11th English Core Pre-Final Examination Question Paper 2025 – 26: St. Margaret School, Rohini, New Delhi

11th English Core Pre-Final Examination Question Paper 2025 – 26: St. Margaret Sr. Sec. School, Prashant Vihar, Sector 14, Rohini, Delhi 110085 India

School Name:	St. Margaret Sr. Sec. School, Prashant Vihar, Rohini, New Delhi 110085 India
Class:	XI (CBSE)
Subject:	English Core (301)
Time Duration:	03 Hours
Maximum Marks:	80

General Instructions:

1. The question paper contains THREE sections—Reading, Writing & Grammar, and Literature.
2. Attempt questions based on the specific instructions for each section.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit.

Section – A: Reading (26 Marks)

Question 01. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. (8 Marks)

In recent years, there has been a surge in both group and solo travel among young adults in India. A survey conducted among young adults aged 18–25 aimed to explore the reasons behind their travel preferences and recorded the percentage variation for ten common points that influence travel choices.

Among those who prefer solo travel, the most common reason cited was the desire for independence and freedom (58%), followed closely by the opportunity for introspection and self-discovery (52%). Additionally, solo travellers appreciated the ability to customize their itinerary to their preferences (44%) and the chance to meet new people on their own terms (36%).

On the other hand, those who prefer group travel often cited the desire for socializing and making new friends (61%) as their primary reason. Group travel also provided a sense of security and safety in unfamiliar places (52%) and allowed for shared experiences and memories with others (48%). Additionally, group travellers enjoyed the convenience of having pre-planned itineraries and organized transportation (38%).

Interestingly, both groups had similar levels of interest in exploring new cultures and trying new experiences (40% for solo travellers, 36% for group travellers). Similarly, both groups valued the opportunity to relax and escape from the stresses of everyday life (36% for solo travellers, 32% for group travellers).

However, there were also some notable differences between the two groups. For example, solo travellers placed a higher priority on budget-friendly travel options (38%) compared to group travellers (24%). Conversely, group travellers were more likely to prioritize luxury and comfort during their travels (28%) compared to solo travellers (12%).

Overall, the survey results suggest that both group and solo travel have their own unique advantages and appeal to different individuals, based on their preferences and priorities.

Answer the following questions:

1. Which travel choice point of the survey would influence tour operators to incorporate group dinners, social events, and shared accommodations in their itinerary? (1)
   (a) Freedom to customise itinerary
   (b) Luxury and comfort
   (c) Security and safety
   (d) Desire for making new friends
2. What do the top choices in the survey for travelling solo and in a group suggest about young adults? (1)
3. Identify the solo traveller from the following three travellers: (1)
   (a) Reshma – “I don’t want to keep hunting for rickshaws or taxis. A pre-booked vehicle is perfect.”
   (b) Nawaz – “I’m happy sharing a room in a hostel. I don’t need hotel accommodation.”
   (c) Deepak – “I’m not worried about my well-being, even while exploring remote areas.”
4. Which of the following is an example of an opportunity for self-discovery, as mentioned in paragraph 2? (1)
   (a) Trying new cuisine
   (b) Hiring a tour guide
   (c) Purchasing local artifacts
   (d) Advance booking travel tickets
5. Complete the sentence appropriately. (1)
   The similarities in the percentage of both solo and group travellers who are interested in exploring new cultures and trying new experiences may be due to ____________________.
6. State TRUE or FALSE. (1)
   The title, “Wanderlust: The Solo Travel Trend Among Young Adults in India”, is appropriate for this passage.
7. How might the differences in budget priorities between solo and group travellers impact the types of
   accommodations and activities offered by the travel industry in India? (2)

Question 02. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. (10 Marks)

1. Academics has always been an essential part of human development. It prepares us to survive in the outside world and establish an identity of our own. But, is an individual’s development restricted to merely academics? In India, from an early age, we have been taught that education is limited to the boundaries of academics only; the idea of getting out into the field or gaining practical experience is always considered a hoax. This has hindered students’ development. The truth is that education represents a considerably broader field than we know of it. Our teaching, from the basics, has been focused on getting good grades and job offers, rather than being creative and unique.
2. In the 21st century, the pure academic type of education is slowly paving way for a whole new type. The paradigm shift in the education system is evident. People have now come to understand that education is a 360-degree activity that should focus on students’ overall development, rather than restricting them to the classroom.
3. Co-curricular activities that take place outside the classroom but reinforce or supplement classroom
   curriculum, in some way, have become a point of focus today. These activities help in the growth of the child in more than one way. Participating in such activities helps youngsters grow mentally, socially and individually. Intellectual development of a student is developed in the classroom, but for aesthetic development such as team-building, character-building and physical growth, students must step out into the outside world. For instance, if a student is a part of the school football team, he / she will learn teamwork and coordination in a practical manner, which cannot be taught in the class.
4. Similarly, in colleges and institutions, there is a need for practical exposure so that the students can experience the actual working of an industry. For example, taking a student to a manufacturing firm will give him / her real insight and better learning of the industry. Catering to this change, most professional colleges including B-schools, have started providing practical exposure to students through regular guest lectures, industrial visits, conferences, seminars, cultural festivals and so on. With industry visits, students are able to better identify their prospective areas of work in the overall organizational function. Moreover, they help enhance interpersonal skills and communication techniques. In addition, guest lectures are equally important for the all-round development of students. It is a great way for students to gain maximum exposure, as guest speakers talk about their real-life experiences and not what is there in the textbooks.
5. Through such events, students are made to participate and coordinate different events wherein they get to know how exactly things are managed. Classroom teaching provides the foundation, but co-curricular or extra-curricular activities provide practical exposure and opportunities to implement what students learn in the classroom. This helps in developing the overall personality of the students, inculcating various soft skills in them, which otherwise are difficult to teach. Clearly, life beyond academics creates creative and empowered professionals.

2.1 Choose the correct option. (1×5)

1. Students’ development is hindered by:
   (i) limiting education to academic boundaries
   (ii) getting out into the field
   (iii) being creative and unique
   (iv) gaining practical knowledge
2. The shift in the education system means:
   (i) restricting students to classrooms
   (ii) focusing on academic development only
   (iii) ignoring 360-degree activity
   (iv) focusing on overall development
3. Co-curricular activities that take place outside the classroom do not help in:
   (i) teamwork and coordination
   (ii) mental and social growth
   (iii) intellectual development
   (iv) character building
4. Guest speakers talk about:
   (i) all-round development
   (ii) their real-life experiences
   (iii) what is in textbooks
   (iv) gaining exposure
5. Classroom teaching provides:
   (i) practical exposure
   (ii) opportunities to implement learning
   (iii) chance to learn soft skills
   (iv) the foundation

2.2 Answer the following questions briefly. (1×5)

1. From earlier times, what has not been the focus of education?
2. Where should students go for aesthetic development?
3. What kind of co-curricular activities have become points of focus today?
4. What will give children a better insight into industry?
5. Find the word/phrase from the passage which means the same as “untrue”.

Section – B : Grammar & Writing (23 Marks)

Question 4. Prepare a poster on increasing pollution in Delhi. (50 words)

OR

Prepare a poster inviting students to a Food Festival.

Question 5. Draft an advertisement to sell your flat. (50 words)

OR

Draft a “Situation Vacant” advertisement.

Question 6. Speech on importance of co-curricular activities. (120–150 words)

OR

Speech on Gender Equality Begins at Home.

Question 7. Debate on Playschool age OR Board exams optional. (120–150 words)

Question 8. Do the following as directed: (1×3)

(a) Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets.

Great Expectations is the thirteenth novel by English author Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel.
The novel is a bildungsroman and (a) __________ (depict) the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip.
It is Dickens’ second novel, after David Copperfield, to be fully (b) __________ (narrate) in the first person.
The novel was first (c) __________ (publish) as a serial in Dickens’s weekly periodical
All the Year Round, from 1 December 1860 to August 1861.

(b) The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a numeral is given. Write the incorrect word and the correction. (0.5×8 = 4)

Incorrect Sentence	Incorrect	Correct
(a) The term Metaphysical poets were coined by
(b) critic Samuel Johnson to describe a loose group
(c) of 17th-century English poet whose work was
(d) characterised by the inventive using of conceits,
(e) and by a greater emphasis on the spoke rather
(f) than the lyrical quality of their verse. These poets were
(g) not formally affiliated and few was highly regarded
(h) until 20th century attention established there importance.

 

Section – C: Literature (31 Marks)

Question 9. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow. (1×3)

I.
We protested. But she ignored our protests. She lay peacefully in bed praying and telling her beads. Even before we could suspect her lips stopped moving and the rosary fell from her lifeless fingers. A peaceful pallor spread on her face and we knew that she was dead. We lifted her off the bed and, as is customary, laid her on the ground and covered her with a red shroud. After a few hours of mourning we left her alone to make arrangements for her funeral.
In the evening we went to her room with a crude stretcher to take her to be cremated. The sun was setting and had lit her room and veranda with a blaze of golden light. We stopped half-way in the courtyard. All over the verandah and in her room right up to where she lay dead and stiff wrapped in the red shroud, thousands of sparrows sat scattered on the floor. There was no chirruping. We felt sorry for the birds and my mother fetched some bread for them. She broke it into little crumbs, the way my grandmother used to, and threw it to them.
The sparrows took no notice of the bread. When we carried my grandmother’s corpse off, they flew away quietly.

1. What was the grandmother doing in her final moments?
2. Complete the following suitably.
   The sparrows’ refusal to eat the crumbs of bread indicates ________________________.
3. Select the correct option from those given in brackets to fill in the blank.
   The family laid the grandmother on the ground and covered her with a red shroud because it was a
   __________ (traditional / rare) practice as part of her funeral preparations.

OR

II.
When the time came for me to tell him what brought me to Darchen, his eyes lit up.
“We could be a team,” he said excitedly. “Two academics who have escaped from the library.”
Perhaps my positive-thinking strategy was working after all.
My initial relief at meeting Norbu, who was also staying in the guest house, was tempered by the realization that he was almost as ill-equipped as I was for the pilgrimage. He kept telling me how far it was and how hard it was going to be.
“Very high up,” he kept reminding me, “so tiresome to walk.”
He wasn’t really a practicing Buddhist, it transpired, but he had enthusiasm and he was, of course, Tibetan.
Although I’d originally envisaged making the trek in the company of devout believers, on reflection I decided that perhaps Norbu would turn out to be the ideal companion.

1. Why does the author feel both relieved and concerned after meeting Norbu?
2. Complete the following suitably.
   Norbu’s humorous remark about “escaping from the library” reflects ________________________.
3. Why did Norbu want to do the pilgrimage around Mount Kailash?
   (i) He was a devout Buddhist.
   (ii) He wanted to study religious texts.
   (iii) He had written about it but never done it himself.
   (iv) He was searching for spiritual enlightenment.

Question 10. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow. (1×4)

I.
DORIS: [almost tearful again] What’s making you talk like this? What have we done?
PEARSON: [promptly] Nothing but come in, ask for something, go out again, then come back when there’s nowhere else to go.
CYRIL: [aggressively] Look—if you won’t get tea ready, then I’ll find something to eat myself…
MRS PEARSON: Why not? Help yourself. [She takes a sip of stout.] CYRIL: [turning on his way to the kitchen] Mind you, I think it’s a bit thick. I’ve been working all day.
DORIS: Same here.
MRS PEARSON: [calmly] Eight hour day!
CYRIL: Yes—eight hour day—and don’t forget it.
MRS PEARSON: I’ve done my eight hours.
CYRIL: That’s different.
DORIS: Of course it is.
MRS PEARSON: [calmly] It was. Now it isn’t. Forty-hour week for all now. Just watch it at the weekend when I have my two days off.

1. What does Mrs Pearson mean when she says, “Forty-hour week for all now”?
2. Which statement best reflects the change in Mrs Pearson’s attitude in this scene?
   (i) She has accepted that her family will never change.
   (ii) She demands that her family treats her with respect like a paid worker with fixed hours.
   (iii) She wants her family to make their own meals and leave her alone.
   (iv) She expects her family to pay her for domestic work.
3. What does Cyril mean when he says, “I think it’s a bit thick”?
4. Select the correct option from those given in brackets to fill in the blank.
   Mrs Pearson’s calm declaration of a “forty-hour week for all” emphasizes her desire for
   __________ (fairness / rebellion) within the household, challenging the traditional expectation
   that homemakers must work tirelessly without recognition.

OR

II.
She held her hand on the door as though she wanted to prevent it opening any further. Her face gave absolutely no sign of recognition. She kept staring at me in silence. Perhaps I was mistaken, I thought, perhaps it isn’t her. I had seen her only once, fleetingly, and that was years ago. It was most probable that I had rung the wrong bell. The woman let go of the door and stepped to the side. She was wearing my mother’s green knitted cardigan. The wooden buttons were rather pale from washing. My eye caught it and half hid herself again behind the door. But I knew now that I was right.

“Well, you knew my mother?” I asked.
“Have you come back?” said the woman. “I thought that no one had come back.”

1. Complete the following with a suitable reason.
   The narrator initially doubts that she has found the right house because __________.
2. What emotion is most clearly conveyed through Mrs Dorling’s actions in this extract?
   (i) Joy    (ii) Guilt    (iii) Indifference    (iv) Anger
3. Pick evidence from the extract that helps one infer that Mrs Dorling did not expect anyone to return for the belongings.
4. How does the narrator’s observation of small details, like the cardigan, contribute to the story’s theme? Choose the correct option.
   (i) It shows her interest in fashion.
   (ii) It reveals her distrust of strangers.
   (iii) It demonstrates her curiosity about Mrs Dorling’s life.
   (iv) It highlights her longing to reconnect with the past.

Question 11. Read the given stanza and answer the questions that follow. (1×3)

I.
We speak like strangers, there’s no sign of understanding in the air.
This child is built to my design Yet what he loves I cannot share

1. Identify the figure of speech used in the above lines.
2. “This child is built to my design” means that the child __________________________.
3. What kind of problems seem to exist between the father and his son?

OR

II.
I descend to lave the droughts, atomies, dust-layers of the globe,
And all that in them without me were seeds only, latent, unborn;

1. Name the poem and the poet.
2. The meaning of the word “latent” is ____________________ (cool / hidden / soft / grieving).
3. What function does the rain perform after descending to the earth?

Question 12. Answer any two of the following questions. (2×3)

1. What does the poet mean by “Was it the time I realized that Hell and Heaven could not be found in  Geography”?
2. What is the significance of the phrase “a machine starts up”?
3. What role does quantum theory play in Rajendra’s explanation of Gangadharpant’s experience?

Question 13. Answer any one of the following questions. (1×3)

1. Why did the narrator decide to forget the address?
2. How does the story reflect the values of the Gargohlian family?

Question 14. Answer any one of the following questions. (1×6)

1. What does the use of advanced technology, like CT scans, reveal about the evolution of archaeology?
2. How does the story demonstrate the value of optimism during challenging times? (We’re Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together)

Question 15. Answer any one of the following questions. (1×6)

1. Bring out the satire in “The Tale of Melon City”.
2. Imagine Dr. Andrew Manson writes a diary entry the night after the successful delivery at the Morgan household. Write a detailed diary entry highlighting his experiences, feelings, and realizations.
   Use the following format:

Date	Day	Time
Dear Diary