ABC SCHOOL
XI FIRST TERMINAL EXAMINATION – AUGUST 2026
ENGLISH
Questions 1–5. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow. Answer any FOUR. Each carries 4 scores. (4 × 4 = 16)
.1. “It must have been strange for your family living with a dog that was deaf.”
“What?”
“You didn't know your dog was deaf?”
(a) Who says that the dog was deaf? (1)
(b) Which dog is referred to here? (1)
(c) Explain the context. (2)
.2. “What are you going to do with that child?” she asked sharply.
“I thought you would like to have her here for a day or two.”
(a) Who asks the first question? (1)
(b) Who is referred to as “that child”? (1)
(c) Why does Joe bring the child home? (2)
.3. “Since there is no place large enough
to contain so much happiness,
you shrug, you raise your hands, and it flows out of you
into everything you touch.”
(a) Name the poem and the poet. (2)
(b) Why does the poet say that happiness cannot be contained? (2)
.4. “Both the cats had been killed. On our front wall someone had written in Afrikaans, ‘Heks’.”
(a) Who is the narrator? (1)
(b) What does ‘Heks’ mean? (1)
(c) Why were the cats killed? (2)
.5. “Two years ago, a fall from a window had injured her spine and she had not been able to leave her bed since, except when lifted in the arms of her mother.”
(a) Who is referred to as ‘her’? (1)
(b) What had happened to her? (1)
(c) How had the accident affected her life? (2)
Questions 6–9. Choose the correct preposition from the brackets. (4 × 1 = 4)
.6. Maggie looked __________ Joe Thompson with hope. (at / over / across)
.7. Fufi jumped __________ the wall. (over / under / between)
.8. The villagers gathered __________ the old hut after the woman's death. (near / across / through)
.9. Joe carried Maggie __________ his arms. (in / at / on)
Questions 10–15. Answer any FOUR. Each carries 6 scores. (4 × 6 = 24)
.10. Trevor returns home after bringing Fufi back from the other family. Though he gets his beloved dog back, the day's experiences leave him deeply disappointed and confused. Prepare the diary entry of Trevor expressing his thoughts and feelings.
.11. Your class is conducting a debate on the motion, “Compassion is more valuable than wealth.” The speaker has completed the welcome, introduced the motion, presented the arguments and rebutted the opposing views. Prepare the concluding part of the debate.
.12. The Animal Welfare Club of your school has decided to organise an awareness campaign against cruelty to animals and superstitious beliefs. Prepare a poster suitable for the campaign.
.13. The villagers were ready to help Maggie's brother and sister, but nobody was willing to take responsibility for Maggie. What does this reveal about society's attitude towards helpless and differently abled people? Discuss with reference to the story An Angel in Disguise.
.14. Joe Thompson takes Maggie home despite knowing that his wife may strongly object to his decision. What qualities of Joe Thompson's character are revealed through his decision and actions? Explain.
.15. How did Fufi become an important part of Trevor’s childhood? Describe the special bond between Trevor and Fufi with reference to the lesson.
Questions 16–18. Answer any TWO. Each carries 8 scores. (2 × 8 = 16)
.16. Explain how Maggie changed the lives of Joe Thompson and Mrs. Thompson.
Hints: Joe Thompson's kindness – Mrs. Thompson's initial attitude – Maggie's helpless condition – Maggie's love, patience and gratitude – Mrs. Thompson's change of heart – happiness in the Thompson family – significance of the title An Angel in Disguise
.17. Narrate Trevor Noah’s experiences with Fufi and explain how the unexpected incidents connected with her taught him valuable lessons about life and love.
Hints: Trevor’s bond with Fufi – Fufi’s deafness – jumping over the wall – discovery of another family – Trevor’s disappointment – getting Fufi back – lesson about love and ownership
.18. The poem So Much Happiness presents happiness as something that cannot be limited by difficult circumstances or material conditions. Explain the poet's idea of true happiness with reference to the poem.
Hints: happiness beyond material possessions – peaceful tree house – quarry of noise and dust – inner state of mind – happiness overflowing into everything – positive outlook – central idea of the poem.
[Prepared by:Sindhu P.,HSST English, GGHSS Kallai]