9

    Answer any four of the following in 30 – 40 words each :

    (a) What precautions were taken for the smooth conduct of Evan's O-Level examination ?

    (b) How did Jo want the Roger Skunk story to end ?

    (c) What makes human beings love life inspite of all the troubles they face?

    (A Thing of Beauty)

    (d) What is suggested by the phrase, 'massive weight of Uncle's wedding band' ?

    (Aunt Jennifer's Tigers)

    (e) How did Douglas remove his residual doubts about his fear of water ?

    (Deep Water)

    (f) Why did M. Hamel write 'Vive La France' on the blackboard ?

    (The Last Lesson)
    VIEW SOLUTION


  • Question 10
    Answer the following in 120-150 words:

    Giving a bribe is an evil practice. How did the Tiger King bribe the British officer to save his kingdom ? How do you view this act of his ?

    OR

    Dr. Sadao was a patriotic Japanese as well as a dedicated surgeon. How could he honour both the values ? VIEW SOLUTION


  • Question 11
    Answer the following question in 120-150 words :

    Describe the circumstances which keep the workers in the bangle industry in poverty.
     
    OR

    Edla proved to be much more persuasive than her father while dealing with peddler. Comment. VIEW SOLUTION


  • Question 12
    Answer the following in 120-150 words :

    Describe the ironical situation in which Silas Marner had to leave Lantern Yard.

     
    OR
     
    Within a few days of his arrival in Iping, people became suspicious of Griffin. Why? VIEW SOLUTION


  • Question 13
    Answer the following in 120-150 words:

    Describe Dolly Winthrop as the most lovable character in George Eliot's 'Silas Marner'.

    OR

    Attempt a character sketch of Marvel. VIEW SOLUTION
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