Kerala Plus One English Previous Year Question Paper March 2019 with Answers
| Board | SCERT |
| Class | Plus One |
| Subject | English |
| Category | Plus One Previous Year Question Papers |
Time Allowed: 21/2 hours
Cool off time: 15 Minutes
Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions to Candidates:
- There is a ‘Cool off time’ of 15 minutes in addition to the writing time of 21/2 hrs.
- You are neither allowed to write your answers nor to discuss anything with others during the ‘cool off time’.
- Read the questions carefully before answering.
- All questions are compulsory and the only internal choice is allowed.
- When you select a question, all the sub-questions must be answered from the same question itself.
- Electronic devices except nonprogrammable calculators are not allowed in the Examination Hall.
(Questions 1 – 8) : Answer the questions as directed. (Total Score: 16)
(Questions 1 – 4): Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
Science and technology play key roles in monitoring hazards and vulnerabilities, developing an understanding of their continually changing patterns and in developing tools and methodologies for disaster risk reduction. The dissemination and application of new strategies and measures to protect lives, livelihoods and property within societies experiencing dynamic change are key areas of work for the scientific and technical communities. Scientific knowledge, technical expertise and experiences to reduce risk have to be shared and made widely available as an integral part of multi disciplinary technical co-operation. Efficient disaster reduction needs a mutually reinforcing interaction between scientists, decision makers and informed citizens.
Question 1.
What are the roles played by science and technology in disaster management? (2)
Answer:
Science and technology play key roles in monitoring hazards and vulnerabilities. They develop tools and methodologies for risk reduction.
Question 2.
Which are the groups of people that can involve in efficient disaster management? (1)
Answer:
Scientists, decision makers and informed citizens.
Question 3.
Pick out the word from the passage that means ‘spreading’. (1)
Answer:
Developing
Question 4.
Pick out the word from the passage that is opposite in meaning to ‘passive’. (1)
Answer:
dynamic
Question 5.
Elaborate the idea in the following lines from the poem, ‘To Sleep’. (2)
Come, blessed barrier between day and day,
Dear mother of fresh thoughts and joyous health.
Answer:
Sleep is the barrier between one day and another. Sleep is the dear mother who gives fresh thoughts and good health to people. So the poet is inviting Sleep to come.
Question 6.
In ‘The Trip of LeHorla’, Lieutenant Mallet is seated on the aerial net between the basket and the balloon. He gets a better view of the sights beneath him. When the balloon moves past the city of Paris, he gives a commentary on the sights to his companions. Draft the live commentary for Lieutenant Mallet. (3)
Answer:
After we pass the city of Paris, there is the plain traversed by long roads amidst green fields and black forest. The sun which was behind the clouds appears now. Now we are about 500 metres high. The earth looks like a coloured map. But the noises made there can be heard – the sound of wheels rolling on the streets, the snap of a whip, the shouts of drivers, the rolling and whistling of trains and the laughter of the boys, cry of the quail, the mewing of cats, the barking of dogs and the lowing of cattle.
Question 7.
The passage given below contains a few errors. Edit the passage.
Manipur is a land of several possibility, especially for adventurous activities. The topography of Manipur offer opportunities for caving, rafting paragliding, rock climbing and windsurfing. Shirui Hills is one of the most famous treks in Manipur, and nature lovers throng the roads leading in the range during the Shirui Lily festival. (4)
Answer:
a) possibility – possibilities
b) offer-offers
c) rafting, paragliding (comma between the two words)
d) nature-lovers (hyphen between the words)
e) throng
f) leading to (not leading in)
Question 8.
Your class is conducting a debate on the topic ‘walking is a noble and virtuous task’. Write two arguments, one in favour of it and the other opposing it. (2)
Answer:
For: Walking is a noble and virtuous task because it helps us to improve our health, enjoy the beauty of nature and see life very closely.
Against: Walking is waste of time as you can use the energy you spend in walking to do some other jobs in the house or in the garden. Some people think ‘walking’ makes them look like VIPs, who have a lot of leisure time.
(Questions 9 – 15): Answer any six questions, each in about 60 words. Each carries four scores. (6 × 4 = 24)
Question 9.
The details of E.C.G. Sudarshan’s life and achievements are given below. Read them carefully and prepare a profile.
Answer:
E.G.C. SUDARSHAN
Sudarshan was born on 16 September 1931, at Pallam, in Kerala. He studied at CMS College Kottayam and also at the Madras Christian College. He was a Theoretical Physicist. He worked as a Professor at the University of Texas. He has made valuable contributions to the scientific field. He has been credited with numerous contributions to the field of theoretical Physics including optical coherence, Sudarshan-Glauber representation and V-A theory, among others. He received many Awards which included Padma Vibhushan, C.V. Raman Award and the Majorana Prize. He died on 13 May 2018.
Question 10.
Guy de Maupassant and his fellow travellers are impressed by their journey in ‘Le Harla’. They decide to felicitate Captain Jovis for making their journey in the hot air balloon a memorable one. Draft a felicitation speech that Guy de Maupassant would deliver on the occasion.
Answer:
My dear Friends,
Today we have assembled here to felicitate Captain Jovis for making our journey in the hot air balloon, La Horla, a memorable one. In fact I was a bit scared in the beginning as it was my first trip in a hot air balloon. But the trip of La Horla was indeed a memorable one. The take off was quite smooth and so was the landing. During the trip we could see such fine sights and hear fine sounds.
Paris looked beautiful from the sky. The city looked a dark bluish patch, cut by its streets. The domes, towers, steeple, etc., made exquisite pictures. The earth looked like a coloured map. But the noises made there could be heard – the sound of wheels rolling on the streets, the snap of a whip, the shoyft of drivers, the rolling and whistling of trains and the laughter of the boys, cry of the quail, the mewing of cats, the barking of dogs and the lowing of cattle. On the whole I should say that it was the most enjoyable and exciting trip I ever had in my life.
Thank you, Captain Jovis! Thank you very much! You are a real Captain!
Question 11.
Go to the woods and hills! No tears
Dim the sweet look that Nattire wears.
What was the sweet look that had captured H. W.
Longfellow’s attention?
Write a paragraph on the use of imagery in the poem ‘Sunrise on the Hills’.
Answer:
The imagery in the poem is superb. The sky was glorious with the rays of the rising sun. The forests were brightened. Many peaks with their sharp spear-like projections could be seen. On the cliff, a dark pine moved in the wind. The river was flowing and sometimes its water was darkened by the shade cast by the forest. A bird flew upward in a spiral way making a lot of noise. Smoke came out from the huts in the wooded valley through the thick leaved branches.
Question 12.
Your friend is going to visit the Namuana village in Kadavu island to see the ritual of turtle calling. Write an e-mail wishing him/her an adventurous journey and also warning him/her about the dangers in the rocky island.
Answer:
[email protected]
Thanks for your mail. Good to know that you are planning to visit the Namuana Village in Kadavu Island to the ritual of turtle calling. I am sure you are going to enjoy it. I had been there once before and I really enjoyed it. Your boat anchors in a beautiful bay under the cliffs of a rocky headland. You land on the beach and sit on the rocks.
If you want you can climb to a rocky track to a point some 150 or 200 feet up the rock face. From there you can have a splendid view. But there is a danger in climbing, if you slip you are going to fall on to some pointed rocks which can injure you seriously. Some people also try to jump into the water from the boat. This also is very dangerous.
Some areas of the sea near the rocks are very deep and there are also whirlpools. If you get caught in one of them, you are a goner! So be careful and don’t try your heroics there!
I wish you all the best. Enjoy yourself and tell me about it when you come back.
Jison
Question 13.
“Then a monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted a moment”.
What happened after that moment? Based on your reading of the story, ‘His First Flight’, write a paragraph on the Seagull’s first flight.
Answer:
The next moment he felt his wings spreading outward. He felt the wind under his stomach and against his wings. He could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He was not falling now. He was flying. He was no longer afraid. He just felt a little dizzy. Then he flapped his wings and soared upwards.
He climbed higher. He raised his breast and banked against the wind. He cackled. His mother also made a sound and flew past him, her wings making a loud noise. Then he saw his brothers and sister flying around him, soaring and diving. He forgot he was afraid to fly some moments ago. Now he started diving and soaring making loud noises of joy.
Question 14.
In ‘The Serang of Ranaganji’, A.J. Cronin and Hasan exhibited professional excellence in controlling the outbreak of small pox in the ship. Analyze their character. Write a paragraph on the qualities required in times of disaster.
Answer:
The name of the serang, the seaman, was Hasan. The name of the ship of which he was the serang was Ranaganji. It was sailing from Liverpool to Calcutta. Its passengers numbered nearly 1500. They were mostly pleasure seekers and tourists. Many of them were with their wives and families. Hasan was squat, and looked very ugly. He was with short legs and a large disproportionate head. He found out that two of his lascars (deck hands) were sick. A.J. Cronin was the doctor in the ship.
On examining them, Cronin found that the lascars had small pox. Small pox is a highly contagious disease and it is not easy to get a cure from it. If the passengers come to know that two of the people in the ship had small pox, they would be worried. Here comes the intelligence and generosity of Hasan.
He agreed to make a small tent for the sick people and nurse them. Nursing them was risky as he also could get small pox. There were more patients later but he took care of them without being afraid. Two of them died. Although Hasan was a Muslim, he read short passage from the Ramayana before their bodies were thrown overboard at midnight. He was a really great man who was willing even to die for others. To him religion was tolerance and love and not hatred.
Cronin was young and inexperienced in his profession. But with the help of Hasan he was able to manage things till they reached Calcutta. Cronin knew the generosity of Hasan and he was grateful to him.
At the time of any disaster what we need is the presence of mind, an action plan and a willingness to be of service to others.
Question 15.
The conversation between Maggie and Mr. Gupta in ‘The Price of Flowers’ is given below. Report their conversation.
Maggie: Frank is buried at Fort Monroe, near Dera-Ghazi-Khan.
Mr. Gupta: When I go to that part of the country, I shall visit your brother’s grave and write to you.
Maggie: Will it be troublesome for you?
Mr. Gupta: No, Dera-Ghazi-Khan is not very far from my place.
Answer:
Maggie told Mr. Gupta that Frank was buried at Fort Monroe, near Dera-Ghazi-Khan. Mr. Gupta informed her that when he went to that part of the country he would visit her brother’s grave and write to her. Maggie asked him if it would be troublesome for him. He assured her that there was no trouble because Dera-Ghazi-Khan was not far from his place.
(Questions 16 – 20): Answer any four questions, each in about 80 words. Each carries six scores. (4 × 6 = 24)
Question 16.
Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals are of immense importance in the present day. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper requesting him to set apart a separate column every day to publish the teachings of Gandhiji.
Answer:
Jose Mangalath
Azad Road
Irinjalauda North P.O.
PIN 680125
7 July 2019
The Editor
“The Indian Express”
Kochi
Dear Sir,
SETTING APART A COLUMN FORTHE TEACHINGS OF GANDHI
I am writing this letter to make a request to you to set apart a column for the teachings of Gandhiji in your esteemed newspaper. I have some reasons for making such a request.
We got our independence in 1947. Gandhi had wanted India to be a free, secular, democratic republic, free from violence and other kinds of disturbances. He waited peace and harmony to reign in our country so that the people can live here happily and work for the prosperity of all.
But today we see many bad things happening. There is violence everywhere. People are fighting in the name religion and region. Gandhi taught us God had different names. Some called him “Ishwar” and some called him “Allah”. But many of us would not listen to him and become fanatics.
Gandhiji wanted social justice where even the poor people could have basic necessities of life – food, clothes and shelter. But what do we see? Some people own private jet planes and palaces that could house hundreds of people. Then there are people begging on the street for food and clothes and they sleep on the shop verandahs or even on the street. Is this democracy?
So, please set apart a column to teach people about love, harmony, non-violence and brotherhood, the ideals for which Gandhi stood and died.
Yours sincerely,
Jose Mangalath
Question 17.
Prepare a write-up on the helplessness of man as portrayed in the poem, ‘Death the Leveller’.
Answer:
“Death the Leveller” by James Shirley teaches us a good lesson. It says that our earthly glories are mere shadows. There is no shield against Fate. Even the mightiest will be levelled with the poorest by Death. Some may make big conquests but their strong nerves finally become weak. They also die like the poorest o the poor. So we should not boast about our heroic actions. On the altar of death the victor and the vanquished are equal.
However big or great you are your head must come to the cold tomb. Only the good actions of the people will be remembered by posterity. All kings and clowns, scholars and the illiterate, the rich and the poor, the beautiful and ugly end up in dust. We should know that we all are children of God and we all go back to the same dust from which we came. Death is a great leveller.
Question 18.
Hasan in ‘The Serang of Ranaganjf plays a very important role in controlling the outbreak of smallpox. As the reporter of a leading newspaper, you have decided to interview Hasan. What would you ask him? What would be his responses? Draft three questions for the interview. Write the responses also.
Answer:
I : Mr. Hasan what was your reaction when Dr. Cronin told you the two lascars had small pox?
Hasan : I was very much worried, not for me but for the 1500 passengers in the ship. As you know small pox is a killer disease. If people come to know that there some among them with this contagious disease they might get panicky.
I : Mr. Hasan, were you not worried that you might be affected by the disease when you opted to serve the sick people diagnosed with small pox?
Hasan : I was not worried at all. In fact I was the one who volunteered to look after them. I am a strong believer in God. I knew nothing would happen against the will of Allah. The biggest commandment is “Love your fellow beings”.
I : I heard that you read a passage from the Ramayana before the dead bodies were thrown into the sea. What prompted you to do it?
Hasan : I believe there is only one God. People call him by different names. The teachings of all the Great Books – the Koran, the Bhagwat Geeta and the Bible – are the same: “Love your God and your fellow beings.” I believe the greatest religion is humanity, love. Since the dead persons were Hindus I decided to read a passage from the Ramayana before their burial in the sea.
I : Thank you, Mr. Hasan. You are a great man. May your tribe increase!
Hasan : It’s alright. But I don’t think I am a great man, but just a man!
Question 19.
The main highlights of the trip of LeHorla are given below.
Take off – response of the local people – ascend of the balloon – view of the city of Paris – experience at the highest point – dangers encountered – difficulties in landing – response of the peasants – landing – return Journey.
Prepare a newspaper report about the successful and thrilling adventure undertaken by Captain Jovis and his friends in ‘The Trip of Le Horla’.
Answer:
Le Horla is ready for takeoff. The captain is Jovis. Lieutenant Mallet, Etiernine Beer, Paul Bassand and the author are the other passengers. When the ropes holding the balloon are cut, Le Horla rises.
Paris looked beautiful from the sky. The city looked a dark bluish patch, cut by its streets. The domes, towers, steeple, etc., made exquisite pictures. The earth looked like a coloured map. But the noises made there could be heard – the sound of wheels rolling on the streets, the snap of a whip, the shouts of drivers, the rolling and whistling of trains and the laughter of the boys, cry of the quail, the mewing of cats, the barking of dogs and the lowing of cattle. On the whole I should say that it was the most enjoyable and exciting trip I ever had in my life.
When they are at 2350 metres high the balloon stops. Then it goes down rapidly. Mallet goes on screaming to throw more sand out. The sand the stones they threw come back into their faces. Their descent was rapid. The wind is too strong and fast. When they pass with frightful speed the bewildered chickens, pigeons and ducks fly away. When it is about to land they hold fast to the supports in the balloon so that they don’t fall off. Finally it lands, struggling madly like a wounded beast.
Peasants run towards them. They come only when the balloon is completely deflated. Even the cows grazing nearby came to see what was happening. With the help of the Belgian peasants they pack up all their materials and carry them to the station at Heyst. At 8.20 they take the train to Paris.
Question 20.
The boy who raised the question in 7 Will Fly’ discovers a new path in life after his encounter with A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. He writes a letter to his friend describing the impact of Kalam’s words on him and the changes that have come in his character. Draft the letter for the boy.
Answer:
Parokkaran House
Azad Road
Irinjalakuda North
PIN 680125
10 July 2019
Dearest Ashik,
I got your letter. Good to know that you got high marks m your SSLC. Congrats!
I am writing this letter to tell you how 1 was impressed with the advice Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam gave the boy who asked him a question. The boy said he was very timid and he did not have the courage to ask questions even from his teachers or class mates. His ambition was to become a marine engineer. He wanted to be the captain of the ship. He wanted to build the engine of the ship. He wanted to know if all this would be possible for him.
Dr. Kalam recited a small poem to him which meant: “I am born with potential, goodness, trust, ideas, dreams, greatness and confidence. I am born with wings; so, I am not meant for crawling. I have wings and so I will fly.”
Dr. Kalam further told the boy that each one of us is unique. You are YOU. The world tries to make you somebody else. Your teachers and parents will point out some people and say “Be like him”. But you should be YOU because YOU are unique.
Ashik, I have decided to be unique. God has given me certain talents and I want to develop them in the best possible manner. I don’t want to be like A, B or C. I want to be Anton Bawa!
With Love,
Anton Bawa
(Questions 21 – 23): Answer any two questions, each in about 120 words. Each carries eight scores. (2 × 8 = 16)
Question 21.
“We haven’t created a perfect society on earth and we won’t have one in cyberspace either. But at least we can have individual choice and individual responsibility”. Based on this statement from Esther Dyson’s ‘The Cyberspace’, prepare a speech to be delivered on the topic ‘Cyberspace – A World of Unlimited Scope and Hidden Dangers’.
(Hints: Information – communication – entertainment – other services – lack of monitoring – war of words – lack of privacy).
Answer:
My dear Friends,
Today I am going to talk to you about “Cyberspace – A World of Unlimited Scope and Hidden Dangers’. Cyberspace is the community of networked computers. It is the imagined place where electronic data goes. Before, it was a playground of computer nerds and teachers. But now it embraces all kinds of people, including children.
Cyberspace offers us three major areas of service. We have the email which is similar to the talks we have on the telephone or voice mail. Then, we have the information and entertainment services. Here people can download anything, These places are like books, stores, malls and movie-houses. Then there are ‘real communities’ – groups of people who communicate among themselves. They are like shops or restaurants or playgrounds.
Each participant contributes to a general conversation, generally through posted messages. Other participants may simply listen or watch. Thus cyberspace helps us to read things, get information about the things we are interested in, play games, listen to music, watch movies and sport events, chat with those we like and do many more useful things. It has become a part of modem man.
But cyberspace has its dangers. So when children use it, it should be properly monitored. There is the danger of cyber crimes. It is full of sites that give vulgar and explicit sex material. Students often copy material for their projects from the cyberspace. Some people get addicted to the games and other entertainment available on the cyberspace.
When using cyberspace we can have individual choice and individual responsibility. We can fall into many traps by not being careful while using the cyberspace. Cyberspace, therefore, is a double edged tool. It is a like a.knife and it can be used to cure, like a surgeon, or to kill, like a murderer.
Question 22.
‘Hopes and aspirations are what human beings live on’. In the story, ‘The Price of Flowers’, Maggie and Mrs. Clifford always hope for better things in their life. Mr. Gupta helps them to anchor on to their hopes.
Write an essay on the treatment of hope and aspirations in the story, ‘The Price of Flowers’.
Answer:
“The Price of Flowers” by Prabhat Kumar Mukoadhyaya is an excellent story in which the hopes and aspirations of people are treated in an exquisite manner. Mr. Gupta meets a young girl named Alice Margaret Clifford, called Maggie, in a restaurant. She is a poor girl and lives with her widowed mother. Their house is a very small one in a crowded area. It has hardly any furniture. The carpet is torn. Her mother makes cakes for a living. Alice works as a typist in the Civil Service stores. She is happy to know that Gupta is an Indian.
Her brother Francis, who was in the British army, had died in India. She wants Gupta to place some flowers on the grave of her brother. It is impossible for her to go to India as she has no money. She asks so many questions about India because she had heard strange stories about India. She heard that many Indians have magic powers, and there are a lot of snakes and tigers everywhere. She also heard that there are dangerous fevers there that kill people. Gupta gives her an explanation about India and Indians, telling her that India is a beautiful country. She gives some money to Gupta to buy the flowers.
While talking with Gupta, Alice said she wanted to grow up. Then she would get better pay. Now she can’t even afford to eat her lunch every day in a restaurant. She has to walk home as she has no money to pay the fare. She did not like her present work as it was very mechanical. She wanted some work that needed the use of her brain. She wanted to be a secretary. Like any other young persons, she too has her hopes and aspirations to live a better life. We can only wish her well.
Question 23.
Read the poem given below and write a critical appreciation of it.
SLEEP
In the night of weariness
let me give myself up to sleep without struggle,
resting my trust upon thee.
Let me not force my flagging spirit into a poor
preparation
for thy worship
It is thou who drawest the veil of night upon the tired eyes of the day
to renew its sight in a fresher gladness of awakening.
(Rabindranath Tagore)
Glossary:
weariness – extreme tiredness
flagging – losing strength
thou – you
Answer:
The poem “Sleep” by Rabindranath Tagore is an exquisite one. Tagore was India’s first Nobel Prize Winner. In 1913 he got this prestigious Prize for his “Gitanjali”.
Here ‘Sleep’ assumes the role of a goddess. The poet is tired after his days struggle and he wants to sleep. He places himself before the goddess trusting her protection. He wants to sleep without any trouble or interruption.
He is so tired that he does not want to force himself to spend time in the worship of the goddess Sleep. It is Sleep that brings an end to the day-long struggles. When one gets up after sleep, he feels fresh and energetic and he can then continue working to achieve his goals.
In just 8 lines the poet has said so many things. It shows the hard work many people have to do during the day. It is Sleep that brings them some comfort. To the hard working people Sleep is like a goddess who refreshes them and gives them fresh energy for the next day. Sleep enables them to dream and they wake up with gladness, ready for the pursuit of their goal.
The language of the poem is very simple. The use of the word “Thou” to mean ‘you’ gives the poem a spiritual aura. Sleep is personified into a goddess that helps people to overcome their weariness and awaken with fresh hopes. Only a brilliant poet Like Tagore could have said so many things in a few words.
Comments are closed.