UK Board Class 12 English Model Paper 2024-2025: Download FREE PDF!

SECTION A: READING

1. Read the following text.

Today’s woman is a highly self-directed person, alive to the sense of her dignity and the importance of her functions in the private domestic domain and the public domain of the world of work. Women are rational in approach, careful in handling situations and want to do things as best as possible. The Fourth World Conference of Women held in Beijing in September 1995 emphasized that no enduring solution to society’s most threatening social, economic and political problems could be found without the participation and empowerment of women. The 1995 World Summit for Social Development also emphasised the pivotal role of women in eradicating poverty and mending the social fabric.

The Constitution of India conferred on women equal rights and opportunities in political, social, and educational and employment with men. Because of oppressive traditions, superstitions, exploitation and corruption, a majority of women are not allowed to enjoy the rights and opportunities, bestowed on them. One of the major reasons for this state of affairs is the lack of literacy and awareness among women. Education is the main instrument through which we can narrow down the prevailing inequality and accelerate the process of economic and political change in the status of women.

The role of women in society is very important. Women’s education is the key to a better life in the future. A recent World Bank study says that educating girls is not a charity, it is good economics and if developing nations are to eradicate poverty, they must educate the girls. The report says that the economic and social returns on investment in education of the girls considerably affect the human development index of the nation. Society would progress only if the status of women is respected and the presence of an educated woman in the family would ensure the education of the family itself. Education and empowerment of women are closely related.

Women’s education has not received due care and attention from planners and policymakers. The National Commission for Women has rightly pointed out that even after 50 years of independence; women continue to be treated as the single largest group of backward citizens of India. The role of women in overall development has not been fully understood nor has it been given its full weight in the struggle to eliminate poverty, hunger, injustice and inequality at the national level. Even when we are at the threshold of the 21st century, our society still discriminates against women in matters of their rights and privileges and prevents them from participating in the process of national and societal progress.

Various Committees and Commissions have been constituted before and after the independence to evaluate the progress in women’s education and to suggest ways and means to enhance the status of women. The female literacy rate has gone up in the 20th century from 0.6 per cent in 1901 to 39.29 per cent in 1991 but India still possesses the largest number of illiterate women in the world. The female literacy index for the year 1991 shows that there are eight States which fall below the national average. The most populous States of the country, UP, MP, Bihar and Rajasthan fall in the category of most backward States as far as female literacy is concerned.

Women’s political empowerment got a big boost with the Panchayati Raj Act of 1993 which gave them 30 per cent reservation in Village Panchayats, Block Samities and Zila Parishads throughout the country. The National Commission for Women was also set up in 1992 to act as a lobby for women’s issues.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. What was the purpose of The Fourth World Conference of Women held in Beijing in September 1995?

a) To discuss the advancement of women’s education in various countries.

b) To promote gender equality in the workplace.

c) To emphasize the importance of women’s participation and empowerment in addressing societal challenges.

d) To analyze the impact of women’s education.

ii. What could be a significant reason why a majority of women are not allowed to enjoy the rights and opportunities bestowed upon them?

a) Lack of awareness about their rights

b) Insufficient legal protection for women’s rights

c) cultural norms and traditions that restrict women’s freedom

d) physical disparities between men and women

iii. According to the passage, societal progress is dependent on

a) Economic growth

b) Technological advancement

c) Respect for women’s status

d) Political reforms

iv. Select the option that is similar in meaning to “Wipe Out”.

a) Empowerment

b) Emphasis

c) Eradicate

d) Ensure

v. According to the passage, which institution was set up in 1992 to act as a lobby for women's issues?

vi. What percentage of reservation did the Panchayati Raj Act of 1993 provide for women in local governance bodies?

vii. Why have women been considered the single largest group of backward citizens in India?

viii. How do societal, political, and economic changes affect women’s lives?

ix. Despite the rise in female literacy, what challenge does the passage mention regarding women's education in India?

1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

(A) What do we typically do when we find our children doing something we don't approve of? We become reactive parents. Often, we pepper our reactions with lectures. When it doesn't work predictably we end up screaming and doling out a punishment. And our children react with anger, resentment or 'can't-be-bothered' attitude.

(B) Buddhist Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh put it beautifully when he described how each child has both negative seeds of anger, despair, hatred, fear and violence- and wholesome seeds- of love, happiness, compassion and forgiveness. According to him, what will blossom depends on the seeds we nurture.

(C) A parenting and educational approach that's gaining a large following internationally, called the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) by Howard Glasser, is very much in keeping with this Zen approach. The three main aspects of this approach are:

· Refuse to energize negativity.

· Relentlessly energize their positives.

· Reset Do not react negatively and stay calm when the child does something wrong.

Parents following this approach commit to not saying or doing anything that may fuel negativity in the child. But the parent has to make sure she/he does this very calmly, without any anger or resentment.

(D) While on a mission to cut the negative, the parent looks for every opportunity to energize the positive in the child. This is done through persistently appreciating the goodness in the child in the smallest of ways: You were generous about sharing your pizza with your sister; I appreciate the hard work you have put in your project; It takes courage to stand up to a bully. If you observe, the appreciation is not about saying "excellent", "amazing" or "good", which is an empty praise and does not speak much to the child. Qualifying praise, on the other hand, gives the child direction and she/he begins to understand what qualities, values and strengths are appreciated. These are also necessary ingredients for life skills and success.

(E) This approach is not merely about noticing when the child is being good, it is about recognizing the child's worth at every step. It's about aligning his energy in believing that he has great qualities, which are being identified and validated by the parents at every step. He realizes that there is no point choosing negativity, as there are no pay-offs in it. So, start building your child's inner wealth - there is nothing to lose.

Answer the following questions, based on the given passage:

(i) ‘We end up screaming and doling out punishment’.  In the above sentence, the author criticizes the approach of the parents who are-

a. Protective b. Supportive

b. Reactive d. Deceptive

(ii) When and how do parents become reactive to their children? 

(iii) In the line 'what will bloom will depend on the seeds we nurture’. What seeds does the author refer to 

(a) Seasonal seeds (b) Societal news

(c) Parental attitude (d) Latent seeds

(iv) Describe the three main aspects of the NHA approach. 

(v) How can parents appreciate the goodness of the child at every opportunity?

(vi) In paragraph 5, in what way does 'This approach' differ from the earlier approach?

(vii) Give an example of appreciating the goodness in the child in the smallest of ways from the passage. 

(viii) The phrase 'to cut the negative' in para 4 nearly means:

(A) to reduce wasteful expenditure

(B) to stop criticizing

(C) to eliminate challenges

(D) to humiliate someone

(ix) Which word is similar to the word ‘appreciate’

a. amaze b. praise

c. motivate c. none of these