Series: MNL2K

SET~1

Roll No.

Q.P. Code 2/2/1

Candidates must write the Q.P. Code

on the title page of the answer-book.

ENGLISH (Language and Literature)

Time allowed : 3 hours

Maximum Marks : 80

NOTE:

1. Please check that this question paper contains 19 printed pages.
2. Q.P. Code given on the right hand side of the question paper should be written on the title page of the answer-book by the candidate.
3. Please check that this question paper contains 11 questions.
4. Please write down the Serial Number of the question in the answer-book at the given place before attempting it.
5. 15 minute time has been allotted to read this question paper. The question paper will be distributed at 10.15 a.m. From 10.15 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., the candidates will read the question paper only and will not write any answer on the answer-book during this period.

General Instructions:

Read the instructions very carefully and strictly follow them:

(i) This question paper comprises 11 questions. All questions are compulsory.

1. The question paper contains three sections:

Section A – Reading Skills

Section B – Grammar and Creative Writing Skills

Section C – Literature

1. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

2/2/1 Ш

P.T.O. 1

SECTION A Reading Skills

20 marks 10

1. Read the following passage carefully:

1. In the fast-evolving landscape of the present age, digital saturation and algorithmically curated lives, the phenomenon of FOMO — the Fear of Missing Out — has progressed from a fleeting psychological discomfort into a pervasive cultural condition. Initially, the term was coined to describe the anxiety provoked by the perception that others are participating in rewarding experiences from which one is absent. FOMO now pervades virtually in every dimension of contemporary existence, fuelled largely by the continuous updates of edited content on social media platforms. Significantly, it is the anxiety that others are experiencing something more fulfilling, exciting, or meaningful.

1. The roots of FOMO lie in the interplay between the evolutionary instincts of an individual and modern technology. It may be traced as a fundamental human trait — the innate desire to belong. Man — being a social creature naturally, always tries to seek inclusion and belonging as a means of survival. Albeit, nowadays social media has escalated this instinct by bothering individuals with real-time updates of others' lives — carefully edited vacations, career milestones or even temporal joys framed as extraordinary. Each notification becomes a reminder of what we are not doing, a mirror reflecting our perceived inadequacies.

1. FOMO is not solely a personal affliction; it is a cultural artifact also, shaped by the values of a society that equates busyness with worth and novelty with happiness. Moreover, consumerism fuels this fire with brands exploiting FOMO through limited time offers, exclusive events, and influencer-driven trends that promise belonging or status. The rise of the 'experience economy', where memories and moments are commodified, intensifies the pressure to participate in everything from music festivals to viral food craze.

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