Class 11 English Solution of model question

GRADE XI English (Sub. Code: 0031)
Model Questions with solution

Full Marks: 75

Time: 3 hours

1. Read the text and do the tasks. (15 marks)

Mt Everest grows by nearly a metre to new height.

The world's highest mountain Mount Everest is 0.86m higher than had been previously officially calculated, Nepal and China have jointly announced. Until now the countries differed over whether to add the snow cap on top. The new height is 8,848.86m (29,032 ft). China's previous official measurement of 8,844.43m had put the mountain nearly four meters lower than Nepal's. Everest Officials at Nepal's foreign ministry and department of the survey said surveyors from both countries had coordinated to agree on the new height. The agreement to jointly announce the new measurement of the Earth's highest point was made during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu last year.

Chinese authorities had said previously Mount Everest should be measured to its rock height, while Nepalese authorities argued the snow on top of the summit should be included. The Chinese surveyors had calculated their figure after they measured the mountain in 2005. Nepal's government officials told the BBC in 2012 that they were under pressure from China to accept the Chinese height and therefore they had decided to go for a fresh measurement to "set the record straight once and for all". The 8,848m height, Nepal had been using for Mount Everest was determined by the Survey of India in 1954, but for the first time, the country has now conducted its own measurement of the summit.

Four Nepalese land surveyors spent two years training for the mission, before heading to the summit. "Before this, we had never done the measurement ourselves," Damodar Dhakal, a spokesman at Nepal's department of the survey, told the BBC. "Now that we have a young, technical team [who could also go to the Everest summit], we could do it on our own," Mr. Dhakal said. Nepal's lead surveyor Khimlal Gautam lost his toe due to frostbite while on the summit to install height-measuring equipment last year. "For summiteers, scaling the highest peak means a great accomplishment. For us, it was just the beginning," Mr. Gautam had told BBC Nepali after his return. "Unlike other surveys of the Everest in the past, we chose 03:00 to minimise errors that could have been caused because of sunlight in the daytime."

Some geologists have suggested a major earthquake in 2015 may have had an impact on Mount Everest's height. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people in Nepal and caused an avalanche which buried parts of the base camp at the mountain. At least 18 climbers were killed. Some geologists said the earthquake may have caused Everest's snow cap to shrink. Scientists had found that some other Himalayan peaks such as Langtang Himal, mostly to the north of Kathmandu and close to the epicentre, had reduced in height by approximately a metre after the earthquake. Others have argued that Mount Everest, like other Himalayan peaks, may have actually grown over time because of the shifting tectonic plates it sits on. But experts say major earthquakes can result in that process being reversed. "The 2015 earthquake is also a major reason why we re-measured the mountain," said Mr. Dhakal.

A. Choose the best answer. (5x1=5)

a. The word 'announce' in the 7th line means:

i. utter words to convey information.

ii. make a formal statement about a fact.

iii. communicate information to someone.

Answer: ii. make a formal statement about a fact.

(Explanation: In the context, Nepal and China "jointly announced" the new height, indicating a formal statement about a fact.)

b. The word 'fresh' in the phrase 'fresh measurement' in the second paragraph means:

i. having its original qualities unimpaired.

ii. not frozen, tinned or otherwise preserved.

iii. not previously done, new or different.

Answer: iii. not previously done, new or different.

(Explanation: "Fresh measurement" refers to a new measurement to set the record straight, not something previously done.)

c. The word 'accomplishment' in the 22nd line means:

i. the omission of expected action.

ii. an act or instance of falling.

iii. something that has been achieved successfully.

Answer: iii. something that has been achieved successfully.

(Explanation: Scaling the highest peak is described as a "great accomplishment," meaning a successful achievement.)

d. The word 'shrink' in the 29th line is opposite in meaning to:

i. expand.

ii. contract.

iii. reduce.

Answer: i. expand.

(Explanation: "Shrink" means to reduce in size, so its opposite is "expand," which means to increase in size.)

e. The word ‘approximately’ in line 30 means:

i. exactly.

ii. nearly.

iii. precisely.

Answer: ii. nearly.

(Explanation: "Approximately a metre" indicates a value that is close to but not exactly a metre, so "nearly" is the correct meaning.)

B. Complete the following sentences in NOT MORE THAN FOUR WORDS. (5x1=5)

a. Nepal and China previously had different views about adding the .......... to the height of Mt. Everest.

Answer: snow cap.

(Explanation: The text states that the countries differed over whether to add the snow cap on top.)

b. Surveyors from both Nepal and China had worked together to come up with the same view on the .......................... of Mt. Everest.

Answer: new height.

(Explanation: The surveyors coordinated to agree on the new height of 8,848.86m.)

c. China's earlier official measurement of 8844.43m was based on the measurement done in ………………….

Answer: 2005.

(Explanation: The Chinese surveyors calculated their figure in 2005.)

d. The team leader of Nepal's surveyors lost his toe during the installment of ……………………. on the top.

Answer: height-measuring equipment.

(Explanation: Khimlal Gautam lost his toe while installing height-measuring equipment on the summit.)

e. Some geologists also had their view that the change in ....... under Mt. Everest may have increased its height.

Answer: tectonic plates.

(Explanation: The text mentions that shifting tectonic plates may have caused Everest to grow over time.)

C. Answer the following questions. (5x1=5)

a. What did the surveyors from both Nepal and China agree on to come up with about Mt. Everest?

Answer: They agreed on the new height of 8,848.86m.

(Explanation: The text states that surveyors from both countries coordinated to agree on the new height.)

b. Why did both countries determine to carry out the new measurement of Mt. Everest?

Answer: To resolve the disagreement over the height and set the record straight.

(Explanation: Nepal and China differed on whether to include the snow cap, and Nepal faced pressure from China, leading to a fresh measurement.)

c. Which sentence in the text indicates that it was the first time for Nepal to measure the height of Mt. Everest?

Answer: "Before this, we had never done the measurement ourselves."

(Explanation: This sentence, spoken by Damodar Dhakal, indicates it was Nepal’s first independent measurement.)

d. Why did the Nepali team take 3:00 as a reference in measuring the summit?

Answer: To minimize errors caused by sunlight.

(Explanation: The text mentions they chose 03:00 to avoid errors due to sunlight in the daytime.)

e. What covered the parts of the base camp in the mountains during the 2015 earthquake?

Answer: An avalanche.

(Explanation: The 2015 earthquake caused an avalanche that buried parts of the base camp.)

2. Write short answers to the following questions. (5x2=10)

a. Why is the speaker saying that 'the children are the most beautiful flowers of all'? (The Selfish Giant)

Answer: The speaker, the Giant, says this because the children bring joy, warmth, and life to his garden, transforming it from a cold, barren place into a vibrant, blooming paradise. Their presence symbolizes innocence and happiness, making them more beautiful than the actual flowers.

b. What were the circumstances that led to Aksionov’s imprisonment? (God Sees the Truth)

Answer: Aksionov was falsely accused of murdering a merchant he had shared a room with during a journey. The merchant was found dead with a knife in his bag, and since the knife belonged to Aksionov, he was arrested and sentenced to 26 years in Siberia despite his innocence.

c. What is the speaker’s attitude toward war? (The Gift in War Time)

Answer: The speaker, a woman who has lost her husband in the war, expresses a deeply sorrowful and resentful attitude toward war. She describes the "gift" of her husband’s death with irony, highlighting the pain and loss it has caused her, showing her disdain for the violence of war.

d. What do you think is the main idea of the essay "What is Poverty?"? Is the main idea of the essay explicit or implicit?

Answer: The main idea of "What is Poverty?" by Jo Goodwin Parker is to vividly illustrate the harsh realities and struggles of living in poverty, emphasizing its dehumanizing effects. The main idea is explicit, as the essay directly describes poverty through personal experiences, such as lack of basic necessities and constant hardship.

e. Why are Don Gonzalo and Laura annoyed with each other? (A Sunny Morning)

Answer: Don Gonzalo and Laura are annoyed with each other because they both want to sit on the same bench in the park and feed the pigeons, but each feels entitled to the spot. Their initial argument over the bench leads to mutual irritation, though they later reconcile.

3. Write long answers to the following questions. (2x5=10)

a. Jobs contends that you need to love what you do in order to be great at it. Do you agree or disagree? Why? (How to Live Before You Die)

Answer: I agree with Steve Jobs’ contention that loving what you do is essential to being great at it, as passion drives dedication, creativity, and perseverance. In his speech "How to Live Before You Die," Jobs emphasizes that loving your work fuels the motivation to overcome challenges and achieve excellence. For example, he shares how his love for technology and design led him to create groundbreaking products like the iPhone, despite setbacks like being fired from Apple. When you’re passionate, you’re more likely to invest time and effort, innovate, and push boundaries, which are key to greatness. However, I also acknowledge that passion alone isn’t enough—skills, opportunities, and hard work are equally important. Someone might love painting but lack the technical skill to excel without training. Still, passion provides the emotional drive to persist, making it a critical factor in achieving greatness.

b. Write the summary of the poem 'All the World’s a Stage’.

Answer: "All the World’s a Stage" by William Shakespeare, from As You Like It, compares human life to a play, with people as actors passing through seven stages. The poem begins with the infant, "mewling and puking" in a nurse’s arms, followed by the schoolboy, reluctantly going to school. The third stage is the lover, sighing and writing poetry for his beloved. Next is the soldier, full of ambition, seeking honor even in danger. The fifth stage is the justice, wise and prosperous, offering advice. In the sixth stage, the man becomes a pantaloon, aging with a shrinking body and weakening voice. Finally, in the seventh stage, he enters "second childishness," losing his senses and faculties, returning to a state of oblivion, "sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything." The poem reflects the cyclical nature of life and its inevitable decline.

5. Suppose you are the coordinator of the organizing committee for the 'Sports Week' at your school. Write an email inviting the other members of the committee for its first meeting. (8 marks)

Subject: Invitation to First Meeting of Sports Week Organizing Committee

Dear Committee Members,

I hope this email finds you well. As the coordinator of the organizing committee for our school’s upcoming Sports Week, I am excited to invite you to our first meeting to kickstart the planning process.

The meeting is scheduled for:

Date: Friday, April 10, 2025

Time: 3:00 PM

Venue: School Library

During this meeting, we will discuss the event schedule, budget allocation, event categories, and volunteer roles. Your input and ideas are crucial for making Sports Week a success, so I encourage everyone to attend and contribute. Please come prepared with any suggestions you might have.

If you are unable to attend, kindly inform me at [sharmajeevan@.com by Thursday. I look forward to seeing you all there!

Best regards,

Jeevan Sharma

Coordinator, Sports Week Organizing Committee

Bright Life Academy

6. Is the use of smartphones useful for the students of secondary level? Write an essay discussing the advantages and disadvantages of smartphones in about 300 words. (10 marks)

The Use of Smartphones for Secondary-Level Students: Advantages and Disadvantages

Smartphones have become an integral part of modern life, and their use among secondary-level students is increasingly common. While smartphones offer significant benefits for education, they also present challenges that can impact students’ academic and personal growth.

One major advantage of smartphones is their role as a learning tool. Students can access educational apps, online tutorials, and e-books, making learning more interactive and accessible. For instance, platforms like Khan Academy provide free lessons on subjects like Math and Science, helping students reinforce classroom learning. Smartphones also enable quick research through search engines like Google, allowing students to explore topics beyond their textbooks. Additionally, they facilitate communication with teachers and peers via email or apps like WhatsApp, fostering collaboration on group projects.

However, smartphones also have notable disadvantages. A primary concern is distraction. Social media, games, and entertainment apps can divert students’ attention from studies, leading to procrastination and reduced academic performance. For example, excessive screen time on platforms like TikTok can consume hours meant for homework. Moreover, prolonged smartphone use can negatively affect students’ health, causing issues like eye strain, poor posture, and sleep disturbances. Cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content are additional risks, as secondary-level students may lack the maturity to navigate the digital world safely.

In conclusion, smartphones are a double-edged sword for secondary-level students. They can enhance learning and connectivity when used responsibly, but they also pose risks of distraction, health issues, and exposure to harmful content. To maximize their benefits, schools and parents should guide students on responsible usage, set screen time limits, and encourage a balanced approach to technology. With proper oversight, smartphones can be a valuable asset in education.

7. Do as indicated in brackets and rewrite the sentences. (10x1=10)

a. The good boy behaved well. (Underline the adverb in the sentence)

Answer: The good boy behaved well.

(Explanation: "Well" describes how the boy behaved, making it the adverb.)

b. Many of the houses in this neighborhood (don't/doesn’t) have garages. (Choose one form from the bracket to complete the sentence)

Answer: Many of the houses in this neighborhood don’t have garages.

(Explanation: "Many of the houses" is a plural subject, so "don’t" is correct.)

c. We insist ..................... punctuality in this office. (Put the correct preposition in the blank)

Answer: We insist on punctuality in this office.

(Explanation: The verb "insist" is followed by the preposition "on" when referring to a quality or action.)

d. It ............... be Anton’s car. I saw him driving the car yesterday. (Put the correct modal in the blank to complete the sentence)

Answer: It must be Anton’s car. I saw him driving the car yesterday.

(Explanation: "Must" indicates logical certainty based on evidence, fitting the context.)

e. She ................. (write) three books and she is working on another one. (Put the verb from the bracket in correct tense to make a meaningful sentence)

Answer: She has written three books and she is working on another one.

(Explanation: "Has written" (present perfect) is used for a completed action with relevance to the present, paired with "is working" (present continuous) for an ongoing action.)

f. I need to stop (doing/to do) my homework late at night. I keep making terrible mistakes. (Choose one form from the bracket to complete the sentence)

Answer: I need to stop doing my homework late at night. I keep making terrible mistakes.

(Explanation: "Stop" is followed by a gerund ("doing") when it means to cease an action.)

g. The minister stood still ............. the request to take her seat. (Put the correct conjunction in the blank to complete the sentence)

Answer: The minister stood still despite the request to take her seat.

(Explanation: "Despite" fits as a conjunction indicating contrast between standing still and the request.)

h. Marie Curie is the woman. She discovered radium. (Join the sentences with a relative pronoun)

Answer: Marie Curie is the woman who discovered radium.

(Explanation: "Who" is the relative pronoun used for the subject of the second sentence, "she.")

i. She said, "Would you like me to help you?" (Use the reporting verb offer to change the sentence into indirect speech)

Answer: She offered to help me.

(Explanation: The reporting verb "offer" is used to convey the indirect form of the question, with "to help" as the infinitive.)

j. I hate people laughing at me. (Change into passive)

Answer: I hate being laughed at by people.

(Explanation: The passive form changes "people laughing at me" to "being laughed at by people," with "I" as the subject.)

8. Do as instructed. (5x1=5)

a. The art of producing beautiful writing with a special pen or brush is called calligraphy. What word class does the underlined word in the sentence belong to?

Answer: Noun.

(Explanation: "Calligraphy" is the subject of the sentence and names a thing, making it a noun.)

b. Arrange the following words as per the order in a dictionary: chanting, chopper, chirruping, chivalry, chancellor

Answer: chancellor, chanting, chirruping, chivalry, chopper

(Explanation: Dictionary order is alphabetical: chancellor (chan-), chanting (chan-), chirruping (chir-), chivalry (chi-), chopper (cho-).)

c. What does the sentence 'He burnt his fingers by interfering in his neighbour’s affair' mean?

i. He got himself into trouble.

ii. He burnt himself.

iii. He got himself insulted.

iv. He got rebuked.

Answer: i. He got himself into trouble.

(Explanation: The idiom "burnt his fingers" means to suffer negative consequences, here interpreted as getting into trouble.)