Here are the complete, beautifully written solutions for the 2022 AHSEC (Assam Board) Alternative English Class 12 question paper,Solution
GROUP – A (VIBGYOR – New Syllabus)
Section: Prose
1. Give brief answers to any five of the following: (1×5=5)
(a) Where did the new vicar come from?
Answer: The new vicar came from the East End of London.
(b) Who is Albert Edward?
Answer: Albert Edward Foreman is the verger of St. Peter’s Church, Neville Square.
(c) Who are called ‘colour blind’?
Answer: People who lack automobile sensibility and cannot appreciate the finer points of a car are called ‘colour blind’.
(d) Who lacks automobile sensibility?
Answer: The author, R. K. Narayan, claims that he lacks automobile sensibility.
(g) What did Della buy for her husband as the gift of Magi?
Answer: Della bought a simple and elegant platinum fob chain for her husband Jim’s gold watch.
(h) Where did Della sell her long hair?
Answer: Della sold her long hair at a shop with the sign “Mme. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds.”
(i) Why does Robert Lynd read Emerson?
Answer: Robert Lynd reads Emerson in the hope of absorbing his wisdom and becoming wise himself.
2. Answer any five of the following: (2×5=10)
(a) What impression did the Verger have about the new vicar?
Answer: The Verger, Albert Edward, had a poor impression of the new vicar. He considered him a busybody from the East End who didn’t understand the discreet ways of a fashionable church like St. Peter’s and wanted to have “his finger in every pie.”
(b) How did the Verger regard his official dress?
Answer: The Verger regarded his official dress, his gown, with great pride and reverence. He saw it as the “dignified symbol of his office” and felt “insufficiently clad” without it. He took meticulous care of his gowns, pressing and ironing them himself.
(c) What did R. K. Narayan do to turn his energies again to write stories?
Answer: To turn his energies back to writing stories, R. K. Narayan decided to get rid of his imported car, which had become a major distraction and a source of anxiety for him.
(d) What made R. K. Narayan fear that he would soon become bankrupt?
Answer: R. K. Narayan feared he would become bankrupt because of the constant and expensive maintenance his imported car required. The recurring repair bills and the high cost of spare parts were draining his finances.
(g) What did Jim do to get a gift for Della?
Answer: To get a gift for Della, Jim sold his most prized possession, his beautiful gold watch that had been his father’s and his grandfather’s.
(h) Why was Della sobbing and sniffling?
Answer: Della was sobbing and sniffling because after months of saving, she only had one dollar and eighty-seven cents, which was not enough to buy a worthy Christmas present for her beloved husband, Jim.
3. Give brief answers to any three of the following: (4×3=12)
(a) Describe the circumstances under which the Verger had to lose his job in St. Peter’s Church.
Answer: The Verger, Albert Edward Foreman, lost his job after the new vicar discovered that he was illiterate. The vicar, along with the churchwardens, deemed it “impossible” for a prestigious church like St. Peter’s to have a verger who could neither read nor write. They gave him an ultimatum: learn to read and write within three months or resign. Foreman, feeling he was too old to learn and maintaining his dignity, refused the offer and chose to resign, thus losing the job he had held for sixteen years.
(d) How did Della save the pennies of the sixty cents of her total savings?
Answer: Della saved the sixty cents of her total savings with painstaking effort and thrift. She saved each penny one and two at a time by “bulldozing” the grocer, the vegetable man, and the butcher. This involved haggling and bargaining relentlessly over every purchase, enduring the silent imputation of parsimony that such actions brought, all to save a little extra for Jim’s present.
(e) Examine Robert Lynd’s quest for instant wisdom.
Answer: Robert Lynd’s quest for instant wisdom is portrayed with gentle irony as a relatable but ultimately futile human desire. He humorously describes his attempts to absorb wisdom quickly by purchasing books by great thinkers like Emerson and Marcus Aurelius. He believed that by simply owning and reading these books, their wisdom would somehow transfer to him without much effort. However, he admits that despite his efforts, he remained just as foolish as before. His quest highlights the common misconception that wisdom can be acquired like a commodity, rather than being the product of deep thought, experience, and lifelong learning.
4. Explain with reference to the context any two of the following excerpts: (4×2=8)
(a) “Since my car was of special pedigree, it was unadvisable to allow any ordinary workshop to open the bonnet.”
Answer: This line is from R. K. Narayan’s essay “A Car for All Weather.” The narrator is explaining the primary problem with owning his sophisticated imported car. The term “special pedigree” humorously refers to the car’s foreign and high-end brand. Because it was not a common Indian model, local mechanics were unfamiliar with its engine and mechanics. Therefore, allowing an “ordinary workshop” to handle it was risky, as they could potentially damage it further. This situation forced the narrator to rely on expensive, specialized mechanics, contributing to his financial anxiety and making the car a constant source of trouble.
(d) “When Della reached home, her intoxication gave way a little to prudence and reason.”
Answer: This line is from O. Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi.” It describes Della’s state of mind immediately after selling her hair and buying the platinum fob chain for Jim. Her initial feeling was one of pure joy and excitement, an “intoxication” from having found the perfect gift. However, upon returning home, this euphoria was tempered by “prudence and reason.” She began to worry about how Jim would react to her short hair and whether he would still find her pretty, showing that her practical concerns and anxieties were resurfacing after the initial thrill of her sacrifice.
Section: Poetry
5. Give brief answers to any five of the following: (1×5=5)
(e) Who is Ozymandias?
Answer: Ozymandias was the Greek name for the powerful ancient Egyptian pharaoh, Ramesses II.
(f) What is the meaning of the word “visage”?
Answer: The word “visage” means a person’s face or facial expression.
(g) What kind of a poem ‘Ozymandias of Egypt’ is?
Answer: ‘Ozymandias of Egypt’ is a sonnet.
(h) Where did the knight see a lily?
Answer: The knight saw a lily on the brow of the beautiful lady he met.
(i) Where did the lady take the knight?
Answer: The lady took the knight to her “elfin grot” (a magical cave).
6. Answer any four of the following: (2×4=8)
(a) Why are the children weeping in the poem ‘Sita’?
Answer: The children are weeping because the story of Sita’s exile and suffering, sung by their mother, is so sorrowful. The “sad Sita from the past” evokes their sympathy, and they are moved to tears by the tragic tale.
(c) What were the words that were inscribed on the pedestal of the statue of Ozymandias?
Answer: The words inscribed on the pedestal were: “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
(d) What did the knight see in his dream on the hillside?
Answer: In his dream on the cold hillside, the knight saw pale kings, princes, and warriors. They were all deathly pale and cried out a warning that he had been enslaved by the beautiful, merciless lady (“La Belle Dame sans Merci”).
(e) What will the maiden’s mother and brother do if she is late in reaching home?
Answer: If the maiden is late in reaching home, her mother will weep, saying she is lost, and her brother will curse and grieve, fearing some misfortune has befallen her.
7. Answer any three of the following: (4×3=12)
(b) What is the refrain in the poem ‘The Brook’? Bring out the profundity in it.
Answer: The refrain in the poem ‘The Brook’ is: “For men may come and men may go, / But I go on forever.” The profundity of this refrain lies in the powerful contrast it draws between the transient nature of human life and the eternal, continuous existence of nature. While individual human lives are short and fleeting, the brook, representing the natural world, is constant and immortal. It emphasizes the theme that nature endures long after human generations have passed away.
(d) What did the traveller from the antique land tell the poet?
Answer: The traveller from the antique land told the poet about the ruins of a colossal statue he had seen in the desert. He described two vast, trunkless stone legs standing alone, with a shattered face (“visage”) lying half-sunk in the sand nearby. The face bore an expression of arrogance and “cold command.” The traveller also recounted the boastful inscription on the pedestal, which ironically stood amidst the desolate decay of the king’s once-mighty empire, with nothing but endless sand stretching far away.
(e) What is the appearance of the lady?
Answer: The lady in the poem “La Belle Dame sans Merci” is described as enchantingly beautiful and otherworldly. She is a “faery’s child” with long hair, wild eyes, and a light foot. The knight makes a garland for her head and bracelets for her wrists. Her ethereal and magical appearance is what captivates the knight, luring him into her spell.
8. Explain with reference to the context, any one of the following excerpts: (5×1=5)
(b) I chatter, chatter, as I flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on forever.
Answer: These lines are from Alfred Tennyson’s poem “The Brook.” This stanza personifies the brook, giving it a lively, talkative character (“I chatter, chatter”). The lines describe the brook’s constant, energetic journey towards its destination, the “brimming river.” The final two lines form the poem’s central refrain and contain its deepest meaning. They highlight the contrast between the fleeting, mortal nature of human life (“men may come and men may go”) and the eternal, perpetual existence of the brook, which symbolizes nature itself. The stanza beautifully encapsulates the poem’s theme of nature’s permanence versus human transience.
GROUP – B (Grammar & Composition)
9. Change any five of the sentences given below as per instruction given, without changing their meaning: (1×5=5)
(a) None but Anita can do the sum. (Change into affirmative)
Answer: Only Anita can do the sum.
(b) All of them welcomed the suggestion enthusiastically. (Change into passive)
Answer: The suggestion was welcomed enthusiastically by all of them.
(c) Doesn’t he live with his parents? (Change into assertive)
Answer: He lives with his parents.
(d) The strawberry pie was eaten by me. (Change into active)
Answer: I ate the strawberry pie.
(e) As soon as he saw me, he began to weep. (Change into negative)
Answer: No sooner had he seen me than he began to weep.
(g) Everybody must admit that she is a good singer. (Change into negative)
Answer: Nobody can deny that she is a good singer.
10. Add appropriate questions tag to any five of the following: (1×5=5)
(a) Everything has gone wrong today.
Answer: Everything has gone wrong today, hasn’t it?
(b) You are coming to school.
Answer: You are coming to school, aren’t you?
(c) Close the door.
Answer: Close the door, will you?
(d) You like a lot of sugar in your milk.
Answer: You like a lot of sugar in your milk, don’t you?
(e) Don’t go there.
Answer: Don’t go there, will you?
(h) No man is immortal.
Answer: No man is immortal, is he?
11. Fill any five of the following blanks with suitable prepositions: (1×5=5)
(a) I can see the boat in the picture.
(b) The woman is sitting on the rug.
(c) The cup is in her hand.
(d) I am anxious about the result.
(e) Be true to your word.
(f) I am waiting for the bus stop. (or at the bus stop)
12. Rewrite any five of the following sentences using the verbs given in brackets in their correct forms: (1×5=5)
(a) Ice floats on water.
(b) He was going home when he met him. (or went)
(c) I want to go for a walk, but I have not finished my work yet.
(d) Perhaps it rained yesterday.
(e) All the students had left when I reached the school.
(f) You have been sleeping for three hours now.
13. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
(a) What has been credited with significant medicinal properties? (1)
Answer: Green tea has been credited with significant medicinal properties.
(b) For how many years has green tea been consumed in China and when did it reach the rest of the world? (2)
Answer: Green tea has been consumed in China for millennia (thousands of years), and it reached the rest of the world only a few centuries ago.
(c) Why does green tea remain fresh even after being dried and crumbled? (3)
Answer: Green tea remains fresh because, unlike other teas, it is air-dried without fermentation. This process allows it to retain its active elements.
(d) Mention three benefits of drinking green tea. (3)
Answer: Three benefits of drinking green tea are: (i) controlling cholesterol, (ii) lowering blood sugar levels, and (iii) improving circulation.
(e) Why is white tea considered the greatest anti-oxidant power? (2)
Answer: White tea is considered the greatest anti-oxidant power because of its high concentration of natural nutrients, to the extent that one cup can have the same anti-oxidant effect as about a dozen glasses of orange juice.
(f) Write about the overall benefits of drinking green and white tea. (4)
Answer: The overall benefits of drinking green and white tea are numerous and significant for health and longevity. Green tea helps in controlling cholesterol, lowering blood sugar, improving circulation, protecting against the flu, and promoting bone health. White tea, being even more potent, is considered the world’s greatest natural anti-oxidant. Drinking either tea daily helps reduce free radicals in our bodies, which slows down the aging process and keeps us younger for longer.
GROUP – C (EFFUSIONS – Old Syllabus)
Section: Prose
14. Answer any five of the following: (1×5=5)
(a) What, according to Ambedkar, must be the test of greatness?
Answer: According to Ambedkar, the test of a great man must be the service he has rendered to his country.
(b) Who is Alexander the Great?
Answer: Alexander the Great was the king of Macedonia who conquered a vast empire stretching from Greece to northwestern India.
(c) Who is referred to as the apostle of Hero Worship?
Answer: The Scottish historian and essayist Thomas Carlyle is referred to as the apostle of Hero Worship.
(e) Who is Bapu?
Answer: “Bapu” is an affectionate term for Mahatma Gandhi, who is revered as the Father of the Nation in India.
(f) What does an automobile mean to Narayan?
Answer: To R. K. Narayan, an automobile is primarily a functional vehicle for transport, not a status symbol or an object of aesthetic admiration.
(g) Whose disciple was Nehru?
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru was a devoted disciple of Mahatma Gandhi.
15. Answer any five of the following: (2×5=10)
(a) What is the view of Rosebery on the qualities of a great man?
Answer: Lord Rosebery’s view is that a great man must possess a combination of noble and even contradictory qualities. He must have “central, constant, controlling” virtues like courage and goodness, but also a “cool, calculating, and unpitying” side to be effective.
(b) Who is Napoleon? Who did test the greatness of Napoleon?
Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and became Emperor of the French. Lord Rosebery tested the greatness of Napoleon in his biographical work, Napoleon: The Last Phase.
(d) Why does not Narayan’s driver particularly like to drive with the air conditioner on?
Answer: Narayan’s driver does not like to drive with the air conditioner on because he believes it puts an extra strain on the engine. He feels the car runs more smoothly and responsively without the AC.
(e) What are the things R. K. Narayan valued most?
Answer: R. K. Narayan valued simple, functional, and durable things the most. He appreciated items that were “weather-beaten, sturdy, and unobtrusive,” like his old steel-and-canvas chair, rather than flashy or sophisticated possessions.
(g) What are the two reasons for Forster’s two cheers for democracy?
Answer: E.M. Forster gives two cheers for democracy because, firstly, it admits variety, and secondly, it permits criticism. He values democracy for allowing individual differences and for giving citizens the right to question and critique authority.
(i) Why was Nehru critical of the Congress Working Committee’s resolution?
Answer: Nehru was critical of the Congress Working Committee’s resolution because he felt it was a weak and “meek and mild” response to the oppressive political situation. He believed it lacked force and did not adequately represent the strong feelings of the people.
16. Answer any three of the following: (4×3=12)
(a) Write a note on the test of a great man as suggested by philosophers.
Answer: Philosophers have suggested various tests for what constitutes a great man. Thomas Carlyle, the apostle of Hero Worship, believed greatness lay in a man’s inherent divine qualities and his ability to shape history. Lord Rosebery, in contrast, proposed a more complex test, arguing that a great man must not only possess noble virtues but also a practical, even ruthless, side to achieve his goals. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar offered a simpler, more service-oriented test: a great man must be judged by the service he has rendered to his country and his people. Ultimately, these philosophers show that there is no single definition of greatness; it can be seen as a combination of power, character, and selfless service to humanity.
(b) Why is the acquisition of a sophisticated imported car ‘an irrelevancy and a nuisance’ for Narayan?
Answer: For R. K. Narayan, the acquisition of a sophisticated imported car was ‘an irrelevancy and a nuisance’ because it fundamentally clashed with his simple lifestyle and values. It was an ‘irrelevancy’ because he lacked “automobile sensibility” and saw a car merely as a tool for transport, not a status symbol. It became a ‘nuisance’ due to the constant anxiety and expense it caused. Its foreign “pedigree” meant ordinary mechanics couldn’t fix it, leading to costly repairs and a perpetual fear of it breaking down. The car became a major distraction, consuming his time, money, and mental energy, and ultimately hindering his ability to focus on his true passion: writing.
(e) How does Nehru overcome his loneliness and feeling of helplessness which assail him in prison?
Answer: In prison, Jawaharlal Nehru overcomes his loneliness and feelings of helplessness by turning to nature and engaging his mind in deep thought and observation. He finds companionship in the small creatures around his cell, like wasps, hornets, and bedbugs, and takes delight in watching the changing seasons and the starry night sky. He also finds solace in the arrival of a letter from Mahatma Gandhi, which feels like a “precious gift” and a “musical phrase.” By immersing himself in the natural world and connecting with the thoughts of a respected leader, he is able to rise above his physical confinement and find mental and emotional freedom.
17. Explain with reference to the context any two of the following: (4×2=8)
(b) “Democracy is not a Beloved Republic really, and never will be. But it is less hateful than other contemporary forms of government and to that extent it deserves our support.”
Answer: This line is from E.M. Forster’s essay “Two Cheers for Democracy.” In this statement, Forster presents a realistic and pragmatic view of democracy. He argues that democracy is not a perfect or lovable system (“not a Beloved Republic”) and is full of flaws. However, he supports it because he considers it superior to other forms of government like dictatorships or totalitarian regimes. His support is qualified; he gives it “two cheers” instead of three because while it allows for variety and criticism, it does not inspire the same love and devotion as a perfect ideal. The line encapsulates Forster’s belief that democracy’s greatest virtue is that it is the “less hateful” option available to humanity.
(d) “Clearly the line between scientific and traditional technique is not a sharp one, and one can say exactly where one ends and the other begins.”
Answer: This line is from Jawaharlal Nehru’s “The Discovery of India.” Nehru is reflecting on the advanced metallurgical skills of ancient India, specifically the creation of the Iron Pillar of Delhi, which has resisted rust for centuries. He observes that while we may call ancient methods “traditional” and modern methods “scientific,” the distinction is often blurry. The ancient Indians achieved remarkable results that modern science still struggles to replicate, suggesting a deep, practical knowledge that was scientific in its own right. This statement highlights Nehru’s argument that there is a continuity of knowledge and skill between the past and the present, and that we should not dismiss traditional techniques as unscientific.
Section: Poetry
18. Answer any five of the following: (1×5=5)
(f) Who was weeping in a dense forest?
Answer: Sita was weeping in a dense forest.
(g) Who is singing the song of Sita?
Answer: A mother is singing the song of Sita to her children.
(h) Give an example of the poet’s use of metaphor in the poem “Rickshaw-Wallah.”
Answer: An example of metaphor is “a fossil man,” which compares the rickshaw-wallah to a fossil to emphasize his ancient, worn-out appearance.
(i) What is “tattoo”?
Answer: A “tattoo” refers to the designs of birds and flowers inked onto the arms and legs of the rickshaw-wallah.
(j) What are the colours on the arms and legs of the Rickshaw-Wallah?
Answer: The colours on his arms and legs are blue and green.
19. Answer any four of the following: (2×4=8)
(a) What are the things that Hardy regards as permanent in human life?
Answer: Thomas Hardy regards the fundamental human experiences of love, loss, and war as the permanent things in life. He believes that while dynasties rise and fall, these core emotions and conflicts endure through the ages.
(d) What does the poet mean when he says, “War’s annals will cloud into night/Ere their story die?”
Answer: When the poet says this, he means that the story of the two friends’ parting is so poignant and timeless that it will be remembered long after the official historical records (“annals”) of the war have been forgotten or “clouded into night.”
(e) What do the children gaze on in the darkened room?
Answer: In the darkened room, the children gaze on the “great dense forest” that their mother’s song has conjured in their imagination, where the exiled Sita weeps.
(f) Why did tears flow from three pairs of young eyes?
Answer: Tears flowed from three pairs of young eyes because the children were deeply moved by the sorrowful story of Sita’s suffering and exile, which their mother was singing to them.
20. Answer any three of the following: (4×3=12)
(a) What are the things that Hardy regards as permanent in human life? Explain.
Answer: In his poem “In Time of ‘The Breaking of Nations’,” Thomas Hardy regards the simple, timeless cycles of human life as the truly permanent things. These include the quiet acts of labour, like an “old horse” harrowing the clods; the enduring nature of love, represented by a “maid and her wight” who whisper to each other; and the recurring tragedy of war (“War’s annals”). He explains that these fundamental experiences will outlast the grand, historical events like the rise and fall of dynasties. While kingdoms pass away, the ordinary, elemental human story of work, love, and conflict continues “onward the same.”
(d) Describe the effect of the mother’s song on the children.
Answer: The mother’s song has a profound and immersive effect on the children in Toru Dutt’s poem “Sita.” As she sings the “old, old story” of Sita’s exile, the children are completely captivated. The song is so powerful that it transforms their darkened room into a “great dense forest” in their imagination. They do not just hear the story; they see and feel it, gazing on the imaginary scene with wide, tear-filled eyes. The song evokes deep empathy in them, causing them to weep for Sita’s sorrow. When the song ends, the magical vision “melts… from their sight,” leaving them with a lingering sense of sadness and wonder.
(f) ‘Rickshaw-Wallah’ is a poetic description of the poverty and misery. Explain.
Answer: The poem “Rickshaw-Wallah” is a powerful and poignant description of extreme poverty and misery, as seen through the character of the rickshaw puller. The poet uses vivid imagery to depict his suffering. He is described as a “fossil man” and a “skeleton,” emphasizing his emaciated and worn-out physical state. His poverty is so deep that he must work tirelessly, pulling his “two-wheeled chariot” through the heat and dust just to survive. The poem highlights the cruel irony of his life: he is a “beast of burden” in a world of progress, a living relic of suffering amidst the city’s modernity. His misery is a silent but powerful indictment of a society that allows such dehumanizing poverty to exist.
21. Explain with reference to the context any one of the following: (5×1=5)
(c) “Tears from three pairs of young eyes fall amain,
And bowed in sorrow are the three young heads.”
Answer: These lines are from Toru Dutt’s poem “Sita.” They describe the powerful emotional impact of a mother’s storytelling on her three children. The children have been listening to the ancient, sorrowful tale of the goddess Sita’s exile in the forest. The story is so moving and has been sung with such feeling that the children are completely immersed in it. These lines capture the climax of their emotional response: they weep uncontrollably (“fall amain”) and bow their heads in shared sorrow for Sita’s plight. The image beautifully illustrates the power of stories to evoke deep empathy and connect listeners across time to the joys and sorrows of the past.
