ENGLISH अंग्रेजी SET / सेट A
Maximum Marks : 80
हायर सेकेण्डरी मुख्य परीक्षा वर्ष - 2025
Higher Secondary Examination (Main) - 2025
Instructions:
(1) Attempt all questions.
(2) Read the instructions carefully.
(3) Marks allotted to each question are indicated against
it.
SECTION 'A'
(Reading)
1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions
given below it :
Education is a sub-system of the wider social system.
Although it functions autonomously, it has linkage with economic, political,
religious and other sub-systems which exert a powerful influence on the goals
of the educational sub-systems. Education can rarely free itself from social
and cultural norms and has to relate itself to the needs of society. Due to
globalization and modernization, our society is passing through momentous
changes in its value system. Values of yesteryears have taken a backseat and
materialism, corruption, dishonesty and other negative values have come to the
fore. At this junction, all formal and informal agencies of education like
family, school and community should realize the explosiveness of the situation.
It is rightly said that values cannot be taught, they are caught. All the
agencies should become role models if we want our youth to be on the right
path. Absence of a congenial and loving atmosphere and quarrel among parents
are the major hurdles in this direction. In a nutshell, the family has ceased
to be an institution for providing cultural, aesthetic and moral education.
On the other hand, formal education is squeezed between
memory and mechanization. The teacher has become a businessman doing private
tuition instead of institutional teaching. Race for degrees and jobs has
deteriorated the situation further. The National Policy of Education (1986) has
shown concern in this regard when it says, "The growing concern over the
erosion of essential values and an increasing cynicism in society has brought
to focus the need for re-adjustment in the curriculum in order to make education
a forceful tool for the cultivation of social and moral values." The whole
system of education needs complete over-hauling. If at all, we the citizens are
desirous of thwarting deterioration in values, teaching at all levels must
emphasize on moral education and character building. Intellect without wisdom
can be suicidal.
**Questions:**
(i) Education is a sub-system of the wider
(a) social system
(b) political system
(c) economical system
(d) religious system
(ii) Our society is passing through momentous change in its
value system due to
(a) globalization
(b) modernization
(c) globalization and
modernization
(d) political change
(iii) _______ is an informal agency of education.
(a) Family
(b) School
(c) Office
(d) College
(iv) Values cannot be taught, they are.......
(a) bought
(b) caught
(c) read
(d) deteriorated
(v) Formal education is squeezed between
(a) memory and
mechanization
(b) family and
society
(c) society and
school
(d) school and
politics
(vi) The word 'congenial' in the passage means.........
(a) favourable
(b) unfavourable
(c) peace
(d) fight
(vii) The noun form of the word 'deteriorated' is---------------
(a) deteriorate
(b) deterioration
(c) deteriorating
(d) determination
(viii) _______ has ceased to be an institution for providing
cultural, aesthetic and moral education.
(a) The school
(b) The society
(c) The family
(d) Nation
(ix) The whole system of education needs a complete _______
(a) change
(b) privatization
(c) nationalization
(d) over-hauling
(x) Intellect without wisdom can be..............
(a) meaningful
(b) powerful
(c) suicidal
(d) pleasant
**2. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions
given below it:**
The scriptures clearly define the three qualities - Tamas,
Rajas and Sattva present in all of us. Tamas is inertia or resistance to
transformation. Rajas is aggressiveness, restlessness or result-oriented
action. Sattva is the characteristic of purity inside us. As human beings, all
of us have this quality of Sattva, which gives us patience, tolerance and
establishes us in a state of utter tranquility. But our Sattvic nature has been
pushed to the background. That is why we make no progress in spiritual practices
like meditation. Total confusion, problems and worries are the fruits of Tamas.
Lack of peace or a disturbed mind is the fruit of Rajas. Peace, happiness and
contentment are the fruits of Sattva. Our Sattvic nature is given to us in the
form of energy by God himself. It empowers us to cope with problems in a very
systematic way without affecting our mental peace or depleting our human
qualities. It turns us to divinity and activates our Soul. Just like we
preserve our food using a preservative, we should preserve our minds using the
energy called Sattva. If we want to have unflagging inspiration, zeal, zest and
dynamism, we have to soak our minds in Sattva.
**Questions:**
(i) Make notes on the above passage. [3]
(ii) Give a suitable title to the passage. [1]
**SECTION 'B'**
**(Writing)**
**3.** You are Amit/Amita, the cultural secretary of your
school. Draft a notice giving information about the selection of two
participants from school to take part in the inter-school debate competition.
[4]
**OR**
You are Mridul/Mridula. You want to settle in another city.
You want to sell certain household goods. Design a suitable advertisement to be
published in a local newspaper.
**4.** Write a formal invitation letter to the students of
your school to attend the career counselling programme to be held in your
school on IIT-JEE and NEET. [4]
**OR**
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper,
expressing your concern over the increase in the rate of road accidents, rash
driving and suggesting ways to control over the accidents. Give possible
solutions.
**5.** Write a paragraph in about 120 words on any one of
the following topics: [4]
(i) Science and Technology
(ii) The importance of English Language
(iii) My Ideal Leader
(iv) Online learning uses and abuses.
**OR**
Write a newspaper report in about 120 words to be published
in a newspaper about the inauguration of Annual Function of your school. Use
following inputs - Date, time and place, chief guest, chairman, warm welcome,
events performed, prize distribution, speeches by guests, vote of thanks.
**SECTION - 'C'**
**(Grammar)**
**6. Fill in the blanks choosing the correct option: (any
five)
(i) This table is made _______ wood.
(a) from
(b) of
(c) off
(d) with
(ii) Would you like to have _______ tea or coffee?
(a) some
(b) any
(c) many
(d) few
(iii) I know _______ boy who cheated you.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
(iv) It _______ heavily since morning.
(a) is raining
(b) was raining
(c) has been raining
(d) rains
(v) He _______ speak English fluently.
(a) may
(b) might
(c) could
(d) can
(vi) Mohan is senior _______ Rakesh.
(a) than
(b) from
(c) to
(d) on
(vii) Sunil works hard _______ he may get good marks.
(a) so
(b) though
(c) so that
(d) and
**7. Do as directed: (any five)** **$5 \times 1=5$**
(i) Someone is calling my name. (change the voice)
(ii) He is intelligent. He is hard working. (Combine the
sentences using 'both.....and')
(iii) Physics is more difficult than any other subject.
(Rewrite the sentence using the a positive degree of the adjective used)
(iv) No sooner does a thief see a policeman than he runs
away. (Rewrite the sentence using 'as soon as')
(v) (a) The man is our new English teacher. (b) The man is
wearing a white shirt. (Combine the above simple sentences to make a complex
sentence)
(vi) She shut the door. (Change into a negative sentence)
(vii) She is very weak. She cannot walk. (Combine the
sentences using 'so......that')
**SECTION 'D'**
**(Literature)**
**8. Read the following extract carefully and answer the
questions given below :** **$5 \times 1=5$**
The make-up room had the look of a hair-cutting salon with
lights at all angles around half a dozen large mirrors. They were all
incandescent lights, so you can imagine the fiery misery of those who subjected
to make-up. The make-up department was first headed by a Bengali who became too
big for a studio and left. He was succeeded by a Maharashtrian who was assisted
by a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese
and the usual local Tamils.
**Questions:**
(i) The make-up room looked like a
(a) light room
(b) mirror room
(c) hair-cutting
salon
(d) studio
(ii) Who became the head of the studio just after a Bengali?
(a) a Dharwar
Kannadiga
(b) a Christian
(c) a Maharashtrian
(d) a Tamil
(iii) Alongwith the usual local Tamils, the Maharashtrian
was assisted by
(a) two persons
(b) three persons
(c) four persons
(d) five persons
(iv) Find a word from the extract that means very shiny.
(a) mirror
(b) incandescent
(c) misery
(d) succeed
(v) From which lesson has this extract been taken?
(a) Poets and
Pancakes
(b) Indigo
(c) Going Places
(d) The Interview
**9. (A) Read the following extract carefully and answer the
questions that follow it :** **$3 \times 1=3$**
Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
**Questions:**
(i) The word in the extract that means to jump is
(a) denizens
(b) prance
(c) beneath
(d) chivalric
(ii) The poet who wrote these lines is
(a) Adrienne Rich
(b) Kamala Das
(c) Robert Frost
(d) Pablo Neruda
(iii) The tigers run in the green fields
(a) cowardly
(b) slowly
(c) bravely
(d) sadly
B) Read the following extract carefully and answer the
questions given below it:
Dr. Sadao Hoki's house was built on a spot of the Japanese
coast where as a little boy he had often played. The low, square stone house
was set upon rocks well above a narrow beach that was outlined with bent pines.
As a boy Sadao had climbed the pines, supporting himself on his barefeet, as he
had seen men do in the South Seas when they climbed for coconuts.
Questions:
(i) Dr. Sadao Hoki's house was built
(a) in plains
(b) near a coast
(c) at the top of a
hill
(d) in the forest
(ii) _______ trees outlined Dr. Sadao Hoki's house.
(a) Pine
(b) Coconut
(c) Apple
(d) Guava
(iii) The antonym of the word narrow is
(a) tight
(b) heavy
(c) broad
(d) sweet
(iv) This extract has been taken from the lesson
(a) The Enemy
(b) The Third Level
(c) Memories of
Childhood
(d) The Tiger King
(i) What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school
that day?
(ii) Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles
industry?
(iii) Why was the Crofter so talkative and friendly with the
peddler?
(iv) How did the instructor 'build a swimmer' out of
Douglas?
(v) What does V. S. Naipaul say about an interview?
(vi) What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of?
(vii) When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?
11. Answer the following questions in about 30 words each:
(attempt any three)
(i) Why are the young trees described as 'sprinting' in the
poem 'My Mother at Sixty Six'?
(ii) What can the Earth teach us? Answer in light of the
poem 'Keeping Quiet'.
(iii) What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles
and sufferings?
(iv) What was the plea of the folk who had put up the
roadside stand?
12. Answer any two of the following questions in about 30
words each:
(i) Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape
for Charley? Why?
(ii) What did the Maharaja do to find the required number of
tigers to kill?
(iii) How do geological phenomena help us to know about the
history of humankind?
13. Answer any two of the following questions in about 75
words each.
(i) How did Franz's feelings about M. Hamel and school
change?
(ii) What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen
into a rat-trap?
(iii) Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of 25 percent
refund to the farmers?
14. Answer any one of the following questions in about 75
words : [3]
(i) What is suggested by the image 'massive weight of
Uncle's wedding band'?
(ii) Write the central idea of the poem 'My Mother at Sixty
Six'.
15. Answer any one of the following questions in about 75
words [3]
(i) Write the character sketch of Mr. Lamb.
(ii) Write the character sketch of Derry.
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Section 'A'
1. Reading (Passage)
(i) Education is a part of the bigger social system.
(ii) Our society's values are changing because of globalization and modernization.
(iii) The family is an informal way of getting an education.
(iv) Values are not taught, they are caught (meaning they are learned by seeing what others do).
(v) Formal education is stuck between memory and mechanization (just memorizing things and doing them like a machine).
(vi) 'Congenial' means favourable or pleasant.
(vii) The noun form of 'deteriorated' is deterioration.
(viii) The family has stopped being a place for cultural, moral, and artistic education.
(ix) The whole education system needs a complete over-hauling (a total fix or change).
(x) Being smart without having wisdom can be suicidal.
2. Reading (Passage)
(i) Notes:
Three Qualities in People:
Tamas: Laziness and resistance. Leads to problems and worries.
Rajas: Being aggressive or restless. Leads to a disturbed mind and no peace.
Sattva: Purity and calmness. Leads to happiness and peace.
Why Sattva is Important:
It's an energy from God.
Helps us deal with problems without getting stressed.
Keeps our mind pure, just like a preservative keeps food fresh.
Gives us inspiration and energy.
(ii) Title: The Power of Sattva
Section 'B' (Writing)
3. Notice (Easy)
NOTICE Debate Competition
Date: 25 September, 2025
Our school is holding a debate competition. We need two students to represent us. The topic is "Online Education is a Boon or a Bane."
If you want to join, give your name to me by 28 September. The selection will be on 30 September in the school hall.
Amit/Amita (Cultural Secretary)
OR
Advertisement (Easy)
FOR SALE
Selling household things because I'm moving. Items: Sofa, bed, dining table, fridge, washing machine. Everything is in good condition. Prices are reasonable.
Contact Mridul/Mridula at 9876543210.
4. Letter (Easy)
Formal Invitation
[Your School Name] [Your School Address] Date: 25 September, 2025
Subject: Invitation for a program on IIT-JEE and NEET.
Dear Students,
You are invited to a special program about careers. Experts will give advice on how to prepare for the IIT-JEE and NEET exams.
This will help you with your future.
Date: [Date] Time: [Time] Venue: [School Hall]
Please attend.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
(On behalf of the School)
OR
Letter to the Editor (Easy)
To The Editor [Newspaper Name] [City] Date: 25 September, 2025
Subject: My concern about too many road accidents.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing this letter because I am worried about the increasing number of road accidents in our city. Many accidents happen because of fast and careless driving. This is very dangerous for everyone.
Here are some ideas to help:
Police should be stricter and give bigger fines.
More campaigns are needed to teach people to drive safely.
We should install more cameras to catch people who break the rules.
I hope you will publish this letter to make people and officials aware of this problem.
Thank you, [Your Name] [Your Address]
5. Paragraph (Easy)
Science and Technology
Science and technology are very important in our lives. Science helps us understand the world, and technology uses that knowledge to create useful things. For example, science discovered electricity, and technology gave us lights and computers.
In medicine, technology gives us new machines and medicines that save lives. On our phones, we can talk to anyone in the world instantly. But we must be careful. Technology can also be misused, like for online crimes. We must use science and technology responsibly to make the world a better place.
OR
Newspaper Report (Easy)
Annual Function a Great Success
[City, Date] The annual function of our school was held on [Date]. A famous person, [Chief Guest's Name], was our chief guest. The event began with a warm welcome for the guests.
Students performed many events like dances, songs, and skits. Everyone loved the performances. After the performances, the chief guest gave prizes to students who did well in studies and other activities. The chief guest also gave a nice speech, encouraging the students. The program ended with a vote of thanks.
Section 'C' (Grammar)
6. Fill in the blanks
(i) This table is made of wood.
(ii) Would you like to have some tea or coffee?
(iii) I know the boy who cheated you. (We use 'the' because we are talking about a specific boy.)
(iv) It has been raining heavily since morning. (This is for an action that started in the past and is still happening.)
(v) He can speak English fluently.
(vi) Mohan is senior to Rakesh. (This is a special rule for words like 'senior', 'junior', 'superior'.)
(vii) Sunil works hard so that he may get good marks.
7. Do as directed
(i) My name is being called.
(ii) He is both intelligent and hard-working.
(iii) No other subject is as difficult as Physics.
(iv) As soon as a thief sees a policeman, he runs away.
(v) The man who is wearing a white shirt is our new English teacher.
(vi) She did not shut the door.
(vii) She is so weak that she cannot walk.
Section 'D' (Literature)
8. Reading Extract (Prose)
(i) The make-up room looked like a hair-cutting salon.
(ii) Just after a Bengali, a Maharashtrian became the head.
(iii) The Maharashtrian was helped by four persons
(a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Christian, and an Anglo-Burmese).
(iv) The word that means "very shiny" is incandescent.
(v) This is from the lesson Poets and Pancakes.
9. Reading Extract (Poetry)
(A) (i) The word for "to jump" is prance.
(ii) The poet is Adrienne Rich.
(iii) The tigers run bravely.
(B) (i) Dr. Sadao's house was built near a coast.
(ii) Pine trees were around his house.
(iii) The opposite of 'narrow' is broad.
(iv) This is from the lesson The Enemy.
0. Short Questions (छोटे प्रश्न)
(i) What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day? (फ्रान्ज़ ने उस दिन स्कूल के बारे में क्या असामान्य देखा?)
Answer: He noticed that the school was completely quiet, not like other days. (उसने देखा कि स्कूल पूरी तरह शांत था, बाकी दिनों की तरह नहीं।)
(ii) Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry? (कांच की चूड़ियां बनाने के उद्योग में काम करने के क्या खतरे हैं?)
Answer: The workers can get sick from the hot air and glass dust, which can make them blind. (श्रमिक गर्म हवा और कांच की धूल से बीमार हो सकते हैं, जिससे वे अंधे हो सकते हैं।)
11. Short Questions (छोटे प्रश्न)
(i) Why are the young trees described as 'sprinting' in the poem? (कविता में युवा पेड़ों को 'स्प्रिंटिंग' क्यों कहा गया है?)
Answer: They are described as 'sprinting' to show how fast time passes and to contrast with her mother's slow old age. (उन्हें 'स्प्रिंटिंग' कहा गया है यह दिखाने के लिए कि समय कितनी तेजी से बीतता है और उनकी मां की धीमी वृद्धावस्था के विपरीत।)
(ii) What can the Earth teach us? (पृथ्वी हमें क्या सिखा सकती है?)
Answer: The Earth teaches us that even when things seem dead, there is still life. After a silent winter, the Earth brings new life. (पृथ्वी हमें सिखाती है कि जब चीजें मृत लगती हैं, तब भी जीवन होता है। एक शांत सर्दी के बाद, पृथ्वी नया जीवन लाती है।)
12. Short Questions (छोटे प्रश्न)
(i) Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why? (क्या आपको लगता है कि तीसरा स्तर चार्ली के लिए बचने का एक माध्यम था? क्यों?)
Answer: Yes, it was an escape from the worries of the modern world, which was full of stress and fear. (हाँ, यह आधुनिक दुनिया की चिंताओं से बचने का एक तरीका था, जो तनाव और डर से भरी हुई थी।)
(ii) What did the Maharaja do to find the required number of tigers to kill? (महाराजा ने आवश्यक संख्या में बाघों को मारने के लिए क्या किया?)
Answer: When he couldn't find a tiger, his Dewan arranged for an old tiger from a zoo to be released in the forest. (जब उसे बाघ नहीं मिला, तो उसके दीवान ने एक चिड़ियाघर से एक बूढ़े बाघ को जंगल में छोड़ने की व्यवस्था की।)
13. Long Questions (लंबे प्रश्न)
(i) How did Franz's feelings about M. Hamel and school change? (फ्रान्ज़ की M. Hamel और स्कूल के बारे में भावनाएँ कैसे बदल गईं?)
Answer: Franz didn't like school or M. Hamel. But on the last day, he felt very sad and sorry. He realized the importance of his language and his teacher. His feelings changed from not caring to regret. (फ्रान्ज़ को स्कूल या M. Hamel पसंद नहीं थे। लेकिन आखिरी दिन, वह बहुत दुखी और शर्मिंदा महसूस किया। उसे अपनी भाषा और अपने शिक्षक का महत्व समझ में आया। उसकी भावनाएँ उदासीनता से पछतावे में बदल गईं।)
14. Long Questions (लंबे प्रश्न)
(i) What is suggested by the image 'massive weight of Uncle's wedding band'? ('अंकल की वेडिंग बैंड के भारी वजन' की छवि से क्या पता चलता है?)
Answer: This shows that marriage was a heavy burden for Aunt Jennifer. The wedding ring, which should be a sign of love, felt like a chain that took away her freedom. (यह दर्शाता है कि शादी चाची जेनिफर के लिए एक भारी बोझ थी। शादी की अंगूठी, जो प्यार का प्रतीक होनी चाहिए, एक ऐसी जंजीर की तरह महसूस हुई जिसने उसकी स्वतंत्रता छीन ली।)
15. Long Questions (लंबे प्रश्न)
(i) Write the character sketch of Mr. Lamb. (श्री लैम्ब का चरित्र-चित्रण लिखें।)
Answer: Mr. Lamb is a kind and wise old man. He is optimistic even though he has a tin leg. He loves his garden and keeps his gate open for everyone. He teaches Derry to see the good in life and not to care about what others think. (श्री लैम्ब एक दयालु और बुद्धिमान बूढ़े व्यक्ति हैं। वे एक टिन के पैर होने के बावजूद आशावादी हैं। वह अपने बगीचे से प्यार करते हैं और अपने गेट को सबके लिए खुला रखते हैं। वह डैरी को जीवन में अच्छाई देखने और दूसरों की परवाह न करने की शिक्षा देते हैं।)
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