Class 12 English 2023 Board Exam

Read the passage given below :
1 Seagulls, as you know, never falter, never stall. To stall in the air is for them a disgrace and a dishonour. But Jonathan Livingston Seagull, unashamed, stretching his wings again in that trembling hard curve — slowing, slowing, and stalling once more — was no ordinary bird. Most gulls don't bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight — how to get from shore to food and back again. For most gulls, it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight. More than anything else, Jonathan Livingston Seagull loved to fly.
2 This kind of thinking, he found, is not the way to make oneself popular with other birds. Even his parents were dismayed as Jonathan spent the whole day alone, making hundreds of low-level gliders, experimenting. "Why, Jon, why ?" his mother asked. "Why is it so hard to be like the rest of the flock, Jon ? Why can't you leave low flying to the pelicans, the albatross ? Why don't you eat ? Son, you're bone and feathers !" "I don't mind being bone and feathers, mom. I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can't, that's all. I just want to know." "See here, Jonathan," said his father, not unkindly. "Winter isn't far away. Boats will be few, and the surface fish will be swimming deep. If you must study, then study food, and how to get it. This flying business is all very well, but you can't eat a glide, you know. Don't you forget that the reason you fly is to eat."
3 Jonathan nodded obediently. For the next few days he tried to behave like the other gulls; he really tried, screeching and fighting with the flock around the piers and fishing boats, diving on scraps of fish and bread. But he couldn't make it work. It wasn't long before Jonathan Gull was off by himself again, far out at sea, hungry, happy, learning. The subject was speed, and in a week's practice he learned more about speed than the fastest gull alive. Time after time it happened. Careful as he was, working at the very peak of his ability, he lost control at a high speed. The key, he thought at last, dripping wet, must be to hold the wings still at high speeds — to flap up to fifty and then hold the wings still.
4 From two thousand feet he tried again, rolling into his dive, beak straight down, wings full out and stable from the moment he passed fifty miles per hour. It took tremendous strength, but it worked. In ten seconds he had blurred ninety miles per hour. Jonathan had set a world speed record for seagulls ! But victory was short-lived. The instant he began his pullout, the instant he changed the angle of his wings, he snapped into the same uncontrollable disaster, and at ninety miles per hour it hit him like dynamite. Jonathan Seagull exploded in midair and smashed down into a brick-hard sea. As he sank low in the water, a strange hollow voice sounded within him. There's no way around it. I am a seagull. I am limited by my nature. If I were meant to learn so much about flying, I'd have charts for brains. If I were meant to fly at speed, I'd have a falcon's short wings. Short wings. A falcon's short wings ! That's the answer ! What a fool I've been ! All I need is a tiny little wing, all I need is to fold most of my wings and just fly on the tips along. Short wings !
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below :
(i) Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option :
Majority of seagulls fly only short distances as _________

Read the passage given below :
(1) When we think of the game of cricket, we come to the conclusion that it is primarily a game that depends on outstanding physical activities, good hand-eye co-ordination, speed, skill and strength. It provides entertainment and generates strong feelings of excitement. A good match of cricket or of any other game neither adds to the existing stock of human knowledge nor reveals any secret of existence. It does not carry any deep meaning but most people, particularly the lover of sports attach deep emotions and numerous meanings to it. Games are thought of as a metaphor for life. They are supposed to teach many lessons. In fact, more is said and written about a cricket match than about scientific findings or great philosophy.
(2) This is because games, like a morality play, in which settings and rules are made by us, can easily make people test their fair and foul conduct, principles of reward and punishment, and emotions of joy and disappointment. They can make us experience the thrill of war without exposing us to its dangers. A man watching a cricket match on T.V. and munching popcorn is like a surrogate warrior. In fact, games provide us with a safe outlet for our aggressiveness. If games become aggressive, they lose the very purpose of providing entertainment and purging us of our aggressiveness. They can calm our impatience without creating any conflict.
(3) Commentators, journalists, politicians and analysts can do a great favour to the competing teams by keeping the excitement within limits. The teams should play without being dominated by feelings of national honour and shame. Excellent performance of the players of both teams should be enjoyed and appreciated.
Winning or losing in a game should not be taken seriously. A game is fun if it is played with true spirit of sportsmanship.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below :
(i) Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option :
Most people conclude that cricket is primarily a game because ______.

Read the passage given below :
1 Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) are products that sell quickly at relatively low cost. FMCG is the fourth-largest sector in the Indian economy. There are three main segments in the sector — food and beverages, which accounts for 19% of the sector; healthcare, which accounts for 31% of the share; and household and personal care, which accounts for the remaining 50% share. The urban segment contributes to about 55% of the revenue share, while the rural segment accounts for 45%. Rise in rural consumption will drive the FMCG market. The Indian processed food market is projected to expand to US $470billionby2025,upfromUS$263 billion in 2019–20.
2 The Indian FMCG industry grew by 16% in 2021, a 9-year high, despite nationwide lockdowns, supported by consumption-led growth and value expansion from higher product prices, particularly for staples. Real household spending is projected to increase 9.1% after 2021, after a decrease of 9.3% in 2020 due to the economic impact of the pandemic. Price increase across product categories will offset the impact of rising raw material prices, along with volume growth and resurgence of demand for discretionary items.
3 The FMCG sector has received good investments and support from the Government in the recent past. The sector witnessed healthy FDI inflows from April 2000 — March 2022. Furthermore, as per the Union Budget 2022–23, a substantial amount has been allocated to the Department of Consumer Affairs, an increased amount has been allocated to the Department of Food and Public Distribution. In 2021–22, the Government approved Production-Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) with an outlay of a larger amount to help Indian brands of food products in the international markets.
4 The Government's Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme gives companies a major opportunity to boost exports. The future outlook of the FMCG rural sector looks on track now. Rural consumption has increased, led by a combination of increasing income and higher aspiration levels. There is an increased demand for branded products in rural India. The growth of organised sector in FMCG is expected to rise with an increased level of brand consciousness, augmented by the growth in modern retail.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below :
(i) Does the following statement agree with the information given in para 1 ?
Food and beverages segment dominates the Global FMCG market and is expected to retain its dominance.
Select from the following :
I. True – If the statement agrees with the information
II. False – If the statement contradicts the information
III. Not Given – If there is no information on this
(ii) What do you think gives opportunities to boost exports ?
(iii) Select the option that displays the most likely reason for FMCG rural sector being on track.

For the Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of Q.No. 2(v) :
(v) Select the option that identifies the categories of food and beverages from the given table.

Read the following report and answer the questions by choosing the correct/most appropriate option :
(1) How bird hits happen, why they are a concern ?
New Delhi June 20
At least two bird strike incidents happened on Sunday. Both aircrafts returned to their airports of origin and were grounded for maintenance. An ABC aircraft, which took off from Guwahati towards Delhi, suffered damage to its left engine following a bird hit at 1600 feet. The pilots returned to Guwahati. The other strike happened on another flight from Patna to Delhi. The pilots of the aircraft suspected a bird strike during the take-off roll but continued to climb. Following the take off rotation, they were informed by the cabin crew of sparks emanating from the left engine. Subsequently, the pilots were also informed by air traffic control of smoke coming out of one of the engines. The pilots declared an emergency and returned to Patna.
(2) Why are bird strikes a concern ?
Bird strikes are among the most common threats to aircraft safety, and they typically occur during take-off or landing. Dozens of bird-strikes happen each day but some can be more dangerous than others. Typically, when birds collide with an aircraft's airframe, it is unlikely to cause significant problems for the pilots flying. But there are instances when the aircraft engine ingests the birds. This can lead to a loss of thrust for the engine and cause maneuverability problems for the crew. In these cases, where a jet engine ingests a bird, procedures would generally call for pilots to land the plane at the closest airport. While most airframe bird strikes are not considered critical to air safety, if a collision cracks a window or a wind screen, pilots will look to land as early as possible.
(3) How critical are bird strikes to air safety ?
Smaller planes would generally be more susceptible to the dangers of bird strikes than larger ones.
However, given that bird strikes mostly happen during take-off and landing, these incidents could distract the pilots during what are highly critical phases of flights that demand the complete attention of the crew.
(4) What causes bird-strikes ?
The presence of birds around an aircraft increases the chances of a bird strike. In the monsoon, as water puddles emerge on open grounds attracting insects to breed, the presence of birds increases. In some cases, bird hits also happen at higher altitudes when a plane is cruising. These are more dangerous than the low-altitude hits, given that they can cause rapid depressurization of cabins. Other reasons for bird activity around the air field could be presence of landfills or waste disposal sites that can attract a large number of birds.
(i) Does the following statement agree with the information given in paragraph 1.
When an airplane is hit by a bird or is suspected to have been hit, the passengers must be asked to get down at once.
Select from the following :
True : If the statement agrees with the information.
False : If the statement contradicts the information.
Not Given : If there is no information on this.
(ii) Select the option that displays the most likely reason for Bird hits.

FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CANDIDATES.
In lieu of Q. 2 (x)
(x) In order to save the lives of the passengers the pilots should

Attempt any one from (A) and (B) given below :
(A) A sea storm is expected to hit the states on the East Coast of the country within 72 hours. As Rohit/Reema, Director General, Coast Guard, Odisha, write a notice in 50 words to warn fishermen, tourists and general public to take all safety precautions and not venture into the sea. Mention relevant details.

(B) You are the Anuj/Anu, Secretary of Saket Kunj, Saket, Navi Mumbai, Resident Welfare Association. Write a notice in 50 words to be circulated to all the residents informing them that there will be no water supply in your colony for two days due to necessary repair and maintenance work. Mention dates, and the timings that tankers will be available in the R.W.A. premises.

Attempt any one from (A) and (B) given below :
(A) Many residents of Ajay Complex, Bhopal have undertaken the responsibility of feeding the street dogs in the Complex. As Raina/Rahul, President of R.W.A., draft a notice in 50 words to fix feeding spots and timings to avoid inconvenience to other residents.

(B) Your school is introducing a five-week certified module on Graphic Design during the summer vacation. Draft a notice in 50 words asking interested students to register for the same latest by 20th April. Mention relevant details like fee, timing and course coverage. You are Nishi/Nishant, Academic Incharge.