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Read the following passage… (English 2026 301/1/1 Q2)

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EnglishCBSE Class 12 · Board exam 2026, set 301/1/1 · 10 marks · Reading comprehension

CBSE Class 12 English 2026: question 2

Set in the CBSE Class 12 board exam of 2026, paper 301/1/1, section A, question 2, for 10 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q2 · 10 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-basedReading (unseen passages)

Read the following passage carefully:

(1) Introduction : India faces a serious road safety challenge. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, over 4.8 lakh road accidents were reported in 2023, leading to 1.72 lakh deaths. Many of these could have been avoided by simple precautions – wearing helmets, fastening seatbelts and following speed limits. These statistics aren't just numbers; they represent lives lost and family dynamics changed forever.

Causes of Road Accidents in India (2023)

S. No.Causes%
1.Overspeeding56
2.Drunk driving8
3.No seatbelt/helmet15
4.Distraction (mobiles)6
5.Mechanical failure4
6.Weather/road condition6
7.Others5

(2) Methodology : Recognising this, several cities are becoming proactive, especially near school zones. The municipal corporations and traffic police have introduced stricter school-zone safety measures – speed bumps, zebra crossings and digital signboards. This led to a 30% drop in minor accidents near schools, within a year. The success lay in combining infrastructure with awareness. Parents, teachers and traffic marshals helped monitor traffic during school hours.

(3) Survey : It's not just governments stepping up. In many cities, class XI and XII students launched a campaign called 'Ride Right', promoting helmet use among two-wheeler riders. They handed out stickers, ran roadshows and launched a 'No Helmet, No Selfie' challenge that went viral. Over 2000 riders pledged to wear helmets daily. Their success even led to invitations from the municipal body to speak in other schools – proof of how youth-led efforts can spark policy engagement.

(4) Results : Technology is also playing a significant role. Automation through AI-powered traffic cameras, digital signs and automated lights is being implemented in metros to reduce human error and improve monitoring including Pilot projects such as iRASTE and AI based road safety pilot to predict and prevent accidents using real time data and alerts for drivers. These systems have led to a 40% rise in fine collection, showing improved rule enforcement. GPS based alert systems in school buses now notify parents of speeding or unscheduled stops – another step towards safer school commutes.

(5) Implication for interventions : Still, personal responsibility is the most powerful safety tool. Whether it's a student cyclist using the left lane or a pedestrian waiting for the signal, every right choice sets an example. A popular slogan in school says it best : 'I follow, I influence.' Road safety is about respecting life, valuing time, and leading by example.

Answer the following questions, based on the given passage:

  1. (i)

    What strategy does the author use in paragraph (1) to highlight the seriousness of road accidents ?

    1. (A)use of statistics and emotional appeal.
    2. (B)humour and satire
    3. (C)technical jargon and neutrality
    4. (D)personal anecdotes and optimism
    1 mark
  2. (ii)

    What evidence from the passage suggests that stricter school-zone measures were effective ?

    1. (A)the number of schools increased rapidly.
    2. (B)there was a 30% drop in minor accidents near schools.
    3. (C)teachers and parents opposed the new rules.
    4. (D)students stopped commuting by bicycle.
    1 mark
  3. (iii)

    What would the following be classified as ?
    Students launched a campaign called "Ride Right" promoting helmet use among two wheeler riders.
    Select the appropriate response:

    1. (A)primary purpose
    2. (B)secondary objective
    3. (C)method of analysis
    4. (D)research outcome
    1 mark
  4. (iv)

    Give two points to support the success of the No Helmet – No Selfie Challenge.

    2 marks
  5. (v)

    Which word from paragraph 4 best conveys the idea of 'ensuring compliance through authoritative measures' especially in the context of traffic systems ?

    1. (A)collection
    2. (B)enforcement
    3. (C)monitoring
    4. (D)automation
    1 mark
  6. (vi)

    Analyze why does the author emphasise that both technology and personal responsibility are important in promoting road safety.

    2 marks
  7. (vii)

    Complete the following with a suitable reason:
    Road safety is about personal responsibility because _________.

    1 mark
  8. (viii)

    Which of the following inferences is best supported by the data in the table ?

    1. (A)enforcement of helmet and seat belt rules would address the cause of road deaths.
    2. (B)speeding is the key issue, which requires technological and behavioural interventions.
    3. (C)mobile phone use while driving is the fastest growing cause of accidents.
    4. (D)drunk driving accounts for more deaths than 'no helmet/seat belt' and distractions combined.
    1 mark

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2026 board paper, set 301/1/1.

Hints

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

Hint 1

For (iii), ask what the campaign was mainly meant to achieve.

Hint 2

For (iv), look at the results paragraph 3 reports after the challenge went viral.

Hint 3

(iii) is 'primary purpose'. (iv) needs the 2000 pledges and the municipal body's invitations to other schools.

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) (A) use of statistics and emotional appeal: the figures of 4.8 lakh accidents and 1.72 lakh deaths, and 'lives lost and family dynamics changed forever'.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) (B) there was a 30% drop in minor accidents near schools.

    1 mark

  3. (iii) (A) primary purpose: the main aim of the students' 'Ride Right' campaign was to promote helmet use among two-wheeler riders.

    1 mark

  4. (iv) First, over 2000 riders pledged to wear helmets daily after the challenge went viral. Second, its success led to invitations from the municipal body for the students to speak in other schools, sparking policy engagement.

    2 marks

  5. (v) (B) enforcement.

    1 mark

  6. (vi) Technology such as AI cameras, GPS alerts and iRASTE reduces human error and improves monitoring and enforcement, shown by the 40% rise in fine collection. However, rules succeed only when people choose to follow them, so personal responsibility remains 'the most powerful safety tool'. Each right choice sets an example ('I follow, I influence'), so both are needed for lasting road safety.

    2 marks

  7. (vii) ...it is the most powerful safety tool: every right choice, such as using the left lane or waiting for the signal, protects life and sets an example for others.

    1 mark

  8. (viii) (B) speeding is the key issue, which requires technological and behavioural interventions, since overspeeding accounts for 56% of accidents.

    1 mark

Answer: (i) A; (ii) B; (iii) A; (iv) 2000+ riders pledged daily helmet use; municipal invitations to speak in other schools; (v) B; (vi) technology enforces and monitors, while personal responsibility ensures compliance and sets examples; (vii) every right choice sets an example / it is the most powerful safety tool; (viii) B

Where the marks are

  • (i) A (1 mark)
  • (ii) B (1 mark)
  • (iii) A primary purpose (1 mark)
  • (iv) 2000 pledges + municipal invitations to speak in other schools (2 marks)
  • (v) B (1 mark)
  • (vi) Role of technology + role of personal responsibility (2 marks)
  • (vii) Suitable reason (1 mark)
  • (viii) B (1 mark)
  • Total (10 marks)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: Reading (unseen passages)

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