Welcome, Student
Preparing: Class 11th
CLASS XI – ENGLISH CORE
MID-TERM TEST – 1
Session 2026–27 | Advanced Level
Prescribed Literature Covered
- The Portrait of a Lady
- A Photograph
- We're Not Afraid to Die... if We Can All Be Together
- Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues
- The Laburnum Top
- The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse
- The Address
- Mother's Day
General Instructions
- The question paper is divided into three sections – A, B and C.
- All questions are compulsory.
- Section A contains 20 objective questions of 1 mark each.
- Section B contains 5 questions of 2 marks and 5 questions of 3 marks.
- Section C contains 7 questions of 5 marks each.
- Follow the prescribed word limits wherever mentioned.
- Read each question carefully before answering.
In an age when information is available at the touch of a screen, the ability to read deeply has become more important, not less. Digital technology has made access to knowledge remarkably easy, but easy access does not automatically produce understanding. A reader who constantly moves from one headline to another may collect hundreds of pieces of information without developing a coherent understanding of any of them.
Deep reading is different. It requires attention, patience and a willingness to remain with an idea long enough to examine its implications. When students read a difficult argument, for example, they are not merely decoding words. They are identifying assumptions, connecting evidence with conclusions, questioning claims and sometimes revising their own views. Such reading develops intellectual independence.
The challenge becomes greater when digital platforms are designed to compete for attention. Notifications, short videos and rapidly changing content encourage frequent shifts in concentration. The problem is not technology itself; rather, it is the unreflective manner in which technology may be used. A student who uses digital resources deliberately can access journals, lectures, archives and interactive learning material that were once difficult to obtain.
Therefore, the real educational objective should not be to choose between books and screens. It should be to develop readers who can use both intelligently. A printed book may encourage sustained concentration, while a digital database may provide access to a much wider range of sources. What matters is whether the learner approaches information passively or critically.
The strongest readers are not necessarily those who read the greatest number of pages. They are those who can distinguish evidence from assertion, relevance from distraction and genuine explanation from attractive presentation. In an information-rich society, such discrimination is not merely an academic skill; it is a form of intellectual self-defence.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer Questions 1–10:
The central argument of the passage is that
- (A) printed books are superior to digital resources.
- (B) technology has damaged the ability to read.
- (C) meaningful reading depends on critical and sustained engagement.
- (D) students should avoid short digital content.
According to the passage, merely accessing information does not guarantee
- (A) entertainment.
- (B) understanding.
- (C) availability.
- (D) speed.
Deep reading involves all of the following EXCEPT
- (A) examining assumptions.
- (B) connecting evidence and conclusions.
- (C) accepting claims immediately.
- (D) questioning arguments.
The phrase “compete for attention” suggests that digital platforms
- (A) deliberately make books unavailable.
- (B) attempt to keep users continuously engaged.
- (C) prevent students from studying.
- (D) provide unreliable information in every case.
Which statement best represents the author's attitude towards technology?
- (A) Completely hostile
- (B) Completely enthusiastic
- (C) Balanced and analytical
- (D) Indifferent
The expression “intellectual self-defence” implies the ability to
- (A) avoid all modern technology.
- (B) protect oneself from misleading or irrelevant information.
- (C) memorise large quantities of information.
- (D) read only academic books.
Why does the author mention journals, lectures and archives?
- (A) To prove that printed books are outdated
- (B) To demonstrate the educational possibilities of digital resources
- (C) To show that students dislike libraries
- (D) To criticise online learning
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
- (A) More information necessarily leads to better knowledge.
- (B) Critical reading is increasingly important in an information-rich environment.
- (C) Digital reading should completely replace printed reading.
- (D) Short content has no educational value.
The author contrasts “evidence” with “assertion” primarily to emphasise
- (A) grammatical accuracy.
- (B) critical evaluation.
- (C) reading speed.
- (D) literary appreciation.
The most appropriate title for the passage would be
- (A) The End of Printed Books
- (B) Technology: Friend or Enemy?
- (C) Reading in an Information-Rich Age
- (D) Why Students Should Avoid Screens
A school conducted a survey among 500 senior-secondary students to examine how they preferred to spend their independent study time. Students were allowed to identify their primary study method.
| Study Method | Students |
|---|---|
| Printed textbooks and handwritten notes | 145 |
| Recorded/video lessons | 120 |
| Digital articles and e-books | 85 |
| Group discussion | 75 |
| Practice tests and problem sets | 50 |
| Educational podcasts | 25 |
Interestingly, the survey showed that preference and effectiveness were not always identical. Some students who preferred video lessons reported that they often became passive viewers unless they took notes or attempted questions afterwards. Similarly, some students who preferred group discussion admitted that discussions occasionally became social rather than academic.
Teachers therefore concluded that no single learning medium could be considered universally effective. Instead, students benefited most when they matched the method to the nature of the task. A conceptual explanation might be introduced through a video, consolidated through textbook reading, discussed with peers and finally tested through questions. The survey thus suggested that learning strategy, rather than technological preference alone, plays a decisive role in academic performance.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer Questions 11–20:
The total number of students surveyed was
- (A) 450
- (B) 500
- (C) 525
- (D) 550
Which was the most preferred study method?
- (A) Digital articles and e-books
- (B) Group discussion
- (C) Printed textbooks and handwritten notes
- (D) Recorded/video lessons
The number of students preferring video lessons was what percentage of the sample?
- (A) 20%
- (B) 24%
- (C) 25%
- (D) 30%
Which two methods together account for exactly 195 students?
- (A) Printed material + podcasts
- (B) Video lessons + group discussion
- (C) Digital articles + practice tests
- (D) Group discussion + podcasts
What does the passage suggest about video learning?
- (A) It is always more effective than textbooks.
- (B) It can become passive unless accompanied by active engagement.
- (C) It is unsuitable for conceptual learning.
- (D) Students never take notes while watching videos.
The phrase “preference and effectiveness were not always identical” means that
- (A) students always chose ineffective methods.
- (B) students' favourite method was not necessarily the most productive one.
- (C) teachers ignored students' preferences.
- (D) all methods were equally ineffective.
Which method was selected by exactly 10% of the students?
- (A) Practice tests and problem sets
- (B) Group discussion
- (C) Digital articles
- (D) Podcasts
According to the teachers, the best learning approach is
- (A) using only printed books.
- (B) using only technology.
- (C) selecting methods according to the learning task.
- (D) avoiding group discussion.
Which of the following is an example of an active-learning strategy mentioned in the passage?
- (A) Watching a video repeatedly without taking notes
- (B) Attempting questions after learning a concept
- (C) Listening to a podcast while doing unrelated work
- (D) Reading headlines quickly
Which conclusion is best supported by the survey?
- (A) Technology determines academic success.
- (B) Students should use only their preferred medium.
- (C) Effective learning may require combining different strategies.
- (D) Group discussion is the least useful method.
Part A – Grammar (5 × 2 = 10 Marks)
Gap Filling – Tenses and Clauses
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate forms:
By the time the researchers reached the village, the villagers ________ already ________ (complete) the survey, although they ________ (wait) for several hours.
Re-ordering
Rearrange the following words/phrases to form grammatically correct sentences:
(a) responsibility / every citizen / environmental protection / for / bears / some
(b) unless / cannot / disciplined / sustained / be / progress / effort / there is
Transformation
Transform the following sentences as directed:
(a) The committee did not accept the proposal because it lacked sufficient evidence.
(Rewrite using “unless” without changing the meaning.)
(b) Although the experiment was difficult, the students completed it successfully.
(Rewrite beginning with “In spite of…”)
Gap Filling – Tenses and Clauses
Complete the passage with the most appropriate forms:
If the students ________ (analyse) the data carefully, they would have noticed the error that ________ (remain) unnoticed during the first observation.
Sentence Transformation
(a) The scientist was so careful that no significant error escaped his observation.
(Rewrite using “too…to” without changing the intended meaning as far as possible.)
(b) As soon as the announcement was made, the students began discussing the issue.
(Rewrite using “No sooner…than”.)
Part B – Creative Writing Skills (5 × 3 = 15 Marks)
Classified Advertisement
You are Rohan/Riya, a Class XI student looking for a suitable used laptop for academic purposes. Draft a classified advertisement in not more than 50 words, giving relevant details and contact information.
Poster Writing
Your school is organising a campaign titled “Think Before You Scroll” to promote responsible use of social media among teenagers.
Design a poster in not more than 50 words highlighting the dangers of misinformation, excessive screen time and irresponsible sharing.
Speech Writing
You are the Cultural Secretary of your school. Prepare a speech in 120–150 words on:
“Examinations Should Test Understanding, Not Memorisation.”
Use logical arguments, examples and a suitable conclusion.
Debate Writing
Write a debate in 120–150 words either FOR or AGAINST the motion:
“Artificial Intelligence will improve education more than it will disrupt it.”
Your response should contain clear arguments and a convincing rebuttal.
Creative Writing – Speech
Prepare a speech in 120–150 words on:
“The Ability to Concentrate is the New Superpower.”
Use appropriate examples related to students, digital distractions and academic life.
Answer each question in about 120–150 words.
(Questions are designed to test analysis, inference, interpretation and extrapolation, rather than simple recall.)
The Portrait of a Lady – Khushwant Singh
The grandmother's relationship with the narrator changes considerably as he moves from village life to the city and eventually to university.
Analyse how physical proximity and emotional closeness gradually become different things in their relationship. How does the grandmother maintain her dignity despite these changes?
A Photograph – Shirley Toulson
The photograph preserves a moment from the poet's mother's childhood, while the poet's later memory of her introduces another layer of time and loss.
How does the poem transform an ordinary photograph into a meditation on time, memory and bereavement? Discuss the significance of the poem's ending in your answer.
We're Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together – Gordon Cook and Alan East
The family's survival is not presented merely as a result of physical skill.
Examine how courage, family unity and psychological strength work together in the face of the storm. Why are the children's responses particularly significant to the narrator's survival?
Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues – A.R. Williams
Modern technology changes the way historians and archaeologists investigate the past.
“Scientific technology can reveal new evidence, but it cannot automatically provide complete certainty about historical events.” Discuss this statement with reference to King Tut's investigation and the use of CT scanning.
The Laburnum Top – Ted Hughes
The poem begins with stillness and ends with stillness, but the middle of the poem is filled with movement, sound and energy.
Analyse how Hughes uses contrast, imagery, sound patterns and metaphor to convert a seemingly ordinary tree into a dynamic centre of life.
The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse and The Address
Both stories deal with possessions, but the characters attach very different meanings to them.
Compare how Aram's family and the narrator of “The Address” respond to material possessions. What do these contrasting responses reveal about honesty, memory and emotional attachment?
Mother's Day – J.B. Priestley
Mrs Pearson's transformation changes the behaviour of the entire family.
“Mrs Fitzgerald does not merely help Mrs Pearson become assertive; she forces the family to recognise the value of her labour.” Examine this statement with reference to the play's humour, characterisation and central message.
| Section | Component | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A | 20 MCQs × 1 | 20 |
| B | 5 Questions × 2 (Grammar) | 10 |
| B | 5 Questions × 3 (Creative Writing) | 15 |
| C | 7 Questions × 5 (Literature) | 35 |
| TOTAL | 80 Marks | |
🔥 Paper Design and Difficulty:
- Level: Advanced / Application-based.
- Literature: Evaluates analysis, inference, interpretation, and extrapolation rather than rote memorization. Questions are cross-thematic (e.g., Q36).
- Grammar and Writing: Aligns perfectly with the latest 2026-27 CBSE core guidelines (classifieds, posters, debates, speeches, and clause/tense transformations).
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