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COUNCIL OF CBSE AFFILIATED SCHOOLS IN THE GULF

GULF SAHODAYA EXAMINATIONS
SAUDI CHAPTER – February/March 2021
SUBJECT : ENGLISH CORE MAXIMUM MARKS : 80
CLASS : XI TIME : 3 HOURS

General Instructions:
1. This paper is divided into two parts: A and B. All questions are compulsory.
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever
necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

PART A [ 40 Marks ]

READING 18 Marks

1. Read the passage given below. (1x10=10)

Vaccines work by training and preparing the body’s natural defences -- the immune
system -- to recognize and fight off the viruses and bacteria they target. If the body is
exposed to those disease-causing germs later, the body is immediately ready to destroy
them, preventing illness. We now have vaccines to prevent more than 20 life-
threatening diseases, helping people of all ages live longer, healthier lives. Immunization
currently prevents 2-3 million deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus,
pertussis, influenza and measles.
These immunisations ensure that your immune system can recognise and fight the virus
when it enters your body. The problem comes when the body encounters a virus that it
has simply not seen before. This is usually the case with viruses that circulate in animals
or birds. Occasionally, these viruses can “spill-over” into humans, causing novel
diseases.
In the past, vaccines have been developed through a series of steps that can take many
years. Now, given the urgent need for COVID-19 vaccines, unprecedented financial
investments and scientific collaborations are changing how vaccines are developed. This
means that some of the steps in the research and development process have been
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happening in parallel, while still maintaining strict clinical and safety standards. For
example, some clinical trials are evaluating multiple vaccines at the same time.
However, this does not make the studies any less rigorous.
We know little about the effects of traditional medicines, although some people believe
strongly enough in them. There is purely anecdotal evidence that they may work in
some cases. Because health reflects the interaction of both body and mind, even
strongly believing that a medicine might work — even if it actually doesn’t — often helps
the body deal better with the disease. This is called the placebo effect. However, it is far
better established that simple physical distancing measures, respiratory hygiene and
washing hands are very effective ways of preventing the spread of various infectious
diseases. Also, boost your natural immunity by consuming fresh fruits and vegetables,
get some sunlight when you can, and stay well hydrated. Reduce your stress levels as
well, since stress lowers your body’s natural ability to fight infections.
WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) has provided recommendations
about which populations within a country should be prioritized first. These include
frontline health and care workers at high risk of infection, older adults, and those people
at high risk of death because of underlying conditions like heart disease and diabetes. In
the second phase of the roll-out, as more doses are produced, vaccines should go to
groups less at risk of being infected or of suffering badly. A global survey shows the
public perceives COVID-19 as the world's greatest health threat and nearly two-thirds of
respondents believe the vaccine should be compulsory. Even as we speak, data from 83
countries show that at least 136,127,532 doses of coronavirus vaccines have been
administered around the world. COVAX aims to provide at least 2 billion vaccine doses
by the end of 2021. Although that is not enough for everyone, it may be enough to end
the acute stage of the crisis and put the world on the road to ending the pandemic.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer ANY TEN questions
from the eleven given below.

i. How does a vaccine work?

a. it alerts the immune system
b. it strengthens immunity
c. it helps you fight against diseases
d. all of the above
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ii. ‘These viruses can “spill-over” into humans…’ Pick the option in which the meaning of
‘spill-over’ is the same as in the passage.
a. She spilled the drink all over the table.
b. Either one of the parents’ abusive nature is a negative spill-over upon the family.
c. The expressions on her face were a spill-over of emotions
d. He couldn’t be trusted as he would spill-over all secrets.

iii. The image given below represents

a. The risk of contacting the coronavirus

b. The high mortality rate among those infected by the virus
c. side-effects of taking the vaccine
d. The impact of the vaccine on the virus

iv. Pick the option that does NOT give the same meaning of the word, ’novel’ as
expressed in the passage.
a. This is a novel idea that is worth examining.
b. She begins her day with a hot cup of tea and a good novel.
c. We learn something novel every day.
d. The teacher introduced a novel approach to the problem.

v. The main factor that has led to the simultaneous clinical trials of multiple vaccines is
a. The pressing need for safe and effective vaccines
b. The huge amount invested for making vaccines
c. The number of scientific collaborators involved
d. The growth of research and development in medicine

vi. The placebo-effect refers to

a. The adverse effects of traditional medicines
b. The experimental use of medicines
c. The success of medicines based on the patient’s belief
d. The interaction between the mind and the body
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vii. Pick the option that has no conclusive proof of being effective in preventing
coronavirus.
a. Maintaining proper hygiene and social distance
b. Use of traditional medicines
c. Keeping oneself hydrated and reducing stress levels
d. Boosting one’s immune system with nutritious food and exposure to sunlight

viii. Doctors advise us to ‘stay well hydrated’. This refers to the condition of
a. being under quarantine
b. the lack of sunlight
c. taking sufficient vitamins
d. taking sufficient fluids

ix. Pick the option that correctly states the sequence of the strata of population that
needs to be vaccinated.
1. old people
2. others
3. healthcare workers
4. people with multiple health issues

a. 2,4,3,1
b. 3,2,1,4
c. 3,1,4,2
d. 4,3,1,2

x. Which image best describes the ratio of people to the world population that have a
positive opinion to the new vaccines.

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4

a. image 1
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b. image 2
c. image 3
d. image 4

xi. Pick the option that correctly lists the note on which the passage ends with reference
to the phrase ‘put the world on the road to ending the pandemic’.
1. amusing
2. satisfying
3. hopeful
4. frustrating
5. enlightening
6. optimistic

a. 1 and 4
b. 2 and 5
c. 3 and 6
d. 1 and 6

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2. Read the passage given below. (1x8=8)

A recent study published in the journal ‘Nature Climate Change’, says that the daily
global emissions of CO2 fell by 17% at the peak of the shutdown because of measures
taken by governments in response to Covid-19, say scientists. Almost half the record
decrease was due to fewer car journeys but the researchers are worried that, as people
return to work, car use will soar again. They fear CO2 emissions could soon be higher
than before the crisis. They are urging politicians to grasp the moment and make real,
durable changes on transport and personal mobility.

In the UK, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has pledged £250m for improvements to
cycling and walking infrastructure. Other countries are also looking at similar plans. The
lockdowns that prohibited industrial activities, mass transportation and unnecessary
anthropogenic activities have had a significant impact on the carbon-producing activities
that are embedded in almost everything we do. Road transport has declined hugely, as
has aviation.
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"A big worry is that people will naturally want to go back to their cars to go to work, and
that could rebound the emissions to the same level or even higher than before", said
Prof Corinne Le Quéré from the University of East Anglia, who led the analysis. The
researchers say that fundamental, systemic change is needed if the emissions curve is to
be flattened in a way that would limit the very worst impacts of climate change.

When it comes to transportation, there are huge opportunities, according to Prof Le

Quéré. She says that after the global financial crisis in 2008, some governments like
China, US and Germany made significant investments in wind and solar energy and this
drove down the prices of these renewables. "Here now in 2020 we're very close to the
same situation in electric mobility," she told BBC News. "Battery prices have come
down; we have lots of models and governments are going to try to boost their
economies. So, if these two things can align, then it could make a huge difference to the
transportation of tomorrow."

Grabbing the opportunity that the virus has presented is also at the forefront of
corporate thinking on climate change. A letter signed by 155 major companies,
representing $2.4 trillion (£1.96 trillion) in market capitalisation, calls for a net-zero
emissions response to the covid crisis. Corporations including Carlsberg, Iberdrola, EDF
and Coca Cola Europe say they want governments to "prioritise a faster and fairer
transition from a grey to a green economy". Limiting climate change would require
substantial and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions which, together with
adaptation, less wastage and switching to renewable energy can limit climate change
risks.
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On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer ANY EIGHT
questions from the nine given below.

i. According to recent studies, the fall in the daily global emissions of CO2 is due to a
decline in
a. road transport
b. aviation
c. battery prices
d. walking and cycling

ii. The word, ’anthropogenic’ as used in para 2 means

a. technical
b. human-based
c. mechanical
d. industrial

iii. Based on the graphical representation of data in the passage, choose the option that
lists the statements that are NOT TRUE in terms of CO2 emissions.
1. There has been a steep rise in the last five decades
2. There has been a sudden fall in the year 1970
3. The recent trends of 2020 show a favourable decline
4. The levels have quadrupled in the last fifty years

a. 1 and 3
b. 2 and 4
c. 1 and 2
d. 3 and 4

iv. What is the systematic change required for the emissions curve to be flattened?
a. reduction in greenhouse effect
b. use of renewable resources
c. sustainable development
d. all of the above

v. ‘Grabbing the opportunity the virus has presented’ refers to

a. Keeping a check on harmful emissions
b. controlling climate change
c. both a and b
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d. none of the above

vi. Based on the given statistics, pick the option that is true
a. 155 countries have pledged $2.4 trillion to fight climate change
b. CO2 emissions fell by 17% during lockdown
c. the aviation industry is the main cause of air pollution
d. electric cars have given a boost to the economy

vii. A grey to green economy represents

a. shift in focus from industrial to agricultural growth
b. movement for a clean energy future
c. transition from past to the future
d. transmission from space to earth

viii. In the figures given below, if ‘A’ and ‘B’ denote earth’s resources and human needs,
which option best portrays sustainable development.

a. Option 1
b. Option 2
c. Option 3
d. Option 4

ix. In the cartoon, the planet earth is desperately trying to bring the attention of man
towards
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a. its ailing state

b. natural calamities
c. the loss of habitat
d. its immense beauty

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GRAMMAR 8 Marks

3. Choose the most appropriate options to complete the following sentences.

Attempt ANY FOUR out of five. (1x4=4)

i. Anand has been a soccer enthusiast for ______ years

a. much
b. most
c. many
d. all

ii. They just wouldn’t take my word for __________ I said.

a. that
b. what
c. which
d. this

iii. Renu ___________ to have been disqualified.

a. be very disappointed
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b. was disappointing
c. was disappointed
d. had been disappointed

iv. I was under the impression that you too _____________ to come along with us.
a. were supposed
b. was supposed
c. supposed
d. is supposed

v. I _____________ a letter regarding the grievance to the concerned personnel.

a. will written
b. is wrote
c. am write
d. have written

4. Rearrange the jumbled words to form meaningful sentence.

Attempt ANY FOUR out of five. (1x4=4)

i. P: withdrawal; Q: solace in; R: he finds; S: and self-pity

a. RQSP
b. PQSR
c. SPQR
d. RQPS

ii. P: generally; Q: is closed; R: by ten; S: the mall

a. PSQR
b. PQSR
c. SPQR
d. RQPS

iii. P: is simply; Q: Science; R: at its best; S: common sense

a. PSQR
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b. PQSR
c. QPSR
d. RQPS

iv. P: today and it; Q: was exciting; R: a football match; S: I watched

a. SPQR
b. SRPQ
c. RSQP
d. RQPS

v. P: is the key; Q: perseverance; R: to success; S: hard work and

a. SQPR
b. RPQS
c. QPRS
d. QRPS

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LITERATURE 14 Marks

5. Read the extracts given below and attempt ANY ONE of the two given by answering
the questions that follow. (1x3=3)
(A)
‘And forever,by day and night, I give back life to my own origin,
And make pure and beautify it;
(For song issuing from its birthplace, after fulfilment, wandering
Reck’d or unreck’d duly with love returns.)’

i. Who is ‘I’ in the given lines and who is being referred to as, ‘my own origin’?
a. rain; earth
b. poet; poem
c. earth; rain
d. none of the above

ii. Why has the poet put the last two lines in brackets?
a. as these are the poet’s thoughts about a song
b. as this is a part of the conversation between the poet and the rain
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c. as these are the thoughts of the rain about itself

d. as these are the thoughts of the earth about rain

iii. Why does the poet compare the rain to a song?

a. to make the readers appreciate his poem
b. to make the readers appreciate nature
c. both the song and the rain are disliked by the people
d. both the song and the poem bring life, joy and contentment

(OR)
(B)
‘Then sleek as a lizard, and alert and abrupt,
She enters the thickness, and a machine starts up
Of chitterings, and of tremor of wings, and trillings -
The whole tree trembles and thrills’

i. Name the poem and the poet.

a. A Photograph; Ted Hughes
b. The Laburnum Top; Sylvia Plath
c. The Voice of the Rain; Sylvia Plath
d. The Laburnum Top; Ted Hughes

ii. The laburnum tree seemed to tremble due to

a. strong winds
b. the sharp cries and movements of the bird’s family
c. the tree being cut down
d. the children playing on its branches

iii. The poetic device used in the first line is

a. metaphor
b. personification
c. simile
d. onomatopoeia
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6. Read the extracts given below and attempt ANY TWO of the three given by
answering the questions that follow. (1x6=6)
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(A)
Of all the statements made by Margaret Thatcher during the years of her Prime
Ministership, none has passed so decisively into the current coin of English usage as her
felicitous words: “No generation has a freehold on this earth. All we have is a life
tenancy – with a full repairing lease.”

i. Name the chapter from which the above extract has been taken.
a. The Landscape of the Soul
b. The Silk Road
c. The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s role
d. The Portrait of a Lady

ii. The word, ‘felicitous’ in the above context means

a. well-chosen
b. tragic
c. sweet
d. kind

iii. What do the quoted lines in the extract suggest?

a. we need to keep a check on all business transactions
b. we need to preserve the environment and hold it in trust for future generations
c. man’s life is too short to worry about the environment
d. preservation of environment is the sole responsibility of future generations

(B)
My experience in Hor came as a stark contrast to accounts I’d read of earlier travellers’
first encounters with Lake Manasarovar. Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese monk who had
arrived there in 1900, was so moved by the sanctity of the lake that he burst into tears. A
couple of years later, the hallowed waters had a similar effect on Sven Hedin, a Swede
who wasn’t prone to sentimental outbursts.
i. How was the experience of earlier travellers at Hor different from that of the
author's?
a. They were amazed, whereas the author cried seeing the lake
b. They cried, whereas the author enjoyed the view
c. They were moved by the lake but the author wasn't
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d. The author wasn’t aware of their views

ii. The ‘sanctity’ of the lake and ‘hallowed waters’ is a reference to

a. the beauty of the lake
b. the polluted surroundings
c. the sacred and holy waters
d. the clean and fresh waters

iii. The antonym of the word, ‘sentimental’ is

a. cynical
b. mental
c. emotional
d. sensible

(C)
‘Every branch of Garoghlanian family was living in the most amazing and comical
poverty in the world. Nobody could understand where we ever got money enough
to keep us with food in our bellies, not even the old men of the family. Most important of
all, though, we were famous for our honesty.’
i. Name the narrator of the story.
a. Aram
b. Murad
c. Khusrove
d. Saroyan

ii. The writer tries to brighten up the pitiful state of the family in the line, ‘The most
amazing and comical poverty’, with the inclusion of
a. classical references
b. humour and wit
c. tragic instances
d. suspense and drama

iii. What was the Garoghlanian tribe known for?

a. Horse-riding
b. they had a way with animals
c. they were eccentric
d. their honesty
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7. Attempt ANY FIVE questions from the six given below. (1x5=5)

i. Why did Albert Einstein feel the medical certificate almost burning a hole in his
pocket?
a. as he was being expelled and the certificate was of no use
b. he wanted to reveal that he had decided to leave
c. he had to take his friend, Yuri, out to dinner
d. he had to pay the doctor’s fee

ii. Why did the author call Ranga and Ratna childish?
a. they thanked him for arranging their marriage
b. they invited him for dinner
c. they wanted to honour the astrologer
d. they named their son after the author

iii. Why has the poet’s childhood become nothing more than a memory for him?
a. he had a miserable childhood
b. his childhood will not come back
c. he remembers nothing from his childhood
d. he doesn’t want to be an adult

iv. What amused the mother when she looked at the photograph later in life?
a. the way they were dressed
b. the way they were standing
c. the way they were smiling
d. the way the sea was washing their feet

v. Khushwant Singh finds it hard to imagine his grandmother was once young and
pretty. This suggests that he viewed her with the eyes of
a. a practical person
b. a critical person
c. an innocent child
d. a self-centered child
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vi. In the lesson, ‘We’re not afraid to Die… if we can all be together’, what did the author
mean by ‘pinpricks in the vast ocean’?
a. he felt small in comparison to the vast ocean
b. the boat was too small and damaged
c. he was referring to his kids and their courage
d. he was referring to the tiny islands they were trying to locate

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PART B [ 40 Marks ]

READING (8 Marks)

8. Read the passage given below.

Every time you're online, you are bombarded by pictures, articles, links and videos
trying to tell their story. Unfortunately, not all of these stories are true. Sometimes they
want you to click on another story or advertisement at their own site, other times they
want to upset people for political reasons. These days it's so easy to share information
with a large number of people in very little time. Fake news spreads like wildfire that
can circulate quickly on social media with devastating results.
There is a range of fake news: from crazy stories which people easily recognize to more
subtle types of misinformation. Experts in media studies and online psychology have
been examining the fake news phenomenon. Read these tips to call the bluff and not to
get fooled!
Check the source where the story comes from. Does it look real? Is the text well
written? Are there a variety of other stories or is it just one story? Fake news websites
often use addresses that sound like real newspapers, but don't have many real stories
about other topics. If you aren't sure, click on the 'About' page and look for a clear
description of the organization.
Many fake news stories use images that are photoshopped or taken from an unrelated
site. Sometimes, if you just look closely at an image, you can see if it has been morphed.
Or use a tool like Google Reverse Image search. It will show you if the same image has
been used in other contexts.
Look to see if the story you are reading is on other news sites that you know and trust. If
you do find it on many other sites, then it probably isn't fake (although there are some
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exceptions), as many big news organizations try to check their sources before they
publish a story.
There are other techniques or tell-tale signs that fake news uses. These include using
ALL CAPS, grammatical mistakes, spelling errors and lots of ads that pop up when you
click on a link. Also, think about how the story makes you feel. If the news story makes
you angry, it's probably a biased or a one-sided account designed to provoke and make
you angry.
If you know these things about online news, and can apply them in your everyday life,
then you have the control over what to read, what to believe and most importantly
what to share. If you find a news story that you know is fake, you can report it, ignore it
but don't share it!
(A)
Make notes on the above passage in a suitable format using abbreviations wherever
necessary. Give a suitable title to the passage. 5 Marks
(B)
Write a summary of the passage based on your notes in about 50 words. 3 Marks

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WRITING 16 Marks

9. Attempt ANY ONE of the following. (1x3=3)

Analysis, using appropriate format and fluency, appropriacy of style and tone

(A)
You are Asmi/Asmit, the Secretary of ‘The Centre for Excellence’, a coaching club of your
school. The club is organizing special classes to prepare students for various competitive
exams, as well as providing training in vocational skills and hobby classes. Put up a
notice, of about 50 words, informing students of the same and inviting them to register
for the classes.
OR
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(B)
You are Deepa/Deepu, the President of Bhagya Nagar Residents Welfare Association.
You wish to hold a meeting to protest against the frequent power cuts in your colony.
Prepare a notice, in not more than 50 words, inviting the people of your colony to the
meeting, giving all necessary details.

10. Attempt ANY ONE of the following. (1x3=3)

Analysis, using appropriate format and fluency, appropriacy of style and tone

(A)
You are a social activist concerned about the increase in the number of road accidents.
Draft a poster, in about 50 words, to create an awareness on how careless and
untrained driving can cost life and property.

OR
(B)
Suppose you are a member of a Refugee Awareness Society. You have been asked by the
President of the society to organise philanthropic campaigns in parks, malls and
multiplexes. Design a poster, in not more than 50 words, urging people to volunteer for
relief work and donate generously for this noble cause.

11. Attempt ANY ONE of the following. (1x5=5)

Analysis, using appropriate format and fluency, appropriacy of style and tone

(A)
You want to pursue an online job in Content Writing and Freelancing alongside your
studies. Write a letter to the Principal of your school, in 120-150 words, requesting
him/her to introduce weekly classes, to help the interested pupils to improve their
creative writing skills.
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OR
(B)
You have taken up a new business venture of running a restaurant and you want to
remodel the interiors. Write a letter, in 120-150 words, using the given cues and your
own ideas, to the manager of ‘Unique Emporium’, placing your order for furnishings and
upholstery items for your restaurant.
• Items & Number--Curtains —Sofa covers—Carpets – Table cloths/ Napkins
• Description-- Contrast/ coordinate with Wall paint—Theme—Colour/Style

12. Attempt ANY ONE of the following. (1x5=5)

Analysis, using appropriate format and fluency, appropriacy of style and tone

(A)
Manisha/Manish has to speak in an inter-school debate competition supporting the
motion that life in the country (a village) is preferable to life in the city. Below you can
see his/her notes. Use the given prompts along with your own ideas to develop the
content in 120-150 words.
• Countryside - peace and quiet—soothing/ refreshing atmosphere—fresh and
pure green fields all around—lovely sight-- helpful neighbours.
• City- stress—traffic woes – pollution – congestion—fast-paced—each to his own

OR
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(B)
On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, you have been assigned to speak in the
morning assembly on the topic, ‘Fight against Depression’. Using your own ideas as well
as taking aid of the visual cues, write the speech in 120-150 words, highlighting the
importance of creating awareness and providing psychological support to those in need.

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LITERATURE 16 Marks

13. Attempt ANY TWO (one from Prose and one from Poetry) out of the four questions
given below, in 30-40 words each. (2x2=4)
(A) PROSE
i. What did Mr Frank envy about Mr. Crocker-Harris?
OR
ii. What was considered to be the curse of the Pharoah when Tut’s mummy was being
scanned?
(B) POETRY
iii. Explain the line, ‘washed their terribly transient feet’, from the poem ‘A Photograph’.
OR
iv. In the poem, ‘Childhood’, what made the poet realise of adult hypocrisy?
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14. Attempt ANY ONE out of the two questions given below
in 30-40 words each. (2x1=2)
(A)
What did the author mean when she says, ‘I was in a room I knew and did not know?
OR
(B)
As Dr. Andrew Manson walked homewards, what made him think, ‘Oh God, I’ve done
something real at last.’?

--------------------------------------------

15. Attempt ANY ONE out of the two questions given below
in 120-150 words (1x5=5)
(A)
How does the Chinese view of art differ from the European view? Illustrate your answer
with examples as given in the text, ‘Landscape of the Soul’
OR
(B)
With respect to the turn of events in the story, ‘The Portrait of a Lady’, the grandmother
portrays selflessness and compassion. Describe the unique relationship that she had
with her grandson; the sparrows; and God.

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16. Attempt ANY ONE out of the two questions given below
in 120-150 words (1x5=5)
(A)
Do Mrs. Fitzgerald’s efforts bear fruit? What is the difference seen in the Pearson
family? Give instances to justify your answer.
OR
(B)
The lesson ‘Albert Einstein at School’ deals with the challenges faced by Albert at his
lodgings and at school and also his attempts to overcome them. Elaborate with
reference to the text.
_______________________________________________________________________