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Read the following… (Class 12 English SQP 2024-25, Q8A)

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EnglishCBSE Class 12 · Sample paper, session 2024-25 · 4 marks · Case-based

CBSE Class 12 English sample paper 2024-25: question 8(A)

From the official CBSE sample question paper for 2024-25, section C, question 8(A), for 4 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q8(A) · 4 marks · Case-basedCompetency-basedJourney to the End of the Earth

Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (A) or (B).

To visit Antarctica now is to be a part of that history; to get a grasp of where we've come from and where we could possibly be heading. It's to understand the significance of Cordilleran folds and pre-Cambrian granite shields; ozone and carbon; evolution and extinction. When you think about all that can happen in a million years, it can get pretty mind-boggling. Imagine: India pushing northwards, jamming against Asia to buckle its crust and form the Himalayas; South America drifting off to join North America, opening up the Drake Passage to create a cold circumpolar current, keeping Antarctica frigid, desolate, and at the bottom of the world. (Journey to the End of the Earth)

  1. I.

    Complete the following suitably.
    The passage suggests that visiting Antarctica offers insight into geological processes and Earth's history by ______________.

    1 mark
  2. II.

    How does the author imply the role of geological knowledge in understanding the Earth's past and potential future changes?

    1 mark
  3. III.

    The writer says, 'When you think about all that can happen in a million years, it can get pretty mind-boggling.'
    What is the most likely impact on the writer?

    1. (A)Feels overwhelmed by the vastness of geological time scales.
    2. (B)Is uneasy about the rapid pace of geological changes.
    3. (C)Feels indifferent towards geological phenomena.
    4. (D)Is surprised by the lack of significant geological events over a million years.
    1 mark
  4. IV.

    How might understanding the geological processes mentioned in the passage help scientists in predicting and mitigating future environmental changes, particularly in polar regions?

    1 mark

Source: official sample paper from cbseacademic.nic.in (PDF). See it in the full Sample paper 2024-25.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

For I, see what the passage says it is 'to understand'.

Hint 2

For II, notice how India and South America are linked to Antarctica's climate.

Hint 3

For III, ask what 'mind-boggling' implies about the writer's reaction.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

Verified: two independent solves agree and the official marking scheme matchesChecked 2026-11-01

  1. (I) ...exploring Cordilleran folds, granite shields, and environmental factors like ozone and carbon.

    1 mark

  2. (II) The author links geological events, such as the Himalayas forming and the Drake Passage opening, to Antarctica's present cold state. This shows that geological processes shaped the planet's past and will shape its future.

    1 mark

  3. (III) Option A. A million years is a vast span of time and 'mind-boggling', so the writer feels overwhelmed.

    1 mark

  4. (IV) Knowing how past geological events affected polar regions and global climate helps scientists predict future changes and plan how to reduce their impact.

    1 mark

Answer: (I) exploring Cordilleran folds, granite shields and factors like ozone and carbon; (III) A

Where the marks are

  • Completes I with geological features and environmental factors (1 mark)
  • Links geology to Antarctica's conditions and history (1 mark)
  • Option A (1 mark)
  • Explains prediction and mitigation of polar change (1 mark)

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