HS English Sample Question Paper 3rd Semester Class 12 (2025) – This Practice Set is designed according to the New Semester System and Question Pattern prescribed by WBCHSE. It covers all essential topics to help students prepare effectively for their Class 12 3rd Semester English Exam. Practice with confidence and boost your exam readiness for 2025.
SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER SET – 1
CLASS XII SEMESTER III
SUBJECT: ENGLISH B
Time: 1.15 hours Full Marks: 40
UNIT 1: PROSE
Choose the correct option from the given alternatives: 1✖10=10
1. Why did the narrator continue to think about the girl at Deoli even after he stopped seeing her?
(A) Because he wanted to marry her
(B) Because she had given him her address
(C) Because she remained a symbol of unfulfilled longing
(D) Because he wanted to visit Deoli again
2. What influence did Kalam’s father have on him during his childhood in Rameswaram?
(A) He taught Kalam complex scientific theories
(B) He encouraged Kalam to follow strict religious orthodoxy
(C) He shaped Kalam’s spiritual outlook through simplicity and wisdom
(D) He sent Kalam to a modern city for education
3. Assertion (A): The lawyer gave up the two million rubles just before completing the fifteen years of confinement.
Reason (R): He had realized that material wealth was meaningless compared to the wisdom and spiritual knowledge he had acquired.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is true, but R is false
(D) A is false, but R is true
4. The girl at Deoli was selling baskets made of ______.
(A) plastic
(B) jute
(C) cane
(D) bamboo
5. Rearrange the following events from Kalam’s early life in correct order:
P. Kalam’s family lived in their ancestral house in Rameswaram
Q. The Shiva temple was close to his house
R. Kalam’s father provided free food to pilgrims
S. Kalam learned about spiritual practices from his father
Choose the correct sequence:
(A) Q → R → P → S
(B) P → Q → R → S
(C) S → P → Q → R
(D) R → S → Q → P
6. Read the following statements and choose the correct option:
1. The banker initiated the bet during a heated discussion about capital punishment and life imprisonment.
2. The lawyer demanded luxurious items during his confinement.
3. The lawyer gave up the bet one hour before the time was completed.
4. The banker eventually admired the lawyer’s wisdom and spiritual growth.
Choose the correct combination:
(A) 1 – True, 2 – False, 3 – True, 4 – False
(B) 1 – True, 2 – False, 3 – False, 4 – True
(C) 1 – True, 2 – True, 3 – True, 4 – False
(D) 1 – False, 2 – True, 3 – True, 4 – True
7. Assertion (A): The narrator never asked the girl her name.
Reason (R): He was too shy and the train halted for only a short time.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is true, but R is false
(D) A is false, but R is true
8. If Kalam’s father had not encouraged a life of simplicity, spirituality, and interfaith harmony, how might Kalam’s outlook on life have been different?
(A) He would have focused only on academic excellence and ignored human values
(B) He would have become a religious leader in Rameswaram
(C) He would have opposed people of other faiths in his community
(D) He would have led a self-centered life with little regard for others
9. Match the items in Column A with their correct description from Column B:
Column A | Column B |
1. Deoli | A. Symbol of emotional connection |
2. The Girl | B. Railway station where the train halts |
3. Basket | C. Narrator’s recurring memory |
4. The Narrator | D. Mysterious and appealing |
Options:
(A) 1–B, 2–D, 3–A, 4–C
(B) 1–B, 2–A, 3–D, 4–C
(C) 1–C, 2–D, 3–B, 4–A
(D) 1–B, 2–D, 3–A, 4–C
10. Refer to the following sequence and choose the option that best represents the progression of the lawyer’s life in confinement:

What does this progression in the diagram suggest?
(A) The lawyer’s education was planned by the banker
(B) The lawyer moved from entertainment to deep intellectual and spiritual growth
(C) The lawyer wasted his time trying to escape boredom
(D) The lawyer’s interests remained the same throughout confinement
UNIT 1: VERSE
Choose the correct option from the given alternatives: 1✖10=10
11. Why does the poet Toru Dutt feel a deep emotional attachment to the Casuarina tree?
(A) Because it is the oldest tree in her garden
(B) Because it reminds her of her childhood friends and deceased siblings
(C) Because it provides shade to her house
(D) Because she planted the tree herself
12. What is Ulysses’ main motivation for embarking on another journey despite his old age?
(A) To escape from his kingdom
(B) To find treasure and wealth
(C) To continue seeking knowledge and experience
(D) To train his son to be a better ruler
13. The poet compares the Casuarina tree to a ______ giant guarding the house.
(A) sleeping
(B) wounded
(C) warrior-like
(D) grim
14. Rearrange the following lines/events from the poem in the correct sequence:
P. Ulysses hands over the kingdom to Telemachus
Q. Ulysses describes his restlessness and dissatisfaction with idle life
R. He reflects on the glory of his past adventures
S. He urges his old comrades to join him on one final voyage
Options:
(A) Q → R → P → S
(B) R → Q → S → P
(C) Q → P → R → S
(D) S → Q → P → R
15. Assertion (A): The poet wishes to consecrate the Casuarina tree in her verse.
Reason (R): The tree is sacred to her because it stands as a symbol of memory and love.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is true, but R is false
(D) A is false, but R is true
16. Identify the correct combination of truth/falsity:
1. Ulysses is content with his peaceful life as a king.
2. He believes Telemachus is capable of ruling the people wisely.
3. Ulysses considers knowledge and adventure more valuable than comfort.
4. The poem ends with Ulysses choosing to rest in Ithaca.
Options:
(A) 1 – False, 2 – True, 3 – True, 4 – False
(B) 1 – True, 2 – False, 3 – True, 4 – True
(C) 1 – False, 2 – True, 3 – False, 4 – False
(D) 1 – True, 2 – True, 3 – True, 4 – True
17. Match the items in Column A with their correct meanings from Column B:
Column A | Column B |
1. Casuarina Tree | A. Symbol of protection and memory |
2. Poet’s childhood friends | B. Associated with joyful memories |
3. “Gallant tree” | C. Shows admiration for strength |
4. Poem’s central emotion | D. Love mixed with nostalgia |
Options:
(A) 1–A, 2–B, 3–C, 4–D
(B) 1–C, 2–D, 3–A, 4–B
(C) 1–B, 2–A, 3–D, 4–C
(D) 1–D, 2–C, 3–B, 4–A
18. If Ulysses had chosen to stay back in Ithaca and rule peacefully, which of the following ideas would be contradicted?
(A) “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
(B) His confidence in Telemachus’s leadership
(C) The value of monarchy and responsibility
(D) His desire to rest after a long life of toil
19. Rearrange the following events in the correct sequence as they appear in the poem:
P. The tree stands tall with a creeper wound around it
Q. The poet recalls her siblings and the joy they shared under the tree
R. The poet hears the sweet music of birds on the tree
S. She prays for the tree’s memory to be preserved in verse
Choose the correct sequence:
(A) Q → R → P → S
(B) P → R → Q → S
(C) R → P → S → Q
(D) S → Q → P → R
20. Ulysses’ Journey of Life and Thought:

What does the progression in the diagram above reflect?
(A) A transition from war to wisdom and then to stillness
(B) Ulysses’ constant desire for exploration and purpose
(C) His retirement from all duties of life
(D) Regret over past choices and adventures
UNIT III: DRAMA
Choose the correct option from the given alternatives: 1✖5=5
21. Why does Maurya finally accept the loss of her sons to the sea?
(A) Because she believes they will return one day
(B) Because the sea is no longer dangerous
(C) Because she understands that death is inevitable and beyond human control
(D) Because she wants to punish herself by not caring anymore
22. Assertion (A): Maurya tries to stop Bartley from going to the sea.
Reason (R): She had a dream that the sea would calm down that day.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is true, but R is false
(D) A is false, but R is true
23. Match the characters or symbols in Column A with their descriptions in Column B:
Column A | Column B |
1. Maurya | A. Represents grief and spiritual strength |
2. Sea | B. Symbol of fate and destructive power |
3. Bartley | C. The last hope of the family |
4. White boards | D. Symbol of death and burial |
Options:
(A) 1–A, 2–B, 3–C, 4–D
(B) 1–B, 2–A, 3–C, 4–D
(C) 1–C, 2–D, 3–B, 4–A
(D) 1–A, 2–C, 3–B, 4–D
24. Rearrange the events of the play in correct order:
P. Maurya tries to bless Bartley before he leaves
Q. Nora and Cathleen hide the clothing of a drowned man
R. Maurya predicts that no one will be left to carry her to the grave
S. The dead body of Bartley is brought home
Options:
(A) Q → P → S → R
(B) P → Q → R → S
(C) Q → P → R → S
(D) P → Q → S → R
25. If Bartley had obeyed his mother’s plea and stayed home, what theme of the play would be weakened?
(A) The conflict between tradition and modernity
(B) The resilience of women in the face of grief
(C) The inevitability of fate and nature’s power over humans
(D) The role of women in religious rituals
UNIT IV: TEXTUAL GRAMMAR
Choose the correct option from the given alternatives: 1✖5=5
26. I was prepared to sit there for almost any length of time. I was prepared to miss my train. (Join into a Simple Sentence)
(A) I was prepared to sit there and to miss my train.
(B) I was prepared to sit there, and I was also prepared to miss my train.
(C) I was prepared, so I missed my train while sitting there.
(D) I sat there for a long time, but I missed my train.
27. He was recalling to his mind the party he had given in the autumn fifteen years before. (Split the following sentence into two simple sentences:)
(A) He had given a party in the autumn fifteen years before. He was recalling to his mind the party.
(B) He was recalling to his mind. The party he had given in the autumn fifteen years before.
(C) He was recalling to his mind the party. That he had given in the autumn fifteen years before.
(D) He was recalling to his mind. And the party he had given in the autumn fifteen years before.
28. “Why don’t you say this to the people who come to you for help and advice?” I asked my father. (Change the mode of narration)
(A) I asked my father why he didn’t say that to the people who came to him for help and advice.
(B) I asked my father why didn’t he say that to the people who come to him for help and advice.
(C) I asked my father why didn’t he say this to the people who came to him for help and advice.
(D) I asked my father why he doesn’t say this to the people who came to him for help and advice.
29. A creeper climb on the trunk and almost cover it like a huge python. (Correct the error)
(A) A creeper climbed on the trunk and almost covered it like a huge python.
(B) A creeper climbs on the trunk and almost covered it like a huge python.
(C) A creeper climbing on the trunk and almost covers it like a huge python.
(D) A creeper climb on the trunk and almost covers it like a huge python.
30. Ulysses longs to sail beyond the sunset. He wants to quench his thirst for knowledge. (Join into a Complex Sentence)
(A) Ulysses longs to sail beyond the sunset, and he wants to quench his thirst for knowledge.
(B) Ulysses, sailing beyond the sunset, quenched his thirst for knowledge.
(C) Ulysses longs to sail beyond the sunset because he wants to quench his thirst for knowledge.
(D) Ulysses wants to quench his thirst for knowledge and sails beyond the sunset.
UNIT V: READING COMPREHENSION (UNSEEN)
Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions given below: 1✖10=10
In the heart of pine forests, Himachal’s first ecotourism project nears reality. Himachal Pradesh’s first ecotourism site is rapidly taking shape amidst the dense pine forests near Hadeta village in Nadaun constituency—an ambitious project inaugurated by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu just three months ago. With the construction of three eco-cottages and four gazebos nearing completion, the site promises to be a unique blend of nature, adventure and wildlife education.
Nestled within a biodiverse forest just 400 metres from Hadeta village, the project offers more than just scenic accommodation. A dedicated wildlife awareness zone and forest trails extending nearly 2 km will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the raw beauty of the region. Though located close to human settlements, the forest teems with wildlife—leopards, peacocks, wild boars, Indian foxes, cottontail rabbits and several snake species are commonly sighted, say locals.
“The movement of leopards is frequent, but villagers still graze their livestock along the forest edges. This forest remains cooler during summers and is part of our daily life,” said Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Hadeta.
Divisional Forest Officer Ankit Singh confirmed that the eco-tourism project spans over two hectares and will be completed within the next three months at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore. “We are preserving the forest’s natural character while enhancing its appeal with exotic and ornamental plants. Plans also include constructing glass bridges over the trails to elevate the visitor experience,” Singh added.
Apart from offering a retreat into nature, the project is also expected to generate local employment. Plans are underway to install kiosks along the road adjoining the site, which serves as the shortest route connecting prominent religious destinations such as Jawalamukhi, Baglamukhi, Chamunda and Baba Balak Nath at Deotsidh.
Apart from offering a retreat into nature, the project is also expected to generate local employment. Plans are underway to install kiosks along the road adjoining the site, which serves as the shortest route connecting prominent religious destinations such as Jawalamukhi, Baglamukhi, Chamunda and Baba Balak Nath at Deotsidh.
31. What makes the Hadeta eco-tourism site unique according to the passage?
(A) It is a picnic spot with riverside food stalls.
(B) It combines nature, adventure, and wildlife education.
(C) It is a religious destination for pilgrims.
(D) It is a luxury resort in the hills.
32. Assertion (A): The eco-tourism project will help the local community.
Reason (R): The project will provide jobs and kiosk-based business opportunities.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true, but R is false.
(D) A is false, but R is true.
33. The forest near Hadeta village is described as _________.
(A) a barren and dry land far from wildlife
(B) a dense, biodiverse area close to human settlement
(C) an area filled with artificial wildlife and pets
(D) a forest mostly used for farming and logging
34. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
(A) The eco-cottages and gazebos are already completed and open for visitors.
(B) The project is located deep in an inaccessible forest.
(C) Villagers do not go near the forest due to leopard attacks.
(D) The forest area will include glass bridges and ornamental plants.
35. Refer to the following project development stages and choose the correct option for chronological order:

(A) Distribution of land for farming
(B) Demolition of nearby forest huts
(C) Setup of wildlife zones and trails
(D) Opening of a shopping complex nearby
36. “This forest remains cooler during summers,” said Rakesh Kumar. (Change the mode of narration)
(A) Rakesh Kumar said that the forest remains cooler during summers.
(B) Rakesh Kumar said that the forest remained cooler during summers.
(C) Rakesh Kumar says that the forest had remained cooler during summers.
(D) Rakesh Kumar said that this forest remains cool in summer.
.37. The forest is located near Hadeta village. It is home to many wild animals. (Join into a Complex Sentence)
(A) The forest, located near Hadeta village, is home to many wild animals.
(B) Since the forest is located near Hadeta village, it is home to many wild animals.
(C) The forest is located near Hadeta village but it is home to many wild animals.
(D) The forest is located near Hadeta village and home to wild animals.
38. “The project offer more than just scenic accommodation.” (Correct the Error)
(A) The project offer more than just scenic accommodation.
(B) The project offered more than just scenic accommodation.
(C) The project offers more than just scenic accommodation.
(D) The project offering more than just scenic accommodation.
39. Choose the word similar in meaning to “teems” as used in the passage: “the forest teems with wildlife.”
(A) hides
(B) crawls
(C) overflows
(D) disappears
40. Choose the word opposite in meaning to “enhancing” as used in the passage: “enhancing its appeal…”
(A) improving
(B) reducing
(C) highlighting
(D) brightening