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Read the following… (Class 12 English SQP 2026-27, Q8A)

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EnglishCBSE Class 12 · Sample paper, session 2026-27 · 4 marks · Case-based

CBSE Class 12 English sample paper 2026-27: question 8(A)

From the official CBSE sample question paper for 2026-27, 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-basedOn the Face of It

Read the following extracts and solve ANY ONE of the given two, (A) or (B).

Derry: You’re… peculiar. You say peculiar things. You ask questions I don’t understand.
Mr Lamb: I like to talk. Have company. You don’t have to answer questions. You don’t have to stop here at all. The gate’s open.
Derry: Yes, but…
Mr Lamb: I’ve a hive of bees behind those trees over there. Some hear bees and they say, bees buzz. But when you listen to bees for a long while, they humm… and hum means ‘sing’. I hear them singing, my bees.
Derry: But… I like it here. I came in because I liked it… when I looked over the wall. (On the Face of It)

  1. I

    What does Mr Lamb mean when he says, “The gate’s open”?

    1. (A)Visitors must ask permission before entering.
    2. (B)Anyone is free to enter or leave without restriction.
    3. (C)He does not want visitors to stay long.
    4. (D)The gate is broken and cannot be closed.
    1 mark
  2. II

    How does Mr Lamb’s way of speaking challenge Derry’s initial perception of him as ‘peculiar’?

    1 mark
  3. III

    Mr Lamb’s description of bees as ‘singing’ rather than ‘buzzing’ reveals his tendency to _______.

    1. (A)perceive ordinary sounds with sensitivity
    2. (B)interpret familiar experiences in a reflective way
    3. (C)describe natural sounds with poetic emphasis
    4. (D)respond to nature with thoughtful attentiveness
    1 mark
  4. IV

    What can be inferred about Derry’s emotional state from his statement, ‘I like it here’?

    1 mark

Source: official sample paper from cbseacademic.nic.in (PDF). See it in the full Sample paper 2026-27.

Hints

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

Hint 1

A gate that is open invites everyone. Think of freedom and choice.

Hint 2

Does Mr Lamb say anything frightening or odd, or is he gentle and accepting?

Hint 3

'I like it here' shows how Derry feels in that place.

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) Option B. The open gate symbolises freedom and acceptance: Derry may enter or leave as he wishes.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) Mr Lamb is calm, reflective and accepting, and he does not judge. This shows warmth and depth, so Derry's belief that 'peculiar' means strange or threatening is challenged.

    1 mark

  3. (iii) Option A. Hearing bees as 'singing' shows he perceives ordinary sounds with sensitivity and imagination.

    1 mark

  4. (iv) Derry feels comfort and acceptance with Mr Lamb. He feels at ease and belonging for the first time, showing a shift from fear and isolation to tentative trust.

    1 mark

Answer: (i) B; (ii) Lamb's calm, non-judging manner shows warmth and depth; (iii) A; (iv) Derry feels comfort, acceptance and growing trust

Where the marks are

  • Option B (1 mark)
  • Lamb's manner challenges 'peculiar' (1 mark)
  • Option A (1 mark)
  • Derry's comfort and acceptance (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: On the Face of It (notes, formulas, where marks are lost and every past question)

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