SECOND YEAR HIGHER SECONDARY FIRST TERMINAL EXAMINATION
AUGUST 2026
ENGLISH — ANSWER KEY
The following answer key provides the important answer points and suggested mark subdivision for the
XII English First Terminal Examination, August 2026.
Other relevant and properly presented answers may also be considered wherever appropriate.
| Sl. No. | Answer Points | Mark Subdivision | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Horegallu | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Ratna | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | Sudha Murty | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Relieves | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | Mending Wall | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | Robert Frost | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Spring | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Personification | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Horegallu – stone bench placed under a shady tree for travellers to rest – literally “a stone that can bear weight” / symbol of a person who listens to and helps lighten others' burdens | 1, 1 | 2 |
| 10 | Antonio Cruz and Felix Vargas – amigo means friend / their friendship remains stronger than competition | 1, 1 | 2 |
| 11 | at, in | 1, 1 | 2 |
| 12 | Manger – feeding trough/container for cattle or horses – infant Jesus was laid in a manger | 1, 1 | 2 |
| 13 | Mother as twist/knot – binds children together – sacred bond of love – protects them from going astray | 1, 1, 1, 1 | 4 |
| 14 | Friendship versus competition – Antonio and Felix have to fight each other – both sincerely try to win – friendship finally triumphs over rivalry | 1, 1, 1, 1 | 4 |
| 15 | Women compared to matchboxes – outwardly quiet/harmless – hidden fire and strength within – suppressed anger can flare up when dignity is violated | 1, 1, 1, 1 | 4 |
| 16 | Neighbour believes fences preserve good relations – speaker questions the need for the wall – inherited/traditional belief – wall symbolises barriers between human beings | 1, 1, 1, 1 | 4 |
| 17 | Four relevant interview questions to Mohanlal – relevance to award/career/acting achievements/challenges/advice or related areas | 1, 1, 1, 1 | 4 |
| 18 | Appropriate heading/occasion – staging of The Hour of Truth – essential details such as date/time/venue – invitation and proper announcement format | 1, 1, 1, 1 | 4 |
| 19 | at → in; get → got; remind → reminded; about → of | 1, 1, 1, 1 | 4 |
| 20 | Mother as foundation of family – pillars/keystone – warmth and protection – binds children together – selfless/sacrificial maternal love – language & organisation | 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 | 6 |
| 21 | Nomita's background – violation of privacy by Ajit – self-respect – confrontation with Ajit – hidden anger/fire and resistance – language & organisation | 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 | 6 |
| 22 | Antonio and Felix as close friends – common passion for boxing – conflict created by competition – fierce but fair fight – friendship triumphs over victory – language & organisation | 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 | 6 |
| 23 | Suitable title/author – engaging opening – Nomita and central conflict – matchbox metaphor/hidden fire – theme of dignity and resistance – appropriate blurb style & organisation | 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 | 6 |
| 24 | Women's empowerment – Learning – Labour – Leadership – removal of social/economic barriers – relevance of the 3Ls / language & organisation | 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 | 6 |
| 25 | Title and poet – theme of maternal love – mother as foundation/protector – significant imagery/metaphors – sacrificial love/final prayer – language, poetic devices & organisation | 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 | 6 |
| 26 | Central role of women in family – Any Woman and maternal love/sacrifice – woman as foundation/protector – Matchbox and Nomita's experience – dignity/privacy/equality – matchbox symbolism – need for respect and freedom – language, style & organisation | 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 | 8 |
| 27 | Amigo Brothers and friendship – competition threatens harmony – friendship survives rivalry – Mending Wall and barriers – neighbour's belief in fences – wall as physical/emotional barrier – comparison of separation and togetherness – language, style & organisation | 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 | 8 |
| 28 | Title and poet – motherly love and care – childhood innocence – natural/dream imagery – peace and comfort – refrain/rhyme/alliteration or other poetic devices – overall theme/message – language, style & organisation | 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 | 8 |
General Valuation Note
For Questions 13–28, the points given above are indicative answer points. Other relevant and logically presented points may also be considered. In discourse-based answers, due weight may be given to content, relevance, organisation, appropriate format and language according to the marks allotted.
[Prepared by Sindhu.P,HSST English,GGHSS Kallai]
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ANSWER KEY
📄 CLICK HERE FOR QUESTION PAPER WEB PAGE
[CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE ANSWERS SECTION-WISE