AHSEC CLASS 12 ALTERNATIVE ENGLISH SOLVED PAPER - 2026| ASSEB BOARD
2026
ALTERNATIVE ENGLISH
Full Marks: 100
Pass Marks: 30
Time: Three hours
The figures in the margin indicate full marks for the questions.
GROUP-A
(Prose)
(Marks: 40)
1. Give brief answers to any five of the following questions in full sentence: 1x5=5
(a) What is
the full name of the verger?
Ans:- The
Verger's full name is Albert Edward Foreman.
(b) At
exactly what time did Rama use to arrive with his load of stuff?
Ans:-
Rama arrived with his load of stuff at exactly eight o'clock in the morning.
(c) In which
street was Rosemary shopping when she met Miss Smith?
Ans:-
Rosemary was shopping on Curzon Street when she met Miss Smith.
(d) Where
does the younger son go to pursue medical studies?
Ans:- The
younger son goes to Dibrugarh to study medicine.
(e) How many
chapatis could one get at Rama by paying an anna?
Ans:- One
could get four rotis for an *anna* at Rama's shop.
(f) At what
age did the verger go into service?
Ans:- The
Verger started working at the age of twelve.
(g) What is
the name of the magazine mentioned by Philip?
Ans:- The
name of the magazine mentioned by Philip is 'The Quiver'.
(h) Who had
inaugurated the Kanhikuchi Airport of Guwahati?
Ans:- The
Kanhikuchi Airport in Guwahati was inaugurated by the Governor of Assam, Sir
Akbar Hydari.
(i) Name two
locations of Guwahati mentioned in "The Voyage".
Ans:- Two
places in Guwahati mentioned in "The Voyage" are Bharalumukh (or
Fancy Bazar) and Uzan Bazar.
(j) Which
letter of the alphabet resembled the shape of Bina Kutir?
Ans:- The
letter of the alphabet that resembled the shape of 'Bina Kutir' was the letter
'L'.
2. Answer any five of the following questions: 2×5=10
(a) Name at
least three journals/newspapers offered by the air hostess.
Ans:- In
"The Voyage," the three journals and newspapers provided to
passengers by the air hostess are *The Times*, *The Daily Telegraph*, and *The
New Statesman*.
(b) How did
the verger keep his gowns?
Ans:- The
verger, Albert Edward Foreman, took great pride in his official attire. He
maintained his gowns with great care—folding them neatly, wrapping them in
brown paper, and storing them securely—so that even his older gowns always
looked presentable.
(c) What did
the verger feel about the old vicar?
Ans:- The
verger held the old vicar in high regard and affection. He considered the old
vicar a true gentleman—sociable, discreet, and accepting of the verger exactly
as he was, without demanding formal education or literacy or questioning him
about it.
(d) Describe,
in brief, the food items sold by Rama.
Ans:- In
"The Martyr's Corner," Rama ran a popular roadside food stall where
he sold freshly prepared South Indian delicacies. His menu primarily featured
soft, steamed idlis and delicious, fried vadas, served with spicy chutney,
tangy lime pickle, and hot coffee.
(e) How does
Philip react towards Miss Smith?
Ans:- In
"A Cup of Tea," Philip initially displays a sense of class
superiority and mild annoyance towards Miss Smith; he questions his wife
Rosemary's impulsive decision to bring a complete stranger into their home.
However, upon meeting her in private, he finds her "exquisitely
lovely"—a remark that sparks intense jealousy in Rosemary.
(f) Briefly
describe Bina Kutir as the narrator looked at it for the first time.
Ans:-
When the narrator first sees Bina Kutir, it appears as a simple, secluded,
single-story house built in the Assamese style and shaped like an
"L," featuring a roof made of corrugated iron. It stands as a
dilapidated symbol of a bygone era, looking utterly dwarfed and stifled amidst
the newly constructed, modern concrete commercial buildings.
(g) Give a
brief description of the young man at the counter.
Ans:- The
young man at the bank counter (in Somerset Maugham's story "The
Verger") was the bank manager's assistant or clerk. He was well-dressed,
professional, and efficient at his job, yet he was struck by sheer astonishment
and disbelief upon learning that a wealthy depositor like Albert Edward Foreman
could neither read nor write.
(h) What did
Rama feel about the young scraggy fellow' the one who did business before Rama
arrived?
Ans:-
Rama felt professionally superior to that thin young man. He regarded him as
inferior because the previous vendor lacked cleanliness, provided poor service,
and sold low-quality food; consequently, his business failed, allowing Rama to
easily set up his own operation in that spot.
(i) Write a
short description of the little enamel box.
Ans:- The
small enamel box that Rosemary wished to buy from the antique shop on Curzon
Street was an exquisite, miniature luxury item. It was beautifully crafted,
featuring a glossy finish and intricate, lovely designs; it also carried a
hefty price tag—twenty-eight guineas.
(j) Give,
after Bhupen Hazarika, a brief description of Djibouti.
Ans:-
According to Bhupen Hazarika, as depicted in "The Voyage," Djibouti
was a city under Italian imperial control where stark signs of abject poverty
were evident; furthermore, there was absolutely no trace of development. He
observed that the area was dominated by shops selling cheap liquor, a fact that
painted a grim picture of the prevailing socio-economic conditions.
3. Give answers to any two of the following questions:
3×2=6
(a) How did
the young man reply when the narrator asked him about a refrigerator?
Ans:- In
"The Cottage," when the narrator asked about the presence of a
refrigerator in the house, the young man at the counter gave a prompt and
practical answer. He explained that a refrigerator was essential for their
business to store perishable items like milk and fish and to keep water cool.
He further mentioned that they already had two large refrigerators running
constantly; the heavy electrical load caused the house's electricity meter to
burn out frequently, compelling them to apply for a commercial electricity
connection.
(b) Give a
gist of the conversation between the verger and the vicar.
Ans:- The
conversation between the new vicar and the verger, Albert Edward Foreman, marks
a pivotal moment in the story "The Verger." The vicar summons Albert
to the vestry and states that, although he is pleased with Albert's work, he is
astonished to learn that Albert is completely illiterate. The vicar firmly
asserts that St. Peter's is a fashionable church and he cannot risk a scandal
by employing an illiterate verger. He gives Albert an ultimatum: either learn
to read and write within three months or lose his job. Albert respectfully
declines, stating that he is too old to learn and has managed perfectly well
without literacy for thirty years; he then tenders his resignation.
(c) Describe
Rosemary's encounter with Miss Smith.
Ans:-
Rosemary Fell’s encounter with Miss Smith takes place on Curzon Street on a
cold, rainy winter evening. Miss Smith, a poor, shivering girl, approaches
Rosemary and asks for some money to buy a cup of tea. Instantly moved by the
thrill and drama of the situation, Rosemary decides to do something straight
out of a fairy tale. Instead of merely offering money, she insists on taking
the frightened, hesitant girl to her luxurious home. Upon arrival, Rosemary
seats Miss Smith in a large armchair by the fireplace, serves her tea and
sandwiches, and promises to care for and comfort her.
(d) What
happened when the wheels of the plane to Calcutta had started rolling?
Ans:- In
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika's "The Voyage," as the wheels of the plane bound
for Calcutta finally began to turn on the runway, the narrator experienced a
profound emotional shift. The activity of the flight signaled the definitive
end of his long, memorable journey in the West and the beginning of his return
home. As the plane taxied and accelerated for takeoff, his heart swelled with
overwhelming patriotism and a deep, irrepressible attachment to his homeland,
India.
(e) Give a
short description of Rama's customers.
Ans:-
Rama's street food stall at "The Martyrs' Corner" attracted a diverse
crowd of ordinary working-class people. His regular clientele included
shoe-shine boys, *ekka* drivers, beggars, and various laborers who stopped
there for an affordable, filling meal. In the evenings, his customers also
included bus passengers, moviegoers, and workers returning from local mills.
Rama treated all his customers with equal patience and respect, carefully
tailoring his service to the needs of everyone—from wealthy merchants to
destitute beggars.
4. Answer any two of the following questions: 5×2=10
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