Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, Satara
Std: XI th
First Semester Exam- 2025-26
Marks 50
Time 2.30 Hrs. Sub - English
Section A (Prose)
Reading for comprehension, Language Study and Summary.
1. A) Read the extract and complete the activities given below.
In April 2005, we started to look for a good variety of traditional rice. It was one of our neighbours in the village, a businessman from Mumbai who owned land, who suggested that we plant a local scented variety of rice. Most of the farmers in and around the village of Peth had switched over to hybrids. The younger generation of farmers thought I was crazy to ask for the 'desi' variety, as they called it. My regular visits to the villages around searching for a good traditional variety also did not yield any results and we were almost giving up hope.
I decided to give it one last try and spoke to Baban's father and some other elders. After many meaningful conversations, they mentioned the name of Kasbai. Kasbai is a traditional long-grained rice variety which has a distinct aroma, though much milder than Basmati. It's a long-duration crop and most of the older people remembered growing it years ago. But they all shook their heads when I asked them about the seeds and told me that it had 'disappeared.
The tales of Kasbai made us more determined to get it. We decided that if we did manage to get some seeds this would be a great rice to grow. I thought the government may know something about it. A visit to the agricultural officer was enlightening. He had not even heard of this rice variety. He said the villagers were taking me for a ride and there was no rice by this name. He rattled off the names of a number of latest hybrids and even offered to give me some of them free of cost for a trial. Cursing myself for wasting time with him I moved on to the next destination.
This time it was the Adivasi Mahamandal at Kasa which buys rice from the Adivasi villagers on behalf of the government. Kasbal did not figure in their files. A good indication why people did not grow it any more. The market itself did not recognize the rice, so if you grew it you would not be able to sell it. However, the officer incharge here had more knowledge of rice and did remember Kasbai being sold to him a few years ago.
A1) State whether the following sentences are true or false and rewrite.
1) The author started to search for traditional rice in March 2005
2) Kasbai is short duration crop.
3) The author didn't stop his efforts to find the desi variety of rice.
4) The agriculture officer had knowledge about Kasbai rice.
Answer :-
False
False
True
False
A2 Complex factual.
List the reactions of the agricultural officer to the author's inquiry about Kasbai rice seeds.
Answer :-
Reactions of the agricultural officer:
He had never heard of Kasbai rice.
He said the villagers were misleading the author and there was no rice by that name.
He suggested the names of many latest hybrid varieties.
He even offered to give some hybrid seeds free of cost for a trial.
A3 Give reasons:
i) The seeds of Kasbai rice was not easily available because...........................................
ii) People stopped growing the Kasbai because...........................................
Answer :-
i) it had disappeared over time and no one was growing it anymore. The government and market records did not even recognize this variety.
ii) the market did not recognize or buy it, and farmers had shifted to hybrid varieties that gave higher yields and profits.
A4 Personal Response:
Explain in brief your views on "Organic forming is the need of time".
Answer :-
Organic farming is very important today because it protects our environment, soil, and health. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides harm nature and human life. Organic farming helps maintain soil fertility, improves food quality, and ensures sustainable agriculture for future generations. Hence, it is truly the need of the time.
A5 Language study:
Do as directed -
1) We started to look for good variety of traditional rice.
(Choose the correct alternative to identify the tense used in the given sentence.)
a) Simple Present Tense.
b) Simple Past Tense.
c) Past Perfect Tense.
d) Present Perfect Tense
Answer :- Simple past tense
2) They mentioned the name of Kasbai.
(Choose the correct 'Change the Voice' answer from the following options.)
a) The name of Kasbai is mentioned by them.
b) The name of Kasbai is being mentioned by them.
d) The name of Kasbai was being mentioned by them.
Answer :-c) The name of Kasbai was mentioned by them.
A6 Vocabulary:
Match the words in column 'A' with their synonyms in column B. 2
column 'A'. column 'B'
i) hybrid. a) talk rapidly
ii) traditional. b) pleasant smell
iii) aroma. c) existing in
iv) rattle off. d) mixed-breed
Answer :-
Column A Column B (Synonym)
i) hybrid d) mixed-breed
ii) traditional c) existing in
iii) aroma b) pleasant smell
iv) rattle off a) talk rap
idly
B) Language study: (Non Textual Grammar)
1) Artificial Intelligence (AI) has seen immense progress in recent years.
(Choose the correct form of rhetorical question from the given alternatives.)
a) Hadn'it Artificial Intelligence seen immense progress in recent years?
b) Has seen Artificial Intelligence immense progress in recent years?
c) Didn't Artificial Intelligence seen immense progress in recent years ?
d) Hasn't Artificial Inteligence seen immense progress in recent years?
Answer :-
d) Hasn't Artificial Intelligence seen immense progress in recent years?
2)............English Channel is .......... longest river channel in the world.
(Fill in the blank with suitable articles.)
Answer :-
The English channel is the longest river channel in the world
3) They can climb Mount Everest.
(Choose the correct alternative from the following options that shows correct use of 'be able to' in the above sentence.)
a) They were able to climb Mount Everest.
b) They are able to climb Mount Everest.
c) They would be able to climb Mount Everest.
d) They will be able to climb Mount Everest.
Answer :- b) They are able to climb Mount Everest.
2. A) Read the extract and complete the activities given below.
Once upon a time the animals decided they must do something heroic to meet the problems of a "new world" so they organized a school. They had adopted an activity curriculum consulting of running, climbing, swimming and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all the subjects.
The duck was excellent is swimming. In fact, better than his instructor. But he made only passing grades in flying and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to stay after school and also drop swimming in order to practise running. This was kept until his webbed feet were badly worn and he was average in swimming. But average was acceptable in school so nobody worried about that, except the duck
The rabbit started at the top of the class in running but had a nervous breakdown because of so much swimming.
The squirrel was excellent in climbing until he developed frustration in the flying class where his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of the treetop down. He also developed a "Charlie horse from overaction and then got a C and climbing D in running.
The eagle was probelm child and was disciplined severely. In the climbing class, he beat all the others to the top of the tree but insisted on using his own way to get there.
At the end of the year, an abnormal eel that could swim exceedingly well and also run, climb and fly a little, had the highest average and was valedictorian.
The prairie dogs stayed out of school and fought the tax levy because the administration would not add digging and burrowing in the curriculum.
A1 Web diagram.
Complete the following web-diagram, describing the curriculum based activities in Animal School.
Curriculum based Activities in Animal School
Answer :-
Running
Climbing
Swimming
Flying
A2 Describe the experience of the squirrel in school.
Answer :- The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but he became frustrated in the flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground instead of the treetop. This made him tired and frustrated. As a result, he got a “Charlie horse” (muscle cramp), and his grades fell — he got a C in climbing and a D in running.
A3 Give reason:
Duck's excellent swimming ability became only average.
Answer :- The duck had to stay after school to practice running, which he was poor at. He even dropped his swimming practice to focus on running. Because of this overwork, his webbed feet became badly worn, and his excellent swimming ability became only average.
A4 "Today's education design fails to meet the challanges of the new world". Write your views in 3-4 sentences.
Answer :-
Today’s education system expects every student to perform equally well in all subjects. It doesn’t focus on individual strengths and talents. This leads to stress and frustration among students. Education should help students develop their unique abilities instead of forcing everyone to follow the same pattern.
A5 Language study:
Do as Directed
1) The eagle was a problem child and was disciplined severely.
(Choose the correct option to write it with 'not only ...... but also'.)
a) Not only the eagle was a problem child but also disciplined severely.
b) The eagle not only was a problem child but also disciplined severely.
c) The eagle was not only a problem child but also disciplined severely.
Answer :- c) The eagle was not only a problem child but also disciplined severely.
2) The duck was excellent in swimming.
(Indentify the correct alternative form of 'Negative sentence' from the given options.)
a) The duck was not excellent in swimming.
b) The duck was poor in swimming.
c) The duck was inferior in swimming.
d) The duck was not poor in swimming.
Answer :- d) The duck was not poor in swimming.
A6 Vocabulary:
Find out the words from the extract which mean.
i) School topper.
ii) feeling of annoyance.
Answer :- i) School topper → Valedictorian
ii) Feeling of annoyance → Frustration
B) Summary Writing
Write the summary of the above extract with the help of the points. Suggest a suitable title.
Activities in the curriculum.............participates and their performances............... reasons of lowering grades ................valedictorian.
Answer :- ji
Summary:
Once the animals decided to open a school to prepare for the challenges of the new world. The curriculum included running, climbing, swimming, and flying. All animals had to take all subjects. The duck, rabbit, squirrel, and eagle faced problems because each was forced to learn something beyond their natural abilities. The duck’s swimming became average, the rabbit got a nervous breakdown, and the squirrel was frustrated. Only an eel who could do a little of everything became the valedictorian. The story teaches that education should respect individual talents instead of forcing uniformity.
Section-II (Poetry)
3. Read the following extract and complete the activities given below. 8
There is another sky,
Ever serene and fair,
And there is another sunshine,
Though it be darkness there;
Never mind faded forests, Austin,
Never mind silent fields-
Here is a little forest,
Whose leaf is ever green;
Here is a brighter garden,
Where not a frost has been;
In its unfading flowers I hear the bright bee hum:
Prithee, my brother, Into my garden come !
A1 Match the following.
(Match the human feeling with the things of Nature that given below.)
Human Feelings. Nature
i) Loneliness. a) bright bee
ii) Freshness. b) serene sky
iii) Being active. c) evergreen leaf
iv) Calmness. d) silent fields
Answer :-
Human Feelings Nature
i) Loneliness d) Silent fields
ii) Freshness c) Evergreen leaf
iii) Being active a) Bright bee
iv) Calmness b) Serene
sky
A2 Explain the significance of the 'little forest' and 'brighter garden'.
Answer :- The ‘little forest’ and ‘brighter garden’ represent a peaceful and joyful world created by the poet’s imagination. They symbolize a place full of hope, positivity, and eternal beauty — untouched by sorrow or decay. The poet invites her brother to this world of peace and inspiration, away from the darkness and sadness of life.
A3 Describe how nature brings you peace when you feel depressed, relating it to the theme of the extract.
Answer :-
When I feel depressed, spending time in nature helps me calm my mind. The fresh air, green trees, and chirping birds make me feel alive and hopeful again. Like the poet’s “brighter garden,” nature gives me comfort and positivity. It reminds me that there is always light and beauty even in times of darkness.
A4 Name and explain the figure of speech of the following line. 2
'Never mind faded forests'.
Answer :- ko
Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Explanation:
The repetition of the consonant sound ‘f’ in faded forests creates a musical effect, which emphasizes the fading or dying aspect of the forests the poet wants to ignore.
Section-III-Writing Skills
A) Complete the activities as per the instructions given below.
i) Attempt any one of the following activities.
Letter writing
You are Anjani/Avnita, a student of Chhatrapati Shivaji college, Kolhapur. Write a letter to the Principal of your college seeking leave for attending your cousin's wedding ceremony in Mumbai.
Answer :-
To,
The Principal,
Chhatrapati Shivaji College,
Kolhapur.
Subject: Application for Leave to Attend Cousin’s Wedding
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am Anjani, a student of class XII, Arts stream in your college. I wish to inform you that I have to attend my cousin’s wedding ceremony in Mumbai. Therefore, I will not be able to attend the lectures from 10th November to 14th November 2025.
Kindly grant me leave for the mentioned period. I assure you that I will complete all the pending work and assignments after returning.
Thanking you for your kind consideration.
Yours obediently,
Anjani Patil
Class XII – Arts
Date:
4th November 2025
ii) E-mail writing
You are the secretary of the students council of your college. You want to order some books for your college library. Write an E-mail to a book seller of your town.
* Give details about names and quantity of books.
* Ask him for receipt.
* Request him for discount.
* Assure him to pay online
Answer :-
B) Complete any one activities of the following.
i) Expansion of Ideas:
Expand the following idea in about 100-150 words. Use the following points.
"Necessity is the mother of invention."
* Importance of invention.
* Use of the term 'Mother'.
* Examples or proof.
* Human tendency of invention.
* Conclusion.
Answer :-
Std-11th
(7)
Sub - English
4
ii) Blog Writing
Write a blog in a proper format on 'Unity in Diversity' in India, with the help of following points. (Write in about 100 to 150 words)
* Multiple languages, cultures, religions.
* Variety in food, clothes, festivals.
* Social harmony, among Indians.
* National Festival and unity.
* Appeal for unity.
Section IV- Literary Genre -Drama
5. Complete the activities as per the instructions given below.
A) Match The information
Column 'A'. Column 'B'
1) Conflict. a) Major/main character
ii) Theme. b) Series of events
iii) Protagonist. c) Essence of drama
iv) Plot. d) The main idea
Answer :-
Column A Column B
i) Conflict c) Essence of drama
ii) Theme d) The main idea
iii) Protagonist a) Major/main character
iv) Plot b) Series of events
B) State whether the following sentenses are 'true' or 'false'.
1) Drama has its origin in folk theatre.
2) There are total six elements of drama.
3) Drama is a composition in verse or prose to be acted on the stage.
4) 'A Treatise on Theatre' is written by Bharat Muni
Answer :-
1. Drama has its origin in folk theatre. → ✅ True
2. There are total six elements of drama. → ✅ True
3. Drama is a composition in verse or prose to be acted on the stage. → ✅ True
4. ‘A Treatise on Theatre’ is written by Bharat Muni. → ❌ False
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