CHENNAI SCHOOLS SAHODAYA COMPLEX

COMMON EXAMINATION (2024-2025)

CLASS – XII
SUBJECT- ENGLISH CORE 301 [SET 1]
MARKING SCHEME

QUESTION ANSWERS MARKS

NO.
1. The Rann of Kutch's unique appearance during the day is 1
PASSAGE
defined by its flat, white salt desert that stretches endlessly,
1 creating an otherworldly sight.

2. The Rann Utsav brings the salt desert to life with vibrant
festivals, colorful tents, traditional crafts, music, and dance, 1
attracting tourists from all over.

3. (A) it shifts from intense heat during the day to cool nights. 1

4. The Rann is home to unique wildlife, including flamingos,

wild asses, and migratory birds. 1

5. (A) It highlights the extreme conditions that make the Rann

an unusual desert. 1

6. Textual evidence: "Flamingos, wild asses, and other

migratory birds flock to the region during the cooler months,
taking refuge in the wetlands that form on the edges of the 1
desert."
7. The changing color of the sky from bright blue to deep purple
as evening approaches suggests a peaceful and calming
mood. The transition from day to night creates a serene and 2
reflective atmosphere, enhancing the natural beauty of the
Rann of Kutch.

8. (B) Instruments
1
9. (A) It emphasizes the peaceful coexistence of wildlife and
local culture. 1

10. One benefit of preserving the Rann of Kutch is that it

maintains the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the
region, attracting tourists and supporting local livelihoods. A 2
challenge could be balancing tourism with environmental
conservation to protect the fragile ecosystem.
1. The increasing reliance on social media and digital platforms 1
PASSAGE
2
at the expense of traditional media like books and
newspapers.
2. (D) Primary objective 1

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 3. Two points to support why the increased use of digital media
among teenagers seen as problematic:
* Excessive time on digital platforms reduces the time spent on
reading traditional media, which is important for developing focus 2
and critical thinking skills.
* Heavy reliance on social media and texting has led to a decline in
the ability to understand complex issues and concentrate for long
periods.
4. Sentence 1: Digital media 1
Sentence 2: Traditional media
5. (A) Arjun two hours texting; Priya five hours on social
media: Manish difficulty focusing on complex issues 1
6. The decline in traditional media is significant because it
impacts teenagers ability to focus and engage with long-form 1
text, essential for developing deeper understanding and
critical thinking.
7. The shift to digital media has made it difficult for students to
focus on long-form content, as they are accustomed to 2
shorter, fast-paced media consumption. This impairs their
ability to understand complex issues, leading to weaker
critical thinking skills and shorter attention spans. 1
8. (B) Promote a balance between digital and traditional media
consumption.
3. NOTICE 4
Format – 1 Content -2 Accuracy of spelling and grammar -1
Value Points
 Closure of library
 Reason
 Date of reopening
 Appeal to return books
 New mode to issue books
OR
Value Points
 Purpose: Enhance resident satisfaction and living experience.
 Call to action: Encourage residents to share ideas.
 Specific areas for suggestions: (e.g., security, maintenance,
recreational facilities, etc.)
 Submission details: Deadline, format (written, email, etc.),
contact person.
4. CARD TYPE INVITATION 4

Format
→ a single sentence presentation in third person / end line
punctuations skipped
→ Use the simple present tense
→ answers the questions who, whom, when, where, what time and
for what
→ includes name and address of the organiser /host and name/s of
special invitees (if any)

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 → No signatures
→ Name of host /hosts
→ Formal standard expression-cordial
→ Purpose of invitation
→ Date /time of event
→ Venue (address)
→ Name of special guest (if any)
→ RSVP
→ Contact detail
Value Points
 Clear and inviting title: Fashion for a Cause
 Joint collaboration: Social Club and Youth for Service Club
 Purpose of event: Raise funds for underprivileged students
 Date, time, and venue details: Specific and easily accessible
 Participating designers: Highlight their names or brands
 Call to action: Encourage attendance and support
 Contact information: For ticket inquiries or donations
 Design elements: Visually appealing and aligned with the
cause
OR
REPLY- FORMAL LETTER TYPE
Format – 1 Content -2 Accuracy of spelling and grammar -1
Sender’s address, Date, Receiver’s address, Subject and Salutation/
Salutation and Subject, Letter, Complimentary close (Yours
sincerely)
Value Points
 Formal greeting
 Acknowledgement: Express sincere gratitude for the
invitation.
 Regretful decline: Politely convey inability to attend the
function.
 Reason for absence: Briefly explain the reason if desired
(optional).
 Good wishes: Offer sincere congratulations and best wishes
for the event's success.
 Closing remarks: End with a polite and formal closing.
5. LETTER TO THE EDITOR 5
Format – 1 Content -2 Organisation -1 Accuracy of spelling and
grammar -1
Format: Sender’s address, Date, Receiver’s address, Subject and
Salutation/ Salutation and Subject, Letter, Complimentary close
(Yours sincerely)
Value Points
 India's rich heritage: Acknowledgment of India's historical
and cultural contributions.
 Pride in Indian identity: Express personal pride in being
Indian.
 Concern over cultural dilution: Mention the negative impact
of blind imitation of the West.

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  Call to action for youth: Encourage young people to
rediscover Indian heritage.
 Emphasis on self-reliance: Promote the idea of India's
potential for global leadership.
 Hopeful outlook: Express confidence in India's future based
on its past glory.
OR
APPLICATION FOR A JOB WITH BIODATA
Format: Sender’s address, Date, Receiver’s address, Subject and
Salutation/ Salutation and Subject, Letter, Complimentary close
(Yours sincerely)
Content
→ Covering Letter
→ Reference to the advertisement
→ Conveying suitability for the position
 Highlight relevant qualifications and experience.
 Skills and abilities: Emphasize strong communication,
interpersonal, and sales skills.
 Enthusiasm and motivation: Express keen interest in the
company and role.
 Request for interview: Politely request an opportunity to
discuss qualifications further.
→ Submission of application
Bio data as separate enclosure
→ Profile of self
→ Educational Qualifications (include advertised requirements)
→ Work experience/s (if relevant)- only internship / part-time
relevant here
→ References
Any other relevant information
6. ARTICLE WRITING 5
Format – 1 Content -2 Organisation -1 Accuracy of spelling and
grammar -1
Format
Title & By line
Organisation & Content

Value Points
 Youth face stress
 Reasons: too much competition, wanting too much
 Effects: feeling anxious, unhappy
 Solutions: relax, find hobbies, think positive
 Seek help: talk to friends, family, or a counsellor
 Value points from hints given
 Any other relevant points
OR
REPORT WRITING

Format

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 • Headline & By line
• Reporting place and date
• Paragraphing organisation (Introductory paragraph + one or two
Body paragraphs including
event details + Concluding paragraph inclusive of witness accounts)

→ Reason why the programme was launched

→ organised—by whom? When? Who attended?
→ Event details (refer to question)
→ Conclude including witness/ participant account/s

7 Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE. 6

(A) A Thing of Beauty

1. a) Beauty of nature
2. FALSE
3. c) The continuous inspiration derived from the tales of the
dead
4. b) deafening silence
5. c)1 and 4
6. The poem employs the imagery of a brimming fountain to
convey the boundless nature of the inspiration derived from
tales of the mighty dead. This potent metaphor emphasizes
the overwhelming grandeur and beauty associated with these
narratives, suggesting an inexhaustible source of wonder and
admiration.
OR
(B) Keeping Quiet

1. b) War is a futile and destructive force

2. 2. Neruda contrasts war's destruction with peaceful coexistence.
3. This highlights humanity's capacity for both cruelty and kindness.
The juxtaposition emphasizes the fragility of peace.
3. b) rest
4. b)Both (1) and (2) are true
5. d) The wars are biologically destructive
6. a) a peaceful and harmonious society
8. The Tiger King 4
1. b) a cunning and manipulative individual
2. d) a comical twist of fate
3. c) My alarm clock yells at me every morning until I get out of
bed. (personification)
4. b) People resorting to violence to ensure their demands are
accepted.
OR
The Enemy
1. b) Human fallibility and vulnerability.
2. b) A strategic move to protect himself.
3. The General's character exposes the dehumanizing effects of
war, as he prioritizes self-interest over his initial promise to

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 help the American POW. This highlights the erosion of
empathy and morality in a war-torn society.
4. b) Sadao understands the General's predicament.

9. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE. 6

(A) Indigo
1. c) It became intertwined with the practical problems of poor
peasants
2. c) A commitment to shaping a self-reliant, free Indian society
3. c) It was a fusion of political action with the everyday
problems of the masses
4. c) Statement 2 can be deduced from Statement 1.
5. Independent /self- dependent / self- reliant (any relevant
word)
6. d) Compliance
OR
(B) The Rattrap
1. b) As a repayment for her kindness.
2. b) It signified his triumphant escape from entrapment after
returning the stolen money.
3. d) The peddler acknowledges his mistakes and
demonstrates the qualities anticipated of a Captain.
4. a) Exclamation
5. jagged
6. …….. 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./ He signed
himself as Captain./ returned the 30 kronor.

10. a) At the end of his ‘Last Lesson’, M Hamel stood up to say 5*2=10
farewell to his students and the people of the town. He tried
to speak, but overwhelming emotion choked his voice. He
then wrote as large as he could on the blackboard ‘Vive La
France’; then he dismissed the class with a gesture with his
hand.
b) The government and civic authorities, who appear to help but
actually harm them, are relocating them to the outskirts of
towns near theaters and shopping centers, which is a great
disservice to the people. They will thus be deprived of their
voices, freedom, and ability to solve their problems.
c) The glass-bangle making industry was a boon and also bane for the
people of Firozabad. Although the industry has provided them
with a means of support, the dangerous working conditions in the
hot furnaces have a negative impact on their physical well-being.
d) The Englishman’s visit to the Gemini Studios is referred to as
an unexplained mystery because no one could decipher his
identity, whether he was a poet or an editor. Besides, when he
spoke, no one at the studio understood what he intended to
say as his accent was beyond their comprehension.

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 e) Thumbprints on his windpipe expresses the blockage to any
person’s freedom and privacy. It can be considered as a
suffocation felt by the interviewees.
f) We know that the joyful scene didn’t help her drive away the
painful thought from her mind because soon afterwards, at
the airport, when she looked at her mother, the painful
thought came back again.

11. When Charley went to ticket counter to buy tickets for himself and 2*2=4
Louisa for Galesburg, he offered new currency to the person at ticket
counter. However, the station was very old and also the people and
era. So, this modern currency was not acceptable. The clerk
threatened Charley after seeing that currency and threatened he
would call the police. Fearing imprisonment, Charley runs away
from there immediately.
Throughout the two-week Antarctica journey, the narrator of
“Journey to the End of the World” encounters not only physical but
also psychological difficulties. It’s challenging to have a cheerful
attitude because of the tough conditions and solitude, and it is
confusing because of the darkness and lack of landmarks.
The landlord's man asked Bama's brother on which street he lived to
determine his caste. This was significant because during that time,
each caste lived on a particular street, and asking about someone's
street was a way to determine their caste. Untouchability was
prevalent, and people believed that upper castes must not touch
lower castes, or they would be polluted.
Answer any ONE of the following in about 120-150 words.

Value Points
goal orientation, persistent action
12. Fostered by positivity, courage
Overcomes fear, doubt, and adversity 5
Rooted in intrinsic motivation and external influences
Essential for achieving success and overcoming challenges
Exemplar of determination and perseverance
Conquering fear of water: a defining challenge
Strategic, consistent efforts for overcoming phobia
Triumph through mental fortitude and resilience
Inspirational figure for overcoming adversity
OR
Value Points
 In "The Last Lesson" and "Lost Spring," both authors
highlight the devastating impact of external forces on young
people's education and dreams.
 Franz is crushed by the Prussian occupation, while Saheb and
Mukesh are denied education due to poverty and societal
pressures.
 These narratives expose the broader societal issues of war,
poverty, and inequality, which rob children of their futures.

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  Despite their circumstances, their resilience and
determination to dream inspire us to fight for equitable access
to education for all.
13. Answer any ONE of the following in about 120-150 words. 5
(A) Value Points
 Astrologer's prediction: King's death by tiger, specifically the
hundredth.
 King's actions: Kills 100 tigers, becomes complacent.
 Unexpected survival: Hundredth tiger escapes injury.
 Irony of fate: Death caused by toy tiger, not real one.
 Mechanism of death: Wooden splinter, infection.
 Ultimate fulfilment: Astrologer's prediction realized
tragically.
 Failure of precautions: King's efforts to avoid fate futile.

OR
(B) Value Points
 Medical ethics: Duty to save lives.
 Moral dilemma: Enemy soldier in need.
 Decision to help: Prioritizes human life over nationality.
 Patriotic duty: Awareness of treasonous act.
 Conflict resolution: Letter to authorities, informing General.
 Balance achieved: Successful reconciliation of professional
and national obligations.
 General's inaction: Unexpected turn of events.

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