Teachers recommend solving Kerala Syllabus Plus Two English Previous Year Question Papers and Answers Pdf March 2020 to improve time management during exams.
Kerala Plus Two English Previous Year Question Paper March 2020
Time : 2 1/2 Hours
Maximum : 80 scores
Questions 1-4: Read the excerpt from ‘Crime and Punishment’ and answer the questions that follow. 1 Score each.
“You must never set up any sort of contrainess or repression in the child’s mind” declared the parents. “You will damage him for life. It no doubt requires a lot of discipline on our part, but it is worth it,” they declared primly. “We shall be bringing up a healthy citizen.”
Question 1.
Find out the word in the passage which means ‘supressing a thought or desire’.
Answer:
Repression
Question 2.
Who according to the parents, need to be disci-plined?
Answer:
The teacher
Question 3.
Do you support the parents’ view? Give one reason to substantiate your view.
Answer:
No, I don’t support the parents’ view. Children do not know the importance of education and therefore sometimes they have to be forced to learn.
Question 4.
Why did the parents say, ‘its is worth it’?
Answer:
The parent’s said “It is worth it” to mean two things. One meaning is they will pay the teacher well for educating their boy and the second meaning is that by being disciplined the parents and the teacher together can make their son a healthy citizen.
Questions 5-6: Review as directed. 1 Score each. (2 × 1 = 2)
Question 5.
Farmer: ‘Stop that man, constable. He brought the parcel.
The farmer wanted ____ (Complete the sentence meaningfully)
Answer:
The farmer wanted the constable to stop the man who brought the parcel.
Question 6.
‘Wangari Maathai mobilized the citizens to chal-lenge widespread abuse of power.
The citizens ____ (Complete the sentence suitably).
Answer:
The citizens were mobilized by Wangari Maathai to challenge the widespread abuse of power.
Questions 7-10: Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 1 score each. (4 × 1 = 4)
Soil erosion in America’s farmland by wind and water has been a problem since settlers first put the prairies and grasslands under the plow in the 19th century. By the 1930’s, more than 282 million acres of farmland were damaged by erosion. In spite of years of conservation efforts, soil erosion has accelerated due to new demands placed on the land by heavy crop production.
Question 7.
In America, soil erosion is caused by ____ and ____
Answer:
wind and water.
Question 8.
Damages caused by erosion by 1930 were ____
Answer:
More than 282 million acres of farmland.
Question 9.
Find out the expression which describes ‘farming’.
Answer:
Crop production
Question 10.
What has accelerated soil erosion after long years of conservation efforts?
Answer:
New demands on the land by heavy crop production.
Questions 11-13: Answer all questions. Each carries 2 scores. (3 × 2 = 6)
Question 11.
In the poem ‘Rice’. Chemmanam Chacko pictures how rubber trees have taken the place of paddy. How is this change reflected in teh attitude of the farmer in the poem.
Answer:
Rubber trees have taken the place of paddy. This shows a change in the attitude of the people. Rice cultivation involves a lot of hard work, but rubber doesn’t require such hard work. People have become more luxury minded.
Question 12.
Read the passage given below and pick out two describing words.
The boregallu in our village holds special memories for me as it is inextricabiy inked with my grandfather
Answer:
special, inextricably
Question 13.
Irfan Alam visited your scbobfand invited suggestions from you to modify cycle rickshaws. Draft two suggestions which you think would improve cycle rickshaws.
Answer:
a) They should be made more compact,
b) Their roofs should be retractable.
Questions 14-17: Answer all questions in two or three words or sentences as needed. Each carries 3 scores. (4 × 3 = 12)
Question 14.
Complete the passage given below with suitable words selected from those given n the box.
for, across, by, with, along
Anybody who has known me ….(a)…. thirty five years doesn’t expect me to haggle ….(b)…. my
conscience, if it had been anybody else, I would have struck him ….(c)…. the face.
Answer:
a) for
b) with
c) across
Question 15.
Frederic Ogden Nash humorously narrates his experiences with a dentist. Exaggerate and narrate humorously as experience you had in your personal life, with a doctor or in a clinic.
Answer:
Once I felt a severe pain just below my navel. I thought it was some urinary problem as I found it hard to urinate. So I went see the urologist in the hospital nearby. After waiting for some time, I was called in and the urologist asked me for the symptoms. I explained to him. He asked me to go into the examining room and lie on the bed.
He came in with a young beautiful nurse. He asked to remove my trousers. I felt very embarrassed to lie naked in the presence of the beautiful nurse. The doctor then said, “Hey boy, we have seen hundreds like you. So don’t worry. Remove your trousers and let me examine.” I cursed myself for coming to this doctor.
Question 16.
The following passage from the interview with Irfan? ‘Alam has a few errors. Identify them and edit ap-propriately. When a rickshaw puller approach SammaN, we first go into a verification process. The operator is then giving training on basic etiquette and traffic rules.
Answer:
When a rickshaw puller approaches SammaN. we first go through a verification process. The operator is then given training on the basic etiquette and traffic rules.
Question 17.
Bring out the idea conveyed in the following lines from the poem mending wall before i built a wall
I’d ask to know what I was walling in or walling out.
Answer:
‘Mending Wall’ is a beautiful poem by the famous American poet Robert Frost. In it he gives a fine philosophy “Good fences make good neighbours”. “Before I built wall, I’d ask to know what I am walling in or walling out.” These lines also give a fine thought. The poet says that before he builds a wall he asks himself what he was trying to keep in and what he was trying to keep out. Naturally when we build a wall we are trying1 to protect something against intruders.
Questions 18-22: Answer any three questions in about 80 words. Each carries 4 scores. (3 × 4 = 12)
Question 18.
‘A silent listener can become a soothing friend.’ Explain this statement in the light of the anecdote ‘Horegallu’ by Sudha Murthy.
Answer:
A silent listener can become a soothing friend. This refers to the story titled “Fjoregallu” by Sudha Murty. A horegallu is a stone bench.,it helps tired persons to sit down and rest for sometime so that they can regain their energy before going forward. When people sit and rest, they start telling their problems’ and the horegallu, who is a person in the story, silently listens. Even by listening to people you help them to relieve their minds of the worries, tensions and anxieties that are in their minds.
By listening to their sorrowful tales, you help them to get some relief from their pain. Life is a journey and we all are travellers. Each person carries burdens of various sorts. If there is a listener one can unburden himself and feel relieved. The listener may not be able to help anybody to solve his problems, but he« can listen and thus help him to relieve his burden.
Question 19.
Bring out the suitability of the title ‘Crime and Punishment. (Hints: Over protection leads to indiscipline – over punishment leads to indifference)
Answer:
Crime and Punishment” is the humorous story by R.K. Rarayan. It speaks about a troublesome boy and his helpless teacher. The boy is overprotected and over-pampered by his rich parents. The boy is a mischievous one, but his parents think he is a wingless angel with dimples, smiles and sweetness. The parents had told the teacher that he should not set up any sort of contrariness or repression in the , child’s mind as they wanted to bring up their son as a healthy citizen.
One day the teacher slaps the boy for deliberating giving a wrong answer to a very simple question. The boy cries and threatens the teacher saying he would report the slapping incident to his parents. The boy then makes the teacher dance to his tune. He wants the teacher to stop teaching him but act as a station master when he plays with his toy train. The title is actually taken from a famous novel by the world-renowned Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Question 20.
What changes does the narrator in the poem ‘Rice’ notice, in his native village, on his return?
(Hints: Changes in place – attitude)
Answer:
The narrator goes to North India to do his research on making toys with husk. He returns with a doctoral degree after 4 years. He was bored with eating chapathi every day and he wanted to eat a meal of athikira rice. It was planting time when he returned. He was expecting his father in the field in his dhothi covered with yellow mud as he would be ploughing the field. He thought his little brother would be carrying the tender saplings to be planted.
As the author came near his home, he found everything had changed. There were only rubber plants and no rice fields. There were also arecanut palms in the fields. He reaches the house and sees workers fixing up the machine fof making rubber sheets. His father says that he stopped cultivating rice. Only fools cultivate rice now. The rubber money is better. He sees his younger brother bringing ration which is mainly wheat. The narrator is worried as to how he would get husk for making toys.
Question 21.
Imagine that your school is conducting an Interschool Football Match. You are the announcer of the match. Prepare the script for the announce¬ment you would make for the event.
Answer:
We wish to welcome all of you for this Interschool Football Match. We chose Christ College Football Ground for the event as it has greater facilities than many other school grounds. Today’s match is between the SN High School, Irinjalakuda and Govt. High School., Mala. Both have powerful teams. You are going to see the local “Messies, Neymars and Ronaldos” showing their abilities.
The SN High School Irinjalakuda had won Last Year’s Interschool Football Govt High School Mala was the winner of the Trophy in 2018. Thus we are going to see a real-fight of champions today. We can now see the teams coming to the ground. Give them a big round of applause! You can be sure that you are going to see a great match!
Question 22.
You get an opportunity to interview Shaheen Mistri. In the light of your reading of ‘Didi’, prepare four relevant question?to interview her.
Answer:
a) Didi, What was the reaction of your parents when they came to know that you are starting “Akanksha” to educate the needy children in Mumbai?
b) Before you are given a room in the Holy Name High School in Colaba, you approached many people and organizations to give you a room to conduct classes for the needy children, but they refused to give you. What kept you going without getting disappointed?
c) Did you get any financial help from the Government of Maharashtra or the Central Government for “Akanksha”?
d) Were you able to carry out your academic studies successfully in spite of your involvement with “Akanksha”?
Questions 23-28: Answer any 4 questions in about 120 words. Each carries 6 scores. (4 x 6 = 24)
Question 23.
The last minute rush in the post office for sending Christmas gifts and greetins may seem a fantasy to the new generation. Create a blog pointing out the difference between the past and present mode of exchange of greetings and gifts. (Hints: Past: post cards, parctels – Present: social media, onlineigifts)
Answer:
In the one-act play “Post Early for Christmas” by R.H. Wood we see the last minute rush in the post office for sending Christmas gifts and greetings. This play was written in 1942, nearly 8 decades ago. At that time there were no social media or online gifts. People had to buy things, wrap them properly, write the address of the receiver, go to the post office and hand it over there after paying the necessary payments for stamps. Similarly cards were bought and messages were written on the cards. Then they were put in stamped envelopes and addressed to the receivers. During Christmas there used to be special card and gift shops where people went and selected the cards and gifts of their choice.
All this might seem a fantasy to the new generation who use the social media and online gifts for sending their greetings and gifts to the loved ones. I have heard my parents talking about buying cards and gifts from shops well before Christmas and spending time to write special messages to their loved ones. They say the ways of sending cards and gifts in the old fashion was more enjoyable as it had a very personal touch for the sender as well as the receiver. That personal warmth is lost by the use of the social media and online gifts by the new generation.
Question 24.
Robert Balow was invited for a Discussion by a leading Television channel. How would he explain his innocer^iin the fund misappropriation issue at the bank? (Hints: came to know late – did my best – kept moral uprightness – no compromise with corruption)
Answer:
Asianet Channel: Mr. Baldwin, How would you explain your innocence in the fund misappropriation issue at the bank?
Baldwin: I am he governor of the bank, but the owner is Mr. John Gresham. In fact I work there for a small salary, but I have no complaints about it. John offered me this job when I most needed it. Therefore I am only grateful to him for his kind gesture. I should say that John was my role model. He was so successful in the banking business that I thought he was a superhero.
I admired him so much that I named my son after him. I have been working with John for more than 2 decades but I never found that he did anything wrong. Donovan who is the assistant cashier at our bank also thought John Gresham to be incapable of doing any malpractice. So when he withdrew huge sums of money from the bank,we both thought that he was using the amounts for making profitable investments. We could never imagine even for a while that he was capable of misappropriating funds and cheating his depositors.
John has admitted his guilt and he has told the police that none of the bank employees assisted him in any misappropriation scheme. I keep my moral uprightness and I will tell the court what I know of the case. I am not ready for any compromise with corruption. If John is guilty he should be punished. I feel sorry for John because I had admired him so much. I could never imagine he could fall to such low levels!
Question 25.
Explain how drugs affect human brain.
(Hints: brain governs sensations – easily upset – pleasure reflexes get weaker – failure in response – numbness)
Answer:
The human brain is the most complex organ in the body. We need it to drive a car, to enjoy a meal, to breathe, to create something new and to enjoy everyday activities. The brain regulates our body’s basic functions, enables us to interpret and respond to everything we experience, and shapes our behaviour. In short, our brain is us—everything we think and feel, and who we are.
The brain is often likened to an incredibly complex and intricate computer. It is made up of many parts with interconnected circuits that all work together as a team. Drugs spoil the smooth working of the brain. Sometimes they give you a feeling of pleasure for a brief period. But then you become upset, disoriented and depressed. Your reflexes become weaker and that is why you can’t walk or drive properly when you have taken an overdose of drugs.
Your behaviour changes and you can do very bad things because you are not aware of their consequences. Your immunity becomes less and you are likely to get all sorts of diseases. Drugs adversely affect the heart rate, breathing, and sleeping. An overdose can even kill a person. Drugs are worse than poison because poison kills one fast, but drugs kill him inch by inch.
Question 26.
Compare and contrast the friendships as presented in the story ‘Amigo Brothers’ and the play The Hour of Truth. (Hints: value friendship more – value principles more)
Answer:
Antonio Cruz and Felix Vargas were both 17. They were so together in friendship that they felt like brothers. They had known each other from childhood. They both had a dream – to become a light-weight champion of the world. After a series of elimination bouts, they were told they were to meet each other in the division finals. The winner would represent the Boys’ Club in the Golden Gloves Championship Tournament. In the divisions finals they both wanted to do their best. Their motto was “Let the best man win”. They trained hard. The day came for the division finals. They fought well. The sounds of their blows were loud. The crowd applauded them.
Now it was the last round. They fought fiercely. The crowd became silent because of the fierce fight. The referee was stunned by the savagery of the fight. Even when the final bell •sounded, they continued fighting. Finally they had to be separated. Then they looked around and rushed to each other. Without waiting to hear the result, Antonio and Felix left the ring arm in arm. They proved that true friendship is above competitions and hatred. There is only winning in friendship.
Question 27.
Nomitha wished to send her mother some money secretly. But she failed to do that as she was uneducated and unemployed. Prepare an article for your school magazine about the ‘Role of Education and Employment in Women Empowerment.
Answer:
ROLE OF EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT IN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
Women Empowerment is a very hot topic these days. In many parts of the world, especially the 3rd world, women are still considered second class citizens. India is one of the countries where women suffer most because of so many discriminations against them. We still have the dowry system. Female foeticide is still very common although it is prohibited by law. Widow-remarriage is still looked upon as something bad. Single women are looked at with suspicion and even some kind of contempt. All these have to change.
The current Indian population is estimated to be 1.38 Billion or 138crores. Of these 48.04% are females while the remaining 51.96% are males. 48.04% means quite close to half the total population. How can India become a developed nation if nearly half of its population is not given proper education and employment? So women education and employment is a must for India’s progress.
The life of an Indian woman, generally speaking, is a series of slavery. Until she is married, she is a slave of her father. When she is married she becomes a slave of her husband. When the husband dies she becomes he slave of the son with whom she chooses to stay. In India generally husbands die first because they are in the majority of cases older than their wives. This situation has to change. This slavery is caused because the women have no economic freedom. All women should try to find some job which gives them son%: income so that they don’t have depend on their fathers, husbands or sons to do the things they like. Education and employment empower women.
Education and employment will help them to come out of their comfort zones within the four walls of their homes and contribute their share to the national development. Education and employment will give them new dignity, new meaning, new purposq and new enthusiasm for life. Life is to be lived well and u. enjoyed. Women also have equal right to live well n- i and enjoy their life just like the men in the society.
Question 28.
Most often people keep silent sensitive social is¬sues. This silence can be interpreted as some kind of stammer. Do you agree with this agreement? Express your views in the form of a write-up. (Hints: fear of social seclusion – public reaction – self-ceneredness)
Answer:
The literal meaning of stammer is speaking with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to repeat the initial letters of words. But figuratively and symbolically ‘stammer’ shows our reluctance to open our minds on issues that are controversial. There are so many issues about which we have our own opinions. But we prefer to ‘stammer’ or keep quiet because we are afraid of social seclusion. The other reason for our stammer or silence on issues is our fear of public reaction. We fear public opinion and thus we become cowards.
Another reason for our stammer is our self-centered ness. We are so self- centred that we don’t worry about things that do not directly concern us. This is very bad because we are social beings and we should have our opinions about the things happenings in the society. But we prefer to stammer on these issues because we are afraid.
Some current issues that the society faces are the issues of homosexuals, lesbians and the transgender, same-sex marriage, inter-religious marriage, superstitions and black magic and many questionable rituals that are practised by various religions. We simply pretend that we have no opinions on them becausA we are afraid to speak out. We stammer on them because we have no guts. The evil practices will continue troubling our society until aH of us.decide to overcome our stammer and speak out – loud and clear without stammering!
Questions 29-32: Answer any 2 questions in about 180 words. Each carries 8 scores. (2 × 8 = 16)
Question 29.
Christine Hagarde says, “It’s time to create a world where all women can meet their potential without impediment or prejudice and the world will reap the benefits.” Prepare an essay on the topic ‘Women Empowerment and Development are Intertwined.” (Hints: represent half the world’s population – per capita income affected – sensitive to needs – peace loving – good at decision making – concensus bulding.)
Answer:
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ARE INTERTWINED
“Development” is a word that we hear every day a number of times. Development is possible only when all the people – both men and women – do their best. Women represent nearly half of tfie world’s population’arid therefore no development is possible without their active participation in the developmental efforts. Wpmen empowerment and development are intertwined
By not allowing women to work like men, the per capita income and the GNP (Gross National Product) will be adversely affected. So women should be given the same opportunities for education and employment if we are to develop to our full potential. In her famous speech, Christine Lagarde says, “It’s time to create a world where all women can meet their potential without impediment or prejudice and the world will reap the benefits.” She speaks of the 3 Ls for women empowerment.
They are Learning, Labour and Leadership. In one sense women are more Suitable for leadership because they are more sensitive to the needs of the people. We can see this right in our homes. Our mothers are more sensitive to our needs. They are also more ‘ peace loving. They are good at decision making and consensus building. We see that the worst leaders of the world were”Slf men. Examples are dictators like Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin, who caused the death of millions of people just to satisfy their selfishness and pride.
Women are also more cautious when they take decisions. They don’t act rashly and that is why there are fewer accidents by women drivers on the road. The 3 Ls will help women to come out of-their comfort zones within the four walls of their homes and contribute their share to the development of the society. Learning, labour and leadership will give them new dignity, new meaning, new purpose and new enthusiasm for life. Life is to be lived well and . enjoyed. Women also have equal right to live well and enjoy their life just like the men in the society, contributing to the overall prosperity of the world.
Question 30.
“Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life support system,” says Wangari Maathai. The floods in 2018 and this years’ landslides give us the same message. Draft a speech about Environmental Disruption and the need to have a shift in human approach.
Answer:
Respected Principal, teachers and fellow students, Today I am going to talk about Environmental Destruction and how to stop it. We in Kerala are facing tragedies one other another. A deluge ravaged our State in August 2018, in which over 470 people died and properties worth 40,000 crore were destroyed. We were still trying to overcome the problems caused by that deluge, when on 8 August 2019, due to heavy rainfall in the Monsoon season, severe flood affected Kerala causing landslides.
As a security measure, the Government of Kerala issued Red alert in the 9 districts in Northern and Central Kerala, orange alert in 3 districts of Central Kerala, and yellow alert in the 2 districts of southern Kerala. Thousands of people were evacuated to safer places and relief camps. A total of 101 people have died due to rain-related incidents since 14August2019. These camps had morethan 2 lakh people from various parts of the state.
Why these floods and landslides? They are actually caused by man! Biodiversity is destroyed. Resources are mismanaged. The areas which would hold the water are filled up and townships are constructed in the name of urbanization. The outlets to the sea are partially blocked and the rivers can’t easily drain into the seas. Wangari Maathai was correct when she said, “Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking so that humanity stops threatening its life support systems.” But we don’t care.
We continue with our deforestation, sand-mining and overexploiting our minerals. We continue polluting our environment with vehicles and factories and spraying poisons over our fields, If: we destroy the environment, it will definitely destroy us through floods, droughts and pandemics like, Covid-19 which we are still fighting with. Disrupt the environment and it will disrupt you in more than oqp way.
Question 31.
Given below is an advertisement that came in a leading newspaper. Imagine that you are qualified for the post. Draft a letter of application and resume.
|
WINTAGE SOLUTIONS PVT. LTD. Sector – 36: A – Block Noida, UP – 64 WWW.Wintagesins.co.in Wanted creative and enthusiastic candidates for the post of ‘Database Programmer’. |
Answer:
From: Rahul Binoy
Thekkudan House
Changampuzha Nagar
Edappally, Kerala
PIN-682024
29 July 2020
To: The Director
Vintage Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Sector – 36, A-Block
Noida – UP – 64
Dear Sir,
Application for employment as a Database Programmer:
This has reference to your advertisement in the Malayala Manorama Daily of 25 July 2020. I wish to apply for the post of a Database Programmer in your prestigious Company as I possess the necessary qualifications and experience specified in your advertisement.
I am a B.Tech (Computer) Graduate with skills in Java Script, SQL and HTML. I also have 2 years experience as a Database Programmer. My detailed resume is enclosed. I am ready to come for any interview that you might want to conduct. You may fix the time and place. If possible, let the interview be in the month of August or September.
I assure you of full satisfaction if I am given a chance to work for you. Thanking you and hoping to hear from you soon,
Yours faithfully,
(Rahul Binoy)
Enel: 1
RESUME OF RAHUL BINOY
| Name : Rahul Binoy
Address : Thekkudan House, Changampuzha Nagar, Edappally, Kerala, PIN – 682024 e-mail address: binovrahukgmaiLcom Mobile Number : 8547099999 Nationality : Indian Sex : MaIe Marital status : SingLe Qualifications : B.Tech (Computer) from Rajagiri Engg. College, Kakkanad (2013-2017) Experience : Worked as a Database Programmer in the Start-up Company named J & J Techcraft, Info Park, Kochi from 2018to2019. Skills : Java Script, SQL, HTML Hobbies : Reading, Solving Puzzles Special Abilities : Editor of the College Magazine,2016 Memberof the College Football team, 2015. References :
|
Question 32.
Read the poem given below and make a comparative appreciation with “Any Woman”.
My Mother’s Garden
My mother kept a garden,
A garden of the heart,
She planted all the good things,
That gave my life its start
She turned me to the sunshine
And encouraged me to dream, .
Fostering and nurturing
The seeds of self-esteem
Her constant good example
Always taught me right from wrong
Markers for my path way
That will last a lifetime long
I am my mother’s garden
I am her legacy
And I hope today she feels the love
Reflected back from me.
(foster = encourage; nurture = care for; legacy = property left by will)
Answer:
“My Mother’s Garden” is an amazing poem by Kelly Z. In it the poet speaks so highlySPher mother. The mother kept a garden in her heart planted all the good things the daughter needed for a good life. The mother made her a happy girl and encouraged her to dream. She fostered and nurtured the self-esteem in her daughter. The mother’s good example taught the daughter to distinguish between right and wrong. The daughter was therefore able to walk on the right paths at all times. The poet says that she is her mother’s garden and this is the gift she has given her as her legacy. She hopes she can give back her mother at least some of the love she had given her all her life.
It is a simple poem with a profound meaning. It shows the high esteem of a daughter for her dutiful mother who brought her up to have a successful life. It has fine alliterations like “last a lifetime long”. The imagery is syperb. Here a person is imagined to be a garden which is carefully fostered and nurtured by a loving mother. It is a real tribute to a mother by a dutiful daughter.
The poem “Any Woman” by Katharine Tynan speaks of the importance of a woman in the family. She is the pillars of the house. She is the keystone of the arch. She is the roof and walls. Without her the home would be colder than a stone. The children come to her for love and affection. She is the one who holds the family together. She protects the children from all dangers. In the end the woman prays to Jesus to spare her life till her children are properly grown up.
The poem is in simple language. Katharine Tynan has painted a fine picture of a devoted mother with words. The entire poem is an exquisite metaphor. The imagery is great and it touches our heart. The poem is in rhyme. Except the first stanza, the rhyming scheme is abab. Between the two, I prefer the poem “My Mother’s Garden” by Kelly Z.