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English (Core) · 2020 · Set 1/2/1

CBSE Class 12 English (Core) 2020 — Set 1/2/1

CBSE Class XII Board 2020 · Set 1/2/1

Real board examination⚠ Old pattern · pre-2020 syllabus
Sets

This paper has 4 questions on a topic removed in CBSE’s 2023-24 syllabus update (each marked Not in syllabus). It’s kept for historical accuracy — the exam really asked it that year — but isn’t in the current syllabus and doesn’t count toward a concept’s importance. Switch to to focus on what’s still examinable.

About this paper

The real Class-12 board examination held in 2020. Every question below is solved the concept-first way. Sample papers are labelled honestly — never shown as a past exam.

Total marks
80
Questions
10
Duration
180 min
Sections
3

The marks / questions / duration above are the official exam pattern. We currently have 21 of this paper’s questions (210% of the full paper), with 21 fully solved. Questions we couldn’t yet extract or verify are held — never shown as complete.

Sections & marks

SectionTypeQuestionsMarks eachTotal
ASection AReading Skills———
BSection BWriting Skills & Grammar———
CSection CLiterature (Text Books)———
Total1080

The question paper

The questions we hold for this paper, laid out by section. Solutions are on the Answers tab.

Board Examination

English (Core)

CBSE Class XII Board 2020 · Set 1/2/1

Series/Set: 1/2/1Roll No. ________
Time Allowed: 3 hoursMaximum Marks: 80

General Instructions

  1. This question paper contains 10 questions divided into 3 sections — A, B, C.
  2. Section A (Reading Skills).
  3. Section B (Writing Skills & Grammar).
  4. Section C (Literature (Text Books)).

Above is the official exam pattern. The questions printed below are those we currently hold for this paper.

Section A

Reading Skills

Q1.
Reading comprehension — unseen passage 2 (Section A). The copyrighted passage is omitted; candidates answered 2 note-making/summary questions based on it worth 8 marks.
⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — NOTE-MAKING (removed 2023-24)
[8]
Q2.
Reading comprehension — unseen passage 1 (Section A). The copyrighted passage is omitted; candidates answered 13 objective/short comprehension questions based on it worth 12 marks.
[12]
Page 1 of 5
Section B

Writing Skills & Grammar

Q1.
You have received an invitation to preside over the annual function of Goodwill Public School, Noida. But due to some urgent prior engagement, you have to decline the invitation. Send a formal letter of reply. You are M. Mohan, Secretary, M.D.B. International School, Delhi. (50 words) OR You need to buy a flat. Draft a suitable advertisement to be published in the classified columns of a local newspaper, giving all your requirements of a 2-bedroom set – park-facing, near market, etc. You are Kiran/Kashish, F-105/41, Krishna Park, Rohtak. (50 words)
⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — Advertisement writing (removed 2023-24)
[4]
Q2.
You are Keerti/Kartik of Flat No. 31, Station Road, Mumbai. Last month you bought an automatic ‘VIP’ washing machine from Messrs Rajneeti Electronics, Andheri (E), Mumbai. You find that the machine is making an unbearable noise and its spinner is not working properly. Write a letter to the Sales Manager, complaining about the machine and requesting him to replace the machine as it is very new and within the guarantee period. (120 – 150 words) OR You are Kamini/Kamal of 21/14, Civil Lines, Indira Nagar, Agra. The main road leading to the colony has three uncovered manholes which have caused a couple of accidents. Describing the accidents, write a letter to the Editor, ‘National Times’, drawing attention of the Municipal Commissioner to this problem of the residents, requesting him to take appropriate action. (120 – 150 words)
[6]
Q3.
You are a reporter of ‘Aaj Kal’, a newspaper. You witnessed a quarrel among a group of boys outside a college gate over some minor issue. The quarrel took an ugly turn when some more students joined in. Write a report for your newspaper, giving an account of the quarrel, its cause, the number of students involved, etc. Give your comments on the lack of tolerance in today’s youth. (150 – 200 words) OR As sports captain of your school, write an article for your school magazine emphasising the need of adventure sports in youngsters’ lives. Such sports help us in being strong, both in body and mind. There is a lot of geographical diversity (mountains, hills, rivers, beaches, etc.) in our country. There is a great scope for such sports. These sports prepare us to face the future challenges of life. You are Rohit/Roshani of Happy Public School, Mathura. (150 – 200 words)
[10]
Page 2 of 5
Q4.
You have seen many homes destroyed by drug addiction of their children. Prepare a speech to be delivered in the school assembly on ‘Drug abuse and its prevention’. Describe why children take to drugs, consequences of drug abuse and how we can solve this problem. You are Mohit/Mohini. (150 – 200 words) OR Write a debate either for or against the motion : ‘Heredity is the only decisive factor in the development of one’s character’. You are Shalini/Suresh. (150 – 200 words)
[10]
Section C

Literature (Text Books)

Q1.
Name the poem and the poet. (extract-based reference-to-context question)
[1]
Q2.
What does the poet hope to achieve by keeping still? (extract-based reference-to-context question)
[1]
Q3.
Describe the pun on the word, ‘arms’. (extract-based reference-to-context question)
[1]
Q4.
Name the chapter and its writer. (extract-based reference-to-context question)
[1]
Q5.
What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last lesson?
[2]
Q6.
Why did the ironmaster invite the peddler to his house?
[2]
Page 3 of 5
Q7.
What change occurs in Saheb’s life? Is it a change for the better or worse?
[2]
Q8.
How does the poet describe her mother in the poem, ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’?
[2]
Q9.
Why did Jack agree to use Skunk as the hero of his story?
⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — This question is really about the removed lesson 'Should Wizard Hit Mommy?', but the exact point it asks about (why Jack agreed to use the skunk as the hero) cannot be confirmed from the text, so a correct answer has been withheld rather than guessed. The stored answer wrongly discusses 'The Enemy' and an invented 'prophecy'.
[2]
Q10.
‘I felt like sinking to the floor’. Why did Zitkala-Sa say so?
[2]
Q11.
Why does Hana believe that the American prisoner is a ‘menace, living or dead’?
[2]
Q12.
How was the share-cropping system in Champaran exploiting the Indian peasants?
[6]
Q13.
Was Umberto Eco a novelist or an academic scholar? Give a reasoned answer.
[6]
Page 4 of 5
Q14.
Describe the Tiger King as a completely self-centred person.
[6]
Q15.
What happened at the Golden Lion Hotel ? (Evans Tries an O-Level)
⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — Evans Tries an O-Level (removed 2023-24)
[6]
Page 5 of 5