CBSE Class XII English Sample Paper 1

2. Read the passage given below.  (12 marks)
1. Decision-making is a very vital part of our lives. This is because what we are today is largely a result of the decision we took in the past. Similarly, whatever happens tomorrow will be a result of the decisions we take in the present.
2. It is not possible to reverse the wrong decisions taken in the past but it is possible to train ourselves into becoming a good decision-maker for the future, If we don’t, we’ll end up doing what we’ve always done and thus get what we’ve always got. Philosopher Walter Kaufman has called this Decidophobia.
3. All sorts of decisions- big or small, relevant or irrelevant, conscious or unconscious – punctuate our lives, Sometimes, we don’t even realise we are taking a decision.
4. Those who avoid taking a decision leave everything to chance and float along life with a ‘what will be’ will be’ attitude.
5. To enhance our decision-making, we must, first of all gather as much information as possible about the issue before we make our decision. We might be heading for a failure if our decisions are based on half-baked information.
6. If you have a set of guiding principles for your life, decision-making becomes a lot easier. For example, if you value integrity and honesty and consider them to be of vital importance, you will never waver.
7. Sometimes decisions are very difficult to make, especially when the odds seem to be against us. In this case, giving ourselves a little time to decide wouldn’t be a bad idea at all. Circumstances may change with time and then it may be easier to see which action is more preferable to the others.
8. Being clear about your goals can facilitate decision-making. If we know exactly where we want to be or what we want to do in the next five years or even ten, we will decide to undertake actions, which will lead us to our goals. So outline your short and long-tem goals in black and white,
9.  Action is a vital consequence of decision-making. It is the necessary follow-up. Only when we act, will we get a feedback of whether our decision has been correct or not and then we can proceed in a more focussed way. So it is essential to move from the world of thought to the arena of action.  (384 words)

2.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage above complete the following sentences. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number.  (8 marks)

(a) The course of our life is largely determined ……………………………………………………..
(b) People who suffer from ‘Decidophobia’ are unable to shape their lives because …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(c) The first step towards decision-making would be ………………………………………………..
(d) If your value system is clearly defined then ………………………………………………………
(e) In situations where ……………… taking a little time to decide would be the best way out.
(f) Outlining your goals can facilitate decision-making because ……………………………………
(g) Decision-making is futile if it is not ………………………………………………………………
(h) To proceed in a focused way it is essential that ………………………………………………….

2.2 Find the words/phrases from the passage which mean the same as the following from the paragraphs indicated. Write the answer sheet against the correct blank number.  (4 marks)
(1) to interrupt repeatedly -para 3
(2) not considered carefully -para 5
(3) to make possible or easier -para 8
(4) information or statements of opinion about something that provide an idea of whether it is successful or liked -para 9