CBSE Class 12 English Core PYQs

Try a sample question

From the CBSE Class 12 English Core Sample Paper 2027.

How do Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda and Going Places by A. R. Barton present different responses to inner conflict, and what do these responses reveal about the impact of silence and imagination on human growth? Answer in about 120-150 words.

Explanation

Step 1: Inner conflict means a struggle within a person, such as dissatisfaction, anxiety or competing wishes. The task compares responses to it in Keeping Quiet and Going Places.

Step 2: In Keeping Quiet, a deliberate pause makes honest reflection possible. Reflection means looking carefully at one's own thoughts and actions. In Going Places, Sophie's fantasy offers escape but is not matched by practical action.

Step 3: Plan a linked comparison: response → effect → what it reveals about growth. Silence here does not mean permanent inactivity or death; imagination is not always harmful. The contrast concerns purposeful reflection and Sophie's unchecked escape from reality.

For Keeping Quiet: pause habitual activity → notice one's own actions and shared human needs → become more aware and understanding. That explains why stillness may support growth. For Going Places: dissatisfaction with ordinary life → imagined success and a celebrity encounter → hope without a realistic foundation → disappointment and isolation. That explains why this kind of fantasy may delay growth. Use a specific example from each text, then connect the examples with words such as 'whereas' or 'in contrast'. Do not write one unrelated paragraph on each and assume the comparison is obvious. The question asks what the different responses reveal, so the consequence matters as much as the response.

Teacher model, 120–150 words:
Keeping Quiet and Going Places show different responses to inner conflict. In Keeping Quiet, Neruda asks people to pause their restless activity and examine their lives. This purposeful silence is not death or permanent inactivity. It creates space for self-understanding and concern for others, so the pause can support change.
In Going Places, Sophie responds to dissatisfaction by imagining a more exciting life and a meeting with Danny Casey. Her imagination offers temporary escape, but she does not connect it with realistic action. Waiting for the imagined meeting leaves her disappointed and isolated.
The contrast suggests that human growth depends on facing life honestly. Silence can help people recognise their needs and responsibilities. Imagination can also be valuable, but Sophie's unsupported fantasies prevent her from dealing with her circumstances. The texts therefore distinguish thoughtful reflection from escape that avoids reality.
Check: both works, different responses, consequences and an explicit comparison are present.

See this sample paper