COMPLETE TOPIC-WISE QUESTION BANK
Class XII – Semester 4 – English-B
SECTION A: PROSE & POETRY (2 MARKS EACH)
Topic: Down the Rabbit-Hole (Lewis Carroll)
1. Why was Alice getting tired sitting by her sister's side on the riverbank?
2. What was Alice's opinion on books without pictures or conversations?
3. Give the metaphorical meaning of the title 'Down the Rabbit-Hole'.
4. Describe the rabbit hole.
5. How did Alice manage to see cupboards, bookshelves, and jars while falling?
6. Why couldn't Alice go through the little door even though she had the key?
7. What was unusual about the White Rabbit that caught Alice's attention?
8. How does Lewis Carroll use fantasy to introduce readers to Wonderland?
9. Who was Dinah? What was it fed at tea-time?
10. What, and how was it written on the small cake?
11. What did Alice notice when she looked at the sides of the well?
12. Why did Alice decide to eat the cake?
13. What did Alice try to do to keep herself from feeling lonely while falling?
14. What was unusual about the Rabbit's behaviour that surprised Alice?
15. Why did Alice peep into the book her sister was reading?
16. Why did Alice become curious about the Rabbit?
17. What happened after Alice drank the content of the bottle?
18. What did Alice find after she opened the door with the golden key?
Topic: Three Questions (Leo Tolstoy)
1. What according to the Tsar could ensure his success in every endeavour?
2. Describe the hermit's physical features.
3. Who is the author of "Three Questions" and when was it first published?
4. How did the Tsar take care of the wounded man?
5. Whom did the king first consult to find the answers?
6. Why did the wounded man want to kill the king?
7. What were the three questions that the king wanted answers to?
8. According to the hermit, what is the most important time?
9. What was the first question of the Tsar? How was it answered by the learned men?
10. Where did the hermit live and whom did he only meet?
11. What was the second question of the Tsar?
12. Why did the Tsar put on simple clothes before meeting the hermit?
13. How did the king make peace with his enemy?
14. What did some learned men suggest about knowing the right time for every action?
15. To whom did the three questions occur?
16. Why was the bearded man an enemy of the Tsar?
17. What did the hermit answer to the third question of the Tsar?
18. "Forgive me," said the bearded man — Whom was this told to?
19. Was the bearded man forgiven?
20. What did the bearded man promise the Tsar?
Topic: Hawk Roosting (Ted Hughes)
1. What are the four main themes that are explored in ‘Hawk Roosting’?
2. What is the symbolic significance of the hawk in ‘Hawk Roosting’?
3. ‘There is no sophistry in my body’ – Explain with reference to context.
4. What does the hawk mean when it says, it "rehearses" in the sun?
5. How does the hawk view the world below it?
6. "Now I hold creation in my foot." – Explain with reference to context.
7. "I kill where I please" – Explain with reference to context.
8. What does the hawk rehearse and why?
9. What does the hawk assert as his 'right'?
10. What does the hawk symbolize in the poem?
11. "I hold creation in my foot" – explain the idea behind this comment.
12. What does the hawk mean by "the earth's face upward for my inspection"?
13. What does the hawk mean when it says, "I sit in the top of the wood, my eyes closed"?
14. How does the hawk describe its control over nature in the poem?
15. What is the tone of the poem "Hawk Roosting"?
16. Explain the significance of the line, "The sun is behind me."
17. What do the hawk's words reveal about its personality?
Topic: Sonnet 73 (William Shakespeare)
1. In Shakespeare's Sonnet 73, what is the significance of life's transience?
2. ‘To love that well which thou must leave ere long’ – Explain with reference to context.
3. What does fire symbolize in the third quatrain?
4. How does the final couplet reinforce the poem's central message?
5. What imagery is used in the second quatrain?
6. What does the "bare ruined choirs" symbolize?
7. Explain the significance of the phrase "fadeth in the west".
8. Comment on the metaphor of autumn for old age.
9. What does the line "Which by and by black night doth take away" convey?
10. What message about mortality does the poet convey through the imagery of the setting sun?
11. What season of the year does the poet use as a metaphor for old age?
12. Explain the meaning of the line "Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang."
13. How does the imagery of fire contribute to the theme of the poem?
14. What does the poet mean by "Death's second self"?
15. How does the poem express the relationship between love and mortality?
Topic: The Greenhouse Effect (Carl Dennis)
1. What is the role of visual imageries in ‘The Greenhouse Effect’?
2. 'And the green belts begin to slide closer to the poles' – Explain with reference to context.
3. What is the meaning of 'no falsifying dream'?
4. How does the poem reflect concern for future generations?
5. How does the poet describe the greenhouse effect?
6. Who are referred to as 'Great Powers'?
7. What impact of greenhouse effect will be on the 'tillable land'?
8. If the gradual warming trend continues, what change will be observed in the streets?
9. What does the poet mean when he says "the future is melting"?
10. How does the poem reflect the theme of human irresponsibility?
11. What role does nature play in the poem?
12. How does the poet make the reader feel responsible for climate change?
13. What warning does the poet give about the future of the planet?
14. What is the overall message of the poem?
SECTION B: DESCRIPTIVE QUESTIONS (6 MARKS EACH)
Topic: Down the Rabbit-Hole
1. Comment on the elements of curiosity and confusion in ‘Down the Rabbit-Hole’.
2. How did Alice feel when she saw the beautiful garden through the little door?
3. How does Lewis Carroll blend fantasy and reality in "Down the Rabbit Hole"?
4. Describe Alice's experience of falling down the rabbit hole. What thoughts and feelings does she have during the fall?
5. Why did Alice chase the rabbit? What happened to Alice while running after the rabbit?
6. What did Alice notice while falling down the rabbit hole?
7. "Alice ventured to taste it" - What did Alice venture to taste? Why did she not readily taste it? How was the result?
8. Describe the hall that Alice finds after her fall.
9. How does the author introduce Alice at the beginning of the story? What was she doing before she noticed the White Rabbit?
Topic: Three Questions
1. Why does the Tsar decide to consult the hermit? Mention three distinct features of the hermit.
2. Describe the events leading to the encounter between the Tsar and the wounded man.
3. Explain why the man initially sought revenge. Why did his perspective change by the end of the story?
4. Describe the role of the hermit in the story. How does he guide the king towards true wisdom?
5. Describe the three questions that troubled the king and explain why he wanted their answers.
6. How did the bearded man become the enemy of the Tsar? How did the man take revenge? How did they become friends?
7. What were the three questions that occurred to the Tsar? Why did he need the correct answers? What did he do when he was not satisfied?
8. How did the wounded man become the king's friend? What made him change his attitude?
9. How did the king come to know that the wounded man was his enemy? What was the man's plan?
Topic: Hawk Roosting
1. ‘And the earth's face upward for my inspection’ – Comment on the idea of authority.
2. The actions and physical features of the hawk are a symbolic representation of its place within a larger and brutal natural order. Discuss.
3. Explain the hawk's attitude toward life and death. How does it reflect natural order?
4. How does Hughes explore the relationship between predator and prey?
5. Bring out the parallelism suggested between the killing instinct of the bird and human behaviour.
6. "I sit in the top of the wood..." - Who is 'I'? What do 'closed eyes' signify? Why is the dream called 'no falsifying'?
7. "I sit in the top of the wood, my eyes closed" - What is the hawk doing? What does "eyes closed" suggest about his confidence?
8. What does the poem tell us about the hawk's character? What does "no sophistry in my body" mean?
9. What does the hawk symbolize? How does the poet convey the hawk's arrogance?
10. Describe the hawk's attitude towards power. How does Hughes use imagery to show control?
11. Explain the significance of "I kill where I please...". How does it reflect the hawk's sense of superiority?
12. How does the hawk view nature and creation? What does the poem suggest about authority?
13. Discuss two images that show the hawk's dominance.
Topic: Sonnet 73
1. Comment on the metaphorical use of the bare branches of autumn in Sonnet 73.
2. What kind of love has been discussed in Sonnet 73?
3. Explain how Shakespeare uses the imagery of seasons to convey aging and mortality.
4. Discuss the theme of mortality and the passage of time.
5. Discuss the central idea of Sonnet 73.
6. How does Sonnet 73 depict the relationship between life, time and death?
7. "Which by and by black night doth take away..." - How is black night personified? What does "Death's second self" refer to?
8. "That time of year thou mayst in me behold..." - What time of year? Explain imagery of "bare ruined choirs".
9. What season does the poet compare himself to? How does it reflect his stage of life?
10. Explain the imagery of the "bare ruined choirs." How does it contribute to the tone of decay?
11. What does the image of "twilight" signify? How does it relate to aging?
12. How does Shakespeare use the image of fire in the final quatrain? What do "ashes of his youth" symbolize?
13. Identify two images of decline used in the poem. Explain how they reinforce the central idea.
Topic: The Greenhouse Effect
1. Describe the central ideas of the poem, "The Greenhouse Effect".
2. Discuss the interconnectedness of emotional and environmental landscapes in the poem.
3. What feelings does the poem evoke in the reader regarding nature and pollution?
4. How does Carl Dennis portray the contrast between human comfort and environmental harm?
5. What is greenhouse effect? What warning does the poet give about climate change?
6. How does the poet describe the future of cities and suburbs after the impact of climate change?
7. Discuss the central theme of environmental destruction and human negligence.
8. How does the poet describe humanity's attitude towards nature? What tone does he use?
9. What does the poet mean by "Greenhouse Effect"? How does he use irony?
10. Describe how human activities have contributed to the Greenhouse Effect. What attitude is criticized?
11. How does the poet create awareness about environmental pollution?
12. What tone does the poet use while describing the future of the Earth?
13. How does Carl Dennis blend science with poetry? Comment on the relevance.
SECTION C: DRAMA (5 MARKS EACH)
Topic: Riders to the Sea (J.M. Synge)
1. How is death depicted in Riders to the Sea?
2. Comment on the role of the sea in the play.
3. How does Maurya achieve peace at the end of the play?
4. Discuss the Biblical significance of the title, Riders to the Sea.
5. Describe Maurya's character and her response to the tragedies that befall her family.
6. What role do superstition and religion play in "Riders to the Sea"?
7. Explain the significance of the play's title.
8. Discuss the role of the 'sea' in the play as a symbol of nature and fate.
9. What are the conflicts brought out in J. M. Synge's 'Riders to The Sea'?
10. "They all are gone now, and then there isn't anything more that the sea can do to me..." - Comment on the ending with reference to this utterance.
11. How does Maurya react after the death of Bartley? What change do we see in her?
12. "In the big world, the old people do be leaving things after them..." - Who speaks these words? What is the significance?
13. Describe the character of Maurya and her role as a tragic mother.
14. "It's little the like of him knows of the sea..." - Who is the speaker? What does it reveal about the theme of fate?
15. "No man at all can be living forever, and we must be satisfied." - Who says this? How does it summarize the message?
16. How does Synge depict the theme of human suffering and endurance?
17. Analyze the role of superstition and religion in the lives of the islanders.
18. How does Synge use dialogue and simple language to convey deep emotions?
19. Describe the character of Bartley and his importance.
20. Examine the play as a tragedy of human endurance against the forces of nature.
21. How does the play reflect the life and struggles of people on the Aran Islands?
22. Discuss the ending of the play and how it reinforces the theme of inevitability.
SECTION D: GRAMMAR (Practice Items)
Topic: Transformation of Sentences
1. Complex: I don't think I will be able to make it. I missed the bus.
2. Simple (Split): Nobody knew where to go, so we asked some random people for directions to the hills.
3. Simple (Split): Taking pity on the mouse, the magician turned it into a cat.
4. Compound: Tina had to present the paper today. Nancy volunteered to do it.
5. Complex: The boy walked along the quiet hill road... scent of wildflowers... drizzle began.
6. Simple (Split): Bimala felt torn between her loyalty... and excitement of nationalist politics...
7. Complex: The rain stopped. We decided to go for a walk. The air was fresh and cool.
8. Simple (Split): Meursault felt no sorrow at his mother's funeral because he could not understand...
9. Single Sentence: Chameleons change their skin colour. It helps them avoid their enemies.
10. Simple (Split): Nalanda, a large Buddhist monastery, was one of the most acknowledged Mahaviharas...
11. Single Sentence: Kunwar Singh was by caste a Thakur. He was the headman of his village.
12. Simple (Split): Nature has created all forms of life with equal compassion.
13. Complex: Failing in his attempt, he tried again.
14. Simple (Split): When the rain stopped, the children ran out to play in the garden happily.
15. Simple: Because he was tired, he took some rest.
16. Simple (Split): The book which you lent me is very interesting.
17. Simple: I have no dictionary, so I can not look up the meaning of the word.
18. Simple: The rich man keeps some dogs to guard his house. The dogs are well trained.
19. Complex: He says something. There is much truth in it.
20. Compound: God made the country. Man made the town.
21. Adjective Clause: Garbage causes pollution. It may be used as a source of energy.
22. Single Sentence: The farmer had a hen. The hen laid a golden egg every day.
23. Compound: Finding his mother absent the child began to cry.
24. Single Sentence: I waited for my brother. I waited till his arrival.
25. Complex: He heard the news and immediately left in a hurry.
26. Simple (Participle): Tina took her meal and went to school.
27. Simple (Split): A dozen of trees at Rabindra Sarobar have fallen prey to lac insects...
28. Simple (Split): The train stopped at a station that had no town.
29. Simple (Split): Oscar-winning singer Bob Dylan skipped the Nobel Prize Ceremony.
30. Simple (Split): Babylonians wrote astronomical observations on bricks of clay.
31. Simple (Split): Doctors have warned people against stepping out early in the morning...
Topic: Narration (Indirect Speech)
1. Alice said, "The train left as soon as I reached the station".
2. Rohan said, "We represented our school... and we are the winners."
3. She said to her friend, "Let us have some ice-cream."
4. The traveller said to the man, "Where can I get some water?"
5. She said, "I was reading this novel yesterday."
6. He said, "I will call you tomorrow."
7. Mithai said to Sounak, "Will you play together now?"
8. The ticket collector said to the passenger, "Show your ticket please."
9. The commentator said, "What a brilliant catch it is!"
10. Mother said to me, "May the Almighty bless you."
11. The farmer said to his son, "I want to sell the land."
Topic: Articles & Prepositions (Fill in the blanks)
1. large house ___ the south side... all ablaze ___ ten o'clock.
2. Epigraphy had been a lively political ___...
3. The mayor addressed ___ press conference... studies ___ urban planning...
4. Pip walked through ___ foggy streets... thinking ___ the mysterious benefactor...
5. Despite ___ growing awareness... meaningful action ___ a global scale.
6. At ___ first ball...
7. The disappearance of Subhas Chandra Bose ___ August 18, 1945 remains ___ unsolved mystery.
8. ___ the Bose Institute ___ great experimenter was our guide.
9. He jumped ___ the river and swam ___ ease.
10. There was ___ knock ___ the door ___ midnight.
11. Once upon a time there was ___ boy who dreamed ___ making...
12. The Transport Minister has contributed ___ the demand...
13. In India the first oil well was sunk ___ Assam ___ Borbhil...
14. Ashoka was ___ conqueror... but ___ preaching.
Topic: Error Correction (Correct the following sentences)
1. We drinks tea in the morning.
2. Tagore was the first in receiving Nobel Prize from India.
3. A team of doctors are selected to attend the conference.
4. I shall be promote next year.
5. I prefer coffee than tea.
SECTION E: WRITING SKILLS
Topic: Essays (≈150 words)
1. The impact of social media on societal interaction.
2. The advantages of learning a new language.
3. Festivals must be celebrated responsibly.
4. Reading biographies.
5. Urbanization and the Loss of Natural Spaces.
6. Causes of Urban flooding in Indian Metro cities.
7. Durga Puja Carnival in Kolkata.
8. Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the Lives of Students.
9. Global Warming.
10. Self Employment.
11. Role of Students in Society.
12. Renewable Energy.
13. The Importance of Time Management for Students.
14. Is technology making us lazy?
15. Education as the Key to Success.
16. Life Without the Internet.
17. The impact of social media on youth.
18. The importance of environmental conservation in today's world.
19. The Role of Education in Shaping the Future of a Nation.
20. Artificial Intelligence: Boon or Bane?
21. Advantages and disadvantages of online learning.
22. Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in Modern Society.
23. The Importance of Mental Health Awareness.
24. Climate Change and Its Effects on Our Planet.
25. The Value of Time in a Student's Life.
26. India's Progress in Science and Technology.
Topic: Emails (≈75 words)
1. To Principal enquiring about admission dates for undergraduate programmes.
2. To Editor regarding pollution due to firecrackers.
3. To Principal requesting to arrange a visit to the Birla Planetarium.
4. To store owner to place the order of new books.
5. To Manager of an Electronics Store reporting a malfunctioning refrigerator.
6. To Examination In-charge requesting rechecking of answer sheets.
7. To Customer Care Executive complaining about receiving a defective mobile phone.
8. To Controller of Examination requesting correction of spelling error in admit card.
9. To a dignitary inviting her/him as a guest speaker.
10. To course coordinator of language school enquiring for admission.
11. To Coordinator of a swimming club asking for admission procedure.
12. To Sales Manager requesting to replace a defective product.
13. To Principal complaining about poor sanitation and hygiene.
14. To teacher thanking him/her for motivating you.
15. To Municipal Officer complaining about non-functioning street lights.
16. To friend telling about plans after Class XII board exams.
17. To Online Retailer requesting replacement or refund for damaged laptop.
18. To class teacher requesting guidance for a project.
19. To Traffic Department requesting installation of traffic signals.
20. To sanitation department requesting maintenance of water drains.
21. To tour operator requesting details about a holiday package.
22. To tour operator reporting discrepancy between promised and provided amenities.23. To Editor highlighting poor quality of newspaper supplements.24. To Editor on The Rise of Mental Health Awareness Among Teenagers.
Topic: Blog Writing (≈75 words)
1. The coming of migratory birds in Kolkata.
2. Kolkata Book Fair.
3. The benefits and drawbacks of e-learning.
4. The joy of travelling.
5. Comfort vs. Climate: The Cost of Modern Living.
6. Post-Pandemic Travel Trends.
7. Green Eating: Can Sustainable Diets Heal a Warming World?
8. Fast Food, Slow Death: Environmental Lessons.
9. Addiction to mobile phone among young generation.
10. Harmful effects of indiscriminate use of loud speaker.
11. Bad effects of eating junk food.
12. Practising Yoga and Meditation to Reduce Stress.
13. The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Our Future.
14. The Dangers of Junk Food.
15. Go Green: Small Steps for a Big Change.
16. The Importance of Sports in Student Life.
17. Travelling: The Best Form of Education.
18. Mobile Phones: A Necessity or a Distraction?
19. The Growing Popularity of E-Sports among Teenagers.
20. Why Volunteering Should Be Part of School Life.
21. Books vs Screens - Which Is Better for Learning?
22. Overcoming Failure: The Key to Success.
23. Simple Ways to Live a More Eco-Friendly Life.
24. The Importance of Art and Creativity in Education.
25. Internet Addiction and Its Impact on Students.
26. Digital India: Opportunities and Challenges.
Study Notes PDF
Download this article for offline study
SPN EDTECH
Social Platforms