Unseen Passage for Class 12 with Questions and Answers | MCQ Question Bank for Quarterly Exam 2025
Unseen passages are an important part of Class 12 English examinations. Regular practice helps students improve their reading comprehension, analytical ability, and exam performance.
Here we provide two original unseen passages with MCQs and answers. These are useful for CBSE, NCERT, MP Board, and other state boards.
📖 Passage – 1 : The Journey of Ramesh
*The evening sun dipped low as Ramesh stepped onto the crowded platform of Gaya Junction.
The station was alive with a thousand tiny movements — tea vendors calling out their prices, coolies rushing with luggage balanced on their heads, and passengers weaving in and out of the crowd. Ramesh’s train, bound for Kolkata, was scheduled to depart at 6:10 p.m., yet the announcement board glowed ominously with the words “Delayed – Expected at 9:30 p.m.”
He sighed. His suitcase was heavy, but his thoughts weighed more. It had been three years since he last saw his mother, and the urgency in his uncle’s telegram — “Come immediately” — suggested time was short. Finding a corner seat on a worn wooden bench, Ramesh opened a small tiffin box and ate the last of the chapatis his neighbour had packed.
As the hours passed, the platform transformed. Daylight faded into a flickering yellow from overhead lamps. Street dogs roamed between the tracks, scavenging for scraps. Vendors switched to selling hot pakoras and steaming cups of chai, their spicy aroma mingling with the smell of diesel.
Finally, at 9:45 p.m., a deep rumble signalled the train’s arrival. It crept into the station like a weary beast, its windows glowing with dim light. Ramesh hurried aboard, finding a seat near the window. The whistle blew, and the train groaned forward. He stared out at the passing silhouettes of huts, trees, and distant fields. As the night deepened, Ramesh wondered if he would reach home in time. Outside, the darkness seemed endless, but inside, hope flickered like the train’s trembling lamp — fragile, yet stubbornly alive.*
Questions with Options and Answers
Q1. What was the scheduled departure time of Ramesh’s train?
A) 6:00 p.m.
B) 9:30 p.m.
C) 6:10 p.m.
D) 7:15 p.m.
Answer → C) 6:10 p.m.
Q2. What message was displayed on the announcement board?
A) Train on time
B) Cancelled – No service today
C) Delayed – Expected at 9:30 p.m.
D) Platform changed
Answer → C) Delayed – Expected at 9:30 p.m.
Q3. Why does the author compare the train to “a weary beast”?
A) To show it was slow and tired after a long journey
B) To suggest it was dangerous and powerful
C) To imply it was very loud
D) To highlight its size
Answer → A) To show it was slow and tired after a long journey
Q4. The telegram’s wording (“Come immediately”) suggests that—
A) Ramesh’s family wanted him to join a celebration
B) There was an urgent and possibly serious situation
C) His uncle wanted him for work purposes
D) His mother was coming to visit
Answer → B) There was an urgent and possibly serious situation
Q5. How did the platform change as time passed?
A) It became quieter
B) It became darker with lamps glowing
C) It became empty
D) It turned into a market
Answer → B) It became darker with lamps glowing
Q6. Why is the word “fragile” used to describe hope in the last sentence?
A) Because Ramesh’s hope was weak and could fade easily
B) Because hope was breaking into pieces
C) Because hope was like glass
D) Because hope was dependent on electricity
Answer → A) Because Ramesh’s hope was weak and could fade easily
Q7. What did the flickering lamp inside the train symbolise for Ramesh?
A) His hunger
B) His fear of the journey
C) His fading hope
D) His stubborn hope
Answer → D) His stubborn hope
Q8. The word “weary” in “weary beast” means —
A) Tired
B) Hungry
C) Angry
D) Lost
Answer → A) Tired
Q9. What does “flickering” mean in “flickering yellow from overhead lamps”?
A) Burning steadily
B) Flashing unsteadily
C) Extremely bright
D) Completely off
Answer → B) Flashing unsteadily
Q10. The expression “stubbornly alive” means —
A) Refusing to die despite difficulty
B) Alive and moving quickly
C) Strong and active
D) Very determined to run
Answer → A) Refusing to die despite difficulty
📖 Passage – 2 : The Old Library
*The library stood at the edge of the town square, its stone walls streaked with moss and age.
Its arched wooden doors bore deep scratches, and its iron handles were polished smooth by decades of eager hands. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of paper, ink, and dust — the perfume of centuries. Tall oak shelves loomed like solemn guardians, their spines whispering stories from every corner of the world. The afternoon light filtered through stained-glass windows, scattering crimson and gold across the tiled floor. In one corner, a grandfather clock ticked patiently, its chimes soft and reassuring.
The reading room was lined with worn leather chairs whose cracked surfaces bore the weight of countless thinkers and dreamers. The tables, though scarred with ink stains, stood sturdy and proud. Silence reigned here, broken only by the rustle of turning pages or the occasional cough. In the farthest aisle lay the rare books section, where ancient volumes rested under glass — illuminated manuscripts, brittle scrolls, and first editions. Each was a treasure, a fragile survivor of time’s relentless march.
For the librarian, this place was more than a workplace; it was a living museum. She moved quietly among the shelves, straightening books with a reverence one might show to relics. Every visitor seemed to leave lighter, as if the burden of the outside world had been eased by the library’s quiet embrace.*
Questions with Options and Answers
Q1. What do the deep scratches on the wooden doors suggest?
A) Neglect by the staff
B) Frequent use over many years
C) Damage by animals
D) Recent vandalism
Answer → B) Frequent use over many years
Q2. What is meant by “the perfume of centuries” in the first paragraph?
A) The smell of fresh flowers in the library
B) A mixture of old smells associated with books and time
C) A perfume sprayed in the reading room
D) A scent used to preserve books
Answer → B) A mixture of old smells associated with books and time
Q3. Why are the tall oak shelves described as “solemn guardians”?
A) To suggest they are old and unmovable
B) To show they protect the books and knowledge
C) To indicate they are expensive
D) To show they belong to a castle
Answer → B) To show they protect the books and knowledge
Q4. What effect did the stained-glass windows create?
A) They darkened the room
B) They scattered coloured light onto the floor
C) They made the shelves shine
D) They blocked the sunlight entirely
Answer → B) They scattered coloured light onto the floor
Q5. What does the ticking grandfather clock contribute to the atmosphere?
A) It creates a sense of hurry
B) It builds tension
C) It gives a calm, reassuring presence
D) It distracts readers
Answer → C) It gives a calm, reassuring presence
Q6. Why is the silence of the reading room important in the description?
A) It shows that the room is empty
B) It highlights the peaceful and focused environment
C) It suggests the library is abandoned
D) It creates suspense
Answer → B) It highlights the peaceful and focused environment
Q7. What makes the rare books section special?
A) It contains only newly published books
B) It has books signed by celebrities
C) It holds ancient and fragile literary works
D) It is locked for renovation
Answer → C) It holds ancient and fragile literary works
Q8. What impact does the library have on its visitors according to the passage?
A) It makes them sleepy
B) It makes them feel lighter and more relaxed
C) It makes them work faster
D) It makes them talk more
Answer → B) It makes them feel lighter and more relaxed
Q9. The word “reverence” as used in the last paragraph means —
A) A feeling of boredom
B) Deep respect
C) Quick movement
D) Secret anger
Answer → B) Deep respect
Q10. The phrase “time’s relentless march” refers to —
A) A parade in the library
B) The continuous passing of time without stopping
C) The librarian’s daily routine
D) The sound of the clock
Answer → B) The continuous passing of time without stopping
👍 Thanks for Reading 👍
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