CBSE Class 12 English Question Paper 2024 (Set 3 - 1/3/3) with Answer Key

Owning a dog provides unconditional love and unwavering support, as highlighted in paragraph 2 of the passage. This kind of love helps young adults feel accepted and secure, which is especially comforting for those struggling to find their place in society.
Quick Tip: When identifying key themes in a question, focus on the emotional and social implications mentioned in the text.

A dog encourages its owner to lead a healthier life by requiring regular exercise, such as daily walks, runs, or playful activities. This promotes physical activity, improves mood, and boosts energy levels, benefiting the owner's overall health and well-being.
Quick Tip: Relate textual evidence to practical life examples when answering such descriptive questions.

Dogs are excellent emotional support animals. Their presence alone offers a calming influence, and their ability to sense their owner’s emotions provides additional comfort. For those struggling with anxiety or depression, having a dog can be a life-changing experience.
Quick Tip: While answering such questions, highlight specific examples from the text to substantiate your response.

Dogs help initiate conversations and bring people together. Walking a dog in the park or attending social events with them often leads to interactions with others, enabling young adults to connect with peers and form new friendships more easily.
Quick Tip: Look for phrases that imply social interactions or relationships while tackling such questions.

Regularly walking and feeding the dog require consistent effort and routine, helping young adults develop a sense of responsibility and self-discipline. These activities ensure the dog’s well-being while fostering personal growth in its owner.
Quick Tip: Identify daily routines or habits mentioned in the text to understand their role in fostering personal growth.

The article primarily highlights the numerous advantages of owning a dog, such as emotional support, increased physical activity, and improved social connections, making it a valuable companion for young adults.
Quick Tip: Pay attention to the overall message or theme of the article to identify its primary aim.

The phrase ‘take on the world’ implies being ready to face challenges and accept responsibilities with confidence and determination.
Quick Tip: Understand figurative language in context to deduce the correct interpretation.

The phrase “consider finding a furry friend” refers to getting a dog as a companion. The article emphasizes how having a dog can help young adults face life’s challenges with confidence and support, both emotionally and socially.
Quick Tip: Focus on context clues around the underlined phrase to interpret its meaning.

The article adopts a positive and informative tone, highlighting the numerous benefits of owning a dog for young adults. It provides practical insights and encouragement, making it both engaging and educational.
Quick Tip: Analyze the choice of words and overall structure to determine the tone of the article.

Aquatic or amphibious species can perceive and act upon electrical stimuli using electroreception, which humans lack. This ability helps them navigate, defend themselves, and interact in deep-sea habitats efficiently.

Electroreception allows species like fish and rays to detect electrical currents, giving them an advantage in navigation, defense, and communication. Humans lack this sense, making them reliant on tools for survival in underwater habitats.
Quick Tip: Aquatic and amphibious species have an advantage due to their ability to detect electrical signals in water, which helps them navigate, hunt, and avoid predators, while humans lack this ability in their natural environment.

Electroreception enables humans to develop technologies that detect and react to electrical signals, which could aid in underwater navigation, surveillance, and preventing hazards in deep-sea environments.
Quick Tip: Electroreception can benefit humans by allowing them to detect electrical stimuli, which can be used in technology to improve communications, sensing, and safety systems.

Weakly electric fish use electroreception to avoid interference when meeting others using the same frequency. Each fish shifts its discharge frequency to transmit on unique channels, preventing jamming and maintaining effective communication.

Electroreception prevents confusion during interactions by enabling weakly electric fish to adjust their signal frequencies. This adjustment ensures smooth communication and avoids overlap in the transmission of electrical signals.
Quick Tip: Weakly electric fish use electroreception to navigate their environment, detect prey, and communicate with other fish by emitting electric fields and sensing disturbances in these fields.

Young ray embryos use constant tail movement to pump water and enable breathing inside their egg cases. This adaptation supports survival while allowing electroreception to detect predators and trigger a motionless response for defense.
Quick Tip: The young ray embryo disorients sharks by emitting electrical signals, which helps protect it from predators.

A shark hunts with accuracy because it uses electrical signals to precisely locate and strike its prey even in challenging conditions.


Sharks utilize electroreception to detect prey’s electrical signals. This sense, coupled with their acute sense of smell, allows them to hunt accurately, even without relying on vision.
Quick Tip: A shark hunts with accuracy because it can detect electrical fields produced by the movements of potential prey, allowing it to track and hunt effectively.

It protects its eyes from damage during the attack.

Sharks retract their eyes into their sockets as a defense mechanism to shield them from potential injury while attacking prey. This ensures the eyes remain unharmed when the shark's head makes contact with the prey or other obstacles during an aggressive attack.
Quick Tip: A shark recedes its eyes to protect them from injury or damage when it attacks its prey, as the head may come into contact with the prey or obstacles.

Scientists are investigating the development of artificial electroreceptors that can detect the electrical signals emitted by sharks. These devices could help alert swimmers and humans to the presence of sharks, potentially reducing shark attacks by allowing for timely warnings. Quick Tip: Scientists are investigating the creation of artificial electroreceptors to detect the electrical fields emitted by sharks, helping to prevent attacks on humans by detecting shark movements.

The title of the passage accurately reflects the content, which discusses electroreception in aquatic animals and its potential applications for humans, such as improving safety and technology. This makes the title relevant and suitable for the subject matter. Quick Tip: The title accurately reflects the content of the passage, which explains the importance of electroreception in aquatic species and its potential applications for human beings.

The poet compares the mother’s face to that of a corpse, reflecting her frailty and advanced age. This highlights the weakness and vulnerability of the mother as perceived by the poet.
Quick Tip: Look for descriptive phrases like "ashen like that of a corpse" to infer the condition of the mother in the poem.

The poet feels a deep sense of pain and fear about her mother’s frailty and mortality. She momentarily tries to distract herself by looking outside, but the realization of her mother’s declining health prevails.
Quick Tip: Focus on the poet's emotional reaction to the mother’s frailty to determine the tone of the statement.

The poem reflects on the inevitable process of ageing and the fear of mortality, as evident in the poet’s observation of her mother’s frail and corpse-like appearance.
Quick Tip: Themes in literature often focus on universal truths like ageing, death, or the cycle of life.

The word "spilling" in the context of "children spilling out of their homes" refers to movement in a lively and energetic manner, akin to a crowd overflowing onto a street.
Quick Tip: Context helps identify the precise meaning of a word in different scenarios. Look for its usage within the extract.

The phrase "Young trees sprinting" contrasts the mother’s ageing with the energy and vitality of youth, symbolized by the lively movement of the trees as seen through the poet’s window.
Quick Tip: Symbolism often contrasts key ideas in poetry, such as youth versus old age in this poem.

The repetition of the word ‘as’ reinforces the poet's realization that her mother’s appearance truly reflects her advancing age and vulnerability. This adds to the emotional impact of the realization. Quick Tip: Look for repetitive words in literature to understand their emphasis and purpose in conveying key themes or emotions.

The poet advocates for introspection and stillness, suggesting that silence can bring clarity and help alleviate the sadness of misunderstanding ourselves.
Quick Tip: Themes in poetry often address broader reflections on life, human behavior, and emotions.

The poet advocate for quiet productivity but rather for a complete pause in activity to introspect and understand oneself. This quietness is meant to alleviate sadness and bring clarity, not replace activities with productivity.
Quick Tip: When analyzing poetry, focus on the poet's intended message rather than literal interpretations of individual phrases.

The poet refers to the sadness that arises from a lack of self-awareness. This failure to pause and reflect on our inner selves leads to a sense of incompleteness and a continuous threat of dissatisfaction.
Quick Tip: Sadness in poetry often symbolizes deeper philosophical concerns, such as lack of self-awareness or detachment from reality.

The poet’s perspective reflects the concerns of a social activist, focusing on self-reflection, human behavior, and the need for a collective pause to overcome existential sadness.
Quick Tip: Identify the poet’s perspective by analyzing their core message and the societal concerns addressed in the poem.

The word "complaint" does not match the rhyme pattern of line 1. The other options (cruised, mused, bruised) align with the rhyming scheme used in the poem.
Quick Tip: Pay attention to sound patterns and endings of words to identify deviations from the rhyme scheme.

The poet emphasizes the value of stillness and reflection to help individuals understand themselves better and break free from the sadness caused by the chaos of life.
Quick Tip: Completing sentences in literature often requires interpreting the broader themes and underlying messages of the text.

The narrator fantasizes about living in 1894, a peaceful time before the wars, seeking solace in a simpler, conflict-free era. His daydreaming reflects a longing to escape the complexities of the present.
Quick Tip: Focus on the narrator’s emotional state and his dissatisfaction with modern times. Look for evidence of escapism or nostalgia in the text.

The year 1894 represents a pre-war era, untouched by the devastations of the two World Wars. It embodies the narrator's idealized vision of tranquility and simplicity.
Quick Tip: Consider historical references in the text and their significance to the narrator’s yearning for a simpler time.

The mention of the newspaper and President Cleveland highlights the narrator's longing for a simpler era, specifically 1894, which he perceives as a time of peace, untouched by modern conflicts.
Quick Tip: Focus on the symbolic meaning of historical references like the newspaper or President Cleveland to understand their connection to escapism.

The narrative’s first-person perspective and focus on the narrator's feelings and fantasies give it an autobiographical tone. It conveys his inner conflicts and nostalgia for a bygone era.
Quick Tip: To identify autobiographical elements, look for personal reflections, emotions, and first-person narration in the text.

A dark-blue woollen haori over her kimono.


The extract explicitly mentions Hana’s attire as a dark-blue woollen haori worn over her kimono, showcasing her traditional Japanese appearance.
Quick Tip: Focus on descriptive details in the text to answer questions about attire or appearance.

Dr. Sadao ensured that Hana was of pure Japanese lineage before allowing himself to fall in love with her, adhering to his father’s expectations and demonstrating obedience.
Quick Tip: Look for the character’s actions and their alignment with familial or societal expectations to determine traits like obedience or defiance.

The moment describes a sense of calm and contentment as Sadao admires Hana and reflects on their relationship, even while considering societal expectations.
Quick Tip: Analyze the tone and emotions conveyed in the text to determine whether the moment reflects turmoil, tranquility, or conflict.

Dr. Sadao and Hana share mutual respect and understanding, with Sadao ensuring their relationship aligns with familial and cultural expectations.


Their relationship is built on a foundation of mutual respect, as reflected in their shared values and cultural sensitivity. Despite meeting abroad, they remain committed to traditions and familial expectations.
Quick Tip: Look for evidence of mutual respect, shared values, and cultural considerations in the text to infer the dynamics of their relationship.

1. The chirping of birds at the edge of the woods (auditory detail).

2. The brightness and warmth of the outdoors (visual and tactile details).


The sensory details in the extract include auditory imagery, such as the "chirping of birds," and visual and tactile details, like the "brightness" and "warmth" of the environment, which make the outdoors appealing to the narrator.
Quick Tip: Look for phrases that engage the senses, such as descriptions of sounds, sights, or physical sensations.

The narrator is tempted by the pleasant weather, the chirping of birds, and the sight of Prussian soldiers drilling, which seem more enjoyable than studying the rule for participles.

The extract vividly describes the appeal of the outdoors with its warm, bright weather, the sounds of nature, and the captivating activities of the soldiers, making it a stark contrast to the mundane schoolwork.
Quick Tip: Focus on the external factors described in the text that draw the narrator's attention away from school.

I hurried off to school resisting the temptation of the warm, bright outdoors and the distractions outside.


Despite the allure of the pleasant weather and lively scenes outside, the narrator chose to focus on his responsibilities and attend school.
Quick Tip: Identify the distractions described in the text that the narrator overcomes to fulfill his duties.

The narrator’s reluctance to attend school stems from his unpreparedness for the participles test, which adds to the temptation of skipping school.
Quick Tip: Look for explicit mentions of reasons in the text, such as fear of tests or lack of preparation, to identify the cause of hesitation.

The narrator demonstrates determination by overcoming his desire to indulge in the distractions of the outdoors and choosing to attend school instead.
Quick Tip: Focus on the character’s internal qualities that help them make difficult but responsible choices.

The central idea revolves around the narrator’s ability to resist temptation and make a responsible decision, encapsulated by the headline "Strength to Resist."
Quick Tip: Identify the primary theme or message of the passage when choosing a headline that represents the main conflict or resolution.

The phrase “revived unpleasant memories and stirred childish fears” indicates the narrator’s association with such fears dates back to earlier experiences.

The word "revived" suggests that the narrator’s fears were rooted in past experiences and were rekindled upon visiting the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool.
Quick Tip: Look for words or phrases that reference earlier events or lingering feelings from the past.

1. The writer used new water wings to build confidence.

2. The writer imitated other boys to learn swimming techniques.


The writer employed two main strategies to overcome his fear of water: using water wings for support and observing and mimicking the actions of other boys to gain confidence and learn swimming.
Quick Tip: Focus on specific actions or methods described in the text that highlight the writer’s attempts to learn or overcome fear.

In "Lost Spring," Saheb and Mukesh represent two contrasting yet hopeful lives, despite the grim realities of their circumstances. Saheb, a rag-picker, lives in the slums of Seemapuri, but his desire for a better life is clear when he dreams of a life beyond garbage heaps. Similarly, Mukesh, though trapped in the vicious cycle of child labor in a glass-blowing factory, shows his own flicker of hope through his aspiration to become a mechanic.

While both children are subjected to poverty and exploitation, their ambitions demonstrate that they are not devoid of hope. Despite being entrenched in a life of hardship, their dreams offer a glimmer of optimism. This reflects that, even in the harshest conditions, hope can persist in the hearts of children, urging them to strive for a better future, even if the path is fraught with obstacles. The resilience and optimism of children like Saheb and Mukesh remind us of the unyielding human spirit. Quick Tip: Hope can be a powerful motivator, even in situations of severe adversity. The dreams of children like Saheb and Mukesh signify the undying hope for a better life.

Gandhi emphasized that until the poor overcome their fear of exploitation, they cannot assert their rights. Instilling courage among the peasants was more crucial than merely achieving legal victories.


Gandhi believed that empowerment comes from self-reliance and courage, enabling the oppressed to demand justice. Legal victories alone are insufficient if the poor remain fearful and dependent. Freedom from fear transforms individuals into confident agents of change.
Quick Tip: Focus on Gandhi’s belief in self-reliance and empowerment. Explain how overcoming fear enables the poor to fight systemic injustice and achieve long-term change.

In "Poets and Pancakes," Stephen Spender’s visit to the Gemini Studios was initially viewed as an enigma by the Gemini family. Spender, a renowned English poet, had visited the studios during a time when the studio was in its prime, and his presence left the staff members bewildered. They could not understand the reason behind the poet's visit to a film studio in Chennai, a place far removed from the world of literature.

Years later, Asokamitran, through his reflections, solved this mystery. He explained that Spender had come to the studios not as a poet, but as a representative of a political group, tasked with creating an impression about the studio's political affiliations. This visit, which had puzzled the Gemini family for years, was therefore a mission tied to politics, not an artistic or literary one.

Asokamitran’s revelation highlights the intersection of art, politics, and perception during that period, demonstrating that many seemingly mysterious events have practical and political explanations. Quick Tip: Historical context and political dynamics often offer deeper insights into events that initially seem mysterious or unexplained.

“Interstices” are small gaps or intervals of time. Umberto Eco utilized these efficiently by engaging in productive tasks, such as writing books and essays, demonstrating exceptional time management.


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Solution:
Eco’s concept of “interstices” highlights his ability to make productive use of even the smallest intervals of free time. By dedicating these moments to intellectual pursuits, he achieved a remarkable balance between his academic and literary endeavors.
Quick Tip: Define “interstices” as gaps in time. Highlight how Eco used these moments productively to achieve significant accomplishments in his career.

The tigers in Aunt Jennifer’s embroidery symbolize strength, fearlessness, and freedom. They represent her inner spirit, which remains unconquered despite the oppression she faces in her life.


The tigers embroidered by Aunt Jennifer symbolize her aspirations for strength and freedom. While her life is defined by subjugation, the tigers stand as a testament to her unyielding inner courage, enduring beyond her constrained existence.
Quick Tip: Focus on the symbolic representation of the tigers as freedom and courage, contrasting them with Aunt Jennifer’s restricted life.

This remark implies Sophie’s gradual acceptance of the gap between her dreams and reality. Though she aspires to escape her mundane life, she eventually resigns herself to her circumstances.


Sophie’s dreams often lead to disappointment, but over time, she comes to terms with her limited reality. This gradual resignation reflects her understanding of the constraints of her life and her quiet acceptance without rebellion.
Quick Tip: Explain Sophie’s struggle between her aspirations and reality. Highlight how her eventual resignation reflects her acceptance of life’s limitations.

1. The infant spoke his first words as a prophecy about his own death by a tiger.

2. He later grew up to challenge fate by declaring war on all tigers, showcasing his bold nature.


The infant astonished everyone by prophesying his death at the hands of a tiger and later grew into a defiant king, determined to kill all tigers to escape his foretold fate. This irony forms the basis of the satire in the story.
Quick Tip: Highlight the ironic and satirical elements of the infant’s prophecy and the actions of the Tiger King, emphasizing their symbolic significance.

Geoff Green believes that exposing young minds to the realities of climate change at Antarctica inspires them to take responsibility for the planet and work toward creating a sustainable future.


By including high school students in the expedition, Geoff Green aims to make them more aware of the impact of climate change. Their young, impressionable minds can better understand the planet’s fragility and lead efforts toward sustainability.
Quick Tip: Highlight the educational and environmental significance of the expedition for young students. Emphasize the need to shape future leaders for ecological preservation.

Derry feels judged and pitied by people because of his facial scar caused by an acid burn. He dislikes their inability to see beyond his appearance, leading to his alienation.


Derry’s scarred face makes him a target of pity and prejudice, causing him to withdraw from society. He struggles with his insecurities and longs for people to acknowledge his inner qualities rather than his outward appearance.
Quick Tip: Reflect on Derry’s feelings of rejection and the societal prejudice he faces. Emphasize his internal struggle for acceptance and individuality.

Diary Entry
\textit{Date: [Insert Date]


I read the two poems today and was deeply moved by the powerful imagery and symbolism they use to portray relationships. “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” reflects a suppressed relationship where Aunt Jennifer’s domestic struggles are contrasted with the fearless tigers she embroiders, symbolizing her unfulfilled desires for freedom and strength.

On the other hand, “My Mother at Sixty-six” captures the poignant bond between a daughter and her aging mother. The poet uses imagery of fading life—like the pale face of her mother and the young trees sprinting outside the car—to depict the inevitable separation brought by time.

These poems remind me of the complexities and fragility of relationships. They emphasize that while relationships can be confining or bittersweet, they carry emotions and memories that shape our lives.

\closing{[Your Name] Quick Tip: Reflect on how the tigers symbolize strength and fearlessness in contrast to Aunt Jennifer’s suppressed life, and how the imagery in “My Mother at Sixty-six” portrays the emotional depth of the mother-daughter bond. Express your personal insights in a reflective tone.

The Theme of Nature in “A Thing of Beauty” and “A Roadside Stand”


As I have analyzed the two texts, I observed that both poems explore nature, but in contrasting ways. “A Thing of Beauty” by John Keats celebrates the eternal beauty of nature. Keats uses vivid imagery to describe how nature’s wonders provide solace and joy, acting as a source of inspiration and hope.

In contrast, “A Roadside Stand” by Robert Frost focuses on the human impact on nature and the rural landscape. It highlights the struggles of villagers whose livelihoods depend on roadside stalls, overshadowed by the progress of urbanization. The poem evokes a sense of loss and the neglect of natural harmony.

I’d like to say that while Keats portrays nature as a timeless refuge, Frost emphasizes its exploitation and the socio-economic disparities tied to its transformation. Both poems, however, remind us of nature’s pivotal role in human life. Quick Tip: Analyze the positive portrayal of nature in “A Thing of Beauty” as a source of eternal joy and contrast it with the realistic depiction of rural life in “A Roadside Stand.” Highlight the poets’ differing perspectives and conclude with your interpretation.

Physically impaired individuals often experience pain, not only because of their condition but due to the insensitive behaviour of others. Society tends to either pity or avoid them, emphasizing their differences rather than their capabilities. In \textit{On The Face Of It, Derry’s disfigurement leads to him being judged and alienated, which causes emotional turmoil. Instead of receiving empathy, he faces prejudice and is made to feel inferior. This reflects the need for a societal shift in attitude where people focus on inclusivity and respect for the dignity of the impaired. Empathy and understanding can foster an environment where they feel valued and empowered, rather than excluded or defined by their disabilities. Quick Tip: Focus on how societal attitudes, such as pity or avoidance, contribute to the alienation of physically impaired individuals. Emphasize the need for empathy, inclusion, and respect in transforming these attitudes.

Diary Entry

\textit{Date: [Insert Date]


Today, I reflected on the stories of Bama and Zitkala-Sa in “Memories of Childhood.” Both of them displayed immense strength while facing social discrimination. Bama, as a Dalit, dealt with caste-based prejudice but transformed her anger into determination to excel in education. Zitkala-Sa faced racial discrimination and cultural suppression as a Native American but resisted attempts to erase her identity. Their stories highlight resilience and the power of self-awareness in overcoming injustice. Despite the challenges, both stood up for their rights, inspiring others to confront societal inequalities. Their courage reminds me that strength lies in acknowledging one’s worth and fighting for equality, regardless of the odds.

\closing{[Your Name] Quick Tip: Highlight how both Bama and Zitkala-Sa confronted societal injustices with resilience. Discuss the importance of their courage and determination in overcoming discrimination and inspiring change.