Class 12 English Half Yearly Question Paper 2025 Answer Key

Class 12 English Half Yearly Question Paper 2025 Answer Key (NCERT Based)

SECTION – A (Reading Skills)

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing correct options given : (1 × 5 = 5 Marks)
Maharana Pratap ruled Mowar county for 25 years. However, he accomplished so much grandeur during his reign that his glory surpassed the boundaries of countries and time, turning him into an immortal personality. He along with his kingdom became a synonym for velour, sacrifice and patriotism. Mewer had been a leading Rajput kingdom even before Maharana Pratap occupied the throne. Kings of Mewar, with the cooperation of their nobles and subjects, had established such traditions in the kingdom, which augmented their magnificence despite the hurdles of having a smaller area under their command and less population. There did come a few thomy occasions when the flag of the kingdom seemed sliding down. Their flag, once again heaved high in the sky thanks to the gallantry and brilliance of the people of Mewar. The destiny of Mewar was good in the sense that barring a few kings, most of the rulers were competent and patriotic. This glorious tradition of the kingdom almost continued for 1500 years since its establishment, right from the reign of Bappa Rawal. In fact, only 60 years before Maharana Pratap, Rana Sanga, drove the kingdom to the pinnacle of fame. His reputation went beyond Rajasthan and reached Delhi. Two generations before him. Rana Kumbha, had given a new stature to the kingdom through victories and developmental work. During his reign, literature and art also progressed extraordinarily. Rana himself was inclined towards writing and his works are read with reverence even today. The ambience of his kingdom was conducive to the creation of high-quality works of art and literature. These accomplishments were the outcome of a long-standing tradition sustained by several generations. The life of the people of Mewar must have been peaceful and prosperous during a long span of time, otherwise, such extraordinary accomplishment in these fields would not have been possible. This is reflected in their art and literature well as their loving nature. They compensate for a lack of admirable physique by their firm but pleasant nature. The ambience of Mawar remains lovely, thanks to the cheerful and liberal character of its people.
Questions :
(i) Difficulties in the way of Mewar were :
(a) lack of cooperation of the nobility.
(b) ancient traditions of the kingdom.
(c) its small area and small population.
(d) the poverty of the subjects
Answer – (c) its small area and small population

(ii) Mewar was lucky because :
(a) all of its rulers were competent.
(b) most of its people were competent.
(c) most of its rulers were competent.
(d) only a few of its people were incompetent.
Answer – (c) most of its rulers were competent.

(iii) Whose reign was crucial as well as proved to be his nemesis of Mewar?
(a) Maharana Pratap
(b) Rana Sanga
(c) Rana Kumbha
(d) Bappa Rawal
Answer – (b) Rana Sanga

(iv) Who is the earliest King of Mewar mentioned in the passage?
(a) Bappa Rawal
(b) Rana Sanga
(c) Rana Kumbha
(d) Maharana Pratap
Answer – (a) Bappa Rawal

(v) What was incorrect about Rana Kumbha’s contribution to the glory of Mewar?
(a) He had given a new stature to the kingdom through victories.
(b) He made his kingdom special with developmental work.
(c) During his reign, literature and art progressed extraordinarily.
(d) He himself was never seen inclined towards writing.
Answer – (d) He himself was never seen inclined towards writing.

2. Read the following passage carefully and make notes on it and also supply a suitable title : (4 + 1 = 5 Marks)
Shop till you drop is no longer a problem that only women with money in their purses and time on their hands suffer from. Excessive shopping and insatiable appetite for goods are causing problems in all countries which have hitherto promoted naked consumerism because personal debts are mounting, creating innumerable difficulties for credit card businesses. Millions are gripped by an insatiable appetite to spend and visit the frequent sales that keep occurring in New York, Milan, London or Paris. People can become compulsive buyers of anything from household gadgets, food, clothes, to cars. Compulsive buying has now been diagnosed as a disease and is the result of the growing advertising campaigns and competition in which shops and firms undercut each other other with huge price discounts. If shops are closed and it is too late, there is always the possibility of shopping through the net. The addiction to shopping is spreading all over the world. In the UK, 2.5 million people are gripped by the shopping fever. In America, a shopper’s paradise, the number is much more at 15 million. With rising incomes, millions of Indians could join the league of ‘shopoholics’. It is called ‘oniomania’ which is a compulsive disorder that drives people to buy in a repetitive and uncontrolled manner regardless of consequences. Self-help groups are springing up to help compulsive shoppers. Because people affected by this problem suffer greatly from feelings of isolation, guilt and fear. It can lead to a breakdown of relationships under the burden of debt and deceit. Women are more vulnerable than men to this addiction because they tend to believe that to be valued by society, they have to look good. They are more insecure about their image and while they are shopping, they get a boost to their self-image from the attention they get from shop assistants. They come back feeling beautiful and successful. Men too are now joining the ranks of keen shoppers.
Answer –

Title: The Growing Addiction to Shopping

Notes :

1. Nature of CS
1.1 No longer limited to women.
1.2 Linked to rising consumerism and debts.
1.3 Creates problems for credit businesses.
2. Causes
2.1 Driven by ads and price discounts.
2.2 Buying done both in shops and online.
2.3 Recognized as a mental disorder (Oniomania).
3. Global Reach
3.1 UK: 2.5 million; USA: 15 million; rising in India.
4. Effects & Victims
4.1 Leads to debt, guilt, isolation.
4.2 Breaks relationships and causes deceit.
4.3 Women more affected due to image insecurity; men also joined.
Abbreviations : CS – Compulsive Shopping, ads – advertisements.

SECTION – B (Writing Skills)

3. Bal Vidya Public School, Bhilai, urgently requires a post-graduate teacher to teach political science for which they have placed an advertisement in The Bhilai Express. You are Sanjay/Sanjana Sharma from 21, Vasant Marg, Bhilai. Draft a letter including a CV, applying for the advertised post. (5 Marks)
Answer –

SECTION – C (Grammar)

4. Attempt any six of the following : (1 × 6 = 6 Marks)
(i) I wish I …………. (accept) the offer. (Choose correct form of Verb)
(a) had accepted
(b) accepted
(c) has accept
(d) has accepted
Answer – (a) had accepted

(ii) A vegetarian is a person who never ………….. (eat) meat. (Choose correct form of Verb)
(a) eat
(b) eats
(c) is eating
(d) has eaten
Answer – (b) eats

(iii) Someone is knocking at the door. (Choose correct voice)
(a) At the door someone is knocking.
(b) Someone at the door is knocking.
(c) The door is being knocked at by someone.
(d) The door is knocked at by someone.
Answer – (c) The door is being knocked at by someone.

(iv) Ram said, “Might is Right. (Choose correct indirect speech)
(a) Ram said that might was night.
(b) Ram told that might was right.
(c) Ram said that might is right.
(d) Ram said that right is might.
Answer – (c) Ram said that might is right.

(v) All ………… books were lying at sixes and sevens. (Fill suitable article)
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer – (c) the

(vi) Engines …………. not run without lubricants. (Fill suitable Modal)
(a) can
(b) could
(c) will
(d) should
Answer – (a) can

(vii) The ring is made of …………… gold. (Fill suitable article)
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
(d) no article
Answer – (d) no article

(viii) I ………….. (help) you. (Choose correct form of verb)
(a) helped
(b) shall help
(c) am helping
(d) helps
Answer – (b) shall help

SECTION – D (Prose and Poetry)

5. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow : (1 × 5 = 5 Marks)
Gandhi chided the lawyers for collecting a big fee from the sharecroppers. He said, “I have come to the conclusion that we should stop going to law courts. Taking such cases to the courts does little good. Where the peasants are
so crushed and fear-stricken, law courts useless. The real relief for them is to be free from fear.” Most of the arable land in the Champaran district was divided into large estates owned by Englishmen and worked by Indian tenants. The chief commercial crop was indige. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant three twentieth or 15 per cent of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. This was done by long-term contract.
Questions :
(i) Name the lesson these lines have been taken from?
(a) Deep Water
(b) The Last Spring
(c) The Last Lesson
(d) Indigo
Answer – (d) Indigo

(ii) Most of the arable land in Champaran was owned by …………. ?
(a) Indian Farmers
(b) Englishmen
(c) Indian tenants
(d) None of the above
Answer – (b) Englishmen

(iii) According to Gandhiji the real relief for the sharecroppers is …………… ?
(a) to be free from slavery
(b) to be free from agriculture
(c) to be free from fear
(d) to be free from debts
Answer – (c) to be free from fear

(iv) Most of the arable land in Champaran was worked by?
(a) Indian farmers
(b) English farmers
(c) Indian peasants
(d) Indian tenants
Answer – (d) Indian tenants

(v) Which was the chief commercial crop?
(a) Wheat
(b) Indigo
(c) Rice
(d) Barley
Answer – (b) Indigo

OR

Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear
The thought of so much childish longing in vain,
The sadness that lurks near the open window there,
That waits all day in almost open prayer
For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,
Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,
Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.
Questions :
(i) Name the poem this stanza has been taken from :
(a) My Mother at Sixty-six
(b) Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
(c) Keeping Quiet
(d) A Roadside Stand
Answer – (d) A Roadside Stand

(ii) Name the Poet.
(a) Robert Frost
(b) Pablo Neruda
(c) Kamala Dass
(d) John Keats
Answer – (a) Robert Frost

(iii) What does I stand for in the poem?
(a) Owner of the Stand
(b) City car who stopped on the stand
(c) Poet of the Poem
(d) Farmer
Answer – (a) Owner of the Stand

(iv) Who are ‘pitiful kin’ in the poem?
(a) social agencies
(b) government officials
(c) city people with cars
(d) the poor rural folk and farmers
Answer – (d) the poor rural folk and farmers

(v) What did the speaker want someone to do?
(a) to give money
(b) to give things
(c) to buy something from the shops
(d) none of the above
Answer – (c) to buy something from the shops

6. How did Edla bring about a change in the Peddler? (The Rattrap) (5 Marks)
Answer – Edla’s genuine kindness and sympathy brought a complete change in the peddler’s life. Unlike others, she treated him with respect and compassion even after knowing his real identity. When her father, the ironmaster, became angry and wanted to throw the peddler out, Edla stopped him and insisted that they keep their promise to host him for Christmas. Her warmth, trust, and hospitality touched the peddler deeply. For the first time, he felt valued as a human being. This awakened his inner goodness, leading him to return the stolen money and start a new, honest life. Thus, Edla’s kindness transformed the peddler morally and spiritually.

7. Attempt any three of the following : (2 × 3 = 6 Marks)
(i) How did the rag pickers of Seemapuri view garbage? (Lost Spring ….)
Answer – The rag pickers of Seemapuri view garbage as “gold” because it is their only means of livelihood and survival. It gives them food to eat, shelter to live under, and little earnings to sustain life. For the elders, garbage represents a source of income and security, while for the children, it is a world of wonder and excitement, where they sometimes find coins or a rupee note hidden in the heaps of trash.

(ii) Why was Gandhiji visiting Lucknow in 1916? (Indigo)
Answer – Gandhiji was visiting Lucknow in 1916 to attend the annual convention of the Indian National Congress party. It was at this convention that he was approached by Rajkumar Shukla, a poor, unlettered peasant from Champaran, who implored him to come to his district to help the sharecroppers fight the injustice of the landlord system.

(iii) What made the chief astrologer place his finger on his nose? (The Tiger King)
Answer – The chief astrologer placed his finger on his nose in astonishment when the ten-day-old royal infant, the future Tiger King, spoke clearly and sensibly. The baby questioned the astrologer about his own death, showing unusual wisdom for such a young age. Hearing a newborn talk so intelligently, especially after predicting that the prince’s death would come from a tiger, left the astrologer amazed and speechless.

(iv) How did Hana help Dr. Sadao? (The Enemy)
Answer – Hana helped Dr. Sadao by acting as a nurse during the operation on the wounded enemy soldier. She assisted him by giving anesthesia, bringing towels, and cleaning the wound carefully. Even though she felt uneasy about sheltering an enemy, she showed great courage and humanity by nursing him after the surgery-washing, feeding, and tending to him when all the servants had left.

8. How does beauty help us when we are burdened with grief? (A Thing of Beauty) (3 Marks)
Answer – In John Keats’ poem A Thing of Beauty, beauty helps us overcome grief by giving comfort, peace, and hope. It removes the “pall” of sadness and despondency, brightening our spirits. Beautiful things act as a ray of hope and a source of lasting joy. They provide a peaceful retreat where we can rest and feel calm. By enjoying beauty, we experience relief from suffering and despair. In this way, our spirits are strengthened, helping us face life’s hardships with courage and renewed energy.