SOWDAMBIKAA

CHELAMMAL VIDHYAASHRAM
SENIOR SECONDARY
Affiliated to CBSE, New Delhi No:1930392
Ganapathy Nagar, Thuraiyur Main road, Musiri-621211
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Class-XII ENGLISH CORE- 301 Date25.08.2025
Time allowed: 3 Hrs. CUMULATIVE TEST - KEY Max.
Marks: 80
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
General Instructions
Read the following instructions very carefully and strictly follow them:
i. This question paper has 13 questions. All questions are compulsory.
ii. This question paper contains three sections:
Section A: Reading Skills,
Section B: Creative Writing Skills
Section C: Literature.
Maximum Marks: 80
iii.Attempt all questions based on specific instructions for each part.Write the correct question number and part thereof in your answer sheet.
iv. Separate instructions are given with each question/part, wherever necessary.
v. Adhere to the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
SECTION A
READING SKILLS [22 MARKS]
1. Read the following passage carefully: [12 Marks]
I. The reddish glow in the sky was the blood of humanity spilling all over the sky from earth.(1)
II. He admired Gandhi’s truthfulness and non-violent struggle for independence, seeing him as a true spiritual
leader.(1)
III. D. His interest in building more destructive weapons.(1)
IV. C. Prediction (1)
V. His eyes were brimming with tears / His face showed pain / He was in a depressive, pensive mood.(1)
VI. B. He was tormented by grief over the atomic bombing. (1)
VII. It suggests he was overwhelmed by sorrow and anguish, unable to care for his physical needs due to emotional
suffering.(1)
VIII.Einstein’s act shows his respect for truth and non-violence. By honouring Gandhi, he emphasised the need for
moral and spiritual strength alongside science. It reveals his belief that only through truth and spirituality can
humanity avoid destruction. (2)
IX. Einstein’s decision highlights his transformation from a scientist to a sage. It adds depth to the passage by showing
his remorse for science’s misuse and his resolve to guide youth with both science and spirituality for peace. (2)
X. B. Einstein’s guilt over misuse of science and his turn to spirituality. (1)
2. Read the following passage carefully: (10 Marks)
I. C. Rapid urbanisation and packaging growth. (1)
II. Retail chains.(1)
III. India initiating bans on plastics.(1)
IV. B. India pledged to phase out single-use plastics by 2022.(1)
V. The initiative of ten States — Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu — sending collected plastic waste to cement plants for co-
processing supports her idea. (2)
VI.C. Multiple strategies and holistic plans are required.(1)
VII. It prevents plastic from entering landfills and oceans. It provides an alternative fuel and raw material for cement
plants.(2)
VIII. C. The invention of plastic in the 19th century.(1)
SECTION B - CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS [18 MARKS]
3.Attempt any one of the two, (A) or (B), in about 40-50 words. [1x4=4M]
NOTICE WRITING
Distribution of marks
Format -1
Content – 2
Expression: Accuracy of Grammar & Spelling -1
FORMAT - Name of issuing authority- organisation/ agency, NOTICE, Date of issue, Heading Body of the
notice/ name, with designation (bottom left)
4.Attempt any one of the two, (A) or (B), in about 40-50 words. [1x4=4M]
A&B FORMAL INVITATION CARD - FORMAL INVITATION - REPLY
Distribution of marks
Format -1
Content – 2
Expression: Accuracy of Grammar & Spelling -1
5.Attempt any one of the two, (A) or (B), in 120-150 words. [1x5=5M]
A. JOB APPLICATION
Distribution of marks
Format -1
Content – 2
Organisation of ideas-1
Accuracy of Grammar & Spelling -1
FORMAT –Sender’s address, Date, Receiver’s address, Subject and Salutation or
Salutation and Subject, body of the letter, Complimentary Close, Name and signature.
Suggested value points:
Covering Letter:
- reference to the advertisement (In response to your advertisement….)
- suitability for post
- offer candidature
Bio-Data / Resume / CV:
personal profile – qualifications – experience and skills - references
NOTE:
• No marks to be deducted if the Resume/CV/Bio-data is included in the covering letter.
(inputs given in the question to be included)
OR
B. LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Distribution of marks
Format -1
Content – 2
Organisation of ideas-1
Accuracy of Grammar & Spelling -1
Suggested value points
*Introductory para…Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper …
*Main content of issues with suggestion
*Conclusion—requesting to publish the issue in his newspaper.

6.Attempt any one of the two, (A) or (B) in 120-150 words. [1x5=5M]
A. ARTICLE WRITING
Distribution of marks
Content – 2 Organisation of ideas-1 Accuracy of Grammar & Spelling -1
Format - Title, Byline, Introduction, Main content with relevant details, conclusion
OR
B. REPORT WRITING
Distribution of marks
Format -1 Content – 2 Organisation of ideas-1 Accuracy of Grammar & Spelling -1
FORMAT – Title and byline introduction, main content, conclusion.

SECTION C- LITERATURE [40 MARKS]

7.Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two - (A) or (B).[6x1 =6M]
A. (Aunt Jennifer's Tigers)
I. It suggests that the tigers are vibrant, powerful, and full of life, symbolising energy, confidence, and freedom in
contrast to Aunt Jennifer’s own constrained life.
II.It conveys an atmosphere of fearlessness and confidence, contrasting the tigers’ bold spirit with Aunt Jennifer’s own
restrained life.
III. Contrast between freedom and oppression.
IV. A. She admires their strength and independence.
V. C. The stanza focuses solely on Aunt Jennifer’s personal hardships.
VI. B. An appreciation of the tigers’ boldness and independence.
B. (Aunt Jennifer's Tigers )
I. It highlights her weakness, lack of freedom, and nervousness, reflecting how fear and oppression have made her
physically and emotionally fragile. II. The
burdens and constraints of a patriarchal marriage. III.
Embroidery becomes her only creative outlet, but even this activity feels burdensome under the weight of marital
oppression. IV. Difficulty
of artistic expression. V. B. A nervous
individual struggling under pressure and fear. VI. C. The marriage
imposed burdens and restrictions, curbing Aunt’s freedom.
8.Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two - (A) or (B).[4x1=4M] A.
(The cutting of my long hair).
I. The narrator’s emotional reaction suggests that her cultural identity and self-respect were rooted in her long hair,
which symbolised dignity, strength, and connection to her tradition. II. she
recalls that in her tribe, only cowards or prisoners wore short hair, making the haircut a mark of humiliation.
III. The irony lies in the fact that although she is brave and unwilling to submit, her cropped hair gives the outward
appearance of a coward, which is the opposite of her true self. IV. B. a
symbolic breaking of her dignity and willpower. OR
B. (We too are human beings).
I. The main message is that the practice of untouchability dehumanises people by forcing them to follow humiliating
customs, highlighting the cruelty of caste-based discrimination. II. C. “This is
unfair. Why can’t he just hand it over normally?”. III.
Understanding/ Clarity.
IV. It would have exposed untouchability even more openly, showing that the lower-caste man was not only forced to
behave humiliatingly but also denied equal human interaction altogether.
9.Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two - (A) or (B).[6x1=6M]. A.
(Poets and Pancakes). I.
B. 2 and 4
II. Mechanically
III. B. He viewed the process with humour and slight ridicule.
IV. To highlight the lack of glamour and the mundane, almost comical atmosphere of a place associated with film-
making.
V. The narrator humorously exaggerates how thickly the make-up was applied—“slapped paint”—to show how
unnatural the process was, making it sound absurd. VI.
ironic observation that the heavy make-up made actors look artificial instead of natural.
OR
B.(Poets and Pancakes)
I. Multi-talented.
II. B. 2 and 4.
III. A. Talent and resourcefulness.
IV. Many felt that he was brilliant only because he was close to the boss. V.
He emphasises Subbu’s creativity, adaptability, and ability to contribute meaningfully in different situations.
VI. It creates a tone of irony and subtle criticism, showing how in the film industry, success often depended not just on
talent but also on loyalty and closeness to power.

10. Answer any FIVE of the following six questions in about 40-50 words each: [5x2=10M]
 Distribution of marks:
Content – 1
Expression-1
Deduct ½ Mark from the overall score, if the error density is high
(more than a total of two spelling and /or grammatical errors)

11. Answer any TWO of the following three questions in about 40-50 words each: [2x2=4M]
Distribution of marks:
Content – 1
Expression-1
Deduct ½ Mark from the overall score, if the error density is high
(more than a total of two spelling and /or grammatical errors)

12. Answer any ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. [1x5=5M]
Distribution of marks:
Content – 2
Expression-2
Full credit for effective organisation, structure, relevant vocabulary ideas,
partial credit of 1.½,1 and ½ for the level of coherence and cohesion
Accuracy-1
Deduct ½ Mark from the overall score, if the error density is high
(more than a total of two spelling and /or grammatical errors)

13 Answer any ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. [1x5=5M]
Distribution of marks:
Content – 2
Expression-2
Full credit for effective organisation, structure, relevant vocabulary ideas,
partial credit of 1.½,1 and ½ for the level of coherence and cohesion
Accuracy-1
Deduct ½ Mark from the overall score, if the error density is high
(more than a total of two spelling and /or grammatical errors)

ALL THE POWER IS WITHIN YOU