Indraprastha INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Sector 10, Dwarka, New Delhi 110075

SESSION: 2016 17
HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION
ENGLISH
SET A

Class: XII Maximum Marks: 100

Date: 21.9.2016 Time allowed: 3 Hours

General Instructions
This question paper contains 13 questions and 7 printed pages.
All the questions are compulsory.
Marks for each question are indicated against it.

SECTION - A (READING)

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. 12
1. The rock cut caves of Ajanta are world famous for their murals that demonstrate
the degree of skill and artistry that Indian craftsmen had achieved several hundred
years ago. The site of the caves, situated at a distance of 107 kilometres north of
Aurangabad, is an important tourist destination in the world. The caves get their
name from a nearby village called Ajanta.
2. These caves are excavated in a horse shoe shaped bend of rock surface almost 76
metres in height, overlooking a narrow stream known as Waghora. The site of this
valley once provided a calm and serene environment for the Buddhist monks who
retreated there during the rainy season. This retreat also provided them with
enough time for furthering their religious pursuits through intellectual discourses
for a considerably long period.
3. The site consists of many excavations. A total of thirty excavations were hewn out
of rock including an unfinished one. Many of the caves can be dated to the pre
Christian era, the earliest among them being from the second century BC. It is
understood that the art was financed by royal patronage of that time. Professional
artists carried out much of the work and each contributed his own individual skill
and devotion to this monumental work. The stupa formed the object of worship
here and these caves exhibit the imitation of wooden construction to the extent that
the rafters and beams are also sculpted even though they are non functional.
4. The new excavations were made again during the period of Vakatakas, the
contemporaries of the imperial Guptas. The caves were made to be excavated by
royal benefaction and the feudatories under the Vakatakas as illustrated by the
inscriptions found in the caves. The boom in activities at Ajanta was between the
mid fifth century AD and the mid sixth century AD. However, Hiuen Tsang, the
famous Chinese traveller who visited India during the first half of the seventh
centuryAD has left a vivid and graphic description of the flourishing Buddhist
establishment here, even though he did not visit the caves. A solitary Rashtrakuta
inscription in one of the caves indicates it use during the eighth ninth centuries
AD.

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 5. The second phase departs from the earlier one with the introduction of new
patterns in the layout as well as the centrality of the Buddha image, both in
sculpture as well as in paintings.
6. The world famous paintings at Ajanta can be classified into two broad phases. The
first phase is noticed in the form of fragmentary specimens which can be dated to
the second century BC. The headgear and the other ornaments of the images in
these paintings resemble the bas relief sculpture of Sanchi and Bharhut.
7. The second phase of paintings started around the fifth sixth centuries AD and
continued for the next two centuries. The variations in style and execution in these
paintings are mainly due to the different artists who made them. The main theme
of the paintings centre around Jataka stories, different incidents associated with the
life of Buddha, and also contemporary events and social life. The ceiling
decoration invariably consists of geometrical as well as floral patterns.

1.1 Choose the correct option: 4

(a) The word _______, in paragraph 2, means tranquil.
(i) calm
(ii) serene
(iii) both (i) and (ii)
(iv) retreat
(b) The word hewn, in paragraph 3, is the past participle form of the verb ______ .
(i) how
(ii) hew
(iii) hone
(iv) honed
(c) The rock cut caves of Ajanta are famous for ________.
(i) their murals
(ii) artistic sculpture
(iii) degree of skill of the Indian craftsman
(iv) all of the above

(d) _________is a form of sculpture.

(i) Bas relief
(ii) Jataka
(iii) Monumental
(iv) Sanchi

1.2 Answer the following questions briefly: 6

(a) Where are the Ajanta caves situated?
(b) How do the Ajanta caves get their name?
(c) Who was Hiuen Tsang?
(d) When was the boom in the activities at Ajanta?
(e) The Vakatakas were the contemporaries of which famous Indian imperial
dynasty?
(f) What are the characteristics of the first phase of Ajanta paintings?
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1.3 A. Pick out the words from the passage that mean the same as: 2
(a) scholarly (para 2)
(b) detailed (para 4)

2. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: 10

1. Today, India looks to be on the course to join the league of developed nations. It is
beginning to establish a reputation not just as the technology nerve centre and
back office of the world, but also as its production centre. Indias secularism and
democracy serve as a model for other developing countries. That India easily
integrates with the global economy, while maintaining its unique cultural identity,
is a matter of great pride.
2. But what is truly awe inspiring is Indias youth. Despite being an ancient
civilization that traces itself to the very dawn of human habitation, India is among
the youngest countries in the world. More than half the country is below 25 years
of age, and more than a third is below 15 years of age.
3. Growing up in the era of the ascent of Indias service industry, this group feels it
can be as good, if not better, than anyone else in the world. This confidence has
them demonstrating a great propensity to consume, throwing away ageing ideas of
asceticism and thrift. Even those who do not have enough to consume today feel
that they have the capability and opportunity to do so.
4. The economic activity created by the combination of a growing labour pool and a
rising consumption demand could be enough to propel Indias double digit
economic growth for decades to come. One just has to refer to the impact that the
baby boomers in the United States of America had over decades of economic
activity, as measured by equity and housing prices. This opportunity also
represents the greatest threat to Indias future. If the youth of India are not
properly educated and if enough jobs are not created, India will have forever lost
its opportunity. There are danger signs in abundance.
5. 53 percent of the students in primary schools in India drop out, one third of the
children in Class 5 cannot read, three quarters of the schools do not have
functioning toilets, the female literacy is only 45 percent and 80 million children
in the age group 6 14 do not even attend school.
6. Indias IT and BPO industries are engines of job creation, but they still account for
only 0.2 percent of Indias employment. The country has no choice but to
dramatically industrialize and inflate its domestic economy. According to a
forecast by the Boston Consulting Group, more than half of Indias unemployed
within the next decade could be its educated youth. This problem needs to be dealt
with an iron hand.
7. India is stuck in a quagmire of labour laws that hinder employment growth,
particularly in the manufacturing sector. Inflexible labour laws inhibit
entrepreneurship, so it is quite ironic that laws ostensibly designed to protect the
labour group actually discourage employment.
8. When it comes to domestic capital availability, budget deficits, which add up to 10
percent of the national GDP, are impeding capital availability for investment and
infrastructures.
9. Raising infrastructural spending, coupled with rapid privatization, may not only
create employment but also address the growing gaps in infrastructure. China has
eight times the highway miles as compared to India and has increased roads
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 significantly in the past few years while India has only inched along. Freight costs
at Indian ports are almost double the worldwide average, just to give two
examples.
10. Moreover, like the Lilliputians that kept the giant Gulliver tied down, there are
some 30, 000 statutes in India, of which only a portion is operational, and these
keep the employment creation engine tied down. Since there are no sunset
provisions in any of the laws, the regulatory morass only grows every year.
11. In the meantime, we, as citizens of the world and descendants of India, have to
make a difference. We have to ensure that India and its youth attain their highest
potential, both through business pursuits, and the support of educational charities,
on the ground proponents of participative democracy as well as other
deserving organizations and initiatives.
12. I believe that hope can triumph and that this can be Indias century not one that
will happen as surely as the sun will rise each day, but one that many willing
hands will need to create together.

2.1 Choose the correct option: 2

a) More than a ________ of Indias population is below the age of 15.

(i) half
(ii) third
(iii) fifth

b) __________ is the belief that religion should not be involved in the organization of
society, education, etc.
(i) Secularism
(ii) Democracy
(iii) Quagmire

2.2 On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions 6
briefly:

(i) What makes the author think India is on the verge of joining the select band of 2
developed nations?
(ii) The author feels that if certain problems are not arrested, India would lose its 2
opportunity. Why would India lose this opportunity? 1
(iii) What hinders employment growth in India?
(iv) Who/ what in the passage are referred to as the Lilliputians? 1

2.3 Pick out the words from the passage which mean the same as the following: 2

(i) association (Para 1)

(ii) saving (Para 3)

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3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: 8

The walls of high rises in cities are a favourite canvas for the practitioners of street art, all
over the world. As the popularity of this artistic trend keeps growing, the capital of India
is fast becoming an attractive spot for artists of this genre to show their talent. The chosen
districts walls are painted by artists who come from around the world. The location
chosen for such festivals is usually the central areas that are pedestrian friendly. Once the
location is identified, artists begin working on the walls in collaboration with the civic
authorities, transforming the place into a vibrant art district.
The current street art movement in India is being supported by 12 international artists
from Australia, the United States, Japan, France, Mexico, Germany, the Netherlands,
Uruguay, Iran, Poland, Spain and Italy. One of the most attractive of their creations is a
mural which is more than 90 feet wide.
The foremost among the artists is the Australian artist Reko Rennie who explores the
Aboriginal identity, using traditional geometric patterning. Ive always been drawn to
hand painted signage. India has an amazing variety of artists who specialize in this art
form - from local signs to hand painted trucks carrying freight. That was another reason to
use patterning, says Rennie.
Meanwhile, a Japanese artist from Hiroshima, Suiko, is working on his take on the lake in
Lodi Gardens a pink lotus blooming in broad graffiti strokes at Khanna Market, while
French artist Chifumi, paints his interpretation of the Padma Mudra, on a wall in
Meherchand Market.
On this platform, Indian artists are resuscitating regional art forms on large scales. Rakesh
Kumar, a Delhi based street artist, is working on a Gond art inspired mural that depicts
an elephant whose tusks represent the forests, showcasing the bond between animals and
nature. He has made a 25 x 80 feet mural. The difficult part of doing this large scale
painting, especially Gond art style, is the details. It takes time to fill them in, he surmises.
Each mural typically takes over 10days to complete. The artists battle pollution, winds
and busy streets as they use ladders or trolleys to finish their enormous artworks. Most
people stare at us as we work. Before it is complete, most people think that we are just
killing time, says Kumar. Their idea behind creating these murals is to make Delhiites
proud of their public places. Besides, the artworks also discourage people from spitting
and littering the streets and instill a sense of ownership among them.
Besides the wall art, plans are on to set up walk through installations, based on the
continuous stream of constructions in the city. The installation will provide an open lab to
artists to work under the public eye over the next two months. Once the exhibition has
closed the containers used to transport equipment for the installations shall remain painted
and used for transporting goods.
The makeover has been just in time, according to Delhis citizen onlookers. With the
onset of spring, the walls in their locality will have a whole new flash of colour to flaunt.

3.1 On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes using points only. Use 5
abbreviations wherever necessary (minimum five). Supply a suitable title.

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3.2 Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words. 3

SECTION - B (ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS)

4. You are Aryan/ Asha of 467, Vikas Marg, Jaipur. You wish to sell your old car. Prepare 4
an advertisement to be published in the For Sale column of a newspaper in about 50
words.

5. You are Kavita Puri, Computer Incharge of DPS, Panipat City. Your school wishes to buy 6
20 computers and computer accessories from Apple Inc., 126, Ambiences Palace, New
Delhi. Draft a letter placing the order, giving all the specifications of the products and the
quantity in about 120 150 words.

6. Write an article for your school magazine on the topic, Life Without Modern Gadgets.
You are Raman/ Ruchika. (Word limit: 150- 200 words) 10

7. Corruption is an evil which prevails in each and every nook and corner of our lives. As
President, Students Council, write a speech expressing the need to curb this evil
immediately. (Word limit: 150 200 words) 10

SECTION C (LITERATURE & LONG READING TEXT)

8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: 4

The stunted, unlucky heir

Of twisted bones, reciting a fathers gnarled disease,
His lesson, from his desk. At the back of the dim class
One unnoted, sweet and young. His eyes live in a dream,
Of squirrels game, in tree room, other than this.

i. Who is the unlucky heir and what has he inherited?

ii. What is the stunted boy reciting?
iii. Who is sitting at the back of the class?
iv. How is the one sitting at the back different from the others in his class?

OR

Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing

A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
On noble natures, of the gloomy days
Of all the unhealthy and darkened ways
Made for our searching:

i. What does the poet mean by the flowery band?

ii. Explain the meaning of the word wreathing and the context in which it has
been used.
iii. What are the things that the poet mentions, that constitute the normal course of
life?

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 iv. What has been made for our searching?

9. Read the following questions and answer any four in about 30 40 words each: 12
(3x4=12)
i. Seemapuri is on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it
metaphorically. What does the author mean by this?
ii. Why did the peddler derive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rattrap?
iii. Why was Sophie jealous of Geoffs silence?
iv. Give two reasons why Dr. Sadao was not sent abroad with the Japanese troops.
v. Do you think the poet, Pablo Neruda, in the poem Keeping Quiet, advocates
total inactivity and death? Why/ why not?

10. Answer the following question in about 150 words: 6

Self reliance, Indian independence and help to sharecroppers were all bound together.
Elucidate with reference to the lesson Indigo.

11.
11.A Answer the following question in about 150 words: 6

Desire, determination and diligence lead to success. Explain the value of these qualities in
the light of Douglas experience in Deep Water.

12. Describe the scene outside the inn when the strangers luggage arrived at Iping village. 6
What led to the villagers suspecting the stranger? Write the answer in about 120- 150
words.

13. Compare and contrast Mrs. and Mr. Hall with regard to their views about the stranger who 6
came to stay at the inn. Write in about 120- 150 words.

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