RBSE Class 11th 2024 English-2024 Previous Year Papers

YEARLY EXAMINATION, 2023-24

Subject—English Compulsory
Class—XI (Eleventh)
Time : 3¼ Hrs.    MM.: 80

General Instructions to the examinees:

1. Candidate must write his/her Roll No. on the question paper.
2. All the questions are compulsory.
3. The marks of the question are written in front of it.

Section—A (Reading)

Questions:

1. Why did banyan trees particularly charm Megasthenes?

   Answer: The banyan trees charmed Megasthenes because their branches grew downwards and took root, and they were so huge that even five men could not encircle them. One particular banyan tree provided shade large enough for 400 horsemen to rest in the afternoon.

2. Which crops were grown in winter and rainy seasons?

   Answer: In winter, wheat, barley and pulses were grown. During the rainy season, flax, millet, sesame and rice were grown.

3. Name the animals and bird mentioned by Megasthenes?

   Answer: The animals mentioned are the tiger, the langur (with a long tail and black face), horses, and wild elephants. The bird mentioned is the talking parrot.

Section A: Reading Comprehension

Passage 1 (Megasthenes' Account)

Passage 2 (Shivaji's Escape and Campaign)

Section—A

vii) Shivaji escaped from the Agra in ............

1. 1666
2. 1670
3. 1668
4. None

Explanation: Shivaji escaped from Agra in 1666. Since none of the given options (1666, 1670, 1668) match exactly, the correct answer is 'None'.

viii) Which fort was very important for Shivaji?

1. Satara
2. Pratapgarh
3. Kondana
4. None

Explanation: Kondana fort (later renamed Sinhagad) was very important for Shivaji Maharaj.

ix) Find out the opposite of the word 'coward' from the Passage:

1. Brave
2. Clever
3. Trusted
4. None

Explanation: The opposite of 'coward' is 'brave'.

x) What is the name of Shivaji's mother?

1. Shivani
2. Rama Bai
3. Jija Bai
4. None

Explanation: Shivaji Maharaj's mother was Jijabai (Jija Bai).

Section—B

3. You are Vinita, a student of XI class, Govt. Girls Sr. Sec. School, Banswara. Describe an event of 'The Prize Distribution Function' in your school in about 100 words.

4. You are Aryan. Write a speech in about 100 words on the topic "Mobile Phone – Boon or Curse".

5. You are Sunita, a student of XI class. You fell ill and could not go to school for 15 days. Your name has been struck off from the school. Write a letter for re-admission.

6. Fill in the blanks with a suitable determiner. (A, An, The, A little, Any, Some, A few) (1×4=4)

(i) He hasn't got ………… envelope.

1. Some
2. Any
3. A
4. The

Explanation: In negative sentences, 'any' is used. 'He hasn't got any envelope' is correct.

(ii) ………… Earth moves round the sun.

1. Some
2. Any
3. A
4. The

Explanation: 'The' is used before unique celestial bodies like 'the Earth'.

(iii) ………… rich should help the poor.

1. Some
2. Any
3. A
4. The

Explanation: 'The rich' refers to rich people as a group, so 'the' is used.

(iv) Kinjal gave me ………… money she had.

1. The few
2. The little
3. An
4. The

Explanation: 'Money' is uncountable, so 'the little' is used to mean 'whatever small amount she had'.

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets.

(i) Aryan will have finished (finish) this work by morning.

(ii) He usually takes (take) exercise in the evening.

(iii) He has been teaching (teach) English since 1999.

(iv) Ram will go (go) to Delhi tomorrow.

Fill in the blanks with suitable modals:

(i) Could you please shut the window? (polite request)

(ii) He can operate a computer. (ability)

(iii) We should obey our elders. (moral duty)

(iv) May God bless you. (wish)

Fill in the blanks with suitable preposition:

(i) She is fond of coffee.

• (a) About
• (b) In
• (c) Of
• (d) On

(ii) The boys are swimming in the river.

• (a) Of
• (b) An
• (c) About
• (d) In

(iii) I hope we meet again in the future someday.

• (a) About
• (b) Of
• (c) In
• (d) On

(iv) She picked the flowers with great care.

• (a) Between
• (b) Along
• (c) With
• (d) By

Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer:

(i) What was the occupation of the writer?

• (a) A businessman
• (b) A sailor
• (c) A doctor
• (d) None

(ii) What does seafaring mean?

• (a) Swimming in sea
• (b) Trading by sea
• (c) Regular travelling by sea
• (d) None

Section A: Reading Comprehension

Passage 1

1. What was the name of their boat?

   • (a) Pitsannde
   • (b) Voyager
   • (c) Wave-walker
   • (d) Avenger

   Explanation: The correct answer is 'Avenger' as mentioned in the lesson about the sea voyage.

2. Which of these is similar in meaning to 'leisure'?

   • (a) Limited time
   • (b) Free time
   • (c) Labour
   • (d) Difficulty

   Explanation: 'Leisure' means free time when one is not working or occupied.

3. When did they start their journey?

   • (a) July 1976
   • (b) July 1978
   • (c) July 1990
   • (d) None

   Explanation: The journey began in July 1990 as per the lesson.

4. Who is the author of this lesson?

   • (a) Gordon Cook
   • (b) James Cook
   • (c) Mary
   • (d) Suzanne

   Explanation: The lesson is authored by Suzanne.

Passage 2

We lifted her off the bed and, as is customary, laid her on the ground and covered her with a red shroud. After a few hours of mourning, we left her alone to make arrangements for her funeral. In the evening we went to her room with a crude stretcher to take her to be cremated. The sun was setting and had lit her room and verandah with a blaze of golden light. We stopped halfway in the courtyard. All over the verandah and in her room right up to where she lay dead and stiff wrapped in the red shroud, thousands of sparrows sat scattered on the floor. There was no chirruping. We felt sorry for the birds and my mother fetched some bread for them, and threw it to them. They took no notice of the bread.

1. Who was covered with a red shroud?

   • (a) The grandfather
   • (b) The grandmother
   • (c) The mother
   • (d) None

   Explanation: The grandmother was covered with a red shroud as described in the passage.

2. Why did the birds not eat the breadcrumbs?

   • (a) They were not hungry
   • (b) They were mourning
   • (c) They had no time
   • (d) None

   Explanation: The sparrows were mourning the grandmother's death and therefore did not eat the bread.

3. Which word in the passage means 'a cloth used to cover the dead body'?

   • (a) Shroud
   • (b) Blaze
   • (c) Funeral
   • (d) None

   Explanation: 'Shroud' means a cloth used to wrap a dead body.

4. Who is the author of the lesson?

   • (a) Tulson
   • (b) Williams
   • (c) Khushwant Singh
   • (d) None

   Explanation: The lesson is written by Khushwant Singh.

5. Which of the following has a similar meaning to the word 'Weeping'?

   • (a) Lit
   • (b) Mourning
   • (c) Stiff
   • (d) Broke

   Explanation: 'Weeping' means crying or mourning, so 'mourning' is the correct synonym.

6. The birds...

   The birds were mourning the grandmother's death and did not eat the bread thrown to them.

Section: Textual Questions

41. Read the following extract and explain reference with context. (3 marks)

42. Answer any three of the following questions in 10–20 words each. (2×3=6)

1. How did the grandmother spend her time? (The Portrait of a Lady)

   She spent her time praying, telling beads, and feeding sparrows in the temple.

2. Who was Tutankhamun? (Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues)

   Tutankhamun was a young Egyptian pharaoh who ruled during the 18th dynasty and died at age 18.

3. Who was the world's most dangerous animal and why? (The Ailing Planet)

   Humans are the most dangerous animal because they are destroying the environment and causing ecological imbalance.

4. How did the author's grandmother look? (The Portrait of a Lady)

   She was old, wrinkled, short, fat, slightly bent, and wore a white dress with silver hair.

9. Answer any two of the following questions in 60–80 words each. (4×2=8)

1. How did the author describe his grandmother? (The Portrait of a Lady)

   The author describes his grandmother as an old, wrinkled woman with silver hair. She was short, fat, and slightly bent. She wore a white dress and moved around the house like a ghost. She was deeply religious and spent her days praying and telling beads. She was kind and loving, feeding sparrows daily. She was not educated but was wise and had a strong bond with the author. Her face was peaceful and beautiful despite her age.

2. Why is the earth said to be an ailing planet? (The Ailing Planet)

   The Earth is called an ailing planet because of severe environmental degradation caused by human activities. Deforestation, pollution, overexploitation of resources, and loss of biodiversity have made the planet sick. The concept of sustainable development is ignored, leading to an ecological crisis. The Earth's health is declining rapidly, threatening the survival of all living beings. Immediate action is needed to restore the planet's health.

3. What were the things that Professor Gaitonde noticed as the train entered the British Raj territory? (The Adventure)

   As the train entered the British Raj territory, Professor Gaitonde noticed several changes. The railway stations had British names and signs. The officials were British, and the train compartments were more luxurious. The landscape showed British-style buildings and gardens. The people were dressed in Western clothes, and there was a sense of order and discipline. Everything seemed different from the India he knew, as if he had entered a parallel world where British rule continued.

4. Answer any two of the following questions in 10–20 words. (2×2=4)

1. What does the rain call herself? (The Voice of The Rain)

   The rain calls herself the "poem of Earth."

2. What were the girls doing in the photograph? (A Photograph)

   The girls were paddling at the beach, holding the poet's mother's hands.

3. Which local bird is like the goldfinch? (The Laburnum Top)

   The local bird that is like the goldfinch is the Indian goldfinch or the "sone chidiya."

5. Answer any one of the following questions in 60–80 words. (4 marks)

1. Write the theme of the poem 'The Voice of the Rain'. (The Voice of The Rain)

   The central theme of the poem "The Voice of the Rain" is the eternal cycle of nature. The rain describes itself as the "poem of Earth," rising from the land and sea, then returning to nourish the Earth. This cycle symbolizes the continuous process of birth, death, and rebirth. The rain gives life to seeds and plants, making the Earth fertile and beautiful. The poem also highlights the connection between nature and poetry, suggesting that both are eternal and essential for life.

2. According to the poet, when does the child become an adult? (Childhood)

   According to the poet Markus Natten in the poem "Childhood," a child becomes an adult when they realize that adults are not always sincere and truthful. The poet marks the end of childhood when he understands that people are hypocritical and do not practice what they preach. He also realizes that he can now think independently and form his own opinions. The loss of innocence and the ability to see the world realistically mark the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Section: Long Answer Questions (4 marks each)

10. Answer any one of the following questions in 60 words.

Section: Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)

17. Answer any three of the following questions in 40-20 words.

Section: Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

18. Choose the correct option of the following questions.