CBSE Class 12 English Letter To The Editor Worksheet

 

The most common form of written communication is the letter. Letters should have a format that goes with the latest conventions.

 

 

(a) Official letters (for making enquiries, registering complaints, asking and giving information, placing orders and sending replies)

(b) Letters to the editor (giving suggestions on an issue)

(c) Application for a job.

 

 

These letters

(i) Give suggestions on a public interest issue

(ii) Give suggestion on an issue already raised in an article /write-up /published letter.

 

 

• Begin with reference to a recent issue/ event

• Give details of topic bringing out cause and effect relationship

• Offer suggestions/ solutions

• Write the letter in 4 – 5 paragraphs

• Do not ask the editor to solve the problem as he can only voice your and ideas.

 

– Draw the attention of the concerned authorities/general Public towards the problem NOT of the Editor

– Request concerned authorities to take the action NOT to the editor

– Raise the issue by citing some latest news items / Survey report etc.

– Analyze the issue, try to find causes.

– Offer suggestions to solve the problem.

– Be courteous, even if critical

 

Beginning lines: Some samples.

Kindly allow me to use some space in your esteemed daily to express my views and concern on_________

Kindly allow me to use some space in your esteemed daily to draw the attention of the concerned

authorities to the nuisance of______________

May I have the privilege of using a few lines of your esteemed newspaper regarding_______________

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper , I would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards________________

 

 

Hope some effective measures will soon be adopted to improve the existing situation

Hope the concerned authorities will take notice and do something in this direction.

I hope the concerned authorities and the general public will see the gravity of the matter and some measures will be adopted to ___________

 

 

You are Sidhi/ Sanjay of U‐03 G Block Kasturi Nagar Mysore‐37.Write a letter to the Editor, Times of India, Bangalore expressing your concern about the decrease in the number of the birds in Mysore.

 

G Block

Kasturi Nagar

Mysore ‐37

 

10th April, 2019

The Editor

Times of India

Bangalore

 

Dear Sir

 

Sub: Diminishing Number of Birds

 

With deep regret I wish to bring to the kind notice about the decrease in the population of birds in Mysore. Mysore is known to have more than 500 species of birds but many of them are on the verge of extinction.

According to the reports from the recent seminar held on Conservation of Birds, there was a time, when a number of birds would flock to the banks of river Kaveri, Bandipur wild life sanctuary and forested canopy in Mysore. These numbers have come crashing down in the recent years.

 

The main reasons are rampant construction of buildings, bridges and flyovers, cutting of forests and of course environmental pollution. Many species have become endangered. It is time the people of Mysore are made aware of this grave situation by conducting seminars and workshops.

 

The locals should be given incentives for preserving the birds. Sanction for the construction of buildings,malls, bridges and so on should be given only after proper evaluation of the environmental impact of those constructions over the life of species there. Let’s not forget that birds are an important link in the food chain.

 

I request the government, environmentalists and the society to show their concern before it is too late. I would be thankful to you if you would publish my view in your esteemed daily.

 

Yours faithfully

 

S/d

 

Sidhi Sharma

 

Letter to the Editor 1

Question. Identify the salutation from amongst the following:
(a) Dear Sir/Madam
(b) Yours truly
(c) Yours faithfully
(d) With regards

Answer: A

Question. To keep everyone infection-free people should—
(a) Bear mask and follow social distancing
(b) Follow social distancing, wear mask, and use sanitizer
(c) Follow social distancing, wear mask, and maintain hand hygiene
(d) All of these

Answer: D

Question. Choose the most appropriate subject for a letter to the editor to raise concern about careless gathering and violation of Covid protocol.
(a) To sensitize about the importance of following Covid-appropriate behaviour
(b) To create awareness about safety and security
(c) To create awareness about disaster management
(d) Regarding Covid-19

Answer: A

Question. Choose the correct beginning for the above-mentioned letter-
(a) I would like to create awareness about Covid-19
(b) Throw your esteemed column I would like to draw the attention of general public towards Covid-protocol
(c) Through the esteemed columns of your newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of general public towards the significance of Covid-19 protocol
(d) None of these

Answer: C

Question. If people remain unaware of the above they may end up inviting—
(a) Another pandemic
(b) Another surge of Covid infection
(c) Herd immunity
(d) Forced vaccination

Answer: B

Question. The format of a formal letter includes-
(a) Sender’s Address and date
(b) Sender’s Address, date, and receiver’s address
(c) Sender’s address, date, receiver’s address, subject, and salutation
(d) Sender’s address, date, receiver’s address, subject, salutation, content, and complimentary close

Answer: D

Question. What is the purpose of writing letter to the editor?
(a) To create awareness about social issues or matters of public concern
(b) To get solution for an individual’s problems
(c) To promote print media
(d) To complain

Answer: A

Question. This pandemic has taught us—
(a) Human beings should not gather at all
(b) Humans should rely only on reason to fight against diseases
(c) Human beings should not do any laboratory work
(d) International flights should be banned

Answer: B

Question. Identify the correct complimentary close for a formal letter-
(a) Yours affectionately
(b) Your’s faithfully
(c) Yours truly
(d) All of these

Answer: C

Letter to the Editor -2

Imagine you are a student of class xii and you feel really disturbed by the way social media is being abused by people to spread fake news and thereby cause problems like igniting communal violence, public disorder, panic situations about medical emergencies, defamation of certain individuals and institutions etc.

Question. Thoughtless reactions/responses to fake news may lead to-
(a) Mutual understanding and harmony
(b) Spread of awareness about important issues
(c) Communal riots, violence and public disorder
(d) Development of our youth

Answer: C

Question. Media in a democratic society should be responsible because-
(a) It is an important source of entertainment
(b) It is the fourth pillar of a democratic set-up
(c) It has no role to play in politics
(d) It cannot affect people at all

Answer: B

Question. What sort of awareness should the youth have in order not to be misled by fake news?
(a) They should believe whatever they see on social media
(b) They should first verify the authenticity of any viral news
(c) They should straightaway take to streets on the basis of news spread
(d) They should stop using smart phones altogether

Answer: B

Question. How can social media be made more accountable?
(a) Through forces of environment
(b) Through strict regulatory laws and penalties
(c) Through more awareness among people
(d) Both (b) and (c)

Answer: D

Question. Statement I: Whatever the social media show is reliable.
Statement II: Social media has become a tool of mass manipulation of opinion.
(a) I is true but II is false
(b) II is true but I is false
(c) Both I and II are false
(d) Both I and II are true

Answer: B

Question. Fake news gets viral more easily because—
(a) There is lack of awareness among people about it
(b) There are social media platform easily available
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Neither (a) or (b)

Answer: C

Question. Excessive and obsessive use of social media has harmed our society by—
(a) Distracting our youth from basic issues and needs
(b) Giving a lot of education
(c) Connecting people
(d) Creating a parallel world of fantasy and fakeness

Answer: A

Letter to the Editor- 3

Answer the questions given with reference to the context below: You are Mohini of Mahatma Gandhi Road, Mangalore. You feel impressed at the improved performance of India at Olympics but feel that facilities need to be improved further. Write a letter to the Editor, The Times of India expressing your views on how the standard of performances in sports
can be made better in India.

Question. One of the features of writing a letter to the editor should be:
(a) Highly filled with jargon
(b) Good refined language
(c) Highly submissive address
(d) Highly flattering as language conventions

Answer: B

Question. The letter should reflect a
(a) Comparison, analysis and conclusion of the topic
(b) Comparison, deduction and suggestive
(c) Deduction, description, conclusion
(d) Explanation, deduction, conclusion

Answer: A

Question. The subject of the letter be:
(a) Need of improvement in facilities in sports
(b) Needs improvement in sports periods in school
(c) Needs to improve incentives for sports person
(d) Needs improved mindset of people about sport

Answer: A

Question. The features he/she should keep in mind to make it a model letter are- 
(a) Format, content, expression, irrelevance
(b) Format, content, expression, incoherence
(c) Format, content, expression, lack of fluency
(d) Format, content, expression, presentation

Answer: D

Question. What should comprise a subscription note :-
(a) Signature and name of the writer,
(b) Complementary note, signature, name of the writer
(c) Note of well-being, signature, and name of the writer
(d) Signature, name of the writer and complementary note.

Answer: B

Question. A writer should not be one of these, when he/she is highlighting an issue:
(a) brief
(b) To the point
(c) Be less criticizing and appreciative
(d) Too roundabout

Answer: D

Question. Pick one of the following features in the letter, which attracts the attention of the editor.
(a) the presentation and practical solutions.
(b) the illustrious language, but void of any solution.
(c) the projecting of the situation with suggestions for further improvement
(d) the knowledge about the topic, but only fault finding statements.

Answer: C

VILLAGE CHILDREN BEREFT OF SCHOOLING

Question. Recently, you went to your native village to visit your grandparents. You saw that some of the children in the age group of 5-14 (the age at which they should have been at school) remained at home, were working in the fields or simply loitering in the streets.
Answer: Write a letter to the editor of a national daily, analyzing the problem and offering solutions to it.
You are Navtej / Navita, M-114, Mount Kailash, Kanpur. 
M-114 Mount Kailash
Kanpur
16 July 20_ _
The Editor
The Times of India
Lucknow (UP)
Subject : Village Children Bereft of Schooling
Sir
It is a common sight in most villages to see the children in the age group of 5-14 wasting away all their time uselessly. At an age, when they should be going to school, they remain at home doing nothing all day. They simply loiter in the streets or at the most go to work in the fields. The parents are either too poor to pay for the education of their children, or they are too ignorant to realise the value of education. They fail to realise that uneducated children will keep not only their own families, but also the nation at large in a state of backwardness. In such a situation, it becomes incumbent on the society as a whole and also the government to create such conditions that no child remains bereft of the advantages of schooling up to the tenth level at least. Education up to the tenth level should be free and compulsory. No child should remain deprived of schooling because of poverty.
No nation can ever hope to progress in any field if her children remain uneducated.
Yours truly
Navtej

STEPMOTHERLY TREATMENT TO ATHLETES

Question. When cricket teams go abroad, the members are allowed to take their wives, even friends, along with them. Does this fact distract them or help them to focus on their game in a better way ? If it is good, why don’t we allow our athletes to enjoy the same privilege ?
Write a letter to the editor of a national daily giving your views on the issue. You are Navtej / Navita, M-114, Mount Kailash, Kanpur.
Answer: M-114 Mount Kailash
Kanpur
18 May 20_ _
The Editor
The Times of India
Lucknow (UP)
Subject : Stepmotherly Treatment to Our Athletes
Sir
Recently, there has been mad hype about cricket and the players are eulogized as demigods. They are paid fabulously and are allowed all sorts of luxuries and privileges. When a cricket team goes abroad, the members are allowed to take their wives and friends along with them. I don’t think this helps or distracts the players in any way. A dedicated and committed player remains indifferent to such extraneous factors while on the field. But the pertinent point is that it is not the sport that brings glory to a sportsperson; it is rather the sportsperson’s devotion and dedication that adds glory to the sport. Thus all sportspersons, irrespective of the sport they play, deserve equal regard and consideration. But sadly, almost all sportspersons other than cricket players, and particularly our athletes, are given a stepmotherly treatment. Is a Mary Com or a Sushil Kumar placed on the same pedestal with a Kapil Dev or a Dhoni ? Surely not. And this is a grave injustice to all other sports and a grave insult to all other sportspersons. It is a big question for all to ponder over and for those who really matter !
Yours truly
Navtej

IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR OF TOURISTS

Question. You are Navtej / Navita, Secretary, Environment Club, Akash Public School, Agra. You, along with a group of students, went on a three-day tour to Corbett National Park. You found how the tourists abuse the available facilities and thus endanger the environment. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily, highlighting the situation. Suggest ways through which the environment of the Park can be saved. 
Answer: Environment Club
Akash Public School
Agra
16 October 20_ _
The Editor
Times of India
Delhi
Subject : Irresponsible Behaviour of Tourists in Corbett National Park
Sir
A group of students from Akash Public School, Agra, went on a three-day tour to Corbett National Park, Nainital (Uttarakhand). It is one among the few tiger reserves in India that allows overnight stay in the magical landscape of 520-square-kilometre park. But for us, it was shocking to see how some of the tourists abuse the available facilities and thus endanger the environment. While entering the Park, tourists are required to carry with them a litter bag. In this litter bag, they are supposed to bring back non-biodegradable garbage like plastic bottles, metal foils, tin cans, etc. But there was hardly anyone who faithfully followed this basic direction. Some were seen throwing away burning cigarette ends that could result in a major fire. Feeding the animals in the Park is strictly prohibited, yet there were many who fed the animals with whatever they liked. I think the tourists will have to act more
responsibly if the beauty of this park and the environment is not to be endangered. Those who violate the rules should be severely punished.
Yours truly
Navtej
Secretary

EXPLOITATION OF TEACHERS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Question. On Teacher’s Day, you read in a newspaper that privately owned and managed schools in small towns, or even in the suburbs of metropolitan cities, exploit their teachers by paying them just a fraction of their authorised salaries. This affects their performance in the classroom and thus the future of their students. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily, raising your voice against such exploitation. Suggest ways to solve this problem.
Answer: You are Navtej / Navita, 112, Taj Road, Agra.
112 Taj Road
Agra
16 October 20_ _
The Editor
Times of India
Delhi
Subject : Exploitation of Teachers in Private Schools
Sir
It is a well-known fact that most of the privately owned and managed schools in small towns, and even in the suburbs of metropolitan cities, exploit their teachers. They pay them only a fraction of what they are authorised to get, notwithstanding the fact that they charge exorbitant fees from the students. It is but natural that these poorly paid teachers can’t be expected to do justice to their jobs.
Their dissatisfaction and frustration adversely affects their performance in the class and also the future of their students. It is nothing less than a crime against society and the innocent children. All such schools should be severely penalised and not allowed to function until and unless they pay their teachers what they are entitled to. It should be made mandatory for all schools to pay to teachers through chques drawn on a nationalized bank.
Yours truly
Navtej

PRESSURE OF COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT

Question. You are Nitin / Natasha, a student of class XII at K.P.N. Public School, Faridabad. Students are required to cope with a lot of pressure in today’s competitive environment. Write a letter to the Editor of a national daily, highlighting the increasing stress faced by students and suggest ways to combat the same.
Answer: K.P.N. Public School
Faridabad
17 November 20_ _
The Editor
The Times of India
New Delhi
Subject : The Problem of Stress Faced by Students
Sir
Students are the most harassed lot these days. All through the years of their studies, they have to lead a life of strain and stress. The number of subjects and the level of their difficulty is becoming greater year after year. Poor students find no time for recreation or play. They have to spend all their hours on books. All their efforts are directed to scoring as high marks as possible. There is a lot of competition in all streams of study. Students scoring even above 80-85 per cent find it hard to have admission in the college or stream of their choice. Many students find so much stress unbearable and turn to drugs or other drastic things. The only way to release this stress is proper guidance and counselling at every stage. Parents have also a vital role to play. They should not set too big or high goals for their children. They should let them grow to their natural potential.
Yours truly
Nitin
Class XII

EXPLOITATION OF PARENTS AT THE TIME OF ADMISSION

Question. You are a social worker. You are upset as some reputed schools are exploiting the parents at the time of admission by taking capitation fee in the name of donation or building fund. Write a letter to the Editor of a national daily, highlighting this corrupt practice. Sign the letter as Rahul / Rakhi.
Answer: 62 Jai Parkash Narayan Nagar
Patna
18 March 20_ _
The Editor
The Times of India
Delhi
Sir
Parents are a harried lot at the time of school admissions every year. In their desire to have their children educated in good schools, they get fleeced and exploited mercilessly. These
so-called good schools are, in fact, palatial shops that sell education to the highest bidders. First of all, they price their admission forms at more than a hundred rupees each which costs them hardly more than a few paise. Then the admission-seekers are taxed with capitation fee in the name of donation and building fund. They are in thousands per head. The regular monthly fees are also unimaginably high. The few rich can, no doubt, afford all this. But, for the average salaried class, they are a terrible drain on their pay packet. Thus the imparting of education to their young ones has become a tortuous problem for the poor parents. It is the duty of the government to come to the rescue of these exploited people. Forcing capitation fee in the name of donation and building fund is a corrupt practice which should immediately be stopped.
Yours truly
Rahul

OVERCROWDING IN CLASSES

Question. You are a social worker. You are upset as some reputed schools are admitting as many as 60–70 students in a class just to mint money, which is adversely affecting the academic standards.
Write a letter to the Editor of a national daily, highlighting this corrupt practice. Sign the letter as Ronak / Raksha.
Answer: 67 Renuka Bazaar
Murad Nagar
Ghaziabad
09 May 20_ _
The Editor
Hindustan Times
Delhi
Sir
Good schools were once thought to be temples of learning. But nowadays, these so-called ‘good’ schools have become nothing more than educational shops whose only aim is to mint money by fair means or foul. They charge unimaginably high fees and admit as many as 60–70 students in one section of a class. It is practically impossible for a teacher to control so many kids in a class and give individual attention to them. The children are herded together like sheep in an enclosure, while the low-paid helpless teacher’s continual shouting passes above their heads. The only aim of such schools is to collect as much money as they can by putting as many students as they can in one class. They are selling education without paying any sales tax. They are earning lacs and crores without paying any income tax. They are raising huge properties without paying any wealth or property tax.
Admitting a large number of students in one class with the sole purpose of making money is a corrupt practice that needs to be stopped immediately. No school should be allowed to admit more than 20–25 students in a class at the lower levels at least, where each child needs to be attended individually.
Yours truly
Raksha

RELEVANCE OF BOOKS TODAY

Question. National Book Trust organised a week-long book fair at Anna Grounds, Chennai. You visited the fair and bought a few books. You were pleased with the arrangements, enthusiasm of the visitors and the fact that books have not yet lost their relevance in the world of the Internet. Write a letter to the Editor, The Hindu, Chennai, to express your feelings. You are Lalit/Latha, 112, Mount Road, Chennai. 
Answer: 112 Mount Road
Chennai
16 July 20_ _
The Editor
The Hindu
Chennai
Sir
Last week, National Book Trust organised a book fair at Anna Grounds. This book fair lasted one week. I also visited this fair along with my friends. Publishers from all over India had put up their stalls. The respected Chief Minister inaugurated the book fair. People were very enthusiastic to find the books of almost all renowned author at one place. They were buying the books for themselves as well as their children. Some of them had come with their children. Elaborate arrangements were made by the local authorities. Before visiting this book fair, I used to think that books have lost their relevance in the world of Internet. But seeing the crowd of book lovers at Anna Grounds, I had to change my views. My joy knew no bounds. It was, truly speaking, an ocean of books. Such book fairs should be arranged in every city at least twice a year.
Yours sincerely
Lalit Parimoo

OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA IN THE CITY

Question. Write a letter to the Editor, Jan Jagriti, Surat, registering your protest against government’s / local body’s apathy towards cleanliness in the city during the days of reported outbreak of cholera in the city and migration of people to other cities. Look at the picture below and write your letter in your answer sheet.
Answer: 
82-Palampura
Surat
26 April 20_ _
The Editor
Jan Jagriti
Surat
Sir
A severe cholera broke out in the city during the last monsoon season. It all happened due to the criminal neglect of the city corporation authorities. There were heaps of garbage all around the city. The drains remained blocked and the polluted water flowed freely on all sides. The potholes on the roads provided an ideal place for the breeding of germs. The water supplied to homes for the purpose of drinking is also polluted. It was no wonder then that cholera broke out in the city and took such a heavy toll of life. Many people migrated to other cities due to the fear of the epidemic.
Now that the rage of the epidemic is over, and the city is limping back to normal, the authorities should make up for their previous neglect. A vigorous cleanliness drive should be started. All potholes should be repaired. All sewers and drains should be cleaned of their silt so that they don’t get blocked during the rains. Let us not let the city pass through those horrible days ever again.
Yours truly
Renu Bhagat

NEED OF ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

Question. Based on the cartoon given below and your own ideas, write a letter to the Editor of a national daily on the need to educate people about keeping the environment clean. You may refer to the ideas contained in the unit, ‘Environment’. Sign yourself as Amita Khanna.
Answer: 
75 M.G. Road
New Delhi
3 March 20_ _
The Editor
The Daily News
New Delhi
Subject : The Need of Environmental Awareness
Sir
The state of our rivers and oceans is a sad comment on our social behaviour. We are using them as dumping grounds and dustbins. Millions of tonnes of rubbish are dumped into them every year.
Poisonous effluents from factories are poured into them day and night. What is the result ? The water in seas and rivers can’t dilute all the sewage poured into them. All the oxygen is used up and the fish begin to die. The bacteria which normally break down the sewage into harmless substances also die. Only harmful bacteria which do not need air, remain and these become the cause of disease. We are polluting not only our waters, but also the land and the air. In fact, we are digging our own graves. One day our earth will become so polluted that no life would be possible on it. Therefore, it is in our own interest to keep the environment free from pollution. It is our social duty also. In fact, it is a service to the entire humanity. The mere framing of anti-pollution laws won’t help. Each and every individual has to realise his or her responsibility. We should do nothing that will pollute our environment and thus endanger our own lives.
Yours truly
Amita Khanna

ABOUT DETERIORATING LIVING STANDARD

Question. Write a letter to the Editor of a magazine ‘Expressions’, New Delhi, on the deterioration in the standard of living in your city. Give suggestions for improvement. Sign yourself as PMR.
Answer: 6 Patel Nagar
Dream City
06 March 20_ _
The Editor
Expressions
New Delhi
Sir
I would like to utilize the columns of your esteemed magazine to highlight the deteriorating standard of living in our city. The fast-increasing population of the city has made it very crowded and cramped.
The streets have become narrower and all open spaces have disappeared. Most of the people living in the city belong to the salaried or the labour class. While their income has remained almost the same, the prices have gone up manifold. All this has adversely affected their standard of living. Added to all this, there is the problem of pollution due to the exhaust fumes of numberless autos plying on the city roads day and night. The problem has reached such alarming proportions that immediate remedial measures will have to be taken to save the city from a major catastrophe. Some of the suggestions in this regard are :
1. New spacious colonies should be developed at the outskirts of the city.
2. The supply of water and electricity should be adequately increased in proportion to their demand.
3. Steps should be taken to control the prices of goods of everyday use.
4. Standards of pollution control should be strictly implemented on all sources thatgenerate pollution.
5. Last but not least, the authorities concerned must develop a sense of social responsibility. 
Yours truly
PMR