BSEB Class 12 English Question Paper 2023

Board-pattern practice paper modelled on the BSEB 2023 Class 12 English (Core) paper: 50 objective marks + 50 subjective marks.

100 marks 195 minutes50 questions

Attempt a timed mock

Section A — Objective (50 marks)

1. The author of 'Indian Civilization and Culture' is:
1. (A) Mahatma Gandhi
2. (B) Jawaharlal Nehru
3. (C) Socrates
4. (D) Rabindranath Tagore
2. Dr. Zakir Hussain had pledged himself to the service of the _______ of his country.
1. (A) youth
2. (B) farmers
3. (C) nation
4. (D) children
3. In 'A Pinch of Snuff', the writer describes an experience with a:
1. (A) doctor
2. (B) lawyer
3. (C) thief
4. (D) postman
4. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamt of a land where children would be judged by:
1. (A) their wealth
2. (B) their character
3. (C) their appearance
4. (D) their caste
5. According to Bertrand Russell, what is essential for the well-being of mankind?
1. (A) War and conquest
2. (B) Scientific technique
3. (C) Spiritual enlightenment
4. (D) Individual freedom
6. The artist in 'The Artist' was a:
1. (A) painter
2. (B) sculptor
3. (C) potter
4. (D) calligrapher
7. A newborn baby is welcomed into the world with:
1. (A) fear and suspicion
2. (B) joy and hope
3. (C) indifference
4. (D) sorrow
8. Who is the author of 'How Free Is The Press'?
1. (A) John Milton
2. (B) Harold Laski
3. (C) Jawaharlal Nehru
4. (D) Mahatma Gandhi
9. The poet in 'Sweetest Love I Do Not Goe' is sad because:
1. (A) he is going on a long journey
2. (B) he is leaving his beloved forever
3. (C) he is afraid of death
4. (D) he is going to a new place
10. Whitman in 'Song of Myself' celebrates the:
1. (A) individual self
2. (B) collective society
3. (C) beauty of nature
4. (D) historical events
11. The poem 'Now the Leaves are Falling Fast' speaks about the inevitability of:
1. (A) spring
2. (B) harvest
3. (C) death
4. (D) rebirth
12. In 'Ode to Autumn', the season is described as:
1. (A) a time of joy and revelry
2. (B) a season of mist and mellow fruitfulness
3. (C) a period of harsh winter
4. (D) a time of new beginnings
13. An Epitaph is a verse written on:
1. (A) a love letter
2. (B) a tombstone
3. (C) a wedding invitation
4. (D) a birthday card
14. Rupert Brooke, in 'The Soldier', describes the land of _______ as 'a corner of a foreign land'.
1. (A) England
2. (B) France
3. (C) India
4. (D) Germany
15. Macavity is known as the:
1. (A) master criminal
2. (B) clever detective
3. (C) brave warrior
4. (D) wise old man
16. The poem 'Fire-Hymn' is a part of:
1. (A) The Ramayana
2. (B) The Mahabharata
3. (C) The Old Testament
4. (D) The Old Indian religious literature
17. The poet sees the snake in:
1. (A) a cage
2. (B) a dark hole
3. (C) his everyday room
4. (D) a museum
18. In 'My Grandmother's House', the speaker feels a sense of:
1. (A) loneliness and alienation
2. (B) excitement and adventure
3. (C) peace and contentment
4. (D) anger and frustration
19. She _______ English very well.
1. (A) speak
2. (B) speaks
3. (C) speaking
4. (D) spoke
20. They _______ football every Sunday.
1. (A) play
2. (B) plays
3. (C) playing
4. (D) played
21. He _______ to Delhi yesterday.
1. (A) go
2. (B) goes
3. (C) went
4. (D) gone
22. The teacher said, 'The Earth revolves around the Sun.' Narration:
1. (A) The teacher said that the Earth revolved around the Sun.
2. (B) The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
3. (C) The teacher told that the Earth revolved around the Sun.
4. (D) The teacher said the Earth had revolved around the Sun.
23. The book was written _______ him.
1. (A) by
2. (B) with
3. (C) for
4. (D) from
24. He is afraid _______ dogs.
1. (A) of
2. (B) from
3. (C) with
4. (D) to
25. The synonym of 'ancient' is:
1. (A) modern
2. (B) old
3. (C) new
4. (D) fresh
26. The antonym of 'temporary' is:
1. (A) lasting
2. (B) short
3. (C) brief
4. (D) fleeting
27. A person who loves books is called a:
1. (A) philanthropist
2. (B) bibliophile
3. (C) archaeologist
4. (D) biologist
28. One who knows many languages is a:
1. (A) monolingual
2. (B) bilingual
3. (C) polyglot
4. (D) linguist
29. Choose the correct spelling:
1. (A) beleive
2. (B) belive
3. (C) believe
4. (D) beleivee

Section B — Short answer questions

1. According to Anton Chekhov, what are the most important qualities of a good teacher?
2 marks
2. What does the poet mean by 'The Earth can be taught in a new way' in 'The Earth is Talking'?
2 marks
3. Describe the author's experience of being served by the waiter in 'The Portrait of a Lady'.
2 marks
4. Explain the significance of the title 'Indian Dancing' in the context of the essay.
2 marks
5. What does the phrase 'The world is too much with us' signify?
2 marks
6. What is the narrator's primary concern when discussing the 'child' in 'Children's Education'?
2 marks
7. How does the poem 'The Soldier' portray the idea of sacrifice and patriotism?
2 marks
8. What does the grandmother in 'My Mother at Sixty-Six' fear?
2 marks
9. Explain the irony in R.C. Hutchinson's story 'The Stolen Child'.
2 marks
10. What is the central theme of the poem 'Snake'?
2 marks

Section C — Long answer questions

1. Describe the central idea of the poem 'An Epitaph' by Walter de la Mare. Your answer should be around 150-200 words.
6 marks
2. Explain the following passage from 'The Portrait of a Lady' by Khushwant Singh, discussing the narrator's feelings: 'For a few years I held the post of the odd-boy in the family. I slept in the<bos> room, the outer courtyard, but the master of the house did not allow me to hang my coat on the peg or spread my bedding on the floor. I had to make do with a spot on the floor, and bundle up my bedding which I did not use during the day.' Your answer should be around 150-200 words.
6 marks
3. Discuss Rabindranath Tagore's message in 'The Home and the World' regarding the clash between tradition and modernity, and the role of women. Your answer should be around 150-200 words.
6 marks
4. What is the significance of the title 'The Earth, My Witness' by Lokenath Bhattacharya? Discuss how the poem portrays the earth as a silent observer and repository of human experiences. Your answer should be around 150-200 words.
6 marks
5. Analyze the theme of disillusionment and the search for meaning in T.S. Eliot's 'The Waste Land' as presented in the excerpt likely to be studied in Panorama. Focus on the spiritual emptiness and the breakdown of traditional values. Your answer should be around 150-200 words.
6 marks

Section D — Writing & grammar

1. Q. You are Amit Kumar, a resident of Gandhi Nagar, Patna. Write a letter to the Editor of a national daily highlighting the problems caused by excessive use of loudspeakers during festivals and examinations.
5 marks
2. Q. Write a paragraph on 'The Importance of Trees' in about 100 words.
5 marks
3. Q. Read the following passage and answer the question that follows: Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. It empowers individuals, broadens their horizons, and equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate life's complexities. An educated populace is the bedrock of a progressive society, fostering critical thinking, innovation, and informed decision-making. Moreover, education plays a pivotal role in breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting social equality by opening up opportunities for personal and professional growth. Question: What is the role of education in social equality?
5 marks
4. Q. Translate the following Hindi sentences into English:
5 marks
5. Q. Change the voice of the following sentences: 1. The cat chased the mouse. 2. She has completed the work. 3. They are playing cricket. 4. He will write a letter. 5. Open the door.
5 marks
6. Q. Write a composition on 'The Role of Youth in Nation Building' in about 150-200 words.
10 marks