PUNJAB BOARD CLASS 12 ENGLISH QUESTION PAPER ANSWER KEY HELD ON 28 FEBRUARY 2025

 

ANNUAL EXAMINATION SYSTEM

GENERAL ENGLISH

Common for All Groups and Vocational Stream

Maximum Marks: 80

Time Allowed: 3 Hours

Instructions:

• All questions are compulsory.
• Write your answers neatly.
• Follow the given instructions for each section.

Section A: Reading Comprehension (16 Marks)

1. (A) Read the given passage and answer the questions:

10x1= 10

Power foods are foods that provide rich levels of nutrients like fibre, potassium and minerals. Some of the recommended power food combinations are those that are prepared in our kitchens on a regular basis. Take for instance, the combination of chickpeas and onions. This combination is a powerful source of iron which is required by the body to transport oxygen to its various parts. Iron deficiency can lead to anaemia, fatigue, brain fog and tiredness. A study by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry says that sulphur compounds in onion and garlic help in the absorption of tron and zinc from chickpeas! The combination is a hit with teenagers who need to be diligent about getting iron in their diet. A quick way to prepare this power food is to make a chickpea salad with chopped onions, chaat masala and cilantro.

Another favourite combination with power food takers is yoghurt and bananas. This makes a perfect snack after a rough game of football. Exercising burns glucose and thus lowers blood sugar. Yoghurt is packed with proteins that help preserve muscle mass, and bananas are packed with carbohydrates that help in refuelling energy and preventing muscle soreness,

Among beverages, green tea is the best source of catechins that are effective in halting oxidative damage to cells, According to researchers at the Purdue University, adding a dash of lemon juice to green tea makes the catechins even more easily absorbable by the body...

Section A: Reading Comprehension (Continued)

1 (A) Answer the following questions:

1. What, according to the passage, lowers blood sugar?
   Bananas
2. Which one of the following combinations of power food makes a perfect snack after playing football?
• (a) Bananas and yoghurt ✅ (Correct Answer)
• (b) Chickpeas and onions
• (c) Green tea with mint and lemon juice
• (d) None of the above
3. Which one of the following helps in the transportation of oxygen to all the parts of the body?
• (a) Potassium
• (b) Iron ✅ (Correct Answer)
• (c) Sulphur
• (d) Catechins
4. What is the advantage of including onions and garlic in our diet?
   They help in boosting immunity and overall health.
5. What are the advantages of combining green tea with lemon juice?
   Lemon juice enhances the absorption of catechins in green tea, making it more effective.
6. Which beverage is the best source of catechins?
   Green tea
7. What are the functions of carbohydrates as mentioned in the passage?
   Carbohydrates provide energy to the body.
8. What are power foods?
   Power foods are foods that are rich in essential nutrients and provide energy.
9. Find the word in the passage which means ‘inadequacy’.
   Deficiency
10. Why is the combination of yoghurt and bananas an enriching power food?
    It provides essential nutrients like potassium, calcium, and protein, which help in muscle recovery and energy replenishment.

1 (B) Read the following passage and answer the questions:

There are in our country, as in other countries of the world, thousands of handicapped persons, such as those who are blind or deaf and dumb...

Questions:

1. Fill in the blank with a suitable word from the passage:
   We must treat the differently abled children with love and sympathy.
2. Match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B:

Column A	Column B
Sympathy	Feeling pity and tenderness ✅ (Correct Answer)
Lonely	Companionless ✅ (Correct Answer)

1 (B) Answer the following questions:

1. How should we treat the differently abled children?
• (a) Indifferently
• (b) With sympathy and understanding ✅ (Correct Answer)
• (c) Ignore their loneliness
• (d) Neglect them
2. According to the author, what is our first duty towards differently abled children?
• (a) To make them homeless
• (b) To make them healthy
• (c) To make them happier and less lonely ✅ (Correct Answer)
• (d) To make them run fast
3. How do some children become differently abled?
   Some children are born differently abled, while others may become so due to illness or accidents.
4. What makes the life of handicapped children sad and lonely?
   They suffer neglect and are often left alone in their homes, making them feel sad and lonely.

Section B: Writing Skills, Grammar, and Translation

2. Write a Precis of the following paragraph in your own words:

Women, who constitute half of the human population, are encountered with many challenges. Female foeticide is, perhaps, one of the worst forms of violence against the women, where a woman is denied her most basic and fundamental rights i.e. The Right to Life. Though there is no particular definition of foeticide provided by the code of criminal procedure but the following definition will clear your concept. 'Female foeticide' is the killing of a healthy female foetus in order to get rid of a female child by means of medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) or Abortion. Female foeticide is considered a criminal offence in India. Abortion is lawful only when the doctor believes that the continuance of the pregnancy may pose a direct threat to the life or the health of the mother or the unborn child. No doubt, if this practice continues, it will disturb the social balance. For a healthy society, the male and female gender ratio must remain at a balanced level. The alarming rate of female foeticide is a cause of great concern, as the number of girls born is decreasing drastically in several sections of our society, thus, exposing females to more exploitation and violence. This state of affairs, if not corrected, will have a disastrous impact on the future generations of our society.

Answer: Female foeticide is a serious issue where female fetuses are aborted before birth. It violates the fundamental right to life and is a criminal offense in India. Abortion is legal only if the pregnancy threatens the mother's or unborn child’s health. The declining female birth rate is a cause of concern as it disrupts social balance and increases exploitation of women. If not controlled, it may have disastrous effects on future generations.

3. Attempt any one of the following: Attempt any one of the following: Imagine you are Mohan. You live at 83, Doon Valley, Dehradun. Write a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of your district complaining against the use of loudspeakers in your town.

Letter to Deputy Commissioner:

83, Doon Valley,
Dehradun
Date: [Insert Date]
To,
The Deputy Commissioner,
Dehradun
Subject: Complaint Against the Use of Loudspeakers
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am writing to bring to your attention the excessive use of loudspeakers in our town, which is causing disturbance to students, elderly citizens, and patients. Despite regulations, loudspeakers are used late at night, affecting our sleep and daily routine. I request you to take immediate action to regulate their use.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Mohan

OR

Imagine you are Meena. You live at 209, Sector-68, Mohali. Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper, complaining about the bad conditions of buses in Punjab.

Letter to Newspaper Editor:

209, Sector-68,
Mohali
Date: [Insert Date]
To,
The Editor,
[Newspaper Name]
Subject: Poor Condition of Buses in Punjab
Respected Sir/Madam,
Through your esteemed newspaper, I wish to highlight the poor condition of buses in Punjab. Many buses are old, overcrowded, and lack proper maintenance, making travel unsafe. Passengers, especially students and office workers, face daily inconvenience. I request the concerned authorities to take immediate steps to improve public transport.
Sincerely,
Meena

4. Attempt any one of the following:You are Suresh. Write an e-mail to your father, requesting him to transfer some money in your account so that you can clear the dues before final exams
OR
Explain the following Newspaper Headline in 15-20 words. STUDENTS SHOWCASE INNOVATIVE PROJECTS

Email to Father:

Subject: Request for Money Transfer
Dear Papa,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing to request you to transfer some money to my account, as I need to clear my exam dues before the deadline. Kindly let me know once the transfer is done.
Thank you.
Yours lovingly,
Suresh

OR

Explanation of Newspaper Headline:

Students have demonstrated their talent and creativity through various innovative projects in science, technology, and arts, showcasing new ideas and solutions for modern challenges.

5. (A) Translate the following sentences into English (Any two):

1. मुझे क्रिकेट खेलना पसंद है।
2. सूरज पूरब से उगता है।
3. सभी छात्रों ने परीक्षा पास कर ली।

Answers:

• I like playing cricket.
• The sun rises in the east.
• All the students have passed the exam.

5. (B) Translate the following sentences into Punjabi/Hindi (Any two):

1. She does not like sweets.
2. We should always speak the truth.
3. They will go to school tomorrow.

Answers:

• ਉਹਨੂੰ ਮਿੱਠਾਈਆਂ ਪਸੰਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਹਨ। / उसे मिठाइयाँ पसंद नहीं हैं।
• ਸਾਨੂੰ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਸੱਚ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ। / हमें हमेशा सच बोलना चाहिए।
• ਉਹ ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਸਕੂਲ ਜਾਣਗੇ। / वे कल स्कूल जाएँगे।

6. Do as directed:

(A) Change the given sentences into Passive Voice (Any two):

1. Open the window.
2. I love my India.
3. Rimpi is writing a poem.

Answers:

• The window should be opened.
• My India is loved by me.
• A poem is being written by Rimpi.

(B) Change the given sentence into Indirect Speech (Any one):

1. He said, "I am watching TV."
2. I said to my friend, "You are very hard-working."

Answers:

• He said that he was watching TV.
• I told my friend that he was very hard-working.

(C) Fill in the blanks with suitable Determiners:

1. I bought ______ laptop for my daughter.
2. He has ______ friends at all.
3. Is there ______ water in the glass?

Answers:

• I bought a laptop for my daughter.
• He has no friends at all.
• Is there any water in the glass?

(D) Fill in the blanks as directed (use the words given in the brackets):

1. He doesn’t like ______ (play) cards. (Fill in the blank with a Gerund)
2. He dare not ______ (break) the law. (Fill in the blank with an Infinitive)

Answers:

• He doesn’t like playing cards.
• He dare not break the law.

(E) Rewrite the given sentences as directed (Any two):

1. She is too old to walk. (Rewrite the sentence after removing "too")
2. As soon as he saw the tiger, he took to his heels. (Transform the given sentence using "No sooner... than")
3. The peacock is the most beautiful bird. (Change the degree of comparison)

Answers:

• She is so old that she cannot walk.
• No sooner did he see the tiger than he took to his heels.
• No other bird is as beautiful as the peacock.

Section - C (Literature Textbook)

Objective Type Questions:

1. What was the age difference between Chandu and the narrator? (The Banyan Tree: A Sacred Union)
2. The name of Karnu Singh’s village was: (The Bull Beneath the Earth)
   • (a) Tilohi Khara
   • (b) Chuharkana
   • (c) Bhagwanpura
   • (d) Ailwal
3. Who is the writer of the chapter "On Saying Please"?
4. How much interest did Thomas pay to the bank? (Thinking out of the Box: Lateral Thinking)
5. The mechanic was ______ years old. (In Celebration of Being Alive)
6. Who was the woman at the village? (Two Gentlemen of Verona)
7. State whether the following statement is True or False. (The Story of My Life)
   Laura Bridgman had sent the doll for the narrator.
8. ______ is the writer of "Bholi".
   • (a) K.A. Abbas
   • (b) Anton Chekhov
   • (c) R.K. Laxman
   • (d) Kulwant Singh Virk
9. Fill in the blank:
   ______ was chasing the dog. (A Chameleon)
10. Which one of the following is not true about Datta? (The Gold Frame)
    • (a) Datta was a silent, hardworking man.
    • (b) Datta gave only laconic answers to his customers.
    • (c) Datta enjoyed the idle gossips of his casual friends.
    • (d) Datta was the owner of "The Modern Frame Works".

(A) Give the central idea of one of the poems:

1. The Road Not Taken
2. The Echoing Green

(B) Read the lines given below and answer any four questions:

"I am the braid of kindness and the flower of beauty. This means the woods give shade, I am the handle of your hoe, the door of your homestead, the wood of your cradle and the shell of your coffin. Ye who pass by, listen to my prayer: Harm me not."

1. What is the poem?
2. Name the poet.
3. Who is the speaker in the poem?
4. Write down the line in the poem that explains the statement: "The wood accompanies us from birth till death."

(C) Read the lines given below and answer any four questions:

"His eyes dimmed by age, fade homeward through the humid monsoon night. Now a word dropped from a long sentence, He hurries across the length of the grey platform, Crosses the railway line, enters the lane."

1. What is the poem?
2. Name the poet.
3. Who is the speaker in the poem?
4. Write down the line in the poem that explains the statement: "The wood accompanies us from birth till death."
5. What is the figure of speech used in the line: "Like a word dropped from a long sentence"?

9. Answer the following questions in about 20 to 30 words (Any three):

1. What do the people with brave and positive attitude teach us? (In Celebration of Being Alive)
2. Why did the jail authorities discontinue some of their practices of bad treatment? (Ghadar Baba in Kalapani Jail)
3. Why did the parent-teacher meeting end fruitlessly? (Hassan's Attendance Problem)
4. Why did Philip get into trouble on the day of the concert? (The March King)
5. What made the narrator repent and feel sorrowful? (The Story of My Life)
6. Write two reasons for father’s eyes being dimmed.
7. Where does father go after getting off the train?

10. Answer any two of the following questions in 20 to 30 words:

1. How did the photograph speak? (The Gold Frame)
2. What did Ramlal think about Bholi? (Bholi)
3. What did Maan Singh tell Karam Singh’s family about the latter’s war skills? (The Bull Beneath the Earth)

11. Answer any one of the following questions in 100 to 120 words:

1. Draw a brief character sketch of two boys in the story. (Two Gentlemen of Verona)
2. What is the theme of the lesson, "On Saying Please"?

12. Answer any one of the following questions in 100 to 120 words:

1. Give a brief character sketch of Miss Beam. (The School for Sympathy)
2. Justify the title of the lesson, "A Chameleon".