AUTUMN BREAK HOME ASSIGNMENT 2024-25
CLASS XII ENGLISH CORE
READING SECTION
Q.1.. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow
(1) The Royal Bengal Tiger is the largest, fiercest, and most powerful member of the Big Cat
family in India. Royal Bengal Tigers, also known as Indian Tiger and Bengal Tiger, constitute
a large population of the tiger family in the world. It is the National Animal of India and is found
mostly in India, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Burma.
(2) The biological name of this Big Cat is Panthera Tigris, which comes under the Felidae
family under the Mammalia category.
(3) No two Bengal tigers look alike! Every Bengal Tiger has a unique stripe pattern. Their
colour ranges from yellow to light orange, with stripes from dark brown to black. Some of the
Bengal Tigers are white in colour. The tail is orange in colour with black rings. Unlike the other
white tigers that have blue eyes, Bengal tigers have yellow irises. They live for 10 to 15 years.
(4) Being fierce in nature, Royal Bengal Tigers are not very friendly in nature and live a solitary
life, except in the winters when they can be seen in a group of 3 or 4. Bengal tigers are fast
runners and good swimmers. Tigers attack their prey in a stealth mode. They are usually spotted
in swamps, mangroves, and grasslands.
(5) Royal Bengal Tigers have very sharp memories; they never forget the faces. Their memory
is sharper than that of humans and other animals.
(6) We can find the largest population of Royal Bengal Tigers in India. As per the latest tiger
census report for 2017, there are 3,786 Royal Bengal tigers in India. India has more than 75%
of the total tiger population in the world. Along with India, neighbouring countries to India
hold a somewhat decent population of the Royal Bengal Tiger in the world. The latest census
of the tigers in India and neighbouring countries is shown in the table.
S.No Name of Country Minimum Maximum
1 Bangladesh 300 460
2 Bhutan 80 460
3 China 30 35
4 India 2500 3800
5 Nepal 150 250
(7) To know about the latest tiger population is always the government’s concern, as they want
to save this majestic animal from getting extinct. India has lost 97% of its Royal Bengal Tiger
population in the last century. The main reasons are hunting, poaching, urbanization, habitat loss
and illegal wildlife trade. Poaching means to illegally trade the tiger made products like tiger
skins, tiger made jewellery, etc. These skin and jewellery are sold for millions in the
international market. Poaching has reduced the number of tigers to just 3,800 from 1,00,000 in
the starting of the 20th century. (Bigcatsindia.com)
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions.
i. The Royal Bengal Tigers called the largest, fiercest, and powerful members of the Big Cat family,
because-------- (1)
a) they have the largest population among all big cats
b) they have unique stripe patterns
c) of their size, strength, and aggressive nature
d) they are the national animal of India
ii. What distinguishes Bengal Tigers' appearance from other tigers? (1)
a) their white coloration with blue eyes
b) yellow irises and a unique stripe pattern
c) The black tail with orange rings
d) the smaller body size compared to other tigers
iii. From the given pictorial representation, choose the option that correctly states the
approximate percentage of total tigers in the world which are found in India. (1)
iv. What are the reasons for reduction in the population of the Tigers? (2)
v. In which habitats are Royal Bengal Tigers typically found? (1)
vi. Which pair of countries has approximately same number of maximum tigers? (1)
vii. What is the significance of tiger conservation efforts in India? (2)
viii. State TRUE or FALSE: (1)
The Royal Bengal Tiger population in India has increased significantly over the last century.
WRITING SKILLS
Q.2. You are Dr Stanzin, a certified Art Therapist from Leh. You have been invited by G.D. Public
School, Jammu, to conduct a seminar for students on ‘Art Therapy the Way Forward’. This seminar is
to introduce students to the usefulness of art in dealing with personal and social problems. Write a
reply, in about 50 words, accepting the invitation.
Q.3. You were invited by the local unit of Boogie Woogie, a talent search organisation, to make a
selection of the local teams for participation in the zonal competition and performance at the
national level. But you are not in a position to do so because you have met with an accident. Write a
letter to the convener regretting your inability to honour the request explaining to him your position.
You are Arun/Aruna Joglekar.
Q.4 Bal Vidya Public School, Bhilai, urgently requires a post-graduate teacher to teach political
science for which they have placed an advertisement in The Bhilai Express. You are Sanjay/Sanjana
Sharma from 21, Vasant Marg, Bhilai. Draft a letter including a CV, applying for the advertised post.
Q.5.You are Bharat/Bharti of Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi. You are disturbed to see the
youth wasting their precious time in operating mobile phones. Write a letter to the Editor of The
Times Newspaper, highlighting increasing technological addiction among the youth.
Q.6. You are Ashima/Akshit. The Women Empowerment Organisation (WEO) in collaboration with
Child and Women Care Society (CWCS), celebrated The Women Empowerment Day recently in
Community centre, Pocket B, Rohini. As the city correspondent, write a report in 120-150 words for
the city magazine, The Today.
LITERATURE
Q.7. Read the given extract carefully and answer the questions given below:
Since you have been so nice to me all day long, as if I was a captain, I want to be nice to you, in
return, as if I was a real captain - for I do not want you to be embarrassed at this Christmas season
by a thief; but you can give back the money to the old man on the roadside, who has the money
pouch hanging on the window frame as a bait for poor wanderers. The rattrap is a Christmas present
from a rat who would have been caught in this world's rattrap if he had not been raised to captain,
because in that way he got power to clear himself. "Written with friendship and high regard, Captain
von Stahle."
1. Which of the following is NOT a reason why the peddler left a Christmas present for Edla?
a To show his gratitude for her kindness
bTo repay her for her hospitality
cTo make amends for his past crimes
dTo avoid embarrassing her at Christmas
2. What was the significance of the rattrap in the peddler's gift?
a. It was a symbol of his transformation
b. It was a reminder of his humble origins
c. It was a warning to Edla to be careful of strangers
d. It was a practical gift that she could use
3. Who is the intended recipient of the money mentioned in the passage?
a) The captain
b) The narrator
c) The old man on the roadside
d) The thief
Q.8. Complete the Statement: The peddler leaves Edla a Christmas present because he wants to be
nice to her, just like she was nice to him. He signs the letter as Captain von Stahle to show
her……………….
Q.9. Discuss the following: “Freedom from fear is more important than Legal justice for the poor.”
Do you think that the poor of India are free from fear after Independence?
Q.10. The ‘office boy’ of the Gemini Studios was not as blessed as Subbu. Explain.
Q.11. Read the following extract and answer the following questions briefly:
What I want should not be confused with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about; I want no truck with death.
(i) Name the poem and the poet of the above stanza.
(ii) What does the poet mean by “inactivity”?
(iii) Explain what life is all about, according to the poet?
(iv) What is the ultimate expectation of the poet from all human beings?
(v). Identify the tone of Pablo Neruda in the following line: Perhaps the Earth can teach us….
A. Confident and clear about the future events.
B. Dramatic about the prediction he made.
C. Convinced about the sequence of events to follow.
D. Uncertain, yet hopeful about the possibility.
(vi). ‘Keeping Quiet’ uses fishermen to symbolize man’s
a. persistent pollution of the natural environment.
b. rapid degradation of human values.
c. limitless exploitation of natural resources.
d. constant participation in acts of terror.
(vii). Which of these does the speaker imply through the following lines:
Life is what it is about; I want no truck with death.
A. Life is meant to be lived and death should not be the focus here.
B. Life is meant to teach us lessons and near-death experiences are not always bad.
C. Life is full of adventures and the fear of death should not stop us from exploring them all.
D. Life is full of many choices and thoughts about death should not be a point of consideration.
Q.12. What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its drink
immortal?
Q.13. According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it
removed?
PROJECT WORK
Q.14. Prepare the given Project in a separate file sincerely sent as a PDF in school group.
