XI FIRST TERMINAL EXAMINATION – AUGUST 2026
ENGLISH – MODEL ANSWERS
Questions 1–5
.1.
(a) The veterinarian says that the dog was deaf.
(b) The dog referred to is Fufi, Trevor Noah’s pet dog.
(c) Trevor’s family took Fufi to the veterinarian because they thought she was stupid as she did not respond when called. The veterinarian examined her and revealed that Fufi was actually deaf. The family had never realised this because Fufi had learned to understand them by watching their gestures and movements.
.2.
(a) Mrs. Thompson asks the first question.
(b) “That child” refers to Maggie, the poor, disabled and motherless girl.
(c) After the death of Maggie’s mother, the villagers took her brother and sister, but nobody was willing to take Maggie because she was disabled and bedridden. Joe could not leave the helpless child alone. Out of compassion and kindness, he carried Maggie home.
.3.
(a) The poem is So Much Happiness by Naomi Shihab Nye.
(b) The poet presents happiness as an overwhelming feeling that is too great to remain confined within an individual. When a person experiences true happiness, it naturally overflows and spreads into everything around them.
.4.
(a) The narrator is Trevor Noah.
(b) The Afrikaans word “Heks” means “witch.”
(c) The cats were killed because of the superstitious beliefs of the people. Black cats were associated with witchcraft, and Trevor’s mother was suspected of being a witch because she had black cats.
.5.
(a) Maggie is referred to as “her.”
(b) She had fallen from a window two years earlier and injured her spine.
(c) The injury left Maggie unable to walk or leave her bed. She had to remain bedridden and could be moved only when her mother carried her.
Questions 6–9
.6. Maggie looked at Joe Thompson with hope.
.7. Fufi jumped over the wall.
.8. The villagers gathered near the old hut after the woman’s death.
.9. Joe carried Maggie in his arms.
Questions 10–15
.10. Diary Entry – Trevor Noah
Date: __________
Dear Diary,
What a strange and painful day it has been! I always thought Fufi was completely mine. I loved her more than anything and believed that she loved only me.
Today I followed her when she jumped over the wall and discovered something I could hardly believe. She had another family! They claimed that Fufi was their dog and that she visited them regularly. I felt terribly betrayed. For a moment, it seemed as if everything I believed about our relationship was false.
I finally managed to bring Fufi home, but I returned with a different understanding of love. Fufi had never stopped loving me simply because she loved another family too. Perhaps love is not about possessing someone. True love allows freedom.
I will always love Fufi, but today she taught me a lesson I will never forget.
Trevor
.11. Conclusion of the Debate
Respected judges, teachers and dear friends,
To conclude, wealth can certainly make our lives comfortable, but it cannot replace kindness, sympathy and human concern. A compassionate person reaches out to those who are suffering without expecting anything in return. Money may satisfy material needs, but compassion touches the human heart.
A society becomes truly rich not when its people possess enormous wealth, but when they care for the weak, the helpless and the suffering. Therefore, I firmly support the motion that “Compassion is more valuable than wealth.”
Thank you.
.12.
|
BE KIND TO ANIMALS SAY NO
TO CRUELTY & SUPERSTITION ·
Animals need our love, not our fear. •
Protect animals from cruelty. THEY HAVE FEELINGS TOO! Animal Welfare Club |
.13.
The villagers’ response to Maggie reveals an unfortunate attitude of society towards helpless and differently abled people. After the death of Maggie’s mother, the villagers were willing to take care of her brother and sister because they were healthy and could eventually become independent. However, nobody wanted Maggie because she was disabled and bedridden.
They viewed Maggie as a burden rather than as a human being who needed love and protection. Their behaviour shows selfishness and lack of compassion.
Joe Thompson stands in sharp contrast to them. He sees the frightened and helpless child and cannot abandon her. He carries her home even though he knows his wife may object. Through Joe’s kindness, the story reminds us that differently abled people deserve dignity, affection, acceptance and equal care, not rejection or pity.
.14.
Joe Thompson is presented as a kind-hearted, compassionate and courageous man. When Maggie’s mother dies, the villagers readily take her brother and sister, but nobody wants the disabled Maggie. Joe cannot bear the thought of leaving the helpless child alone.
Although he knows that his wife may strongly object, he carries Maggie home. This shows his moral courage and sense of responsibility. He does not think of Maggie as a burden; instead, he sees a suffering child who needs protection.
Joe also understands his wife’s nature and wisely appeals to her sympathy. He asks her to keep Maggie only for a night. His actions ultimately help awaken Mrs. Thompson’s hidden tenderness.
Thus, Joe’s decision reveals his humanity, sympathy, courage, patience and faith in the transforming power of love.
.15.
Fufi was one of the most important companions of Trevor Noah’s childhood. Trevor loved her deeply and considered her his special pet. His emotional attachment to her was so strong that she became almost like a member of his family.
For a long time, Trevor and his family did not know that Fufi was deaf. They thought she was not very intelligent because she did not respond when called. Later, a veterinarian revealed that she was deaf. Fufi had cleverly learned to understand people through their movements and gestures.
Trevor’s attachment was tested when he discovered that Fufi regularly jumped over the wall and visited another family. He was shocked when they claimed that Fufi belonged to them too. He initially felt betrayed because he believed that Fufi’s love should belong exclusively to him.
Eventually, Trevor realised that love does not mean ownership. Fufi could love him while also enjoying the affection of others. Thus, Fufi became important not only as Trevor’s beloved childhood pet but also as the one who taught him an unforgettable lesson about love, freedom and possession.
Questions 16–18
.16. How Maggie Changed the Thompson Family
Joe Thompson is a kind-hearted man who cannot abandon Maggie after the death of her mother. While the other villagers are willing to take Maggie’s brother and sister, nobody wants Maggie because she is disabled and bedridden. Moved by compassion, Joe carries her home.
Mrs. Thompson initially reacts harshly when she sees Maggie. She is unhappy that Joe has brought the child home and considers Maggie an additional burden. Joe calmly appeals to her humanity and asks her to allow the poor motherless child to remain for just one night.
Maggie’s helpless condition gradually touches Mrs. Thompson’s heart. Maggie is gentle, patient and grateful for every little kindness shown to her. She does not complain about her suffering. Her innocent affection begins to awaken feelings in Mrs. Thompson that had long remained hidden.
Mrs. Thompson gradually becomes emotionally attached to Maggie. Her harshness disappears, and she begins to care for the child lovingly. Maggie brings out the motherly affection and tenderness within her.
Before Maggie entered their lives, the Thompson home lacked warmth and happiness. With Maggie’s arrival, it becomes filled with affection and emotional fulfilment. Joe’s act of compassion therefore transforms not only Maggie’s life but also his own family.
The title An Angel in Disguise is highly appropriate because Maggie initially appears to be a helpless burden, but she actually comes into the Thompson household like an angel. Through her innocence and love, she brings happiness, tenderness and emotional transformation into their lives.
.17. Trevor Noah and Fufi
Fufi was Trevor Noah’s beloved childhood pet and an important companion during his growing-up years. Trevor was deeply attached to her and believed that there was a special bond between them.
An unusual fact about Fufi was that she was deaf, although Trevor’s family did not realise it for a long time. Since she did not respond when they called her, they assumed that she was not intelligent. A veterinarian eventually discovered that she could not hear. Despite her deafness, Fufi had learned to understand people by observing their movements and gestures.
Trevor’s relationship with Fufi took an unexpected turn when he discovered that she regularly jumped over the wall and went elsewhere. Curious, Trevor followed her one day. To his surprise, Fufi went to another house where another family welcomed her affectionately.
The situation became even more shocking when the other family claimed that Fufi belonged to them. Trevor felt hurt and betrayed. He had always thought that Fufi was exclusively his dog, and discovering her relationship with another family challenged his idea of their special bond.
Eventually, Trevor managed to get Fufi back and took her home. But the experience changed his understanding of love. He realised that Fufi’s affection for another family did not mean that she loved him any less.
Fufi thus taught Trevor an important lesson: love is not ownership. Loving someone does not mean controlling them or demanding their exclusive affection. Genuine love allows freedom and accepts that those we love may form other relationships.
Therefore, Fufi was much more than a childhood pet for Trevor. Through his experiences with her, he learned valuable lessons about love, trust, freedom, attachment and possession.
.18. True Happiness in “So Much Happiness”
In the poem So Much Happiness, Naomi Shihab Nye presents happiness as a deep inner experience that cannot be measured by material possessions or external circumstances.
The poet suggests that true happiness does not depend on wealth, comfort or a perfect environment. Even ordinary or unpleasant surroundings cannot destroy genuine happiness. The contrast between the peaceful image of a tree house and a quarry filled with noise and dust shows that happiness comes primarily from within.
When a person experiences profound happiness, it becomes impossible to keep it confined within oneself. The poet says that there is “no place large enough to contain so much happiness.” This suggests the enormous and overflowing nature of true joy.
Happiness changes the way a person sees and experiences the world. It flows outward into everything the happy person touches. Thus, happiness is not merely a private feeling; it influences one’s relationship with people, objects and surroundings.
The poem also encourages a positive outlook towards life. External difficulties need not determine our inner state. A person who possesses genuine happiness can discover beauty and meaning even in imperfect circumstances.
Thus, the central idea of So Much Happiness is that true happiness is an inner state rather than a material possession. It cannot be restricted by circumstances, contained within an individual or measured in terms of wealth. Instead, it overflows naturally and spreads its positive influence to everything around.