RBSE Class 12th 2026 ENGLISH-SS-02 Previous Year Papers

No. of Questions — 28

No. of Printed Pages — 11

RBSE EXAMINATION, 2026

SENIOR SECONDARY EXAMINATION

ENGLISH (COMPULSORY)

Time: 3 Hours 15 Minutes    Maximum Marks: 80

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE EXAMINEES:

1. Candidates must write their Roll No. first on the question paper compulsorily.
2. All the questions are compulsory.
3. Write the answer to each question in the given answer-book only.
4. For questions having more than one part, the answers to those parts are to be written together in continuity.
5. Write down the serial number of each question before attempting it.

S-02-English (C)   [Turn Over

Questions:

1. A) What are the shopping centres a sign of? [1]

   The shopping centres are a sign of modern materialism and consumerism, where people have put aside more meaningful activities.

2. B) Why do many young people shop at the malls? [1]

   Many young people shop at malls because they find it a cheaper and convenient way to spend their time, engaging in activities like shopping.

3. C) How do people generally spend their time at a mall? [1]

   People generally spend their time at a mall by shopping, eating, and engaging in various entertainment activities available there.

4. D) What is the main protest of the author with the excess of malls? [1]

   The author protests that instead of building malls, we should build libraries, theatres, art galleries, museums, sports halls, parks, and animal sanctuaries, which are more worthwhile and beneficial for society.

5. E) Which activities could we do instead of shopping? [1]

   Instead of shopping, we could read a novel, write poetry, make music, take a long walk, play a sport, visit a friend, cook, visit a waterfall or beach, learn a dance, or visit a temple.

6. F) What should we build in place of building malls? [1]

   In place of building malls, we should build libraries, theatres, art galleries, museums, sports halls, parks, and animal sanctuaries.

7. G) Find out the words from the passage which mean the same as — [1]

   1. Very big in size.

      Answer: vast (or huge – from the context of "vast array")

   2. Very large and thickly populated cities.

      Answer: metropolis (or megacities – implied from the passage)

   3. Place where birds or animals are protected from being hunted.

      Answer: sanctuary (from "animal sanctuaries")

2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: [1×6=6]

Srinivasa Ramanujan was one of the greatest mathematical genius of the world. Born in a poor brahmin family, he gave no indication of his hidden talent. He was born at Erode in Coimbatore in 1887. His father was an accountant to a cloth merchant who had to maintain a large family on a small income. Srinivasa was granted half exemption of fees when he stood first in the primary school examination in the whole of Tanjore District.

Questions

1. A) Where was Ramanujan born?

   The passage does not mention Ramanujan's birthplace. It only describes his childhood and academic life.

2. B) How did Ramanujan show his talent in fourth standard?

   While in the Fourth Standard, Ramanujan could solve the most difficult problems of Trigonometry. He obtained Euler's Theorems and proved them. He followed Carr's Synopsis of Pure Mathematics and solved all the problems without any other book to aid him.

3. C) Which scholarship was awarded to him?

   Ramanujan won the Subramanyam scholarship, which was usually awarded for proficiency in English as well as Mathematics.

4. D) What was the unexpected calamity that befell Ramanujan?

   The unexpected calamity was that Ramanujan neglected all other subjects due to his passion for Mathematics, so he failed to gain promotion to a higher class, thereby losing his scholarship.

5. E) Find the opposite word for 'rich'.

   The opposite word for 'rich' is poor.

6. F) Find the same word for 'inspired'.

   The same word for 'inspired' is encouraged (as used in the passage: "which encouraged him to a fresh endeavour").

3.

You are Amit/Amita, the Sports Secretary of Government Senior Secondary School, Dosa. Draft a notice for the school notice-board in about 80 words informing the students and inviting the names of those who want to participate in the inter-school cricket tournament to be held next month.

OR

Your friend Rahul has invited you to attend the wedding ceremony of his sister at Udaipur. Write an informal reply expressing your inability to attend the ceremony due to your annual exams.

4.

You are Mona/Mukesh, editor of your school magazine. Recently your school celebrated the ‘Prize Distribution Function’. Write a report in about 100 words with the help of the hints given below.

Hints: school celebrates every year – conducted – chief guest – welcome – garland – principal – annual report – guests – give prizes – speech – students participate – programme – end – National Anthem.

OR

Write a paragraph in about 100 words with the help of the hints given below.

Hints: Importance of Tree Plantation – trees – life – give oxygen – breathing – carbon-dioxide – stops – soil – cool climate – shade – save – environment.

5. Imagine that you are Harsh/Harsha living in Jaipur. Write a letter to the Superintendent of Police, Jaipur, about the increasing incidents of chain snatching and requesting him to take strict measures to control the law and order conditions in the city.

SECTION - C (GRAMMAR)

6. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct phrasal verbs given in the brackets: [1×3=3]

1. He was brought up by his aunt. (brought up/brought down)
2. When do you get up in the morning? (get on/get up)
3. The fire broke out at midnight. (broke in/broke out)

7. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct conjunctions given in the brackets: [1×3=3]

1. He is both a singer and a dancer. (and/yet)
2. I know where he lives. (when/where)
3. Vineeta is taller than Shweta. (than/then)

8. Rewrite each set of sentences into one sentence as directed: [1×2=2]

1. He took a paper. He wrote a letter. (use infinitive)
   
   Answer: He took a paper to write a letter.
2. She finished her work. She went to sleep. (use participle)
   
   Answer: Having finished her work, she went to sleep.

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the conditional verbs given in brackets. [1×2=2]

1. If I go (go) to Delhi, I shall meet my brother.

2. If you were (be) a millionaire, you would buy a charter plane.

SECTION - B (TEXTUAL QUESTIONS)

0. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow: [1×6=6]

Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle which could be heard out in the street, the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, very loud, with our hands over our ears to understand better; and the teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. But now it was all so still! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning. Through the window I saw my classmates, already in their places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm. I had to open the door and go in before everybody. You can imagine how I blushed and how frightened I was.

But nothing happened. M. Hamel saw me and said very kindly, “Go to your place quickly, little Franz. We were beginning without you”. I jumped over the bench and sat down at my desk.

Questions:

1. A) That day, everything at the school was so still and quiet as ______.

   • i) Sunday morning
   • ii) Saturday morning
   • iii) Monday morning
   • iv) Wednesday morning

   Explanation: The passage states, "that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning." Hence, option (i) is correct.

4) “I had counted on the comma!” Who does the word ‘I’ here refer to?

• i) Old Hauser
• ii) M. Hamel
• iii) Wachter
• iv) Franz

Explanation: In the lesson "The Last Lesson," Franz says this line when he realizes that the lesson on participles, which he had not prepared, was the subject of the question. The word 'I' refers to Franz, the narrator.

C) M. Hamel was walking with

• i) walking stick in his hand
• ii) terrible iron ruler under his arm
• iii) book in his hand
• iv) black silk cap in his hand

Explanation: In "The Last Lesson," M. Hamel is described as walking with a terrible iron ruler under his arm, which symbolizes his strictness and authority in the classroom.

9) Where could a great bustle be heard usually?

2) Why was Franz frightened?

F) What did M. Hamel say to Franz?

I. Answer the following questions in about 60 words: (3)

A) Describe the role of Kasturbai and Gandhiji to improve the condition of the people at Champaran.

OR

B) Describe the ‘misadventure’ that William Douglas speaks about. (Deep Water)

2. Answer each of the following questions in about 20-30 words [2×2=4]

A) What present did the peddler leave for Edla? (The Rattrap) [2]

B) What does Sophie dream about her future? (Going Places) [2]

3. Explain ANY ONE of the following Stanzas with reference to the context:

4. Answer the following questions in about 60 words:

A) What is the message given in the poem, ‘Keeping Quiet’?

OR

B) What is the theme of the poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’?

5. Answer each of the following questions in about 20-30 words:

A) What were the owners of the roadside stand selling? (A Roadside Stand)

B) What did the poet see while driving to the airport? (My Mother at Sixty-six)

0. Answer the following questions in about 20-30 words : [3]

7. Answer each of the following questions in about 20-30 words : [2×2=4]

8. Choose the correct option as answer : [1×9=9]

9) Sadao’s father sent him to __________ for learning surgery and medicine.

• i) Russia
• ii) Japan
• iii) China
• iv) America

Explanation: In the story "The Enemy," Sadao's father sent him to America to study surgery and medicine, as he believed in modern Western education.

F) Mr. Lamb had lost one of his legs __________

• i) in a train accident
• ii) in a war
• iii) while climbing tree
• iv) due to disease

Explanation: In the play "On the Face of It," Mr. Lamb lost one of his legs while climbing a tree, which is why he uses a tin leg.

G) The British Jewellers sent a bill for __________

• i) Three lakh
• ii) Five lakh
• iii) Ten lakh
• iv) Eight lakh

Explanation: In the story "The Rattrap," the British Jewellers sent a bill for ten lakh kronor to the ironmaster for the rattrap peddler's supposed purchase.

H) The landlord opened the parcel and began to eat __________

• i) Mangoes
• ii) Vadais
• iii) Iced lollies
• iv) Halva

Explanation: In the story "The Tiger King," the landlord opened the parcel containing vadais and began to eat them, which was part of the plot to kill the tiger.

I) The name of the American soldier was __________

• i) John
• ii) Jack
• iii) Tom
• iv) Thomas

Explanation: In the story "The Enemy," the American soldier who was wounded and helped by Dr. Sadao was named Tom.