AHSEC Class 12 Alternative English textbook and the 2025 model question paper, here are the complete solutions. I will solve the paper part-by-part, starting with Group A.
AHSEC Class 12 Alternative English Paper – 2025 (Solved)
GROUP-A (Prose)
(Marks: 40)
1. Give brief answers to any five of the following questions in full sentence: (1 × 5 = 5)
(a) What is the cost of enamel box that Rosemary wanted to buy?
Answer: The cost of the enamel box that Rosemary wanted to buy was twenty-eight guineas.
(b) Which Russian author influenced Katherine Mansfield?
Answer: The Russian author who influenced Katherine Mansfield was Anton Chekhov. (Note: The story “A Cup of Tea” mentions Dostoevsky, which is also a valid influence mentioned in the text.)
(c) What was the name of the airport situated in Guwahati in 1949?
Answer: The name of the airport situated in Guwahati in 1949 was Kanhikuchi Airport.
(d) What did Hazarika consider to be his only aim?
Answer: Hazarika considered his only aim to be to keep going, as expressed by the words ‘charaiveti, charaiveti’.
(e) How much money did Albert Edward have at the bank?
Answer: Albert Edward had a little over thirty thousand pounds at the bank.
(f) Where from had the new vicar come?
Answer: The new vicar had come from the East End of London.
(g) What did Rama give free with every item?
Answer: Rama gave chutney free with almost every item he sold.
2. Answer any five of the following questions: (2 × 5 = 10)
(a) On what occasion did the verger use his new gown?
Answer: The verger, Albert Edward Foreman, kept his new gown for important and fashionable ceremonies like funerals and weddings, as St Peter’s church was much favoured for these events.
(b) What business did Albert Foreman set up and where?
Answer: Albert Foreman set up a business as a tobacconist and newsagent. He set up his first shop on a long street where he had been unable to find a single shop selling cigarettes.
(c) Why did Rama have to move his stall two hundred yards away?
Answer: Rama had to move his stall two hundred yards away because his original spot was declared a “holy spot” to build a monument for a political leader who had died there during a riot. This new location was far from his usual customers, causing his business to decline.
(d) What did Rama’s wife do upon his arrival at night?
Answer: Upon his arrival at night, Rama’s wife would snatch all his equipment (encumbrances) from his hands, pull out the cloth bag of money from under his shirt, and immediately count the day’s earnings.
(e) How does Katherine Mansfield portray marriage in “A Cup of Tea”?
Answer: Katherine Mansfield portrays the marriage of Rosemary and Philip as one based on superficial affection and material comfort rather than deep emotional connection. While Philip “adored” Rosemary, their relationship is transactional; Rosemary’s insecurity is soothed not by genuine reassurance but by Philip’s agreement to buy her an expensive gift, showing a marriage rooted in the shallow values of their upper-class society.
(h) Why does Rosemary like shopping at antique stores?
Answer: Rosemary likes shopping at antique stores for two main reasons. Firstly, she usually had the shop to herself, which she liked. Secondly, the shopman was “ridiculously fond of serving her,” which flattered her ego and made her feel special and appreciated.
3. Give answers to any two of the following questions: (3 × 2 = 6)
(a) Write a short note on Mansfield as a short story writer.
Answer: Katherine Mansfield is regarded as one of the most important short story writers of the twentieth century. Her stories are known for their deep psychological insight into her characters’ thoughts, feelings, and motivations. She often explores themes like class consciousness, the fragility of relationships, and the condition of women in society, using everyday situations to reveal complex human truths. Her writing is rich with imagery, metaphors, and symbols, making her a pioneering figure in modern storytelling.
(d) Why did Rama’s customers like him?
Answer: Rama’s customers liked him for two main reasons. Firstly, his food was incredibly cheap; they could get items like four chappatis for just an anna. Secondly, he allowed his customers the freedom to pick up, examine, and choose their food after proper scrutiny, a level of trust and liberty that they appreciated.
(e) Why do you think the speaker imagined the daughter’s name as Bina?
Answer: The speaker in “Bina Kutir” imagined the daughter’s name as Bina because the old, unoccupied Assam-type house had a bina flowering plant creeping up its wooden scaffold. Since the house had no name, the narrator’s imagination connected the plant to the house and its inhabitants, leading him to romantically name the house “Bina Kutir” and its mysterious daughter “Bina.”
4. Answer any two of the questions given below: (5 × 2 = 10)
(a) Why was the verger asked to step down? Do you think this was a fair decision? Give reason. (2+3=5)
Answer: The verger, Albert Edward Foreman, was asked to step down from his job at St. Peter’s Church because the new vicar discovered that he was illiterate—he could neither read nor write. The vicar considered it an impossible situation for a prestigious church like St. Peter’s to have an illiterate verger.
No, this was not a fair decision. Albert Edward had performed his duties satisfactorily for sixteen years, and his character was unimpeachable. His illiteracy had never interfered with his work, a fact that the previous vicar had accepted without issue. The new vicar’s decision was based on a rigid principle rather than practical necessity or compassion. Firing a loyal and efficient employee for a skill that was not essential to his job was unjust and unreasonable.
(b) Justify the title “The Martyr’s Corner”.
Answer: The title “The Martyr’s Corner” is deeply ironic and significant. The corner initially belongs to Rama, a hardworking food vendor, and is the source of his livelihood. However, after a political riot leads to a person’s death at that spot, the corner is transformed into a memorial for this new “martyr.” The irony is that in creating a memorial for one martyr, society creates another: Rama. He is forced to move, his business is destroyed, and he loses his independence, effectively becoming a martyr to the forces of politics and “progress” that he cannot control. The title, therefore, refers not only to the dead political figure but also, and more poignantly, to Rama, the innocent victim whose life is sacrificed.
(c) Write a short note on the character of Miss Smith.
Answer: Miss Smith is the poor, young girl whom Rosemary Fell meets on the street in “A Cup of Tea.” She is described as a “little battered creature with enormous eyes,” shivering and desperate from hunger and cold. Her request for the price of a cup of tea is “simple and sincere,” not like a beggar’s plea. Though initially dazed and shy in Rosemary’s luxurious home, she is also proud, refusing brandy and only wanting tea. Her character serves as a stark contrast to Rosemary’s wealth and exposes the superficiality of the upper class. Her surprising beauty ultimately triggers Rosemary’s jealousy, revealing her role as a catalyst in the story’s exploration of class, insecurity, and false charity.
5. Explain with reference to context any one of the following extracts: (5 × 1 = 5)
(a) ‘Rama watched the unfolding of contemporary history through the shouts of newsboys, and in due course tried to return to his corner’.
Answer: This line is taken from R.K. Narayan’s short story, “The Martyr’s Corner.” It occurs after a violent political riot has disrupted life in Malgudi. Rama, the humble food vendor, is forced to witness these large-scale events from the sidelines. The “unfolding of contemporary history” refers to the political aftermath of the riot—the public inquiries and debates that filled the newspapers, which he only hears about through the “shouts of newsboys.” This context highlights the vast gap between ordinary people like Rama and the grand political events that shape their lives without their involvement. His attempt to “return to his corner” symbolizes his desire to go back to his simple, stable life, but as the story shows, history has permanently altered his small world.
6. Give answers to the following:
(a) Write the meanings of the words given below: (½ × 4 = 2)
(i) clamour: a loud and confused noise, especially that of people shouting.
(ii) aisle: a passage between rows of seats in a building such as a church or theatre, an aeroplane, or a train.
(iii) cavern: a large cave or a large, dark space.
(iv) stagger: to walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall.
(b) Write the antonyms of the words given below: (½ × 2 = 1)
(i) dusk: dawn
(ii) quiver: steady / still
(c) Write the synonyms of the words given below: (½ × 2 = 1)
(i) sufficient: enough / adequate
(ii) glib: slick / smooth-talking
GROUP-B (Poetry)
(Marks: 30)
7. Answer any five of the following questions in full sentences: (1 × 5 = 5)
(a) Name the poet of “Ozymandias of Egypt”.
Answer: The poet of “Ozymandias of Egypt” is Percy Bysshe Shelley.
(b) Who is the speaker in “Strange Meeting”?
Answer: The speaker in “Strange Meeting” is a soldier who has escaped from a battle and finds himself in the underworld, or Hell.
(c) What does the speaker discover in the underworld?
Answer: In the underworld, the speaker discovers that he is in Hell and meets the enemy soldier whom he had killed the previous day.
(d) What do you understand by the words ‘Sweet music of speech’?
Answer: The words ‘Sweet music of speech’ refer to the beauty and comfort of human conversation and social interaction, which the speaker in the poem deeply misses in his solitude.
(e) What led the scorpion to crawl beneath the sack of rice?
Answer: Ten hours of steady rain had driven the scorpion to seek shelter, which led it to crawl beneath a sack of rice inside the speaker’s house.
(f) What will purify the flesh and soul of the mother?
Answer: According to the superstitious peasants, the mother’s suffering from the scorpion’s poison will purify her flesh of desire and her spirit of ambition.
(g) ‘We paused before a House that seemed A __ of the Ground.’ (Fill in the gap)
Answer: We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground.
(h) ‘While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey I hear it in the deep heart’s core.’ – Name the poem.
Answer: The name of the poem is “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”.
8. Answer briefly any five of the following questions: (2 × 5 = 10)
(a) Why does the poet wish to stay at Innisfree?
Answer: The poet wishes to stay at Innisfree to find peace and escape the noise and monotony of city life. He longs for a simple, self-sufficient existence close to nature, where he can live alone in a small cabin and enjoy the tranquil sounds and sights of the island.
(b) What is the role of superstition in the poem “Night of the Scorpion”?
Answer: Superstition plays a central role in the poem as it governs the reactions of the peasants. They believe the scorpion is an “Evil One” and chant the name of God to paralyze it. They also believe the mother’s suffering will burn away her past sins and balance her karma for the next life, reflecting their deeply ingrained superstitious and religious beliefs.
(c) What are the poetic devices often used by Wilfred Owen in his poem?
Answer: Wilfred Owen often uses powerful poetic devices such as vivid imagery to depict the horrors of war, irony to contrast the reality of war with glorious ideals, and alliteration and assonance to create a somber musicality. His poem “Strange Meeting” is particularly noted for its use of para-rhyme (half-rhyme), which creates a jarring, unsettling effect suitable for its theme.
(d) What is the significance of the ‘Setting Sun’ in the poem?
Answer: In the poem “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” the ‘Setting Sun’ is highly significant as it symbolizes the end of the speaker’s life. As the carriage passes the setting sun, it marks the transition from life to death, and the speaker begins to feel the coldness of the grave, realizing her journey is towards eternity.
(e) Whose greatness is actually glorified in the poem “Ozymandias of Egypt”?
Answer: The poem actually glorifies the power of the sculptor and his art, not the king. While Ozymandias intended the statue to showcase his own mighty power, all that remains is a ruin. However, the sculptor’s skill in capturing the king’s arrogant “sneer of cold command” has survived the test of time, proving that art is more permanent than the power of any ruler.
(f) What does the poet mean by ‘titanic wars’?
Answer: In the poem “Strange Meeting,” the poet uses the phrase ‘titanic wars’ to refer to the immense and destructive nature of the war, likely World War I. The word ‘titanic’ implies that the wars were of a colossal and catastrophic scale, powerful enough to carve tunnels through hard granite, symbolizing their devastating impact on the world.
(h) What led to the formation of the giant scorpion shadows on the walls of the speaker’s hut?
Answer: The giant scorpion shadows were formed on the mud-baked walls when the peasants came with “candles and with lanterns” to search for the scorpion. The flickering lights of these lamps cast large, distorted shadows of the insects and the people, which looked like monstrous scorpions, adding to the fearful atmosphere of the night.
9. Answer any two of the following questions: (3 × 2 = 6)
(a) What does ‘Wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command’ signify?
Answer: This phrase from “Ozymandias” signifies the arrogant, cruel, and tyrannical nature of the king. The “wrinkled lip” and “sneer” are expressions of contempt and disdain for others. The “cold command” suggests a ruler who was ruthless and ruled through fear, without compassion. The sculptor skillfully captured these passions on the statue’s face, revealing the true character of Ozymandias.
(b) Comment on the significance of the title of the poem, “Because I could not stop for Death”.
Answer: The title is highly significant as it immediately establishes the poem’s central theme and personification. The speaker was too busy with life to think about death (“I could not stop for Death”). Therefore, Death, personified as a kind and patient gentleman, “kindly stopped” for her. The title introduces the idea of death not as a terrifying end, but as a civil and inevitable journey, setting a calm and contemplative tone for the entire poem.
(c) What message did Selkirk want to convey to his friends?
Answer: In “The Solitude of Alexander Selkirk,” Selkirk wanted to convey a message of longing and remembrance to his friends. He desperately wonders if his friends still think of him and sends a wish for them to know he still considers them friends, even though he will never see them again. His message is a poignant plea for human connection and a lament for the “Society, Friendship, and Love” he has lost.
(d) Describe the condition of the statue that the traveller comes across in the desert.
Answer: The traveller comes across the ruins of a colossal statue in the vast, empty desert. All that remains are “two vast and trunkless legs of stone” standing upright. Nearby, half-sunk in the sand, lies the “shattered visage” (face) of the statue. The face bears a frown and a “sneer of cold command,” indicating the ruler’s arrogance. The pedestal contains a boastful inscription, but besides these ruins, “Nothing beside remains,” surrounded only by “lone and level sands.”
10. Answer any one of the following questions: (5 × 1 = 5)
(b) Does the poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” celebrate the theme of escapism? Explain.
Answer: Yes, the poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” strongly celebrates the theme of escapism. The speaker, living in a dull and grey urban environment (“on the roadway, or on the pavements grey”), expresses a deep and urgent desire to escape to the peaceful, natural world of Innisfree. He yearns to leave the city’s noise and build a simple life for himself, finding peace in the “bee-loud glade” and the “low sounds” of the lake water. The entire poem is a romantic dream of escaping the anxieties of modern life and finding solace and contentment in a simple, solitary existence in nature. The call of Innisfree is so powerful that he hears it “in the deep heart’s core,” making his desire for escape a profound spiritual need.
(c) What does the poem “Night of Scorpion” say about a mother?
Answer: The poem “Night of the Scorpion” portrays a mother as a figure of immense, selfless love and sacrifice. For twenty hours, the speaker’s mother endures excruciating pain, twisting and groaning on a mat. While the peasants offer superstitious prayers and her rationalist husband tries every remedy, she suffers silently. However, the moment the poison loses its sting, her first words are not of her own suffering, but of relief and gratitude that the scorpion spared her children. Her only thought is for the safety of her children, encapsulating the poem’s central theme of unconditional and sacrificial motherly love. Her final line, “Thank God the scorpion picked on me / And spared my children,” reveals the profound depth of her love, which transcends her own physical agony.
11. Give answers to the following:
(a) Write the meaning of the words given below: (½ × 4 = 2)
(i) solitude: The state of being alone, especially when peaceful and pleasant.
(ii) affliction: A state of pain, distress, or grief.
(iii) sullen: Bad-tempered and gloomy; morose.
(iv) citadels: A fortress, typically on high ground, protecting or dominating a city.
(b) Give antonyms of the following words: (½ × 2 = 1)
(i) haste: delay / leisure
(ii) desolate: populous / fertile
(c) Give synonyms of the following words: (½ × 2 = 1)
(i) leisure: free time / relaxation
(ii) despise: hate / detest
GROUP-C (Grammar)
(Marks: 10)
12. Add question tag to any five of the following sentences: (1 × 5 = 5)
(a) Rubi is coming tomorrow, __?
Answer: Rubi is coming tomorrow, isn’t she?
(b) He speaks French well, __?
Answer: He speaks French well, doesn’t he?
(c) I am late, __?
Answer: I am late, aren’t I? (Note: This is the standard, though irregular, tag for “I am”.)
(d) You should have done this, __?
Answer: You should have done this, shouldn’t you?
(e) Please ask the boys to come in, __?
Answer: Please ask the boys to come in, will you?
(f) Don’t go there, __?
Answer: Don’t go there, will you?
(h) You seldom come here, __?
Answer: You seldom come here, do you? (Note: “Seldom” is a negative word, so the tag must be positive.)
13. Correct the errors in these sentences and rewrite them: (any five) (1 × 5 = 5)
(a) I cannot continue my study anymore.
Answer: I cannot continue my studies anymore.
(b) She likes vegetable.
Answer: She likes vegetables.
(c) His wonder knew no bound.
Answer: His wonder knew no bounds.
(d) Every boy and every girl are present today.
Answer: Every boy and every girl is present today.
(e) Mr. Bose, accompanied by his wife and children, were present there.
Answer: Mr. Bose, accompanied by his wife and children, was present there.
(f) He has five brother-in-laws.
Answer: He has five brothers-in-law.
(h) I wish I were him.
Answer: I wish I were he.
GROUP-D (Writing and Comprehension)
(Marks: 20)
14. Choose any one of the topics listed below and write an essay on it: (10)
(a) Women Empowerment
Answer:
Women Empowerment
Women Empowerment refers to the process of granting women the power and autonomy to live a life of their own choosing and to participate fully in all aspects of society. For centuries, across various cultures, women have been relegated to a secondary status, facing discrimination in social, economic, and political spheres. However, the modern world is slowly awakening to the undeniable truth that no society can truly progress by leaving half of its population behind.
The foundation of women’s empowerment is education. An educated woman is an empowered woman. Education gives her the knowledge to make informed decisions, the skills to achieve economic independence, and the confidence to stand up against injustice. When a woman is educated, she not only transforms her own life but also ensures a better future for her family and community. Governments and non-profit organizations worldwide have rightly focused on girls’ education as a primary tool for empowerment.
Economic independence is another crucial pillar. When women have control over their finances, they gain the power to make decisions about their own lives and the well-being of their children. Microfinance initiatives, skill development programs, and promoting female entrepreneurship are vital steps in this direction. Furthermore, political empowerment, ensured through reservations in legislative bodies and encouraging female leadership, allows women to shape policies that directly affect their lives.
However, true empowerment goes beyond just economic and political measures. It requires a fundamental shift in societal mindsets. We must challenge and dismantle patriarchal norms that perpetuate gender stereotypes and violence against women. Men must become active allies in this struggle, creating a safe and respectful environment for women at home, at the workplace, and in public spaces. Empowering women is not just a matter of social justice; it is an economic and social imperative. An empowered woman contributes to a stronger economy, a healthier society, and a more peaceful world.
15. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions based on your reading and understanding: (2 × 5 = 10)
(a) Why did Ranjit attend the international study conference?
Answer: Ranjit attended the international study conference because he was interested in studying abroad and the conference introduced him to some famous universities in Europe for overseas study.
(b) Who sponsored the event?
Answer: The event was organized by the Education Department of the American Center, but it was sponsored by the universities that were introduced at the conference.
(c) How would you promote an event?
Answer: According to Ranjit, a smart way to promote an event is by taking advantage of social media.
(d) Who accompanied him to the conference? And why?
Answer: Ranjit was accompanied by his friends to the conference. He went with them because they shared the same interest in studying abroad.
(e) Find a word in the passage which means –
(i) express publicly
(ii) an act of presenting a play, concert etc.
Answer:
(i) The word is hosted (as in “hosted Q and A session,” implying a public forum).
(ii) The word is performances.
