West Bengal Board Class 12 English Question Paper 2026 with Answers
.jpg "WBCHSE HS Semester 4 English Question Paper with Answers। উচ্চমাধ্যমিক চতুর্থ সেমিস্টার ইংরেজি প্রশ্নপত্র")
Download WBCHSE Class 12 Semester 4 English Question Paper 2026 with Answers
ENGLISH – B
SEMESTER – IV (New System) – 2026
Total Time: 2 Hours || Full Marks: 40
Special credit will be given for answers which are brief and to the point. Marks will be deducted for spelling mistakes, untidiness and bad handwriting. Figures in the margin indicate full marks for the questions.
INSTRUCTIONS
- This Question Booklet consists of 8 pages.
- Attempt the questions as per the instructions given therein.
- Write the answers only in the Main Answer Script, nowhere else.
উচ্চমাধ্যমিক চতুর্থ সেমিস্টার ইংরেজি প্রশ্নপত্র ২০২৬ PDF
Section – A
(For 10 marks questions) 5 × 2 = 10
1. Answer any two questions out of four questions:
A) Why couldn't Alice go through the little door even though she had the key?
Ans : - Alice could not go through the little door even though she had the key because the door was too small for her. She was much too big to pass through the narrow passage.
B) What did Alice find on the table on the second occasion?
Ans : - On the second occasion, Alice found a little bottle on the table with a label that said “DRINK ME.”
C) What did the Tsar decide to do when he disagreed with the learned men?
Ans : - When the Tsar disagreed with the learned men and was dissatisfied with their different answers, he decided to consult a hermit who was well-known for his wisdom.
D) Why did the wounded man want to kill the king?
Ans : - The wounded man wanted to kill the king because the Tsar had executed his brother and seized his property. Out of revenge, he planned to kill the Tsar on his way back from meeting the hermit.
2. Answer any two questions out of four questions:
A) What is the ‘right’ of the hawk and why are ‘no arguments’ needed for it?
Ans : - The ‘right’ of the hawk is its natural right to kill and rule over other creatures. As a powerful predator, it believes that its authority comes from its strength and position in nature. Therefore, ‘no arguments’ are needed because the hawk does not depend on reason, morality, or justification; its power itself establishes its right. It considers its dominance absolute and unquestionable.
B) What does the phrase ‘yellow leaves’ symbolize in William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 73 (LXXIII)?
Ans : - In William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 73 (LXXIII), the phrase ‘yellow leaves’ symbolizes old age and the approaching end of life. Just as leaves turn yellow and fall in late autumn, it represents the speaker’s aging and the nearness of death.
C) What is the stanzaic division and the rhyme scheme of Sonnet 73?
Ans : - Sonnet 73 follows the Shakespearean sonnet form. It is divided into three quatrains (four lines each) and a final rhyming couplet (two lines). The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
D) What, according to Carl Dennis, will happen to the Plain States?
Ans : - According to Carl Dennis, the Plain States will turn into giant dust bowls due to climate change. Farming will become impossible, and people will be forced to abandon these lands.
3. Answer any one question out of two questions:
A) “Sima wrote a letter. It contained the truth. He praised Sima for it.” (Join into a complex sentence)
Ans : - He praised Sima because she wrote a letter that contained the truth.
B) Hearing the noise Arjun got startled. (Split into two simple sentences)
Ans : - Arjun heard the noise. He got startled.
Section – B
(For 3 marks question)
4. Answer any one question out of two questions: 1 × 3 = 3
A) The teacher said to her, “Why didn't you attend the class yesterday?” (Change into indirect speech)
Ans : - The teacher asked her why she had not attended the class the previous day.
B) Yesterday, I went to ____ market near my house. I bought ____ apple and a loaf of bread. On my way back, I saw a cat sitting ____ the wall, looking very curious.
(Fill in the blanks with articles and prepositions)
Ans : - the, a, on
Section – C
(For 5 marks question) 1 × 5 = 5
5. Answer any one question out of two questions:
A) Discuss the role of the sea in J. M. Synge’s one-act play Riders to the Sea.
Ans : - In J. M. Synge’s one-act play Riders to the Sea, the sea plays a central and symbolic role and may be regarded as the real protagonist of the drama, though it never appears on stage. It functions as a powerful living force that controls the lives and destinies of the islanders. For the people of the Aran Islands, the sea is both a source of livelihood and a cause of endless sorrow. They must depend on it for survival, yet it constantly threatens their lives.
The sea represents Fate or the uncontrollable power of nature. It has already taken Maurya’s husband, her father-in-law, and six of her sons. Despite prayers and human efforts, the sea remains indifferent to human suffering. It is wild, mysterious, and destructive, symbolizing death, loss, and inevitability. The tragic climax occurs when Bartley, Maurya’s last surviving son, is also claimed by the sea, leaving her completely alone.
Through the sea, Synge expresses the idea that human beings are powerless before nature and destiny. Ultimately, Maurya achieves a sense of acceptance, realizing that no man can live forever. Thus, the sea stands as a symbol of fate, tragedy, and the harsh reality of human life.
B) Analyse J. M. Synge’s Riders to the Sea as a one-act play.
Ans : - Riders to the Sea by J. M. Synge is a perfect example of a one-act play because it presents a complete and powerful story within a single act, without any division into scenes or change of setting. The entire action takes place in Maurya’s cottage on the Aran Islands, maintaining unity of place. The events occur within a short span of time, ensuring unity of time, while the plot revolves around one central action—the struggle of a family against the destructive power of the sea—thus maintaining unity of action.
The play portrays the tragic life of Maurya, an old mother who has already lost her husband and several sons to the sea. The dramatic tension builds as her last surviving son, Bartley, decides to go to sea despite her fears. The story moves swiftly toward its tragic climax when Bartley is also drowned, completing the cycle of loss.
Synge uses simple dialogue, realistic characters, and strong emotional intensity to create deep dramatic impact within a short length. The play highlights themes of fate, human helplessness, and conflict between man and nature. Its compact structure, emotional unity, and powerful ending make Riders to the Sea a classic and effective one-act play.
Section – D
(For 6 marks questions) 2 × 6 = 12
6. Answer any one question out of two questions:
A) Describe Alice’s experiences of falling down the rabbit hole in Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland – Down the Rabbit Hole. What thoughts and feelings does she have during the fall? (3 + 3)
Ans : - After entering the rabbit hole, Alice found that it first went straight like a tunnel and then suddenly dipped downward. She felt as if she was falling slowly down a very deep well. Since the fall was slow, she had enough time to look around and observe her surroundings. She noticed cupboards and bookshelves fixed along the sides, along with maps and pictures. She picked up a jar of orange marmalade but found it empty and carefully placed it back in a cupboard. At last, she landed safely on a heap of dry leaves and sticks.
During the fall, Alice experienced curiosity, surprise, and imagination rather than fear. She wondered how deep she had fallen and thought she might reach the centre of the earth. She even tried to recall her geography lessons about latitude and longitude. Alice imagined coming out on the other side of the earth among strange people and also thought about her pet cat Dinah, wondering whether cats could eat bats. Her thoughts showed her innocence, curiosity, and lively imagination throughout the strange adventure.
B) What were the three questions in Leo Tolstoy’s short story with the same title? What were their answers? (2 + 4)
Ans : - In Leo Tolstoy’s short story Three Questions, the Tsar asked three important questions:
i) What is the right time to begin everything?
ii) Who are the right people to listen to?
iii) What is the most important thing to do?
The answers to these questions were not given directly but were revealed through the Tsar’s experiences with the hermit. The hermit explained that the most important time is the present moment, because it is the only time over which a person has control. The most important person is the one with whom we are at that moment, since no one knows what may happen next. The most important thing to do is to do good to that person, as the purpose of human life is to help and serve others. Through these practical experiences, the Tsar understood the true answers to his questions.
7. Answer any one question out of three questions:
A) Bring out the elements of violence and brutality in Hawk Roosting.
Ans : - In Ted Hughes’ poem Hawk Roosting, the elements of violence and brutality are strongly expressed through the hawk’s thoughts, actions, and attitude toward the natural world. The hawk speaks in a proud and commanding voice, presenting itself as a powerful predator whose existence is centred on killing. It openly declares, “I kill where I please because it is all mine,” showing its belief in absolute authority over life and death. Killing is not shown as cruel or emotional but as a natural and instinctive act necessary for survival.
The hawk describes its behaviour in harsh and shocking language such as “my manners are tearing off heads,” which highlights the raw brutality of nature. Its flight is described as passing “through the bones of the living,” suggesting destruction and violence as part of its normal existence. The hawk does not feel guilt or sympathy; instead, it considers violence natural and justified. It even claims that no arguments are needed to defend its right to kill, emphasizing its unquestioned dominance.
Through these images, Hughes presents nature as powerful, ruthless, and governed by survival rather than morality. The hawk becomes a symbol of violent authority and uncontrolled power, revealing the harsh reality of both natural instinct and tyrannical dominance.
B) How does the image of autumn reflect the speaker’s awareness of his mortality in William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 73? How do the images of autumn get compared to those of fire and twilight in portraying the passage of life? (3 + 3)
Ans : -
C) Discuss the ecological concerns expressed in Carl Dennis’ "The Greenhouse Effect".
Ans : - In the poem The Greenhouse Effect, Carl Dennis expresses deep ecological concerns about the harmful consequences of climate change and global warming caused by human negligence toward nature. The poet presents a disturbing vision of the future where rising temperatures gradually change the natural and social order of the world. Fertile agricultural regions will shift towards the poles, while the Plains States will turn into vast dust bowls and become uninhabitable. As a result, farming will decline, causing food shortages and economic hardship.
The poem also highlights environmental degradation leading to poverty and social instability. Cities will become overcrowded with displaced people, and transportation and daily living will grow more difficult and expensive. Public infrastructure will deteriorate because governments will lack resources to maintain buildings and services. People will even have to volunteer their labour to preserve public institutions.
Dennis further warns that powerful nations located in colder regions, such as Greenland and Antarctica, may rise as new global powers, while others lose their dominance. Through these predictions, the poet emphasizes humanity’s irresponsible exploitation of nature and urges awareness about environmental protection before irreversible ecological and social collapse occurs.
Section – E
(For 10 marks question) 1 × 10 = 10
8. Answer any one question:
A) Write an essay in about 150 words on any one of the following topics:
i) Impact of Social Media on the Youth
What is social media - How it affects mental health - Connectivity and socialization - Self-expression and creativity - Information and education - Social awareness - Addiction and distraction
Ans : - Impact of Social Media on the Youth
Social media refers to online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube that allow people to communicate, share ideas, and access information instantly. It has a strong impact on today’s youth, both positive and negative. On the positive side, social media improves connectivity and socialization by helping young people stay connected with friends and communities across the world. It also encourages self-expression and creativity through sharing art, opinions, and talents. Moreover, students gain access to educational content, news, and awareness about social issues, which broadens their knowledge and understanding of the world.
However, excessive use of social media can negatively affect mental health, causing stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem due to comparison and online pressure. It may also lead to addiction and distraction from studies and real-life responsibilities. Therefore, social media should be used wisely and in moderation so that youth can enjoy its benefits without harming their well-being.
ii) Importance of Vocational Education
Meaning of vocational education - its importance in the present educational system - scope it provides to employment - governmental encouragement
Ans : - Importance of Vocational Education
Vocational education refers to skill-based training that prepares students for specific trades, professions, or technical careers. Unlike traditional academic education, it focuses on practical knowledge and hands-on experience. In the present educational system, vocational education has become very important because it bridges the gap between education and employment. It equips students with job-ready skills and reduces dependence only on theoretical learning.
Vocational courses provide wide employment opportunities in fields such as healthcare, technology, construction, and entrepreneurship. Students can become self-reliant by starting their own businesses or finding skilled jobs quickly. Recognizing its value, the government encourages vocational education through various training programmes, skill development missions, and financial support schemes. These initiatives aim to reduce unemployment and create a skilled workforce.
Thus, vocational education plays a vital role in building confidence, improving employability, and supporting the economic growth of the country.
B)
i) Draft an e-mail (about 75 words): Requesting your school authority to register your new address and new contact details (mobile number and e-mail ID) in the school records.
Inform why your address has changed and why new contact details are necessary- give the new address and contact details
Ans :
Subject : Request to Update Address and Contact Details in School Records
Respected Sir/Madam,
I kindly request you to update my new address and contact details in the school records. Recently, my family has shifted to a new residence due to my father’s job transfer, so my previous address and phone number are no longer valid. Updating these details is necessary for receiving important school notices and communications.
My new address: 45, Lake View Road, Kolkata – 700029.
Mobile: 987654320
Email: [studentname@gmail.com](mailto:studentname@gmail.com)
Thank you for your cooperation.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]
Class XII, Section A
OR
Draft an e-mail inviting a guest speaker to speak at the Annual Programme of your school.
Details of the Annual Programme (date, time and tentative programme schedule) - what do you want him to talk about - duration of the talk -honorarium if any.
Ans : -
Subject : Invitation to Speak at Our School Annual Programme
Dear Sir/Madam,
I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. On behalf of the students and staff of our school, I am pleased to invite you as the Guest Speaker at our upcoming Annual Programme.
The programme will be held on 25th March 2026 (Wednesday) at our school auditorium. The details of the event are given below:
Date: 25th March 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tentative Programme Schedule:
- 10:00 a.m. – Welcome Address
- 10:15 a.m. – Cultural Performances by Students
- 11:15 a.m. – Annual Report Presentation
- 11:45 a.m. – Guest Speaker’s Address
- 12:30 p.m. – Prize Distribution Ceremony
- 1:30 p.m. – Vote of Thanks and Closing
We would be honoured if you could deliver a talk on “The Importance of Vocational Education and Career Skills for the Future.” Your experience and insights will greatly inspire our students as they prepare for their academic and professional journeys.
The duration of your talk is expected to be approximately 30–40 minutes, followed by a brief interaction session with students.
As a token of our appreciation, an honorarium of ₹10,000, along with travel arrangements and hospitality, will be provided.
We sincerely hope you will accept our invitation and grace the occasion with your presence. Kindly confirm your availability at your convenience.
Thank you, and we look forward to your positive response.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
Secretary, Cultural Committee
[School Name]
[Contact Number]
[Email Address]
ii) Write a blog in about 75 words on any one of the following topics:
Increasing Air Pollution in your locality.
Ans : - Increasing Air Pollution in My Locality
Air pollution in my locality has increased alarmingly in recent years. The rising number of vehicles, construction activities, and burning of waste have made the air dusty and unhealthy. People often suffer from cough, breathing problems, and eye irritation. Trees are being cut down, which worsens the situation further. Strict pollution control measures, use of public transport, and planting more trees are necessary to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone.
OR
Women Empowerment in Sports and Games in India.
Ans : - Women Empowerment in Sports and Games in India
Women’s participation in sports and games in India has grown remarkably in recent years. Female athletes are breaking stereotypes and achieving success at national and international levels, inspiring young girls to follow their dreams. Increased government support, better training facilities, and public recognition have encouraged women to pursue sports professionally. Sports not only build confidence and leadership but also promote equality, proving that women are equally capable of excelling in every field.
Enter Your Comment