XII Standard(+2) English - Previously asked questions - Unit 1,2 - Samacheer Kalvi

 

Unit-1

 

Prose-1

Synonyms

1. Slackened – reduced

2. Deserted - uninhabited, unoccupied

3. Demeanour - appearance and behavior

4. Cubicle – chamber

5. Worn – damaged

6. Artless - innocent, guileless

7. Shrugged – raised

8. Cautious – careful

9. Rubble – debris

10. Brisk – active

 

 

Antonyms

1. Frequently X rarely

2. Deserted X crowded

3. Persuaded X dissuaded

 

Short Answers

1. What were the various jobs undertaken by the little boys?

2. Describe the appearance of Nicola and Jacopo

3. What was Lucia suffering from?

4.  Why did the driver not approve of the narrator buying fruits from the boys?

 

Poem- 1

 

Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow

 

1. Our gates were strong, our walls were thick,

So smooth and high, no man could win.

i. How safe was the castle?

ii. What was the firm belief of the soldiers?

 

2. All through the summer at ease we lay,

And daily from the turret wall 

We watched the mowers in the hay

 i. Who does ‘we’ refer to?

ii. How did the soldiers spend the summer days?

iii. What could they watch from the turret wall?

iv. What do you mean by “turret”?

 

3. A little wicked wicket gate.

The wizened warder let them through.

i. What do you mean by “wicked wicket gate”?

ii. What is the figure of speech employed in the second line?

 

4. Our only enemy was gold,

And we had no arms to fight it with.

i. Who was the real enemy?

ii. Identify the figure of speech in the above lines.

 

5. How can this shameful tale be told?

I will maintain until my death

i. What do you mean by “shameful tale”?

ii. Who is referred to as ‘I’?

 

Explain the following with reference to the context

 

1. The wizened warder let them through

2. I will maintain until my death

3. They seemed no threat to us at all.

4. Our only enemy was gold

 

 

Unit-2

 

Prose-2

Synonyms

1. stimulation – excitement

2. liable – responsible

3. dangling - hanging freely, suspended

4. controversial - arguable, disputable

5. liable – responsible

6. Golden – important

7. curious – interesting

8. Stimulated – motivated

9. Mysterious – incomprehensible

 

 

Antonyms

1. Optimistic X Pessimistic

2. Controversial X agreeable

3. Brisk X slow

4. Shabby X neat

5. Despised X liked

6. Hopefully X desperately

 

 

Short answers

1. What are the author’s views on China tea?

2. What is the second golden rule in the preparation of tea?

 

Poem-2

Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow

 

1. “ LIKE a huge Python, winding round and round

The rugged trunk, indented deep with scars”,

i. What is winding round and round?

ii. Identify the figure of speech in the first line.

iii. What is the tree compared to?

iv. What do you mean by scars?

 

2. A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound 

No other tree could live.

i. Which tree is referred to in the above lines?

ii. What quality of tree is highlighted here?

iii. How does the tree survive the tight hold of the creeper?

iv. Why does Toru Dutt use the expression ‘a creeper climbs’?

 

 

3. A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound 

No other tree could live.

 i)  Which tree is referred to in the above lines?

 

4. The giant wears the scarf, and flowers are hung 

In crimson clusters all the bough among!

i)  Who is the giant here?

ii)  Why is the scarf colourful?

 

5. A gray baboon sits statue-like alone 

Watching the sunrise

i. What is a baboon?

ii. Mention the figure of speech in the above lines.

 

Explain the following with reference to the context

 

1. “LIKE a huge Python, winding round and round

The rugged trunk, indented deep with scars”,

2. Dear is the Casuarina to my soul;

3. May Love defend tree from oblivion’s curse

4. What is that dirge - like murmur that I hear