CBSE Class 12 English Core Sample Paper 2018

SECTION A- (READING) 

1. Read the passage given below carefully: 12

1. First a warning; the journey tough, steep and peppered with hairpin bends. If you are not a hardened traveler by the time you reach Tawang your head is likely to be spinning. Add to it the breeze which pierces through all your protective clothing, and you could well be wondering what promoted you to make this arduous trip to such Himalayan heights.

2. To get acclimatized to high altitude the recipe is simple and strict-take it easy on the first day lest you find yourself out of breath and panting. Tuck yourself in a warm bed and sip some Thupka (Tibetan noodle soup) and begin your adventures the following day.

3. In fact, when you get up the next morning, you will scarcely believe what you see. The picture postcard beauty of all the hill stations in Arunachal Pradesh will simply take your breath away. The scenery is pristine and the Himalayan ranges are lush with pine, oak and rhododendron forests. There is also rich growth of bamboo, which is favourite food of the red panda found in this part of the North-East.

4. Located about 10000 feet above sea level, the Tawang Monastery is the second oldest monastery in Asia, which explains the rush of tourists to this remote settlement. The magnificent monastery overlooks the valley and is surrounded by mountains that seem to be touring around it like guards. The monastery's enormous yellow roof and white walls stand out like a beacon. The place is completely isolated from the world.

5. One of the biggest attractions of the monastery is the three-storied Dukhang (assembly hall) that has a magnificent eight-metre-high glided image of Buddha.

6. The ancient library, leading onto the Parkhang (main courtyard) has an excellent collection of old scriptures, images and Thankas (traditional paintings) and the monastery or gompa in local language is over 350 years old and is an important center of pilgrimage for Buddhists.

7. The 61 Dalai Lama was born here. Also known as the Galden Namgyal Lhatse, the monastery is the repository of Tibetan Buddhist culture.

8. Tawang does not have an airport or railway station of its own. It is connected with other towns Arunachal Pradesh and Assam by road. Reaching Tawang from Kolkata is braving along but rewarding journey. The drive through the picturesque mountain country is spectacular and can leave you breathless as you wind around steep hill-roads and maneuver sharp hairpin bends. In parts the road can be rather treacherous. This is definitely not a drive for the faint-hearted.

9. The journey to Tawang starts from Guwahati on a bus or a taxi to Bomdila. Past the Dirang valley with its old Dzong (fort), the road climbs sharply to Sela pass at 13940 feet. This barren, desolate landscape is softened by a serene lake that lies below Sela pass.

10. Tawang has one main street and a warren of alleys to the houses that climb up the hillside towards the towering monastery. It also has one quaint little bazaar which sells products ranging from talismans and prayers wheels to garish sunglasses and transistors. The snack stalls are plenty, offering solja, the yak butter tea, thupka and hot momos, the delicious steamed meat dumpling with - · chilli sauce. On the basis of your understanding of this passage answer the following questions with the  help of the given options:

a) Which of the following factors make the journey to Tawang arduous?

(i) Your head is likely to be spinning by the time you reach

(ii) The breeze which pierces through all protective clothing.

(iii) The journey is tough, steep and peppered with hairpin bends.

(iv) All of the above

b) What is the meaning of the word 'gompa' in the local language?

(i) Assembly hall

(ii) Monastery

(iii) Main cupboa

(iv)None of these

c) What is the means of transport by which people can reach Tawang from Bomdila?

(i) By train (ii) By air (iii) By road (iv) All of these

d) Which of the following places will you pass through on a journey from Guwahati to Tawang?

(i) Bomdila

(ii) Kolkata

(iii) Galden Namgyal Lhatse

(iv) All of these 

Answer the following questions briefly: 

e) Why is the head of nmmal tourists likely to be spinning by the time they reach Tawang from Guwahati?

f) What should the visitor to Tawang do to acclimatize to the high altitude?

g) What is common between Tawang and all other hill stations of Arunachal Pradesh?

h) Which trees are fom1d in the forest of this region?

i) What is attractive about the Tawang monastery?.

j) What snacks are available in the Twang bazaar?

k) Find words from the passage which mean the same as: 

(i) extremely attractive (para 4)

(ii) move skillfully (para 8)

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