Students must start practicing the questions from CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English with Solutions Set 2 are designed as per the revised syllabus.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English Set 2 with Solutions
Time : 3 Hours
Maximum Marks : 80
General Instructions:
- This Question paper contains THREE sections-READING, GRAMMAR and WRITING & LITERATURE.
- Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
Section – A
Reading Skills (20 Marks)
Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages
Question 1.
Read the following text (10)
1. Peer pressure is a phenomenon wherein we tend to get influenced by the lifestyle and the ways of thinking of our peers. Peer pressure can prove beneficial but it is most often observed to have negative effects.
2. The thought, behaviour and taste in fashion, music, television and other walks of life of the masses are often seen to have a deep impact on society. We tend to get influenced by the lifestyle of our peer group. The changing ways of life of our peers often force us to change our ways of looking at life and leading it. It’s a human “endency to do what the crowd does. Few have the courage to resist peer pressure and be their own selves rather than being one among the lot.
3. Peer pressure is bound to affect most of us both positively and negatively. The distinction between positive and negative peer pressure lies in a thoughtful analysis of the views of the masses. Following your peers blindly leaves a negative impact on your life while an analytical approach to looking at peer behaviour can help you act positively.
4. Peer pressure is not always bad. It can help you analyse yourself.and contemplate your ways of life. Some of the practices that the masses follow my actually teach you the way of living. You may be able to change yourself for the better. Looking at what others do can help you bring about a positive change in your way of thinking. If you can pick selectively, peer pressure can actually result in a positive change in your way of life.
5. Teenage is that phase of life when you are exposed to the world outside. These are the years when you spend most of your time with your friends. Teenage is the phase of beginning to become independent in life; the years of forming your ideals and principles, the years that shape your personality and the years that introduce you to your own self. As adolescents, you often spend most of your daily time with friends and, owing to this, you tend to imitate your friends. The people around you are bound to influence you. However, the effect of the influences of the masses is greater during your teen years. Parents have a vital role to play during this phase of your life.
6. Parents and teachers need to be careful ‘while dealing with teenagers as they are most susceptible to succumbing to peer pressure during these years of their life. Teenage individuals need to be taught to distinguish between the good and the bad, the right and the wrong and should be taught to be thoughtful in life.
7. A strong support from family, an ability to differentiate between the positive and the negative and a skill to choose friends from among peers this three-pronged strategy is the best way to keep away from negative peer pressure.
Answer the following guestions, based on the passage above.
(i) Select the option that corresponds to the following relation below.
Peer pressure can prove beneficial but it is most often observed to have negative effects. (1)
(a) Beginnings and ends are easier to remember than middles.
(b) Sleep is good for memory but too much sleep can also be linked to health problems.
(c) Food tastes better when someone else makes it.
(d) Some people enjoy seeing anger in others.
Answer:
(b) Sleep is good for memory but too much sleep can also be linked to health problems.
(ii) Based on your reading of the text, list 2 reasons why the writer says Peer pressure is not always bad. Answer in about 40 words (2)
Answer:
The writer says that peer pressure is not always bad because
(a) It can help us in self analysis and contemplation.
(b) Observing and practising good practices of others can help enhance our thinking and way of living.
(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately. (1)
The changing ways of our peers’ life can affect us by ……………. .
Answer:
forcing us to change the ways in which we lead our lives
(iv) Complete the sentence appropriately. (1)
Adolescents tend to imitate and share views with their friends because ………………. .
Answer:
they spend most of their time with their friends
(v) The passage includes some words that are opposites of each other. From the sets
(a) – (e) given below, identify two sets of antonyms. (1)
(a) walks and masses
(b) looking and leading
(c) positively and negatively
(d) distinction and change
(e) right and wrong
Answer:
(c) positively and negatively
(e) right and wrong
(vi) In about 40 words, supply one point to justify the following. (2)
Parents and teachers need to be careful while dealing with teenagers as they are most susceptible to succumbing to peer pressure during these years of their life.
Answer:
As adolescents often spend most of their daily time with friends, they tend to imitate and copy them blindly. Parents and teachers, being experienced, can prevent teenagers and adolescents from following wrong and dangerous trends and attitudes. Thus, they need to be careful while dealing with teenagers.
(vii) Which of the following is an appropriate reason for the effect of peer pressure in teenage years? (1)
(a) Teen years are always unmanageable.
(b) Teenagers spend more time with their peers and friends.
(c) Teenagers spend more time with their parents and old people.
(d) It is impossible to convince teenagers.
Answer:
(b) Teenagers spend more time with their peers and friends.
(viii) The writer mentions ‘The people around you are bound to influence you’. (Paragraph 5)
Mention one reason from the passage that supports the above statement.
The writers states that the people around us have a deep influence on us because ‘according to him’ it is a human tendency to follow our peers. Thus, we cannot resists the taste of our peers and are influenced by them.
Question 2.
Read the following text. (10)
1. India’s average temperature has already increased by around 0.7 degrees Celsius during the 1901 – 2018 period due to Greenhouse gas emissions and by the end of 2100 it is expected to rise by approximately 4.4 degrees Celsius warns the first-ever climate change assessment report by the Indian government.
2. The report Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region prepared by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) warned that the rapid changes in the temperature would mean increasing stress on India’s “natural ecosystems, agricultural output and freshwater resources, while also causing escalating damage to infrastructure.” This ultimately means a serious impact on the ‘country’s biodiversity, food, water, energy security and public health.
3. It said that several regions in India are global biodiversity hotspots with numerous endemic species of plants and animals and with the “climate changing more rapidly than usual, they may face increasing threats on account of these changes.”
4. The MoES report cautioned that by the end of 2100, the “freguency of summer (April-June) heat waves over India is projected to be 3 to 4 times higher” and the “average duration of heatwave events is also projected to approximately double.” According to the report, the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) of the tropical Indian Ocean has also risen by one degree Celsius, on average, during 1951-2015.
5. The rise in temperature is playing havoc with India’s rainfall which is significant for India’s agriculture sector. The report noted that the summer monsoon precipitation (June to September) over India has declined by around six per cent from 1951 to 2015, with notable decrease over the Indo-Gangetic Plains and the Western Ghats. It stressed that the overall decrease of seasonal summer monsoon rainfall during the last 6-7 decades has led to an increased propensity for droughts in India.
6. “In particular, areas over Central India, South-West coast, Southern peninsula and North-Eastern India have experienced more than two droughts per decade. The area affected by drought has also increased by 1.3 percent per decade over the same period. Climate model projections indicate a high likelihood of an increase in the frequency, intensity and area under drought conditions in India by the end of the twenty-first century,” said the MoES report.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
(i) Complete the following analogy appropriately based on your understanding of the passage.
The rise in temperature will ……………… . (1)
Answer:
increase the frequency and duration of the heat waves
(ii) Fill in the blanks. (1)
From Paragraph 5, we can infer that the …………….. in temperature has wreaked havoc on the rainfall pattern. The overall ……………… of seasonal summer monsoon rainfall during the last 6 – 7 decades has led to an increased tendency of droughts.
Answer:
rise, decrease
(iii) Infer 3 reasons for the following, based on information in Paragraph 1. Answer in about 40 words. (2)
India’s average temperature has already increased by around 0.7 degrees Celsius during the 1901 – 2018 period.
Answer:
Greenhouse gas emission, destruction of the natural ecosystems, and over-exploitation of natural resources are the reasons for the rising in temperature of around 0.7 degrees Celsius during the 1901 – 2018 period.
(iv) Mention any two social and economic impacts of climate change. (1)
Answer:
Two social and economic impacts of climate change are
(a) Less capacity to work
(b) Increase in carpooling
(v) On the basis of the given pitture, which phenomena will cause widespread poverty? (1)
Answer:
On the basis of the given picture, it can be said that extreme meteorological phenomena will cause widespread poverty.
(vi) Select the chart that appropriately represents the drought trend with climate in India from the year 1951 to 2015, as per Paragraph 5. (1)
(a) Option 1
(b) 2 and 3
(c) Option 3
(d) 1 and 4
Answer:
(a) Option 1
(vii) Justify the following in about 40 words. (2)
The rise in temperature is playing havoc with India’s rainfall.
Answer:
The given statement means that the increase in temperature is having a detrimental effect on the amount of rainfall that India receives. As per a report, the summer monsoon precipitation has decreased by around 6% from 1951 – 2015. This decrease of rainfall during the last 6 – 7 decades has led to an increased frequency for draughts in India.
(viii) Which of the following is an appropriate title for paragraph 2? (l)
(a) Loss of diversity
(b) Drough trends
(c) Winds of change
(d) Climate change
Answer:
(a) Loss of diversity
Section – B
Writing Skills and Grammar (20 marks)
Grammar (10 marks)
Question 3.
Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed.
(i) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given portion of the letter. (1)
Respected Sir/Ma’am,
I …………….. (be) Drishya, a member of NGO Prada. I am writing to you to bring to
your notice the increasing effect of air pollution in our neighbourhood and in the surrounding area.
Answer:
am
(ii) Read the given sentence from a health article. Identify the error and supply the correction in the sentence. (1)
Americans will get the new Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine before Halloween to boost their immunity levels ahead of a potential infection surge this winter.
Error | Correction |
Answer:
Error | Correction |
will | should |
(iii) Report the following sentence. (1)
My mother often says to me, “Honesty is the best policy”.
Answer:
My mother often tells me that honesty is the best policy.
(iv) Read the dialogue between Ajay and his classmate Mohan. (1)
Ajay : Do you want to play with us?
Mohan : Yes, but I have been too late.
Select the correct option to complete the reporting of the above dialogue.
Ajay asked Mohan if he wanted to play with them. Mohan replied affirmatively and told him that he …………….. .
(a) have been too late
(b) had been too late
(c) were too late
(d) has been too late
Answer:
(b) had been too late
(v) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the given sentence. …………… (A little/Some/More) of the mango trees in their garden bear fruit twice a year. (1)
Answer:
Some
(vi) Identify the error in the following sentence and supply correction.
India and Antarctica was once part of the same landmass.
Use the given format for your response.
Error | Correction |
Answer:
Error | Correction |
was | were |
(vii) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line.
He had no excuse to attacking that old man.
Option No. | Error | Correction |
(a) | had | has |
(b) | excuse | accuse |
(c) | to | for |
(d) | attacking | attack |
Answer:
(vii) Error Correction
Error | Correction |
to | for |
(viii) Complete the given sentence by filling the blank with the correct option. (1)
When we hear commentary on the radio, we easily ……………… what is happening at a particular moment.
(a) visualise
(b) visualised
(c) visualising
(d) will visualise
Answer:
(a) visualise
(ix) Report the conversation between the teacher and the student by completing sentence. (1)
Teacher : For how many hours do you study at home, Rakesh?
Rakesh : I cannot study for more than half an hour.
The teacher asked Rakesh about the number of hours he studied, at home to which Rakesh informed ……………. .
Answer:
that he cannot study for more than half an hour
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option. (1)
Tony asked his mother if she …………….. it from the mall earlier.
(a) bring
(b) brings
(c) had brought
(d) has brought
Answer:
(c) had brought
(xi) Complete the line from a poem by filling the blank with the correct option. (1)
Focus on all of life’s good
And you ………….. things work out as they should
Feeling sorry and just sitting around
It is a sure thing to bring you down.
(a) find
(b) will find
(c) had found
(d) finds
Answer:
(b) will find
(xii) Identify the error in the following advertisement of a school. (1)
MM School
New Delhi
We go beyond our textbooks because knowledge know no bounds.
Use the given format for your response.
Error | Correction |
Answer:
Error | Correction |
know | knows |
Creative Writing Skills (10 Marks)
Note : All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessement purpose.
Question 4.
A. You are Sonali Dixit, a resident of 929/A, Gorakhpur, UP You came across the
following advertisement in a national daily. (5)
Exchange! Exchange! Exchange
Haven’t used your steel pressure cooker in months? Are useless utensils just taking up extra space in your house? Then, this one-time opportunity is just for you. Visit the nearest MBM Cookware Store to exchange your old utensils with brand new non-stick ones.
Attractive offers for the first few loyal customers!
Write a letter to MBM Cookware in about 120 words enquiring about the scheme and the related terms and conditions. Also, enquire if a physical presence is compulsory for the exchange.
Or
B. You are Akriti, of 25/12, Friends Colony, Noida. Every day, you are late to school by fifteen minutes. Your school bus is stuck in a traffic jam near the Chintpumi temple crossing. Along with your own ideas, write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper in about 120, highlighting this problem and suggesting some remedy for it.
Answer:
A. 929/A, Gorakhpur
Uttar Pradesh
14th November, 20XX
MBM Cookware
36, Madhya Gate
Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
Subject : Inquiry about the Exchange Scheme
Sir/Ma’am
This is with reference to your advertisement in The Times of India today regarding an exchange scheme for old utensils with the new non-stick cookware.
I have some old utensils which I wanted to exchange against the ones offered through the exchange scheme.
I request you to kindly send me more details about the scheme along with all its terms and conditions. Also, update me if there is a possibility of sending and receiving the items through parcel or if physical presence is mandatory for exchanging utensils. Being your old customer, I expect a special waive off on the bulk order.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Sonali Dixit
Or
B. 25/12, Friends Colony
Noida
16th May, 20XX
The Editor
The Hindustan Times
New Delhi
Subject : Chaotic Traffic Condition
Sir/Ma’am
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the problems faced by students every day.
As a student from XYZ school, I would like to highlight that everyday our school bus gets stuck in a traffic jam near Chintpurni temple. As a result, we are always late. This is because of various reasons. People visiting the temple park their vehicles in a haphazard way. Beggars crowd the gates as well as roads, waiting for someone to come out of the temple and give alms to them. There is a traffic signal at that crossing but people do not follow it.
It is my humble request that a parking area should be allotted to the temple site so that people can park their vehicles in a proper way. The Temple Trust should appoint someone who can make beggars sit in a queue and that too on the footpath and not on the road. And, last but not the least, a police picket should be placed at the crossing to make people follow the rules and regulations.
I hope that some action is taken in this matter on an urgent basis.
Thanking you
Yours truly
Akriti
Question 5.
A. Rachel is finding a decent kindergarten for her daughter in her residential area. She found a school and did some analysis. She lives in an urban locality, is a working mother, has no transportation of her own and is looking for safe and good schools nearby.
Write a paragraph in about 120 words analysing her SWOT notes to support your stand on whether she should admit her daughter or not. (5)
S (Strength)
• Space is fenced off from surroundings
• Big playground
• Good teachers
• Safe
• Minimal traffic
W (Weakness)
• No green elements
• Space is neglected
O (Opportunities)
• Walking distance from surrounding public
• Linked to the school, serves as playground
T (Threat)
• Time
• Financial constraints
Or
B. Read the following excerpt from an online website.
The pressure of studies – spending time on social media, internet surfing – watching television – sleeping less at night – being inattentive and sleepy during the daytime – hampered growth and development.
Write a paragraph in about 120 words on how addiction to internet and TV has affected the sleeping hours of young people.
(You can think of alternative explanations that might support or validate the above statement.)
Answer:
A. On the basis of Rachel’s notes, we can conclude that she should admit her daughter to the school of her choice. The school shows many advantages; for instance, it appears to be safe, has fencing around the property, has minimal traffic and offers good education. All these qualities are required to be possessed by a kindergarten school. Although there are certain glitches like the space being neglected and lacking greenery, it can always be worked upon and is open to suggestions and discussion. If Rachel’s financial constraints can be worked out, it is a decent school for her daughter to study at as it fulfills most of the requirements necessary for the good education of young children.
B. I agree with the given statement that addiction to the internet and television has reduced/interfered with the sleeping hours of children. In today’s competitive world, students are already engrossed with school, tuition and extracurricular activities. In addition to that, social media and modern gadgets consume a major chunk of their time. Children get addicted to chatting on social media, playing virtual games and watching web series on the internet. All these activities keep them awake late at night. Consequently, they become inattentive and sleepy during the daytime. Children are unaware that less sleep can be detrimental to their health.
Hence, parents and teachers must intervene by setting up a fixed time for them to sleep at. Besides, making them understand the ill effects of less sleep on their growth and development can help in winning their persuasion.
Section – C
Literature Textbook and Supplementary Reading Text (40 Marks)
Question 6.
Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. (5)
A. The word ‘convalescing’ seemed to do something to Mrs Pumphrey. She started to bring round fresh eggs, two dozen at a time, to build up Tricki’s strength. For a happy period my partners and I had two eggs each for break fast, but when the bottles of wine began to arrive, the real possibilities of the situation began to dawn on the household. (A Triumph of Surgery)
(i) State any one inference about Mrs. Pumphrey from the given extract. (1)
Answer:
It can be inferred from the given extract that Mrs. Pumphrey was very attached to her dog, Tricki. She loved him a lot, which is shy she became very worried when he fell sick.
(ii) State True or False. (1)
None of the terms (a)-(d) can be applied to the statement – She started to bring round fresh eggs, two dozen at a time, to build up Tricki’s strength.
(a) A hypothesis – a proposed explanation for a phenomenon
(b) An assumption – something that is taken for granted or assumed to be true
(c) A hyperbole – exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
(d) A premise – a proposition that forms the basis of an argument
Answer:
True
(iii) Mrs. Pumphrey reaction to the word ‘convalescing’ proved to be beneficial for the
narrator. Elaborate in about 40 words, with reference to the extract. (2)
Answer:
Her immediate reaction to hearing the word ‘convalescing’ was to send more food for him to build strength. This food and later, wine and brandy were also consumed by the vet and his partner. Thus, they benefited and were tempted to keep Tricki permanently.
(iv) Which phrase would correctly substitute ‘convalescing’ in the given sentence from the extract?
The word ‘convalescing’ seemed to do something to Mrs. Pumphrey. (1)
Answer:
getting better
Or
B. “But, please, Stephen Stepanovitch, how can they be yours? Do be a reasonable man! My aunt’s grandmother gave the Meadows for the temporary and free use of your grandfather’s peasants. The peasants used the land for forty years and got accustomed to it as if it was their own, when it happened that …………. (The Proposal)
(i) Why did the peasants treat the land as their own? (1)
(a) They used the land for forty years.
(b) They got accustomed to using the land.
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above
Answer:
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(ii) Who is the speaker of the above lines? What light do these lines throw on the speaker’s character? What reaction did his words get? Answer in about 40 words. (2)
Answer:
Lomov said the given lines. The given lines show his poor personality and a bad sense of talking that seems irrelevant with place and person. He is interrupted by Chubukov who refuted his claim by pointing out that Oxen Meadows’ standing as disputed land was the only reason the peasants were permitted to use it at no cost.
(iii) Read the following descriptions (a) – (c) and identify which one correctly corresponds to the extract. (1)
(a) A debate is a formal discussion on a particular topic, usually with two or more people presenting different viewpoints and arguments.
(b) A soliloguy is a speech given by a character alone on stage, which reveals their innermost thoughts and feelings to the audience.
(c) None of the above
Answer:
(c) None of the above
(iv) Why did his aunt’s grandmother give the meadows? (1)
Answer:
His aunt’s grandmother gave the meadows for the temporary and free use of the peasants employed by Stephan Chubukov’s grandfather in return for which they were to make bricks for her.
Question 7.
Read the given extracts and answer the guestions for ANY ONE of the two given. (5)
A.
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued. (Dust of Snow)
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately. (1)
The poet was out on the cold snowy day when the dust of snow fell on him and …………… .
Answer:
changed his sad mood
(ii) The poetic device used in the line And saved some part’ is Alliteration.
What effect does the poet wish to create? (1)
(a) Emphasis
(b) Comparison
(c) Humour
(d) Personification
Answer:
(a) Emphasis
(iii) Of the many symbols the hemlock tree represents, state the one that Frost drew
upon, in all likelihood, for this poem. (1)
Answer:
The symbol of healing is one that Frost drew upon, in all likelihood, for this poem.
(iv) Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines. (2)
Answer:
The poet, Robert Frost, uses very simple, everyday and accessible language in the poem and it is through this language that he is able to invoke the strongest of emotions. The poet tells us though his mood at the beginning was sorrowful and despairing, overshadowed by darkness, which is symbolised by the crow, it has changed now to hopeful and devoid of regret, which is symbolised by the snow covered tree. Thus, an in-depth reading of the poem reveals that there’s much more going on in what appears to be simple, straightforward lines.
Or
B.
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice (Fire and Ice)
(i) Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire? Answer in about 40 words. (2)
Answer:
The poet holds with those who believe that the world will be destroyed by fire and thus connects it with desire. According to him, desire is powerful and would be a quick end. Moreover, the fact that he has had personal experience with desire leads him to conclude that the world will end in fire.
(ii) What does the poet preach in the extract through symbols ‘fire and ice’? (1)
Answer:
Through the poem ‘Fire and Ice , the poet preaches that our powerful emotions of extreme passion and hatred will eventually drag the worlds towards a catastrophic end.
(iii) Tone of the poet’s tone in the lines- ‘To say that for destruction ice/Is also great’ is (1)
(a) Sarcastic
(b) Serious
(c) Amused
(d) Celebrator
Answer:
(a) Sarcastic
(iv) What message does the poet want to convey through this poem? (1)
Answer:
The message that the poet wants to convey is that life is transitory and death is inevitable.
Question 8.
Answer ANY FOUR of the following five guestions, in about 40-50 words. (4 × 3 = 12)
(i) Why was the writer happy when he decided to fly in the night? How was he feeling? (The Black Aeroplane- Two Stories About Flying) (3)
Answer:
The writer was very happy when he decided to fly that night because he was going home to his family. When he started flying, everything seemed to be perfect. The sky was clear and no clouds were visible. He was flying back to England in his old Dakota aeroplane over France. He was feeling happy being alone in the sky and was dreaming of his holiday.
(ii) Why did Anne think tlldt she could confide more in her diary than in people?
(From the Diary of Anne Frank).
Refer to the given lines from the text :
I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family. (3)
Answer:
Anne Frank did not have any Inend with whom she could share everything. Although she had spent a good time with her friends, she was unable to share her views and thoughts with them. When she got her diary, she decided to share everything with it because she believed that nobody would be interested enough in her thoughts. So. she treated her diary as her best friend and confided everything in it She thought that it would keep her life a secret and would not react like people do.
(iii) Where should the tiger have been according to the poet? (A Tiger in the Zoo) (3)
Answer:
The poet thinks that the tiger should have been in its natural habitat, i.e. the jungle, hiding in the shadow, quietly moving in the long grass near the waterhole to prey on the deer. He should also be on the outskirts of the jungle growling around houses and terrifying the villagers. He should not be kept captive and should be set free to enjoy his freedom.
(iv) What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days
after that? (Mijbil the Otter) (3)
Answer:
When Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom, he went wild with joy in the water, plunging and rolling in it, shooting up and down the length of the bathtub underwater and making enough slosh and splash for a hippo.
Two days after, Mijbil escaped from the bedroom and entered the bathroom. He struggled with the chromium tap till it had a full flow.
(v) ‘Money is external’. What does the poet mean by this expression?
(The Ball Poem) (3)
Answer:
The poet says that money is external’ to make the boy understand his responsibility and that the
loss is immaterial. By the phrase, the poet means that every loss cannot be replaced by money. Money cannot buy the memories associated with a thing and cannot replace the things that we love, for example, the boy’s lost ball.
Question 9.
Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words. (2 × 3 = 6)
(i) Hobbies play a very important role in one’s life. Elaborate this with reference to
‘The Making of a Scientist’. (3)
Answer:
It is true that hobbies play a very important role in one’§ life. It was Richard Ebright’s hobbies that led him into the field of science. He started collecting butterflies as a hobby. This led him to research and discover many things. Hence, we can say that hobbies play an important role in one’s life.
(ii) The last line of the text in ‘Bholi’ talks about an artist and the masterpiece.
Elaborate. (3)
Answer:
The ‘artist’ is the teacher and the masterpiece’ is Bholi. The teacher helped Bholi to become a strong and independent girl capable of making her own decisions. When Bholi met the teacher for the first time, she was scared. The teacher, with her kindness, support and encouragement, raised Bholi’s self-esteem and filled her with confidence. Bholi is her teacher’s masterpiece because she transformed her entirely and educated her in the true sense of term.
(iii) How was Hari Singh’s ‘appealing smile’ at the end different from his smiles on earlier occasions? (A Thief’s story) (3)
Answer:
Hari Singh’s smiles earlier were fake and artificial. They were full of flattery that aimed to fulfill his goal. But, in the end. his smile was real, natural and appealing.
Question 10.
Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. (1 × 6 = 6)
A. “Humanity still exists”, is what one gets to know after reading A Letter to God’ in which firm faith in God of a poor farmer and helpfulness of the post office employees are aptly depicted. Write a paragraph on the human qualities in it, in about 100-120 words. Give the paragraph a suitable title.
Or
B. You have been chosen to address a student gathering from your school to speak
on the importance of inner beauty over physical appearance. Prepare the speech draft in not more than 120 words, with reference to the poem ‘For Anne Gregory’. You may begin this way : Good morning, everyone! Today, I would like to talk about the importance of inner beauty. I recently ………… .
Answer:
A. Existence of Humanity
The story ‘A Letter to God’ written by GL Fuentes reinforces our faith in humanity. After reading the story, we come to know that still there are people who help others without any self-interest. In the story, the postmaster and other post office employees illustrate an example of humanity and kindness for others.
They were really moved by Lencho’s faith in God. They decided to help him keep his faith alive and firm. Even though it was not possible for them to collect hundred pesos, they managed to collect seventy pesos and kept them in an envelope for Lencho. They signed it as ‘God’ to further reinforce Lencho’s faith in God. This act shows us the true picture of humanity and motivates us to be noble and kind.
B. Good morning, everyone!
Today, I would like to talk about the importance of inner beauty. I recently read a poem titled ‘For Anne Gregory’ that offered an important insight into what is inner beauty. In the poem, a conversation between Anne Gregory and, most probably, the poet takes place. The poet through this conversation conveys that one should give importance to one’s inner beauty and not to one’s physical appearance. The poet tells Anne that many young men fall in love with her but only because of her beautiful hair and not for her inner qualities. To this, Anne replies that she would change the colour of her hair so that men would love her for her personality and inner beauty.
Thus, to conclude, I would like to advicse everyone to not get carried away by outward appearances as they are artificial. We should prefer internal beauty over physical appearance.
Thank You
Question 11.
Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. (1 × 6 = 6)
A. Noodle hails Think-Tank as the most powerful and intelligent creature in the whole universe. Do you agree? Write your opinion of Think-Tank citing instances from the given text. (The Book that Saved the Earth)
Or
B. Imagine that Mme. Forestier writes a diary entry after meeting Matilda describing how she felt on meeting her old friend. (The Necklace)
Write this diary entry in about 100-120 words.
Answer:
A. Noodle is a trainee under Think-Tank. He bows before him and hails his ruler as the most powerful and intelligent creature in the universe. However, Think-Tank is not really intelligent. He misinterprets the nursery rhymes completely. ‘Silver’, ‘shells’ and ‘garden’ for him mean that the earthlings are growing metals in gardens.
Think-Tank thinks books to be sandwiches and wants the crew to eat them. When the nursery rhyme which says, Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall’ is read out to him, he is terrified and plans his escape from Mars.
Thus, Think-Tank is nothing more than a show off and a pompous fool. So, later on, Noodle succeeds Think-Tank, becomes the ruler of Mars and develops friendly relations with Earth.
B. Thursday. 21st May. 20XX
9:30 PM
Dear Diary.
Today, I am happy as well as sad. I met my old friend Matilda after a long time today. She had changed so much that I was unable to identify her at first. Ten years of poverty and hardship had stolen away Matilda’s youth and beauty. I was shocked to see her pitiful condition. She was poorly dressed, with untidy hair and red hands. I felt really bad for her unnecessary suffering.’ Had she told me the truth, it would have saved her from all the inconvenience. I sympathised with her and, in the end. that’s all I could do.
Jeanne