CBSE Sample Paper 2020-21 English Core (301) for class 11
Class-XI
Time Allowed: 3:00 hr
Maximum Marks: 80
All questions are compulsory.
Q.1 Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow: (12 Marks)
- In life we sometimes have disagreements with people. It could be with your partner, with your boss, with your parents, or with a friend. When this happens, the important thing is to try not to let a calm discussion turn into a heated argument. But of course this is easier said than done.
- The first thing I would say is that the way you begin the conversation is very important. Imagine you are a student and you share a flat with another student who you think isn’t doing her share of the housework. If you say, ‘Look, you never do your share of the housework. What are we going to do about it?’, the discussion will very soon turn into an argument. It’s much more constructive to say something like, ‘I think we’d better have another look about how we divide up the housework. Maybe there’s a better way of doing it.’
- My second piece of advice is simple. If you’re the person who is in the wrong, just admit it! This is the easiest and best way to avoid an argument. Just apologize to your flat mate, your parents, or your husband, and move on. The other person will have more respect for you in the future if you do that.
- The next tip is don’t exaggerate. Try not to say things like ‘You always come home late when my mother comes to dinner’ when perhaps this has only happened twice, or ‘You never remember to buy the toothpaste.” This will just make the other person think you’re being unreasonable, and will probably make him or her stop listening to your arguments.
- Sometimes we just can’t avoid a discussion turning into an argument. But if you do start arguing with someone, it is important to keep things under control and there are ways to do this.
- The most important thing is don’t raise your voice. Raising your voice will just make the other person losses their temper too. If you find yourself raising your voice, stop for a moment and take a deep breath. Say ‘I’m sorry I shouted, but this is very important to me’, and continue calmly. If you can talk calmly and quietly, you’ll find your partner will be more ready to think about what you are saying.
- It is also very important to stick to the point. Try to keep to the topic you are talking about. Don’t bring up old arguments, or try to bring in other’ issues. Just concentrate on solving the one problem you are having, and leave the other things for another time. So, for example, if you’re arguing about the housework, don’t start talking about mobile phone bills as well.
- And my final tip is that if necessary call ‘Time out’, like in a sports match. If you think that an argument is getting out of control, then you can say-to the other person, ‘Listen, I’d rather talk about this tomorrow when we’ve both calmed down’. You can then continue the discussion the next day when perhaps both of you are feeling less tense and angry. That way there is much more chance that you will be able to reach an agreement. You’ll also probably find that the problem is much easier to solve when you’ve both had a good night’s sleep. Well, those are my tips.
- But I want to say one last important thing. Some people think that arguing is always bad. This is not true. Conflict is a normal part of life, and dealing with conflict is an important part of any relationship, whether it’s three people sharing a flat, a married couple, or just two good friends. If you don’t learn to argue properly, then when a real problem comes along, you won’t be prepared to face it together. Think of the smaller arguments as training sessions. Learn how to argue cleanly and fairly. It will help your relationship become stronger and last longer.
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage answer each of the following questions by selecting the most appropriate option from the given ones.
i) ………….. is easy to suggest but quite difficult to do.
a) To have disagreements with people.
b) Not to let a peaceful discussion change into a heated argument.
c) “Never raise you voice”
d) To have heated argument with friends.
Answer: b) Not to let a peaceful discussion change into a heated argument.
ii) In case we are wrong we should ………….. to avoid argument.
a) Flat mate
b) exaggerate
c) respect
d) apologies
Answer: d) apologies
iii) The second paragraph suggests when we ………….. others, it leads to argument.
a) Share the work with
b) accuse
c) divide the work a new with
d) only (a) & (b)
Answer:b) accuse
iv) ………….. can help strengthen relationships.
a) Learning to argue clearly
b) Learning to avoid arguments
c) Learning to argue fairly
d) Only (a) and (c)
Answer:b) Learning to avoid arguments
Answer the following questions briefly:
i) What happens if a complaint is exaggerated?
Answer: Makes other person think you are unreasonable / may stop listening to your arguement.
ii) Name two activities that to help to keep arguments under control.
Answer:Learning to agrue clearly and fairly. Time out.
iii) Raising our voice in an argument is not good. Why?
Answer:Makes other person lose temper.
iv) What happens if we don’t learn to argue properly?
Answer: We fail to deal with conflicts which are part and parcel of life.
v) How does ‘Time Out’ help’ in argument?
Answer: One feels less tense and angry and it helps reach an agreement.
vi) When is your partner in an argument more ready to think about your point of view?
Answer: If you keep to the topic.
vii) Find words/phrases from the passage which mean the OPPOSITE as each of the following
a) Surely (Para-4)
Answer: Perheps
b) Initial (Para 8)
Answer: Final
Q-2. Read the following passage and answers the questions that follow: (8 marks)
- The tests of life are its plus factors. Overcoming illness and suffering is a plus factor for it moulds character. Steel is iron plus fire, soil is rock plus heat. So let’s include the plus factor in our lives.
- Sometimes the plus factor is more readily seen by the simple hearted. Myers tells the story of a mother who brought into her home – as a companion to her own sona little boy who happened to have a hunch back. She had warned her son to be careful, not to refer to his disability. The boys were playing and after a few minutes she overheard her son say to his companion “Do you know what you have got on your back?” The little boy was embarrassed, but before he could reply, his playmate continued ” It is the box in which your wings are, and some day God is going to cut it open and then you will fly away and be an angel.”
- Often it takes a third eye or a change in focus, to see the plus factor. Walking along the corridors of a hospital recently where patients were struggling with fear of pain and tests, I was perturbed. What gave me a fresh perspective were the sayings put up everywhere, intended to uplift. One saying made me conscious of the beauty of the universe in the midst of pain, suffering and struggle. The other saying assured me that God was with me when 1 was in deep water and that no troubles would overwhelm me.
- The import of those sayings also made me aware of the nectar springs that flow into people’s lives when they touch rock bottom or are lonely or guilt ridden. The nectar springs make recovery possible, and they bring peace and patience in the midst of negative forces.
- The forces of death and destruction are not so much physical as they are psychic and psychological. When malice, hatred and hard heartedness prevail, they get channeled as forces of destruction. Where openness, peace and good heartedness prevail, the forces of life gush forth to regenerate hope and joy. The life force is triumphant when love overcomes fear. Both fear and love are deep mysteries, but the effect of love is to build, whereas fear tends to destroy. Love is generally the plus factor that helps build character. It creates bonds and its reach is infinite.
- It is true there is no shortage of destructive elements – forces and people who seek to destroy others and in the process destroy themselves — but at the same time there are signs of love and life everywhere that are constantly enabling us to overcome Setbacks. So let’s not look at gloom and doom – let us seek positivity and happiness. For it is when you seek that you will find what is waiting to be discovered.
i) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes on it in points only, using abbreviations, wherever necessary. Also suggest a suitable title. (5 marks)
ii) Write a summary of the passage in not more than 80 words, using the notes you have made. (3 marks)
Q-3. You are going abroad. You want to sell your house, built three years ago. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words giving all the necessary Details of the house and its locality. Contact no. XXXXXXXX (4 marks)
Or
Your school is going to organize a Diwali Mela. Design a poster to inform the students about it. (50 words)
CBSE Sample Paper Class 11 English (Old)
Q-4. You are Deepak/Deepika 14, Mall Road Kochi. You saw an advertisement put up by Excellent coaching centre which provides coaching for Medical Entrance Exam. As you are interested in enrolling yourself, write a letter in 120-150 words to the Director; Excellent coaching centre, Chennai requesting him to inform you about the necessary details. (6 marks)
Or
Last month you purchased a TV set from Ram Electronics, Pushp Vihar, Ambala. It is not working properly (imagine a few defects). Write a letter of complaint in 120-150 words to the Manager asking for repair or replacement. You are Amar/Amrita, M 114, Model Town, Ambala.
Q-5. Mobile phones have influenced children in a big way. Write an article in 150-200 words on how they have affected the younger generation. You are Ekta/Eklavya. (10 marks)
Or
Cultural society of Sunshine Public School, Nellore organized an adult literacycamp in its neighborhood. Write a report in 150-200 words on the camp for your school newsletter. You are PV Sumita / PV Sumit.
Q-6. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Underline the error and write the correct word in front of it in your Answer sheet: (4 marks)
Incorrect Correct
The next day during an break (a)………….. …………..
When all the teacher and students (b) ________ _________
Was eating their snacks, the mother (c) ________ _________
Left the school building horridly (d) ________ _________
The boy saw him walking (e) ________ _________
Quickly from of the school gate (f) ________ _________
When he was drank water after (g) ________ _________
His meal and wonder where his (h) ________ _________
Mother was going.
Q-7. Complete the following sentences by filling in the correct form of the verb. (4 marks)
In the last hundred years, travelling (a) ………….. (become) much easier and very comfortable. In the 19th century, it (b) ………….. (take) two or three days to cross North America by a covered wagon. The trip (c) ………….. (be) very rough and often dangerous. Things (d) ………….. (change) a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.
Q-8. Rearrange the following words or phrases to make meaningful sentences: (2 marks)
i) The / on / forests / the / industry / oil / depends
ii) Do / get / the / forests / from / what / we products /?
Q-9. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:(3 marks)
The sea holiday
Was her past, mine is her laughter. Both wry
With the labored ease of loss.
i) Which sea holiday is referred to here?
ii) What was poetess past?
iii) Why is the poetess nostalgic about her mother’s laughter?
Or
Father and son, we both must live
On the same globe and the same land,
He speaks: I cannot understand
Myself, why anger grow from grief.
We each put out an empty hand,
Longing for something to forgive.
i) Why must father and son live on the same globe and the same land?
ii) Explain: I cannot understand myself.
iii) What does ‘empty hand’ signify?
Q-10. Answer any three of the following questions in 30 to 40 words. (9 marks)
i) What did the child feel when he discovered that he could use his mind according to his own thinking?
Answer: The kid found that he had grown up intellectually and had the option to take his
own choices.
ii) “Eternal, I rise impalpable”. What gives eternity to rain?
Answer: Rain water cycle makes it endless as it emerges from the land and remote ocean. It accumulates in the sky, changes its structure and afterward boils down to the earth.
iii) What effect did Tut’s demise have on his dynasty?
Answer:King Tutankhamun was the last pharaoh of his line that controlled Egypt for decade. The administration shook down after the downfall of lord Tut.
iv) How was the common link of friendship between the grandmother and the grandson snapped?
Answer: When creator’s family settled down in the city, the grandma proved unable go with him to the school as he would pass by engine transport. She couldn’t to help the grandson in his investigations additionally so the normal connection between their kinship snapped.
v) How did Einstein’s medical certificate prove useless?
Answer:Einstein got clinical testament with Yuri’s assistance yet he was ousted from the school by the head educator since he was turning defiant. So the clinical testament was demonstrated pointless.
Q-11. What social message does the play ‘Mother’s Day’ Convey? How relevant is it in the present day context?(6 marks)
Answer:
The play ‘Mother’s Day’ raises a difficult issue. The treatment is obviously, comic to show the presence and significance of housewife. She plays a ton of jobs and performs all the obligations with tolerance and everything her strength. The mother’s over the top love, care and concern ought to be regarded and recognized by the relatives. She ought to not be underestimated since she is the foundation of the family. Indeed, even in the twenty first century ladies deal with similar issues regardless of the discussion of ladies strengthening.
They face actual torture and mental pain in current culture. This play passes on the message to determine the issues to blend the general public.
Q-12. Hardships often bring out the best in people. Do you agree? Why/why not? (6 marks)
Answer:
Life isn’t the walk in the park consistently. We face dangerous esituations ordinarily. Be that as it may we ought to respond to these circumstances with persistence and determination. Affliction is the valid trial of character. risks draw out the best in us. Dread is the negative inclination that prompts dormancy and give up to conditions. Such individuals lose against the chances throughout everyday life. The people with self confidence, boldness genius and presence of psyche face all the risks intensely and conquer all calamities.
Their mindful and sharing demeanor sets models for others to handle the unfavorable
circumstance courageously and to beat them.
Q-13. Based on your reading of the lesson “The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role”, write your views about the topic “Conservation need of the hour”. (6 marks)
Q-13 Answer:
This world provider every one of our necessities. In any case, we don’t have a freehold on it. We are not its aces. We have not acquired it from our ancestors. Or maybe we have acquired it from our kids. Furthermore, we need to give it back to them in great structure. We ought to take from it however much we reward it. On the off chance that we cut down woods for our utilization, we should plant new trees to supplant them To address our issues, we ought not make an abuse of our common assets. We ought to consistently remember the requirements of the people in the future too. We need to see that this world remaining parts reasonable for our youngsters too.
On the off chance that we are not deliberately mindful of saving backwoods and regular assets to meet the requirements of our people in the future then we will leave for them progressing deserts, devastated scenes and a debilitated climate. Subsequently, protection of assets alongside economical improvement is the most grounded needs of great importance.
Or
“The school system often curbs individual talents”. Discuss the statement with reference to the lesson ‘Albert Einstein at School’.
Answer:
In Einstein’s Germany, understudies were not urged to comprehend things by thinking. The instructors were not prepared to tune in to the sensible contentions of the understudies. The guardians additionally needed that their wards should concentrate in such a framework also, get a recognition. Without really focusing on youngster brain research and individual potential, the same sort of instruction was given to all. The accentuation was laid on the scholarly information. Einstein used to peruse the books of science all alone. The school educators never minded to pass judgment on the concealed ability of the understudies. The individuals who didn’t take in exercises were ousted from the school.
Indeed, even Einstein himself was ousted from the school by the dean on the affection of history instructor Mr. Braun’s perception that Albert would frequently upset and divert the typical course of instructing in class. These is an earnest need to embrace a more commonsense educational program in schools in India even today with the goal that the uniqueness of each kid can brought out and supported.