Series: WXYZ/S

Set – 2

Q.P. Code

1/S/2

Roll No.

Candidates must write the Q.P. Code

on the title page of the answer-book.

ENGLISH (Core)

Time allowed: 3 hours

Maximum Marks: 80

Please check that this question paper contains 19 printed pages.

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.

Please check that this question paper contains 13 questions.

Please write down the Serial Number of the question in the answer-book at the given place before attempting it.

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 following instructions very carefully and strictly follow them:

1. This question paper has 13 questions. All questions are compulsory.
2. This question paper contains three sections — Section A: Reading Skills, Section B: Creative Writing Skills and Section C: Literature.
3. Attempt all questions based on specific instructions for each part. Write the correct question number and part thereof in your answer sheet.
4. Separate instructions are given with each question part, wherever necessary.
5. Adhere to the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

1/S/2

P.T.O.

Page 1 of 19

SECTION A Reading Skills

(22 marks) 12

1. Read the following passage carefully:

1. Travel, they say, broadens the mind, but who exactly are 'they'? These mysterious sages seem to know a thing or two about the transformative power of packing a suitcase and jetting off to distant lands. As Mark Twain wisely put it, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness." Indeed, leaving behind your familiar surroundings and completely involving yourself in a new culture is like enrolling in a crash course in the School of Life.

1. Take, for instance, the confusing world of foreign languages. You might think you know how to navigate a city because you can book a hotel and call a taxi, but try finding your way through a maze of winding streets in an old European town. Suddenly, "Where is the train station?" seems sadly not enough. It's a humbling experience, much like realising that 'piazza' is Italian for 'square' and not a type of pizza. But therein lies the beauty: each navigational blunder is a lesson, each wrong turn a new entry in your personal map of life.

1. Then there are the historical landmarks. Visiting the Colosseum isn't just a chance to take an Instagram-worthy selfie; it's a real-life history lesson that textbooks can only dream of. As you stand in the shadow of this ancient arena, you might find yourself daydreaming about gladiators and emperors, only to be jolted back to reality by a selfie stick to the face. Travel has a way of making history real, even if it sometimes includes the odd bruise.

1. Moreover, travel teaches resilience and adaptability. Missed flights, lost luggage, and questionable hotel rooms can turn even the most meticulously planned vacation into a comedy of errors. Yet, these are the moments that foster growth and creativity. Who knew you could fashion a comb out of a hotel toothbrush and a bit of resourcefulness.

1. Travel is a passport to a world of knowledge, where every stamp tells a story and every journey is a chapter in the grand, unfinished novel of your life. So, next time you find yourself lost in a foreign city, remember: you're not just a tourist; you're a student of the world, and the curriculum is as vast as your curiosity.

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