WBCHSE CLASS XII — ENGLISH B

SEMESTER III 2026

SCIENTIFIC LAST-MINUTE MCQ SUGGESTION

Full Marks: 40 | Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Syllabus Weightage

Area	Marks	Last-minute priority
The Night Train at Deoli	4	★★★★★
Strong Roots	3	★★★★
The Bet	3	★★★★
Our Casuarina Tree	5	★★★★★
Ulysses	5	★★★★★
Riders to the Sea	5	★★★★★
Textual Grammar	5	★★★★★
Unseen Comprehension	10	★★★★★

PART I — THE NIGHT TRAIN AT DEOLI

Most Important MCQs

1. Who is the author of “The Night Train at Deoli”?
A. Anton Chekhov
B. Ruskin Bond
C. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
D. J.M. Synge
Answer: B

2. The narrator used to visit Dehra during —
A. winter
B. spring
C. summer
D. monsoon
Answer: C

3. Deoli was situated —
A. near Delhi
B. between Delhi and Dehra
C. near Rameswaram
D. between Calcutta and Delhi
Answer: B

4. Deoli station was described as —
A. crowded and noisy
B. busy and prosperous
C. lonely and isolated
D. modern and beautiful
Answer: C

5. The train usually stopped at Deoli for about —
A. five minutes
B. ten minutes
C. fifteen minutes
D. half an hour
Answer: B

6. The girl at the station was selling —
A. flowers
B. fruits
C. cane baskets
D. books
Answer: C

7. The girl had —
A. fair skin and bright eyes
B. pale skin and troubled eyes
C. dark skin and smiling eyes
D. pale skin and blue eyes
Answer: B

8. The narrator bought —
A. a basket
B. a book
C. fruit
D. tea
Answer: A

9. The narrator's attraction towards the girl was mainly based on —
A. her wealth
B. her mystery and simplicity
C. her education
D. her social position
Answer: B

10. The narrator never —
A. visited Dehra
B. saw the girl
C. got down from the train at Deoli
D. bought a basket
Answer: C

High-value textual details

11. The girl disappeared from the narrator's life because —
A. she moved to Delhi
B. the narrator stopped travelling
C. she was no longer found at the station
D. she refused to speak to him
Answer: C

12. The story primarily deals with —
A. adventure and danger
B. war and patriotism
C. fleeting love, memory and uncertainty
D. poverty and social reform
Answer: C

13. The narrator's repeated desire to return to Deoli suggests his —
A. fear
B. curiosity and emotional attachment
C. anger
D. dislike of travelling
Answer: B

14. The ending of the story is significant because it leaves the girl's fate —
A. clearly explained
B. historically documented
C. uncertain
D. tragically revealed
Answer: C

PART II — STRONG ROOTS

15. “Strong Roots” is an extract from —
A. Discovery of India
B. Wings of Fire
C. My Experiments with Truth
D. The Story of My Life
Answer: B

16. Who wrote “Strong Roots”?
A. R.K. Narayan
B. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
C. Ruskin Bond
D. Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: B

17. Kalam was born in —
A. Madurai
B. Chennai
C. Rameswaram
D. Hyderabad
Answer: C

18. Kalam's father was named —
A. Jainulabdeen
B. Jalaluddin
C. Samsuddin
D. Ramanadha Sastry
Answer: A

19. Kalam's father was a —
A. wealthy businessman
B. deeply religious person
C. government officer
D. school headmaster
Answer: B

20. Kalam's father believed that prayer —
A. belonged to one religion only
B. was unnecessary
C. could help people connect with the divine
D. was only a social custom
Answer: C

21. Jalaluddin was associated with Kalam's —
A. academic and intellectual development
B. business career
C. military training
D. political career
Answer: A

22. Samsuddin was Kalam's —
A. brother
B. cousin
C. relative associated with newspaper distribution
D. school teacher
Answer: C

23. The central idea of “Strong Roots” is the importance of —
A. money and status
B. family values, spirituality and upbringing
C. political power
D. scientific inventions alone
Answer: B

PART III — THE BET

24. Who wrote “The Bet”?
A. Anton Chekhov
B. Leo Tolstoy
C. J.M. Synge
D. Ruskin Bond
Answer: A

25. The bet was made between —
A. two lawyers
B. a banker and a young lawyer
C. a banker and a doctor
D. two businessmen
Answer: B

26. The original amount offered by the banker was —
A. one million roubles
B. two million roubles
C. five million roubles
D. ten million roubles
Answer: B

27. The young lawyer agreed to remain in confinement for —
A. ten years
B. twelve years
C. fifteen years
D. twenty years
Answer: C

28. During his confinement, the lawyer studied —
A. only law
B. only philosophy
C. a wide range of subjects
D. only literature
Answer: C

29. The lawyer's reading eventually made him —
A. more materialistic
B. indifferent to worldly possessions
C. greedy
D. politically ambitious
Answer: B

30. The lawyer finally rejected the —
A. banker
B. books
C. two million roubles
D. prison
Answer: C

31. The lawyer's decision shows his changed attitude towards —
A. wealth and worldly pleasures
B. education
C. friendship
D. science
Answer: A

32. The central irony of “The Bet” is that —
A. the banker becomes richer
B. the lawyer wins the money but loses his freedom
C. both men change completely through the experience
D. the lawyer never enters confinement
Answer: C

PART IV — OUR CASUARINA TREE

This poem deserves very high priority because it carries 5 marks in the prescribed distribution.

33. Who wrote “Our Casuarina Tree”?
A. Toru Dutt
B. Sarojini Naidu
C. Kamala Das
D. Christina Rossetti
Answer: A

34. The Casuarina tree is described as —
A. small and weak
B. huge and magnificent
C. dry and lifeless
D. newly planted
Answer: B

35. The tree is entwined by a —
A. rose
B. creeper
C. jasmine
D. vine of grapes
Answer: B

36. The creeper is compared to a —
A. snake
B. serpent
C. bird
D. necklace
Answer: B

37. The tree is associated with the poet's —
A. childhood memories
B. political ambitions
C. travels abroad
D. professional life
Answer: A

38. The poet's memories of the tree are closely connected with —
A. her siblings
B. her teachers
C. her friends
D. her neighbours
Answer: A

39. The Casuarina tree becomes a symbol of —
A. war
B. memory and immortality
C. wealth
D. social conflict
Answer: B

40. The poet wishes the tree to be remembered through —
A. sculpture
B. architecture
C. poetry
D. painting
Answer: C

41. The poem combines nature with —
A. political satire
B. personal memory and loss
C. humour
D. adventure
Answer: B

42. The dominant mood of the poem is —
A. comic
B. nostalgic and elegiac
C. satirical
D. adventurous
Answer: B

PART V — ULYSSES

43. “Ulysses” was written by —
A. William Wordsworth
B. Alfred Lord Tennyson
C. Robert Browning
D. John Keats
Answer: B

44. Ulysses is the legendary king of —
A. Sparta
B. Ithaca
C. Troy
D. Athens
Answer: B

45. Ulysses is dissatisfied with —
A. travelling
B. ordinary domestic life
C. education
D. warfare
Answer: B

46. Ulysses believes that life is meaningful when one —
A. remains inactive
B. continually seeks experience and knowledge
C. avoids challenges
D. stays at home
Answer: B

47. Telemachus is Ulysses' —
A. brother
B. son
C. friend
D. servant
Answer: B

48. Ulysses describes Telemachus as suitable for —
A. ruling Ithaca
B. exploring the world
C. becoming a soldier
D. becoming a poet
Answer: A

49. The mariners are called upon to —
A. return home permanently
B. continue their journey and strive for new experiences
C. abandon the sea
D. fight a war immediately
Answer: B

50. The famous concluding idea of the poem stresses —
A. surrender
B. perseverance
C. wealth
D. political power
Answer: B

51. The dominant theme of “Ulysses” is —
A. resignation
B. the desire for continued striving and adventure
C. domestic happiness
D. social inequality
Answer: B

52. Ulysses represents the human desire for —
A. knowledge and experience
B. wealth alone
C. political authority alone
D. physical comfort
Answer: A

PART VI — RIDERS TO THE SEA

53. Who wrote “Riders to the Sea”?
A. J.M. Synge
B. T.S. Eliot
C. W.B. Yeats
D. Oscar Wilde
Answer: A

54. The play is set in —
A. Dublin
B. the Aran Islands
C. London
D. Rameswaram
Answer: B

55. Maurya is —
A. a young girl
B. an old mother
C. a priest
D. a fisherman
Answer: B

56. Maurya's daughters are —
A. Nora and Cathleen
B. Cathleen and Nona
C. Nora and Mary
D. Cathleen and Mary
Answer: A

57. Bartley is —
A. Maurya's husband
B. Maurya's son
C. Cathleen's husband
D. a priest
Answer: B

58. Michael is —
A. Maurya's son who is missing
B. Bartley's friend
C. the priest
D. the village headman
Answer: A

59. The central conflict of the play is between human beings and —
A. society
B. nature and fate
C. education
D. political authority
Answer: B

60. The sea in the play primarily symbolises —
A. prosperity
B. uncontrollable natural force and fate
C. education
D. freedom alone
Answer: B

61. Maurya's final attitude towards the sea becomes one of —
A. acceptance
B. hatred only
C. celebration
D. indifference from the beginning
Answer: A

62. “Riders to the Sea” is essentially a —
A. comedy
B. tragedy
C. romantic comedy
D. historical epic
Answer: B

PART VII — TEXTUAL GRAMMAR

Last-minute high-yield area

The prescribed grammar includes synthesis/splitting, change of narration and error correction, based on the prescribed texts.

A. Narration

63. Kalam said, “My father was a deeply religious person.”
The correct indirect form is —
A. Kalam said that my father was a deeply religious person.
B. Kalam said that his father had been a deeply religious person.
C. Kalam says that his father was religious.
D. Kalam said his father is a religious person.
Answer: B

64. The lawyer said, “I will stay for fifteen years.”
The correct indirect form begins —
A. The lawyer said that he would stay...
B. The lawyer said that I would stay...
C. The lawyer says that he will stay...
D. The lawyer told that he will stay...
Answer: A

B. Synthesis

65. The girl was poor. She was attractive.
Correct combination:
A. The girl was poor but attractive.
B. The girl was poor because attractive.
C. Being attractive, she was poor.
D. The girl was poor and because attractive.
Answer: A

66. The tree was huge. It was beautiful.
A. The tree was huge and beautiful.
B. The tree was huge because beautiful.
C. Being beautiful, huge.
D. The tree huge but beautiful.
Answer: A

C. Splitting

67. “The lawyer, having read many books, became indifferent to worldly pleasures.”
The correct splitting is —
A. The lawyer read many books. He became indifferent to worldly pleasures.
B. The lawyer became books. He was indifferent.
C. The lawyer was indifferent because pleasures read books.
D. The lawyer read books and worldly pleasures.
Answer: A

D. Error Correction

68. Choose the correct sentence:
A. He did not knew the answer.
B. He did not know the answer.
C. He does not knew the answer.
D. He did not knows the answer.
Answer: B

69. Choose the correct sentence:
A. She is senior than me.
B. She is senior to me.
C. She is senior from me.
D. She is more senior than to me.
Answer: B

70. Choose the correct sentence:
A. He is good in English.
B. He is good at English.
C. He is good on English.
D. He is good with English.
Answer: B

PART VIII — HIGH-PROBABILITY INNOVATIVE MCQs

The Council explicitly permits innovative MCQ forms and does not prescribe a fixed percentage for each type. Therefore students should practise more than ordinary four-option factual questions.

Assertion–Reason

71. Assertion (A): The narrator of The Night Train at Deoli remains emotionally attached to the girl.

Reason (R): His meetings with her are brief but deeply memorable.

A. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A.
B. Both are true but R does not explain A.
C. A is true but R is false.
D. A is false but R is true.

Answer: A

72. Assertion (A): The lawyer finally rejects the two million roubles.

Reason (R): His years of reading changed his understanding of worldly wealth.

A. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A.
B. Both are true but R does not explain A.
C. A is true but R is false.
D. Both are false.

Answer: A

73. Assertion (A): Ulysses is dissatisfied with an inactive life.

Reason (R): He considers continued experience and striving essential to life.

Answer: A

Match the Columns

74. Match Column A with Column B.

Column A	Column B
1. Ruskin Bond	A. Ulysses
2. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam	B. The Bet
3. Anton Chekhov	C. Strong Roots
4. Alfred Tennyson	D. The Night Train at Deoli

Correct sequence:
A. 1-D, 2-C, 3-B, 4-A
B. 1-C, 2-D, 3-A, 4-B
C. 1-B, 2-C, 3-D, 4-A
D. 1-D, 2-B, 3-C, 4-A

Answer: A

75. Match the text with its central concern.

The Bet
Our Casuarina Tree
Ulysses
Riders to the Sea

A. Memory and immortality
B. Human struggle against fate
C. Rejection of materialism
D. Continual striving

Correct answer:
A. 1-C, 2-A, 3-D, 4-B
B. 1-A, 2-C, 3-B, 4-D
C. 1-D, 2-B, 3-C, 4-A
D. 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C

Answer: A

PART IX — SEQUENCE / REARRANGEMENT

76. Arrange the following events from The Bet in the correct order:

I. The banker and lawyer make the bet.
II. The lawyer spends years in confinement.
III. The lawyer develops contempt for worldly wealth.
IV. The lawyer renounces the money.

A. I → II → III → IV
B. II → I → III → IV
C. I → III → II → IV
D. III → I → II → IV

Answer: A

77. Arrange the broad stages of the narrator's experience in The Night Train at Deoli:

I. He sees the girl.
II. He buys a basket.
III. He develops an attachment.
IV. He searches for her again.

A. I → II → III → IV
B. II → I → IV → III
C. I → III → II → IV
D. IV → I → II → III

Answer: A

PART X — UNSEEN COMPREHENSION

This is the largest single component: 10 marks. The syllabus specifies two broad sets of five questions—grammar/vocabulary and understanding/inference.

Students must revise these immediately:

Vocabulary

synonym
antonym
contextual meaning
word substitution
suitable title
reference of pronoun
meaning of phrase

Grammar

tense
preposition
article
conjunction
voice
narration
subject–verb agreement
error identification

Comprehension

main idea
author's purpose
inference
factual detail
conclusion
statement supported by passage
statement NOT supported by passage

Golden rule

Do not answer an inference question from your general knowledge.
Answer it from what the passage logically establishes.

🔥 THE FINAL 30-MINUTE REVISION LIST

If a student has only 30 minutes left, revise these in this order:

1. Must remember — Authors

The Night Train at Deoli — Ruskin Bond
Strong Roots — A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
The Bet — Anton Chekhov
Our Casuarina Tree — Toru Dutt
Ulysses — Alfred Lord Tennyson
Riders to the Sea — J.M. Synge

2. Must remember — Characters

The Night Train at Deoli

Narrator
Girl
Station master

Strong Roots

Kalam
Jainulabdeen
Jalaluddin
Samsuddin

The Bet

Banker
Young lawyer

Riders to the Sea

Maurya
Cathleen
Nora
Bartley
Michael

3. Must remember — Symbols / Themes

Text	Core idea
Night Train	fleeting love, mystery, memory
Strong Roots	spirituality, family values, secular harmony
The Bet	materialism vs knowledge/spiritual awakening
Casuarina Tree	memory, nature, loss, immortality
Ulysses	adventure, experience, perseverance
Riders	nature, fate, death, acceptance

4. Don't neglect these factual traps

Deoli: 10-minute stop; cane baskets; summer; mysterious girl.

Strong Roots: Rameswaram; Jainulabdeen; Jalaluddin; Samsuddin; prayer; spiritual values.

The Bet: banker + lawyer; ₹2 million; 15 years; confinement; books; renunciation of money.

Casuarina Tree: creeper; childhood memories; siblings; nature; immortality through poetry.

Ulysses: Ithaca; Telemachus; mariners; exploration; knowledge; perseverance.

Riders: Aran Islands; Maurya; Bartley; Michael; sea; fate; tragedy.

🎯 My “scientific” prediction of question types

I would prepare students for the following without assuming that the exact distribution will appear, because WBCHSE has explicitly said that there is no fixed percentage for the different MCQ formats.

MCQ type	Preparation priority
Direct textual fact	★★★★★
Character/detail	★★★★★
Theme/central idea	★★★★★
Contextual meaning	★★★★★
Inference	★★★★★
Assertion–Reason	★★★★
Match the columns	★★★★
Sequence/rearrangement	★★★★
Grammar application	★★★★★
Case/passage-based	★★★★
True/False combination	★★★
Diagram/chart-based	★★

The 50–30–20 difficulty guidance is especially useful here: students should not spend all their revision time memorising easy factual questions; roughly one-fifth of the paper may demand closer textual reading, logic or inference.

WBCHSE CLASS XII — ENGLISH B

SEMESTER III

FINAL 100 MOST PROBABLE MCQs

Last-Minute Examination Practice Set

Texts covered:

The Night Train at Deoli — Ruskin Bond

Strong Roots — A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

The Bet — Anton Chekhov

Our Casuarina Tree — Toru Dutt

Ulysses — Alfred Lord Tennyson

Riders to the Sea — J.M. Synge

Textual Grammar

Reading Comprehension

SECTION A — PROSE

THE NIGHT TRAIN AT DEOLI

Questions 1–10

1. Who wrote The Night Train at Deoli?

A. Ruskin Bond

B. R.K. Narayan

C. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

D. Anton Chekhov

2. The narrator usually passed through Deoli while travelling between —

A. Delhi and Mumbai

B. Delhi and Dehra

C. Dehra and Kolkata

D. Delhi and Shimla

3. Deoli station is presented as —

A. crowded and prosperous

B. busy and modern

C. small and lonely

D. noisy and industrial

4. The narrator first noticed the girl when she was —

A. selling fruit

B. selling baskets

C. waiting for a train

D. reading a book

5. The girl was associated with —

A. flowers

B. cane baskets

C. newspapers

D. tea

6. The narrator bought a basket mainly because —

A. he needed one for his journey

B. he wanted to help her financially

C. he wanted an excuse to speak to her

D. the station master advised him to

7. The narrator's relationship with the girl is best described as —

A. a long-established friendship

B. a brief but memorable emotional attachment

C. a formal acquaintance

D. a family relationship

8. The repeated visits to Deoli reveal the narrator's —

A. fear of travelling

B. curiosity and emotional longing

C. dislike of railway journeys

D. desire for adventure alone

9. The ending of the story is effective chiefly because —

A. the girl's future is fully explained

B. the narrator marries the girl

C. the girl's fate remains uncertain

D. the station is closed permanently

10. The dominant mood of the story is —

A. humorous

B. nostalgic and wistful

C. heroic

D. satirical

STRONG ROOTS

Questions 11–20

11. Strong Roots is associated with which autobiography?

A. India Wins Freedom

B. Wings of Fire

C. My Experiments with Truth

D. The Discovery of India

12. Who wrote Strong Roots?

A. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

B. Jawaharlal Nehru

C. R.K. Narayan

D. Ruskin Bond

13. Kalam was born in —

A. Madurai

B. Rameswaram

C. Chennai

D. Hyderabad

14. Kalam's father was —

A. Jainulabdeen

B. Jalaluddin

C. Samsuddin

D. Ramanadha Sastry

15. Jainulabdeen was known for his —

A. political influence

B. religious and spiritual qualities

C. business success

D. literary achievements

16. Jalaluddin influenced Kalam mainly through —

A. military training

B. intellectual curiosity and discussion

C. political activism

D. business education

17. Samsuddin was connected with —

A. newspaper distribution

B. school teaching

C. temple administration

D. scientific research

18. Kalam's father's attitude towards prayer suggests —

A. religious intolerance

B. spiritual faith and universalism

C. rejection of religion

D. political conservatism

19. The title Strong Roots chiefly suggests the importance of —

A. financial security

B. one's formative family and cultural foundations

C. physical strength

D. political power

20. Which quality is most strongly associated with Kalam's upbringing in the lesson?

A. Materialism

B. Humility and spiritual awareness

C. Aggression

D. Competition

THE BET

Questions 21–32

The Council's revised syllabus specifically places The Bet by Anton Chekhov in the 3-mark Prose slot, replacing Virginia Woolf's selection.

21. Who wrote The Bet?

A. Leo Tolstoy

B. Anton Chekhov

C. Maxim Gorky

D. Ivan Turgenev

22. The initial discussion at the banker's party concerned —

A. war

B. capital punishment

C. education

D. religion

23. The young lawyer was —

A. twenty-five years old

B. thirty-five years old

C. forty years old

D. twenty years old

24. The banker initially bet —

A. one million roubles

B. two million roubles

C. five million roubles

D. ten million roubles

25. The lawyer agreed to remain in solitary confinement for —

A. five years

B. ten years

C. fifteen years

D. twenty years

26. The confinement began on —

A. November 14, 1865

B. November 14, 1870

C. November 14, 1875

D. November 14, 1880

27. The confinement was to end on —

A. November 14, 1885

B. November 14, 1890

C. November 14, 1880

D. November 14, 1900

28. During the early years of confinement, the lawyer's reading consisted largely of —

A. scientific textbooks

B. novels and light literature

C. religious texts

D. legal documents

29. In the second half of the sixth year, he began studying —

A. music and art

B. languages, philosophy and history

C. law and economics

D. mathematics and physics only

30. In four years the lawyer obtained approximately —

A. 100 books

B. 300 books

C. 600 books

D. 1,000 books

31. The banker's financial position after fifteen years had —

A. greatly improved

B. remained unchanged

C. deteriorated considerably

D. become uncertain only temporarily

32. Why did the lawyer renounce the two million roubles?

A. He had become wealthy independently.

B. He had come to reject worldly wealth and material values.

C. The banker refused to pay him.

D. He wanted to continue his imprisonment.

SECTION B — VERSE

OUR CASUARINA TREE

Questions 33–44

33. Who wrote Our Casuarina Tree?

A. Toru Dutt

B. Sarojini Naidu

C. Kamala Das

D. Emily Dickinson

34. The Casuarina tree is associated with the poet's —

A. political life

B. childhood memories

C. professional career

D. travels abroad

35. The tree is described as being —

A. small and fragile

B. huge and magnificent

C. dry and lifeless

D. recently planted

36. The creeper around the tree is compared to a —

A. necklace

B. serpent

C. ribbon

D. bird

37. The tree is connected with memories of the poet's —

A. teachers

B. siblings

C. neighbours

D. schoolmates

38. The poem combines the beauty of nature with —

A. political satire

B. personal memory and loss

C. comic observation

D. historical criticism

39. The poet wishes the tree to be remembered through —

A. painting

B. sculpture

C. poetry

D. architecture

40. The poem can be described as partly —

A. elegiac

B. dramatic

C. satirical

D. comic

41. The tree becomes a symbol of —

A. political freedom

B. enduring memory

C. wealth

D. social conflict

42. The poet's attitude towards the tree is primarily one of —

A. indifference

B. affection and reverence

C. fear

D. resentment

43. Which two elements are especially intertwined in the poem?

A. Nature and memory

B. Politics and economics

C. War and patriotism

D. Science and religion

44. The poet's desire for immortality is linked to the power of —

A. wealth

B. nature alone

C. poetry

D. political authority

ULYSSES

Questions 45–56

45. Who wrote Ulysses?

A. Robert Browning

B. Alfred Lord Tennyson

C. William Wordsworth

D. John Keats

46. Ulysses is the king of —

A. Troy

B. Ithaca

C. Sparta

D. Athens

47. Ulysses is dissatisfied with —

A. travelling

B. an inactive domestic life

C. knowledge

D. adventure

48. Telemachus is Ulysses' —

A. brother

B. son

C. friend

D. servant

49. Ulysses considers Telemachus suited to —

A. ruling Ithaca

B. exploring the world

C. becoming a sailor

D. becoming a poet

50. Ulysses' attitude towards life is characterised by —

A. resignation

B. continual striving

C. fear

D. indifference

51. For Ulysses, experience is valuable because it —

A. makes a person wealthy

B. expands knowledge and understanding

C. guarantees political power

D. removes all difficulties

52. Ulysses calls upon his mariners to —

A. remain at home

B. continue striving and exploring

C. surrender

D. abandon the sea

53. The sea journey in the poem represents —

A. complete escape from responsibility

B. continued pursuit of experience

C. economic prosperity

D. political conquest only

54. The dominant theme of Ulysses is —

A. the beauty of domestic life

B. the spirit of adventure and perseverance

C. rejection of knowledge

D. fear of old age

55. Ulysses refuses to regard old age as —

A. a stage of life

B. an excuse for inactivity

C. a source of wisdom

D. a natural process

56. The concluding spirit of the poem emphasises —

A. giving up

B. striving, seeking and perseverance

C. wealth accumulation

D. political reform

SECTION C — DRAMA

RIDERS TO THE SEA

Questions 57–72

57. Who wrote Riders to the Sea?

A. J.M. Synge

B. W.B. Yeats

C. George Bernard Shaw

D. Oscar Wilde

58. The play is set on —

A. the Scottish Islands

B. the Aran Islands

C. the Greek Islands

D. the English coast

59. Riders to the Sea is a —

A. comedy in three acts

B. one-act tragedy

C. historical drama

D. romantic comedy

60. Maurya is —

A. a young girl

B. an old woman

C. a priest

D. a neighbour

61. Bartley is Maurya's —

A. husband

B. son

C. brother

D. neighbour

62. Cathleen is —

A. Maurya's daughter

B. Bartley's wife

C. a neighbour

D. the priest's sister

63. Nora is —

A. Maurya's younger daughter

B. Bartley's wife

C. a village woman

D. a servant

64. At the beginning of the play, Nora has received —

A. a letter from Bartley

B. clothes taken from a drowned man

C. a fishing net

D. a coffin

65. The clothes may belong to —

A. Bartley

B. Michael

C. Patch

D. Stephen

66. Bartley intends to go to —

A. Dublin

B. the Galway fair

C. Donegal

D. Connemara village

67. Bartley travels with —

A. two boats

B. a red mare and a grey pony

C. a black horse and a white mare

D. two grey horses

68. The sea in the play primarily represents —

A. complete safety

B. an overwhelming and uncontrollable force

C. wealth and prosperity

D. social progress

69. Maurya has lost —

A. only Michael

B. only Bartley

C. her husband and several sons

D. only her daughters

70. Michael's identity is established through —

A. a letter

B. a stocking

C. a photograph

D. a necklace

71. Bartley is killed when —

A. a boat sinks

B. the grey pony knocks him into the sea

C. he falls from a cliff

D. he is struck by lightning

72. At the end, Maurya accepts —

A. that human beings cannot live forever and must accept fate

B. that the sea can be defeated

C. that Bartley will return

D. that Michael is alive

SECTION D — HIGH-ORDER / INNOVATIVE MCQs

Assertion–Reason

73. Assertion (A): The lawyer in The Bet finally rejects the money.

Reason (R): His years of intellectual and spiritual experience transformed his attitude towards worldly possessions.

A. Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.

B. Both are true, but R does not explain A.

C. A is true but R is false.

D. A is false but R is true.

74. Assertion (A): Ulysses is dissatisfied with remaining at home.

Reason (R): He believes that human beings should continue seeking knowledge and experience.

A. Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.

B. Both are true, but R does not explain A.

C. A is true but R is false.

D. Both are false.

75. Assertion (A): The Casuarina tree has emotional significance for the poet.

Reason (R): It is associated with memories of her childhood and loved ones.

A. Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.

B. Both are true, but R does not explain A.

C. A is true but R is false.

D. A is false but R is true.

76. Assertion (A): The sea is almost a character in Riders to the Sea.

Reason (R): The sea controls the lives and deaths of the islanders.

A. Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.

B. Both are true, but R does not explain A.

C. A is true but R is false.

D. Both are false.

Match the Columns

77. Match Column A with Column B.

Column A Column B

1. Ruskin Bond A. The Bet

2. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam B. Ulysses

3. Anton Chekhov C. Strong Roots

4. Alfred Tennyson D. The Night Train at Deoli

A. 1-D, 2-C, 3-A, 4-B

B. 1-C, 2-D, 3-B, 4-A

C. 1-A, 2-C, 3-D, 4-B

D. 1-D, 2-A, 3-C, 4-B

78. Match the character with the text.

Character Text

1. Maurya A. The Bet

2. Telemachus B. Riders to the Sea

3. The Lawyer C. Ulysses

4. The Girl D. The Night Train at Deoli

A. 1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-D

B. 1-C, 2-B, 3-D, 4-A

C. 1-A, 2-C, 3-B, 4-D

D. 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C

Sequence

79. Arrange the following events from The Bet chronologically.

I. The bet is made.

II. The lawyer enters confinement.

III. He studies languages, philosophy and history.

IV. He reads extensively and changes his outlook.

V. He renounces the money.

A. I → II → III → IV → V

B. II → I → III → V → IV

C. I → III → II → IV → V

D. II → III → I → IV → V

80. Arrange the following events from Riders to the Sea.

I. Nora receives the bundle.

II. Bartley prepares to leave.

III. Michael's identity is established.

IV. Bartley dies.

V. Maurya accepts the finality of death.

A. I → II → III → IV → V

B. II → I → III → IV → V

C. I → III → II → V → IV

D. III → I → II → IV → V

SECTION E — TEXTUAL GRAMMAR

Questions 81–90

The official Semester III syllabus specifies Synthesis and Splitting of Sentences, Change of Narration and Correction of Errors for the 5-mark Textual Grammar component.

Synthesis

81. The girl was poor. She was attractive.

Choose the correct synthesis.

A. The girl was poor but attractive.

B. The girl was poor because attractive.

C. Being poor and attractive the girl.

D. The girl was poor although she attractive.

82. The banker was rich. He was afraid of losing his money.

A. Rich, the banker was afraid of losing his money.

B. The banker was rich because he feared money.

C. The banker was rich but afraid of losing his money.

D. The banker rich and afraid money.

83. Bartley was warned by Maurya. He ignored her warning.

A. Warned by Maurya, Bartley ignored her warning.

B. Bartley ignored because Maurya warned.

C. Being warning, Bartley ignored Maurya.

D. Bartley was warned and because ignored.

Splitting

84. “The lawyer, having read many books, changed his attitude towards life.”

The correct splitting is —

A. The lawyer read many books. He changed his attitude towards life.

B. The lawyer changed many books. He read life.

C. The lawyer read life. He changed many books.

D. The lawyer was reading and life changed.

85. “Being frightened by the sea, Maurya became anxious.”

A. Maurya was frightened by the sea. She became anxious.

B. Maurya frightened the sea. She became anxious.

C. The sea became frightened by Maurya.

D. Maurya was anxious because she frightened the sea.

Narration

86. The lawyer said, “I will stay for fifteen years.”

A. The lawyer said that he would stay for fifteen years.

B. The lawyer said that I would stay for fifteen years.

C. The lawyer said that he will stay for fifteen years.

D. The lawyer says that he would stay for fifteen years.

87. Maurya said, “Bartley will be lost now.”

A. Maurya said that Bartley would be lost then.

B. Maurya said that Bartley will be lost now.

C. Maurya says Bartley would be lost.

D. Maurya said Bartley is lost now.

88. The banker said to the lawyer, “Think better of it.”

A. The banker told the lawyer to think better of it.

B. The banker told that the lawyer thought better.

C. The banker said the lawyer to think better.

D. The banker asked that think better.

Error Correction

89. Choose the correct sentence.

A. He did not knew the answer.

B. He did not know the answer.

C. He did not knows the answer.

D. He did not knowing the answer.

90. Choose the correct sentence.

A. She is senior than me.

B. She is senior to me.

C. She is senior from me.

D. She is more senior to than me.

SECTION F — UNSEEN COMPREHENSION

Questions 91–100

Read the passage carefully.

Passage

Books have always played an important role in the intellectual development of human beings. A good book does more than provide information; it encourages the reader to think, question and examine ideas from different perspectives. In an age dominated by rapidly changing digital media, books continue to offer a form of concentrated attention that is increasingly valuable. Reading also develops vocabulary and improves one's ability to understand complex ideas.

However, reading effectively does not simply mean reading a large number of books. The quality of attention given to a text matters greatly. A thoughtful reader pauses, reflects, connects new ideas with previous knowledge and distinguishes fact from opinion. Such reading develops independent judgement. It can also make a person more patient because serious texts often require time and concentration.

The value of reading, therefore, lies not merely in the accumulation of information but in the development of the mind. A reader who learns to think critically is better prepared to understand both books and the world beyond them.

Vocabulary & Grammar

91. The word “concentrated” in the passage most nearly means —

A. scattered

B. focused

C. careless

D. hurried

92. The opposite of “complex” is —

A. difficult

B. complicated

C. simple

D. serious

93. The word “distinguishes” means —

A. combines

B. separates or differentiates

C. ignores

D. repeats

94. Choose the correct grammatical form:

“Reading ___ vocabulary.”

A. improve

B. improving

C. improves

D. have improved

95. The word “therefore” indicates —

A. contrast

B. conclusion

C. condition

D. example

Understanding & Inference

96. According to the passage, a good book does more than —

A. entertain

B. provide information

C. increase wealth

D. improve memory

97. Effective reading requires —

A. speed alone

B. reading as many books as possible

C. attention, reflection and critical thinking

D. memorising every sentence

98. Why does serious reading develop patience?

A. Because books are always difficult.

B. Because serious texts require time and concentration.

C. Because readers dislike digital media.

D. Because reading takes no effort.

99. Which statement is NOT supported by the passage?

A. Reading can improve vocabulary.

B. Critical reading develops independent judgement.

C. Digital media has made books completely useless.

D. Reading can help people examine ideas critically.

100. The central idea of the passage is that —

A. digital media should be abandoned

B. reading is valuable mainly because it develops the thinking mind

C. only difficult books are worth reading

D. people should read more quickly

WBCHSE CLASS XII — ENGLISH B

SEMESTER III 2026

SCIENTIFIC LAST-MINUTE MCQ SUGGESTION

Full Marks: 40 | Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Syllabus Weightage

Area	Marks	Last-minute priority
The Night Train at Deoli	4	★★★★★
Strong Roots	3	★★★★
The Bet	3	★★★★
Our Casuarina Tree	5	★★★★★
Ulysses	5	★★★★★
Riders to the Sea	5	★★★★★
Textual Grammar	5	★★★★★
Unseen Comprehension	10	★★★★★