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ISC Class XII Board Examination

ISC English Paper 1 (Language) — Specimen Question Paper 2025

Specimen2025
Board
ISC Class XII Board Examination
Class
Class 12
Subject
English
Year
2025
Total marks
Not verified
Duration
Not verified

Verification and rights

Checked against a named, citable source that is recorded with the record.

Imported specimen paper from CollegeDekho (mirror of CISCE PDF) on 2026-08-29.

Questions in this paper

  1. 1((i))20] Write a composition (in approximately 400 – 450 words) on any one of the following subjects. (You are reminded that you will be rewarded for the orderly and coherent presentation of the matter, use of appropriate style and general accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar.)
    You had to go on a train journey with your family. On reaching the railway station,
    you discovered that your train was delayed by two hours. Describe how you spent
    those two hours, detailing what you saw, the sounds you heard, and the interactions
    you had with the people around you. Express your feelings when you saw the train
    finally approaching the station.
  2. 1((ii))20] Write a composition (in approximately 400 – 450 words) on any one of the following subjects. (You are reminded that you will be rewarded for the orderly and coherent presentation of the matter, use of appropriate style and general accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar.)
    During the lunch break, a surprising sight unfolded as a monkey entered your
    school campus. Narrate your experience as you took charge and guided junior
    students to their classrooms ensuring their safety.
  3. 1((iii))20] Write a composition (in approximately 400 – 450 words) on any one of the following subjects. (You are reminded that you will be rewarded for the orderly and coherent presentation of the matter, use of appropriate style and general accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar.)
    Parents should not influence their children when choosing the subjects they wish
    to study. Argue either FOR or AGAINST the given statement.
  4. 1((v))20] Write a composition (in approximately 400 – 450 words) on any one of the following subjects. (You are reminded that you will be rewarded for the orderly and coherent presentation of the matter, use of appropriate style and general accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar.)
    You become what you read. Present your reflections on this statement.
  5. 1((vi))20] Write a composition (in approximately 400 – 450 words) on any one of the following subjects. (You are reminded that you will be rewarded for the orderly and coherent presentation of the matter, use of appropriate style and general accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar.)
    Write an original short story that ends with the following words:
    …. That is when they realised that sometimes, the most extraordinary stories begin
    with the simplest of moments.
  6. 2((i))As the Head of Environmental Initiatives at school, you have to deliver a speech
    on the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5th. Write a speech following
    the guidelines given below:
    Greeting or salutation and purpose – the importance of World Environment Day –
    key issues such as climate change, and pollution – the role of students in fostering
    a sense of environmental responsibility – concrete steps required towards a more
    sustainable and an eco-friendly lifestyle – strong call for action.
    15 marks
  7. 2((ii))As the school leader, you have been given the responsibility of organising a school
    trip for the students of classes XI and XII to a place of historical importance. Write
    a proposal in about 150 words stating the steps you would take to successfully
    organise the trip.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    10 marks
  8. 3((ii))Answer subparts (i), (ii) and (iii).
    In the following sentences, replace the INCORRECT underlined words to make
    the sentences meaningful and grammatically correct. Do not copy the sentences.
    5 marks
  9. 3((i))Answer subparts (i), (ii) and (iii).
    He ran around problems while trying to fix the computer.
    (j) He ran into President during the elections last year.
  10. 3((iii))Answer subparts (i), (ii) and (iii).
    Fill in the blanks in the passage given below with the appropriate form of the verb
    given in brackets. Do not write the passage but write the verbs in the correct order.
    Last summer, Emily had been working tirelessly on her garden. She________ (1)
    (plant) a variety of flowers, ________ (2) (envision) a vibrant and colourful
    display. Every morning, she would spend hours tending to the blossoms, ensuring
    they were thriving under the warm sun.
    One day, while she ________ (3) (admire) her handiwork, she noticed a rare
    butterfly that had landed on one of the flowers. She had never seen such a beautiful
    specimen before. Excitedly, Emily ran into the house to grab her camera,
    ________ (4) (hope) to capture the fleeting moment.
    By the time she returned, the butterfly________ (5) (fly) away. Disappointed,
    Emily ________ (6) (realise) that she had missed the opportunity. However, the
    memory of that elusive butterfly lingered in her mind, and she decided ________
    (7) a butterfly-friendly corner in her garden.
    Months later, as Emily walked through her garden, she saw a familiar flutter of
    wings. The rare butterfly had returned, ________ (8) (draw) by the blossoms that
    had bloomed since their last encounter. Grateful for the second chance, Emily
    ________ (9) (capture) the moment on her camera, cherishing the beauty that
    ________ (10) (elude) her once before.
    5 marks
  11. 4((i))(a) Find a single word from the passage that will exactly replace the
    underlined word or words in the following sentences.
    (1) The kind stranger went and got back the ball from where it had rolled
    into the bush.
    (2) I took offence at the expression on his face that was clearly meant to
    insinuate I was a liar.
    (3) The firm experienced a financial loss when the contract went to a
    contender who had just entered the business.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (b) For each of the words given below, choose the correct sentence that
    uses the same word unchanged in spelling, but with a different
    meaning from that which it carries in the passage.
    (1) alarm (line 8)
    (A) The silence from the other end set off alarm bells in her head.
    (B) The pallor of his skin alarmed those standing around.
    (C) I set my alarm for six o’clock but slept through it.
    (D) The sound of the approaching jets caused some alarm in the
    war room.
    (2) wicket (line 44)
    (A) The wicketkeeper was the true saviour of the day for that one
    match.
    (B) The team wanted to bat while the wicket was still dry.
    (C) The man at the window handed us our tickets through the
    wicket.
    (D) The quick loss of wickets demoralised the team.
    (3) reason (line 48)
    (A) After the tragedy, his ability to reason is severely diminished.
    (B) They reasoned they could get better seats if they arrived early.
    (C) Recipients of funds were selected without rhyme or reason.
    (D) We have every reason to celebrate.
    3 marks
  12. 4((ii))Answer the following questions as briefly as possible in your own words.
    (a) With reference to the passage, explain the meaning of the expression of the
    ‘I had burned my boats’ ?
    (b) Cite any two instances of the behaviour of the bank employees that indicate
    the insignificance of a deposit of fifty-six dollars.
    (c) Why do you think the people in the bank thought of the narrator as an
    “invalid millionaire” ?
    2 marks
  13. 4((iii))Summarise why the narrator decided ‘to bank no more’(paragraphs 6 to 10) You
    are required to write the summary in the form of a connected passage in about 100
    words. Failure to keep within the word limit will be penalised.
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    ENGLISH PAPER 1
    (LANGUAGE)
    8 marks