Grade – 12
General English - Paper I
Name: ………………………………………………. Time: 2 1/2hrs
GRAMMAR
Underline the correct answer. (15marks)
1. The Chief Guest praised the organization for ………… discipline.
(it’s / its / it is)
2. Most executives are proud …………. the traditions of their company.
(on/at/ of)
3. All the items of the agenda ……… not discussed at the meeting yesterday.
(will/was/were)
4. The statistics on population …………… the success of family planning.
(shows/show/ shown)
5. Where are you going to put all your …………?
(furnitures/furniture/ pieces of furnitures)
6. Let’s go now. It isn’t ………….. anymore.
(raining/rainning/rain)
7. Indian desserts available in the office canteen are …………… than Sri Lankan desserts.
(sweeter/ sweetest/ more sweeter)
8. I am so fed up these days. I am looking for ………….
(works/ a work/ work)
9. Did you hear ………… just now? No I didn’t hear anything.
(a noise/ noise/ noises)
10. My aunt is a writer. She writes …………
(books/some books/book)
SPELLING
Underlined the correct word ending, selecting from those given in brackets. (10 marks)
1. Prof James is an excellent hist…… (ory/orian/ orical) but his lectures are incomprehen…… (sible/sion/sive)
2. My sister is very soci…… (able/alist/ety)
3. If you keep tr…… (y/ying/ied), you are sure to suc……(cess/cession/ceed)
4. Germany is an industry……(es/alist/al) country that has also moved into the serv……(ice/ing/ant)
5. Action film are very inter……(est/ested/esting)but love stories are bo……(ring/re/red)
6. To be a good manager, you have to be very deci………(sive/ding/de)
VOCABULARY
Write the meanings of the following underlined words in your own words. (10marks)
1. “The umpire’s decision was controversial” I know, I was watching the match, and I thought it was unfair.
………………………………………………………………………………………
2. During the assembly, we were hysterical and the Principal glared at us.
………………………………………………………………………………………
3. She is a very decisive person and people like to work with her.
………………………………………………………………………………………
4. A leader without a vision can’t lead us anymore.
………………………………………………………………………………………
5. I had barely finished studying when the lights went off.
………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Read the following poem and answer the questions given below. (12 marks)
The Man He Killed by Thomas Hardy
infantry – Soldiers who fight on foot
list-(enlist) join the army
traps- his personal belongings
quaint- unusual
nipper kin – a small quantity of an alcoholic drink
Had he and I but met
By some old ancient inn
We should have sat down to wet
Right many a nipper kin
But ranged as infantry
And staring face to face
I shot at him as he at me
And killed him in his place
I shot him dead because-
Because he was my foe
Just so: my foe of cause he was
That's clear enough; although.
He thought he'd list, perhaps,
Off-hand like- just as I-
Was out work- had sold his traps-
No other reason why.
Yes; quaint and curious War is!
You shoot a fellow down
You'd treat if met where any bar is,
Or help to half a- crown
Questions.
Why did the writer kill the man?
..........................................................................................................................
Is he repenting for killing him? Why?
........................................................................................................................
What does the repetition of 'because' in the third verse show?
...........................................................................................................................
Explain the writer's feelings in the following lines.
“Because he was my foe” - ………………………………………………………………………
“Yes; quaint and curious War is” - ..............................................................................................
Why did the two men join the army? ................................................................................................................
Why does the writer say war is quaint? ……………………………………………….............................................................
5. DIALOGUE – You witnessed a robbery and are describing the robbery to a policeman. Given below is what you said. Complete your part of the dialogue appropriately. (10 marks)
Policeman- Can you remember what the robber looked like?
You - (1) ........................................................................................................................
Policeman – I see. But whatever you saw will be helpful. For Instance, what was his complexion?
You- (2) - ........................................................................................................................
Policeman – And can you remember anything about his build?
You- (3).......................................................................................................................
Did he have any distinguishing feature- a scar or anything like that?
You- (4).......................................................................................................................
Policeman – Well that's very useful. Now can you remember what he was wearing?
You- (5) ………………………………………………………………………………………………
Policeman – You have been very helpful. Thank you very much.
6. Use six of the following words in sentences that bring out their meaning. You may use the verbs in any tense. (12 marks)
Assistance, safety, encounter, apologize, influence, effect, affect, protest
1. ………………………………………………………………………………………
2. ………………………………………………………………………………………
3. ………………………………………………………………………………………
4. ………………………………………………………………………………………
5. ………………………………………………………………………………………
6. ………………………………………………………………………………………
7. NOTE.
You went to visit a friend, but he/she has gone out. You need to speak to him/her urgently write the note you would have to left, using about 30 words (06 marks)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..........................................................................
8. WRITING FOR FORMAL PURPOSES
Write an official letter to a person inviting him/ her to be the Chief Guest at a function in your school. Your letter should include the following. (10 marks)
· Give reason why you want this person to be the Chief Guest.
· Give details of the function and its venue
· Request a reply in writing
9. COMPOSITION
(15 marks)
1. ‘Advertisement on TV should be banned’. Do you agree?
Or
2. ‘People have no right to keep animals in cages in zoos and exhibit them.’ Express your views.
