HSC English Master / 12th Board Exam Guide

 Important Textual Passages for Class 12 English with Solutions (HSC Board Pattern)

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Communication Skills in English For Engineers and Technologists

Are you a Class 12 (HSC) student preparing for the upcoming English Board Exam? The Prose Section (Section I) carries the highest weightage, and Question 1 (A) is based on a seen/textual extract worth 12 marks.

To score full marks, you don't just need to read the chapters; you need to practise solving the activities exactly as per the board pattern.

In this blog post, we have compiled the 3 Most Important lessons: An Astrologer’s Day, On Saying Please, and The Cop and the Anthem, with complete solutions.

Passage 1: An Astrologer’s Day 

Punctually at midday, he opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook, and a bundle of palmyra writing. His forehead was resplendent with sacred ash and vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp abnormal gleam which was really an outcome of a continual searching look for customers, but which his simple clients took to be a prophetic light and felt comforted. The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced by their positionplaced as they were between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers which streamed down his cheeks: even a half-wit’s eyes would sparkle in such a setting. To crown the effect he wound a saffron-coloured turban around his head. This colour scheme never failed. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahlia stalks. He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked a path running through the Town Hall Park. It was a remarkable place in many ways. A surging crowd was always moving up and down this narrow road from morning till night. A variety of trades and occupations was represented all along its way : medicine sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and above all, an auctioneer of cheap cloth, who created enough din all day to attract the whole town.

Q.1 (A) Read the extract and complete the activities given below: (12 Marks)

A1. Web Diagram (2 Marks)
Complete the web diagram regarding the Professional Equipment of the astrologer mentioned in the extract.
(Draw a centre circle labelled "Astrologer's Equipment" with 4 branches)

A2. Describe (2 Marks)
Describe the appearance and attire (dress code) of the astrologer that helped him attract customers.

A3. Interpret (2 Marks)
"His eyes sparkled with a sharp, abnormal gleam." Explain the real reason for this gleam versus what his simple clients believed it to be.

A4. Personal Response (2 Marks) 

Do you believe that judging a person by their appearance is correct? Justify your view in 3-4 sentences.

A5. Language Study (Grammar) (2 Marks)

1. He opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment.
   (Rewrite as a Simple Sentence / Remove 'and')

2. This colour scheme never failed.
   (Make it Affirmative)

A6. Vocabulary (2 Marks)
Find words from the extract that mean:

1. Not clear / Difficult to understand = __

2. Bright and attractive / Dazzling = ___

3. Loud, unpleasant noise = ________

4. Rising and moving forward (like waves) = ____________

Answer Key

• A1: (1) A dozen cowrie shells, (2) a square piece of cloth with obscure charts, (3) A notebook, (4) A bundle of palmyra writing.

• A2: His forehead was painted with sacred ash and vermilion. He had dark whiskers streaming down his cheeks. He wore a saffron-coloured turban.

• A3: Real reason: It was the outcome of a continuous search for customers. Clients' belief: They took it to be a prophetic light (spiritual power) and felt comforted.

• A4: (Sample) No, we should not judge people by appearance. Appearances can be deceptive. A person might look simple but be very intelligent, or look professional but be a fraud. We should judge based on character and actions.

• A5:

  1. Opening his bag, he spread out his professional equipment.

  2. This colour scheme always worked (or was always successful).

• A6:

  1. Obscure

  2. Resplendent

  3. Din

  4. Surging

Passage 2: An Astrologer’s Day (The Climax)

Q.1 (A) Read the extract and complete the activities given below: (12 Marks)

Extract:
The astrologer caught a glimpse of his face by the matchlight. There was a pause as cars hooted on the road, jutka drivers swore at their horses, and the babble of the crowd agitated the semidarkness of the park. The other sat down, sucking his cheroot, puffing out, sat there ruthlessly. The astrologer felt very uncomfortable. “Here, take your anna back. I am not used to such challenges. It is late for me today”... He made preparations to bundle up. The other held his wrist and said: “You can’t get out of it now. You dragged me in while I was passing.” The astrologer shivered in his grip; and his voice shook and became faint. “Leave me today. I will speak to you tomorrow.” The other thrust his palm in his face and said: “Challenge is challenge. Go on.” The astrologer proceeded with his throat drying up: “There is a woman...”
“Stop,” said the other. “I don’t want all that. Shall I succeed in my present search or not? Answer this and go. Otherwise I will not let you go till you disgorge all your coins.” Shall I succeed in my present search or not? Answer this and go. Otherwise I will not let you go till you disgorge all your coins.” The astrologer muttered a few incantations and replied: “You were left for dead. Am I right?”

“Ah, tell me more.”

“A knife has passed through you once?” said the astrologer.

“Good fellow!” He bared his chest to show the scar. “What else?”

“And then you were pushed into a well nearby in the field. You were left for dead.”

“I should have been dead if some passer-by had not chanced to peep into the well,” exclaimed the other, overwhelmed by enthusiasm

A1.  Rewrite the statements and state whether they are true or false:

1. The astrologer felt comfortable when the stranger sat down.
2. The stranger wanted to know if he would succeed in his search.
3. The astrologer recognised the stranger by the car's headlights.
4. The stranger threatened to take the astrologer's coins.

A2.  Describe the reaction of the astrologer when the stranger challenged him.  (2 Marks)

A3. "The astrologer shivered in his grip, and his voice shook." Give reasons for the astrologer's fear.

A4. Personal Response (2 Marks)

"Revenge is a wild justice." Do you believe that seeking revenge is the right way to solve problems? Explain your view.

A5. Language Study (2 Marks)

1. The astrologer caught a glimpse of his face by the matchlight. (Make a wh-question to get the underlined part as an answer.)
2. You were left for dead.  (Change the voice.)

A6. Vocabulary (2 Marks)
Find words from the extract that mean:

1. To hand over / surrender (money) = ___________
2. To disturb / trouble = ___________

Answers:

• A1: (1) False (2) True (3) False (Matchlight) (4) True

• A2: The astrologer felt uncomfortable and tried to give back the money. He tried to bundle up his equipment and leave, saying it was late.

• A3: The astrologer recognised the stranger as the man he had stabbed and pushed into a well years ago. He was terrified that he would be recognised and caught for attempted murder.

• A4: No, I do not believe in revenge. Revenge creates a cycle of violence. It is better to forgive or let the law handle the situation. Forgiveness brings peace of mind, whereas revenge brings guilt.

• A5: (1) How did the astrologer catch a glimpse of his eye? (2) He left you for dead

• A6: (1) Disgorge (2) Agitated

Passage 3: On Saying Please

The young lift-man in a City office who threw a passenger out of his lift the other morning and was fined for the offence was undoubtedly in the wrong. It was a question of “Please.” The complainant entering the lift, said, “Top.” The lift-man demanded “Top-please,” and this concession being refused he not only declined to comply with the instruction, but hurled the passenger out of the lift. This, of course was carrying a comment on manner too far. Discourtesy is not a legal offence, and it does not excuse assault and battery. If a burglar breaks into my
house and I knock him down, the law will acquit me, and if I am physically assaulted, it will permit me to retaliate with reasonable violence. It does this because the burglar and my assailant have broken quite definite commands of the law. But no legal system could attempt to legislate against bad manners, or could sanction the use of violence against something which it does not itself recognize as a legally punishable offence. And our sympathy with the liftman, we must admit that the law is reasonable. It would never do if we were at liberty to box people’s ears because we did not like their behaviour, or the tone of their voices, or the scowl on their faces. Our fists would never be idle, and the gutters of the city would run with blood all day.

Q.1 (A) Read the extract and complete the activities given below: (12 Marks)

A1. True or False (2 Marks)
Read the following sentences and state whether they are True or False:

1. The liftman was fined because he pushed the passenger out of the lift.

2. The law permits us to use violence against bad manners.

3. If a burglar breaks into your house, the law allows you to retaliate in self-defence.

4. The passenger in the lift had refused to say "Top-please".

A2.  Explain the difference between a legal offence and a moral offence as described in the extract.

A3. Interpret "...and the gutters of the city would run with blood all day." Explain what the writer means by this statement in the context of the extract.

A4. "Courtesy is not a legal rule, but a way of life." Do you agree? Explain your views on how to handle rude people without getting angry.

A5. Language Study (2 Marks)

1. "The law will acquit me." (Rewrite the sentence using 'be able to')

2. "Discourtesy is not a legal offence." (Make it Affirmative without changing the meaning)

A6. Vocabulary (2 Marks)
Find words from the extract that mean the following:

1. A person who makes a formal accusation/complaint = ____________

2. To free someone from a criminal charge = ____________

3. To fight back / revenge = ____________

4. An angry look/expression = ____________

Answers

A1. True or False:

1. True

2. False (The law does not sanction violence against bad manners).

3. True

4. True

A2. Explain:
According to the extract, a legal offence (like burglary or physical assault) involves breaking definite commands of the law, and the law permits reasonable violence in self-defense. However, a moral offence (like discourtesy or bad manners) is not recognized by the law, and one cannot be punished legally or physically for being rude.

A3. Interpret:
The writer means that if the law allowed people to use violence (box people's ears) every time someone was rude, bad-tempered, or had a "scowl on their face," there would be constant fighting in the streets. Society would become chaotic and violent ("gutters run with blood").

A4. Personal Response:
(Sample Answer) Yes, I agree. Courtesy makes social life smooth. If someone is rude, we should not retaliate with anger, as that lowers us to their level. Instead, we should remain polite or ignore them. Dealing with rudeness using patience shows strength of character, not weakness.

A5. Grammar:

1. The law will be able to acquit me.

2. Discourtesy is a moral offence. (OR: Discourtesy is an illegal offence - Wait, this changes meaning. Better answer: Discourtesy is a non-legal offence. OR Discourtesy is outside the law.)

A6. Vocabulary:

1. Complainant

2. Acquit

3. Retaliate

4. Scowl

Passage 4: On Saying Please (The Polite Conductor)

Q.1 (A) Read the extract and complete the activities given below: (12 Marks)

Extract:
Having searched my pockets in vain for stray coppers, and having found I was utterly penniless, I told the conductor with as honest a face as I could assume that I couldn’t pay the fare, and must go back for money. “Oh, you needn’t get off: that’s all right,” said he. “All right,” said I, “but I haven’t a copper on me.” “Oh, I’ll book you through,” he replied. “Where do you want to go?” And he handled his bundle of tickets with the air of a man who was prepared to give me a ticket for anywhere from the Bank to Hong Kong. I said it was very kind of him, and told him where I wanted to go, and as he gave me the ticket I said, “But where shall I send the fare?” “Oh, you’ll see me some day all right,” he said cheerfully, as he turned to go.

A1. Point out the qualities of the Conductor:

A2. Explain (2 Marks)

Explain the narrator's predicament (problem) when he boarded the bus.

A3. Inference (2 Marks)
Why did the conductor give the ticket even though the narrator had no money?

A4. Personal Response (2 Marks)
Narrate a short incident where a stranger helped you unexpectedly.

A5. Language Study (2 Marks)

1. I told the conductor that I couldn't pay the fare. (Change into Direct Speech)
2. It was very kind of him. (Make it Exclamatory) 

A6. Vocabulary (2 Marks)

Find antonyms from the extract for:

1. Rich = ___________
2. Rude/Sorrowfully = ___________

 Answers:

• A1: (1) Polite (2) Generous (3) Cheerful (4) Helpful

• A2: The narrator boarded the bus and realised he had left home without any money. He searched his pockets for "stray coppers" but found he was "utterly penniless".

• A3: The conductor was a good-natured man. He judged the narrator's face to be honest and decided to trust him rather than kicking him off the bus.

• A4: Once, my bike got a flat tyre on a lonely road. A delivery boy stopped his bike and helped me tow my vehicle to the nearest mechanic. I was very grateful for his help.

• A5: (1) I said to the conductor, "I cannot pay the fare." (2) How kind of him it was!

• A6: (1) Penniless (2) Cheerfully

Passage 5: The Cop and the Anthem (The Umbrella)

Q.1 (A) Read the extract and complete the activities given below: (12 Marks)

Extract:
He entered a cigar store and found a well-dressed man lighting a cigar at the swinging light. His silk umbrella he had set by the door on entering. Soapy stepped inside, grabbed the umbrella and sauntered off with it slowly. The man at the cigar light followed hastily.
"My umbrella," he said, sternly.
"Oh, is it?" sneered Soapy, adding insult to petit larceny. "Well, why don't you call a policeman? I took it. Your umbrella! Why don't you call a cop? There stands one on the corner."
The umbrella man slowed his steps. Soapy did likewise, with a premonition that luck would again run against him. The policeman looked at the two curiously.
"Of course," said the umbrella man— "that is—well, you know how these mistakes occur—I—if it’s your umbrella I hope you’ll excuse me—I picked it up this morning in a restaurant..."

A1. Arrange the events in the correct order:

1. The umbrella man claimed he found the umbrella in a restaurant.
2. Soapy grabbed the silk umbrella.
3. Soapy challenged the man to call a cop.
4. The umbrella man followed Soapy hastily.

A2. Why did the umbrella man not call the police?

A3. Describe Soapy's attitude when he stole the umbrella.

A4. "Honesty is the best policy." Explain your views.

A5. Language Study (2 Marks)

1. He hurled the umbrella angrily.  (Change the Voice) 
2. Why don't you call a cop? (Make it Assertive)

A6. Vocabulary (2 Marks)
Find the meaning:

1. Walked in a relaxed manner = ___________
2. Theft = ___________

 Answers:

• A1: 2 - 4 - 3 - 1

• A2: The umbrella man did not call the police because he himself had picked up (stolen) that umbrella from a restaurant that morning. He thought it might actually belong to Soapy.

• A3: Soapy was confident and arrogant. He "sauntered" (walked slowly) instead of running, and he "sneered" at the owner, challenging him to call the police because he wanted to be arrested.

• A4: I agree. Honesty builds trust and reputation. If we are dishonest, we live in fear of being caught, just like the umbrella man in the story. Being honest gives us peace of mind.

• A5: (1) The umbrella was hurled angrily by him. (2) You should call a cop.

• A6: (1) Sauntered (2) Larceny

 Passage 6: The Cop and the Anthem (The Transformation)

Q.1. (A) Read the extract and complete the activities given below: (12 Marks)

Soapy came to a standstill near a quiet corner. Here was an old church, quaint and rambling and gabled. Through one violet-stained window a soft light glowed, where, no doubt, the organist loitered over the keys, making sure of his mastery of the coming Sabbath anthem. For there drifted out to Soapy’s ears sweet music that caught and held him transfixed against the convolutions of the iron fence.
The moon was above, lustrous and serene; vehicles and pedestrians were few; sparrows twittered sleepily in the eaves—for a little while the scene might have been a country churchyard. And the anthem that the organist played cemented Soapy to the iron fence, for he had known it well in the days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses and ambitions and friends and immaculate thoughts and collars.
The conjunction of Soapy’s receptive state of mind and the influences about the old church brought a sudden and wonderful change in his soul. He viewed with rising horror the pit into which he had tumbled, the degraded days, unworthy desires, dead hopes, wrecked faculties and base motives that made up his existence.
And also in a moment his heart answered this change in his mood. An impulse moved him to battle with his desperate fact. He would pull himself out of the mire; he would make a man of himself again; he would conquer the evil that had taken possession of him.

A1. Complete the web describing the atmosphere near the old church:
(Draw a center circle "Atmosphere near the Church" with 4 branches)

A2. Explain what memories did the anthem revive in Soapy’s mind?

A3. Interpret. "He viewed with rising horror the pit into which he had tumbled. " Explain the meaning of "the pit" in this context.

A4. Do you believe that a single moment or incident can change a person's life forever? Justify your answer.

A5. Language Study.

1. He would conquer the evil that had taken possession of him. (Identify and name the subordinate clause.)
2. The moon was above, lustrous and serene. (Rewrite as an Exclamatory Sentence)

A6. Vocabulary (2 Marks)
Match the words in row A with meanings in row B:

Row A: (1) Transfixed, (2) Mire

Row B: (a) Difficult situation/Swamp, (b) Motionless with wonder

A1: (Possible points for web): 1. Moon was lustrous/serene. 2. Few vehicles/pedestrians. 3. Sparrows twittered sleepily. 4. Soft light glowed from the window.
A2: The anthem played by the organist revived memories of Soapy’s happier and innocent past. It reminded him of the days when his life contained "mothers and roses, ambitions and friends, and immaculate thoughts and collars." It brought back the stark contrast between his former decent life and his current degraded existence.
A3. In this context, "the pit" is a metaphor for Soapy's current morally degraded state. It refers to his life of idleness, homelessness, and lack of purpose. It symbolises the "unworthy desires, dead hopes, and wrecked faculties" that define his miserable existence compared to his potential.
A4. Yes, I firmly believe that a single moment can change a person's life forever. A sudden realization, a tragic accident, or even a few words of inspiration can completely shift a person's perspective. For example, witnessing a kind act might inspire a criminal to reform, just as the anthem inspired Soapy to change. Such moments act as turning points that define our future.
A5. 1. that had taken possession of him – adjective clause 2. How lustrous and serene the moon above was!
A6: 1. Transfixed - (b) Motionless with wonder 2. Mire - (a) Difficult situation/Swamp

Big Data - Big Insights (Prose Extract)

Passage 7: 

 Q.1 (A) Read the extract and complete the activities given below: (12 Marks)

There is a revolution in the lifestyle of people that has been affected by Big Data. Our food habits, our health care, our travelling, our scientific pursuits, you name it and everything has changed 360 degrees. The massive data available to us can really work wonders. Friends, do you know what happens when we like a post on Facebook or share a post on WhatsApp, visit any website, make online purchases, or watch videos? Yes, whatever activity we do online is recorded, monitored and analysed. So a huge amount of data is collected. Let me give you an idea of how huge the data might be. Big Data can be petabytes or exabytes of data consisting of billions to trillions of records of millions of people- all from different sources, for example web, sales, customer contact centre, social media, mobile data and so on. The data available to industries and companies is enormously increasing in volume, variation, velocity, veracity and value. Such a Big Data is easy to obtain but so massive that it challenges the current computing technologies and hence Big Data analytics is used to give insights that were previously incomprehensible. Big Data analytics is the complex process of examining large and varied data sets or Big Data to uncover information- such as hidden patterns, unknown correlations, market trends and customer preferences. With such a huge data available with the industries they can have innumerable advantages hence all the industries are trying to reap the maximum benefit from it. Many industries have advanced by miles from their competitors. It’s not the amount of data that is important but what the organizations do with the data is what matters.

A1. Complete the Sentences (2 Marks)

Our lifestyle regarding food, healthcare, and travelling has changed ____________.

Big Data challenges current computing technologies because it is ____________.

Whatever activity we do online is recorded, ____________ and ____________.

The final important factor is not the amount of data, but ____________.

A2. Describe the nature/characteristics of the data available to industries using the "5 Vs" mentioned in the extract.

A3. "Big Data analytics gives insights that were previously incomprehensible."
Explain this statement in your own words based on the extract.

A4. Personal Response (2 Marks)
Do you think your personal privacy is at risk due to the collection of Big Data (Social media, online shopping, etc.)? Justify your view in 3-4 sentences.

or

How can Big Data be useful in the field of Education? Give your opinion.

A5. Language Study (2 Marks)

1. Our food habits, our health care, our travelling and our scientific pursuits have changed.
   (Rewrite using 'Not only... but also')

2. Industries are trying to reap the maximum benefit from it.
   (Rewrite using Present Perfect Continuous Tense)

A6. Vocabulary (2 Marks)
Find words from the extract that mean the following:

1. A great or complete change = ____________

2. Impossible to understand = ____________

3. Speed (at which data is created) = ____________

4. Deep understanding / accurate and deep understanding = ____________

Answers:

A1. 

1. Web / Website visits

2. Sales / Online purchases

3. Social Media (Facebook/WhatsApp)

4. Mobile Data / Customer contact centre

A2. Explanation:
Big Data Analytics is the complex process of examining large and varied data sets. It helps to uncover information such as hidden patterns, unknown correlations, market trends, and customer preferences.

A3. Reason:
Industries want to reap benefits because:

1. With huge data, they get innumerable advantages.

2. It allows them to understand customer needs better.

3. Using this data helps them advance by miles ahead of their competitors.

A4. Personal Response:
(Sample) Yes, I feel my privacy is at risk. When we share posts or buy things online, our habits are monitored. Companies might use this data to manipulate our choices or sell our information to others without our permission.

A5. Grammar:

1. 1. Not only our food habits and our health care, but also our travelling and our scientific pursuits have changed.
      

   2. Industries have been trying to reap the maximum benefit from it.
      Present Perfect Continuous Tense

A6. Vocabulary:

1. Revolution

2. Incomprehensible

3. Velocity

4. Insights

In the Board Exam, do not read the passage first. Read the questions, then scan the passage for the answers. This saves time!

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