Page 239 NODIA Sample Paper 25 CBSE X English

Sample Paper 25
Class X Exam 2023-24
English Language and Literature (184)
Time Allowed : 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
1. The Question Paper contains THREE sections READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE.
2. Attempt question based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION A - READING SKILLS 20

Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages

1. Read the following text. 10

1. Detachment is not physically renouncing our possessions, profession, home and family as many of
us think. It is the ability to let go of all the desires, habits, emotions, thoughts, speech and behaviour
patterns that are negative or detrimental to our well-being in any way. Detachment and discrimination
are interdependent; they mutually strengthen each other and empower us. The more we are able to
discriminate, the more we are able to segregate our harmful desires and discard them. The more mental
trash we discard this way, the more we empower our faculty of discrimination.
2. There is a simple technique we can all practise to strengthen our discrimination and detachment and get
rid of unnecessary desires. This will generate the awareness we need to control our senses and mind and
make them stop churning out desires every moment. To practise this technique, we should select a quiet
place when we have some leisure time.
3. Sit down with a few sheets of paper and pen or a computer and make two lists. In the first list, understand
and write down your most important goal or agenda in this life. Then meticulously add all the other goals
that you would like to achieve. While you make this list, you shouldn’t think only about yourself. Include
what you would like to contribute to the welfare of your dependants, children and their forthcoming
generations.
4. Once you complete this, set it aside and begin the second list. List all your desires here. They may be
big or small, important or insignificant, right or wrong, demonic or divine. Just remove the lid on the
Pandora’s Box and allow them all to spill out freely. Don’t try to censor or edit the list of desires at this
stage. Complete the list first. After you have made an exhaustive list, go over it to see which of these
desires are truly necessary, conducive to your meditation, helpful and favourable to you and beneficial
to others.
5. If you have been serious and honest in doing this exercise, you will have long lists of goals and desires
and many of them may be selfish or detrimental to your goal of meditation, visualisation, self-realisation,
peace, happiness and bliss. This exercise will help you develop frankness and honesty with yourself.
You will touch your true feelings and bring many of your hidden ambitions and desires into the open.

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Page 240 NODIA Sample Paper 25 CBSE X English

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. Why does the writer say that detachment is empowering? 1

(a) It makes us let go of our desires.
(b) It helps us physically renounce our possessions.
(c) It helps us get detached from family and relations.
(d) It strengthens our sense of discrimination.

ii. What are the popular misconceptions about detachment that are dispelled by the author? Rationalise
your response in about 40 words. 2

iii. Complete the sentence appropriately choosing appropriate words from the passage to complete the
author’s advice. 1
The author encourages the readers to ‘remove the lid on the Pandora’s Box and allow your desires and
wishes to spill out freely’ _____.

iv. The passage includes some word-pairs that are similar to each other. From the sets (a)-(e) below, identify
the word-pair that is the odd one out. 1
(a) frankness and honesty
(b) goal and agenda
(c) censor and edit
(d) detachment and discrimination
(e) detachment and renunciation

v. The writer correlates detachment and discrimination and says that we should make serious efforts to
strengthen them (Paragraph 2). 1
State the most important outcome of this process.

vi. Based on your reading of the text, list two reasons why the writer implies that the human mind is full of
trash. Answer in about 40 words. 2

vii. Evaluate the outcomes given below after completing both the lists of our desires and goals in life. Which
of these is not advised by the author and therefore, should not be on the list? 1
(a) They contain goals that are truly necessary.
(b) They may be censored or edited.
(c) They are beneficial to our family and their future generations.
(d) They are conducive to mental well-being.

viii. Supply one point to justify the following. 1

Awareness puts a lid on our mind which keeps churning out desires every moment which can be
confusing.

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Page 241 NODIA Sample Paper 25 CBSE X English

2. Read the following text. 10

1. When we think of countries that are the major consumers of water resources we tend to think of the
water used in our homes, such as water used for bathing and lawn sprinklers. However, studies have
shown that home water use is only the tip of the iceberg and a large majority of the water consumed is
hidden from plain view. The chart showing the largest water consuming countries of the world is thus an
eye opener.
2. As India is an agricultural country, the most important crops of India are rice, wheat and sugarcane.
Significantly these crops are the most water-consuming crops. Rice, a major crop export, consumes
about 3,500 litres of water for a kilogram of grain produced. Punjab which is the 3rd largest producer of
rice in India is completely dependent on groundwater for the production of its rice and consumes two to
three times more water than Bihar and West Bengal to produce a kilogram of rice.

3. Sugarcane is another water-guzzling crop in India, which is a very popular crop among farmers in
Maharashtra because they are assured of marketing by sugar mills. The primary source of water for
growing this crop is groundwater, whereas states like Bihar which is more suitable for the production of
sugarcane produces only 4% of the country’s total sugar cane output.
4. Thus, measures need to be taken to ensure that crop production patterns within the country, across
different states, are aligned to regional water availability.. Also, Agriculture policies should be put in
place to limit the export of water-intensive crops. Emphasis should also be placed on the adoption of
water- efficient technologies, management systems, farmer education, and advisory services to improve
water consumption in agriculture.
5. Crops in India are irrigated by several methods. Some farmers take to flooding the whole field. Others
resort to channelling water between rows of plants while others resort to watering using large sprinklers.
But the better method is to let water drop into plants using drip irrigation. Hence, India should consider
investing in scaling up micro-irrigation to make India’s agriculture more water-efficient. Drip irrigation
is the most efficient and appropriate irrigation system. Instead of wetting the whole field surface, water is
applied only to the plant root zone. The P.T.O Government of India’s ‘Per Drop More Crop’ component
under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana promotes the use of drip and sprinkler irrigation by
farmers.

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Page 242 NODIA Sample Paper 25 CBSE X English

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. Complete the following sentence appropriately, based on your understanding of data given in
passage. 1
On analysing the data given in the passage, we can say that China and America guzzle water in excess
followed by _____.

ii. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate options given in the brackets, based on your understanding of
paragraph 2. 1
The more the farmers appreciate and value the efficiency in using water-saving technology in agriculture,
the lesser the consumption and replenishment of groundwater, in the long run, is _____ (a fact/ an
opinion) because it is _____ (a/an subjective judgement/ objective detail).

iii. How would the alignment between the crop production patterns and the consumption of water in
agriculture affect India’s agriculture positively? Justify the following, in about 40 words. 2

iv. Based on the passage, how can the farmers be convinced to change the way they grow crops? List at
least two changes that can be implemented at the ground level and at the government level. 1

v. Study the statement ‘A large majority of the water consumption is hidden from plain view.’ 1
State any one inference that can be drawn from this.

vi. Select the option that correctly display what ‘drip irrigation’ signifies. (Reference-Paragraph 5) 1

(a) Only (i) (b) Only (iii)

(c) (ii), (iii) and (iv) (d) (i) and (iii)

vii. Infer one benefit and one drawback of growing rice, wheat and sugarcane by Indian farmers. Answer in
about 40 words. 2

viii. Select the correct option to complete the following sentence: 1

If India _____ and _____ its irrigation methods or systems at a micro-level, our agriculture will become
more water-efficient.
(a) invests, scales-up
(b) organises, adopts
(c) channels, organises
(d) aligns, channels

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Page 243 NODIA Sample Paper 25 CBSE X English

SECTION B - GRAMMAR & WRITING SKILLS 20

GRAMMAR 10

3. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed. 1 # 10 = 10

i. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the blank. 1
The story of English in India _____ between the conceptions of the language as an idea and as an object
to date.
(a) will toggle (b) have toggled
(c) had toggled (d) toggles

ii. Read the conversation between a man and his nephew. Complete the sentence by reporting the
dialogue. 1
Uncle : Let us go and see the Great Apollo Circus this weekend.
Nephew : The ticket is on you because you lost all the games in cards yesterday.
Uncle invited his nephew to see the Great Apollo Circus coming weekend but the nephew reminded him
since he _____ on him.

iii. Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a short story. 1
But he was tired and weak with hunger and he _____ not rise, exhausted by the strange exercise.
(a) could (b) would
(c) need (d) dare

iv. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line, from a news
report: The proximate cause of the Leicester clashes was ostensibly tension after an India-Pakistan
match. 1
Option No. Error Correction
(a) of for
(b) was has been
(c) tension tensions
(d) An the

v. Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option. 1
In the letter, the student has written that he _____ by some senior students who threatened him with dire
consequences, if he complains.
(a) is being bullied (b) has been bullied
(c) was bullying (d) will have bullied

vi. Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given portion of a letter : 1
Dear Sir
I would like to bring to your notice the unsanitary conditions in our colony. Rubbish and garbage _____
(lie) in heaps everywhere.

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Page 244 NODIA Sample Paper 25 CBSE X English

vii. Report the dialogue between a student and a teacher, by completing the blanks in the sentence given
below. 1
Student : I’m so stressed before my board exams.
Teacher : Don’t worry. We have arranged counselling sessions to de-stress you.
When a student admitted that he was quite stressed before his board exams, his teacher told him _____
because the school _____.
viii. Identify the error in the given sentence, from a newspaper report and supply the correction. 1
I expect the authorities to take action on this issue at the earliest or we would have to raise it on social
media. Use the given format for your response.
Error Correction

ix. Fill up the blank to complete the sentence with the correct options. 1
Rosemary often _____ to work by bus, but she _____.to work by taxi yesterday.
(a) got, went (b) went, went
(c) gets, got (d) has been going, reached

x. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction. 1
We will fight against injustice.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

xi. Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between two people. 1
A : Do you enjoy having a cup of tea in the morning?
B : No, my preference for a cup of strong filtered coffee has remained rock-solid for years.
A man ‘A asked his friend ‘B’ if he enjoyed having his morning tea. His friend ‘B’ admitted that _____.
(a) her preference for a cup of strong filtered coffee has remained rock-solid for years.
(b) their preference for a cup of strong filtered coffee have remained rock-solid for years.
(c) his preference for a cup of strong filtered coffee has remained rock-solid for years.
(d) their preference for a cup of strong filtered coffee will remain rock-solid for years.

xii. Identify the error on a traffic signboard and supply the correction, for the following instruction. 1
Over speed is a knife that cut a life.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

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Page 245 NODIA Sample Paper 25 CBSE X English

WRITING 10
Note : All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessment purpose.
4. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5
A. The insanitary conditions in your colony are causing multiple diseases. Write a letter in 100-120 words
to the Municipal Commissioner bringing the problem to his notice and request him to take urgent action
in the matter. You are Deepak/Deepa of C 2/8, Ankur Enclave, New Delhi.


O
B. You are Rajesh/Rajni Roy of 105 C, Chatterjee Lane, Kolkata. You have received a letter from your
brother who is staying in the hostel of Shakti Mandir Public School, Darjeeling, stating that he is being
bullied by some senior students who threatened him with dire consequences, if he complains. Write a
letter in 100-120 words to the Hostel Warden requesting him to take urgent action.

5. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5

A. Children tend to become tense and nervous before the board exams. This may affect their health and
performance in the examination. Write a paragraph in 100-120 words on the ‘Need for Counselling
before Board Exams’.


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B. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, all the schools are closed and to mitigate the academic loss, online classes
are being provided by the government and the schools. In this situation the role of cell phones, once
prohibited in schools, now has become an essential need of the students. Write a paragraph in 100-120
words on the topic “Importance of cell phone for the students during Pandemic Covid 19.”

SECTION C - LITERATURE 40

6. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 5
A. “It’s not my balcony,” Ausable said with extreme irritation. “It belongs to the next apartment.” He
glanced explanatorily at Fowler “You see,” he said, “this room used to be part of a large unit, and the
next room-through that door there-used to be the living room. It had the balcony, which extends under
my window now. You can get onto it from the empty room two doors down-and somebody did, last
month. The management promised to block it off. But they haven’t.” Max glanced at Fowler, who was
standing stiffly not far from Ausable, and waved the gun with a commanding gesture. “Please sit down,”
he said. “We have a wait of half an hour, I think
“(The Midnight Visitor)

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Page 246 NODIA Sample Paper 25 CBSE X English

i. State any one inference about the balcony spoken at length by Ausable from the given context. 1
The management promised to block it off. But they haven’t.

ii. State TRUE or FALSE. 1

None of the options from (a) to (d) can be applied to the given question or context- “It’s not my balcony,”
Ausable said with extreme irritation. “It belongs to the next apartment.” When Ausable said this, what
was he relying on?
(a) A hypothesis: Max had no idea about the balcony.
(b) An assumption: Fowler had no idea about the balcony.
(c) A premise: Only he knew that there was no balcony.
(d) A theory: The waiter had no idea about the balcony.

iii. ‘It had the balcony, which extends under my window now. You can get onto it from the empty room
two doors down-and somebody did, last month. The management promised to block it off But they
haven’t.’ 2
Why does Ausable explain the existence of a balcony at such great length to Fowler? Elaborate in about
40 words, with reference to the extract.

iv. Max told Fowler that they had to wait for a good thirty minutes for a paper to arrive. 1
The paper here refers to _____.

O
B. “But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as any of the elaborate games other
children played. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.
The most fascinating of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed
through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back. The sight of the bus, filled
each time with a new set of passengers was a source of unending joy for Valli”
(Madam Rides the Bus)
i. The author says that ‘Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.’ Which of the options
given below confirms this statement? 1
Valli had a habit of _____.
(a) passing time as she had no friends (b) observing people and everyday happenings
(c) eavesdropping on neighbours and visitors (d) looking for an opportunity to hop into a bus

ii. Why was ‘The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers was a source of unending
joy for Valli?’ Answer in about 40 words. 2

iii. Read the following descriptions (a)-(c) and identify which one correctly corresponds to the figure of
speech in the given line from the extract. 1
‘But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as any of the elaborate games other
children played.
(a) “Either way, or both, he died like a bug under a microscope.” - Stephen King.
(b) “And how my soul was as a lampless sea.”- Shelley
(c) “Dying is a wild night and a new road” - Emily Dickinson
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Page 247 NODIA Sample Paper 25 CBSE X English

iv. What does Valli’s interest in a ‘new set of passengers’ as a source of unending joy show about her? 1

7. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 5
A. He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
(Tiger in the Zoo)

i. According to the extract, the poet wishes for the tiger to be ‘sliding’ through the foliage as this
would 1
(a) assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s sound.
(b) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator before it rushes in.
(c) help the predator pounce on the prey comfortably without getting tired.
(d) support the predator’s vision as it eyes its prey.

ii. Fill the blank with one word. 1

‘Shadow’ here, refers to the shadow of long _____

iii. What is the poet trying to convey in the given extract? Answer in about 40 words. 2

iv. Which word in the extract means the same as ‘fat’? 1

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B. If when you’re walking round your yard
You meet a creature there, Who hugs you
very, very hard, Be sure it is a Bear,
If you have any doubts, I guess
He’ll give you just one more caress.
(How to Tell Wild Animals)

i. How a bear can be recognised by you? 1

(a) By its skin colour
(b) By its roar
(c) By its body size
(d) By its tight hug

ii. How will you judge the poet’s style of writing in the given extract? 1

iii. How does the poet describe the bear in the extract? 1

iv. Would you agree that the poet has an in-depth knowledge of the wild? Support the statement in context
of the poem from which the given lines are taken. Answer in about 40 words. 2

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Page 248 NODIA Sample Paper 25 CBSE X English

8. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40-50 words. 4 # 3 = 12
i. What was Lomov’s opinion about Squeezer? 3
(The Proposal)

ii. How did the seagull express his excitement when he saw his mother bringing food for him? 3
(Two Stories About Flying)

iii. What does courage mean to Mandela? 3

(Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom)

iv. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so according
to him? 3
(How to Tell Wild Animals)

v. ‘He senses first responsibility’—What responsibility is referred to here? 3

(The Ball Poem)

9. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words. 2#3 = 6
i. Why could Tricki not be cured at home? 3
(A Triumph of Surgery)

ii. What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change over
time? 3
(The Thief ’s Story)
iii. What happened to the people who tried to help the constable in catching the invisible man? 3
(Footprints without Feet)

10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. 1#6 = 6
A. The most important message is that all people have the right to live in freedom just because people may
be a different religion or race, doesn’t mean that they should be treated differently.
Prepare a set of dialogues that happened between Anne Frank and Nelson Mandela based on ‘Diary of
Anne Frank’ and ‘A Long Walk to Freedom’. You may begin like this :
Anne : I detest the world when they treat people differently on basis of their caste and creed.
Mandela : I also faced the same discrimination in my country _____.


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B. The message of the poem ‘The Trees’ is that freedom and equality should be for all the living organisms
in the world. If you had to use the message of the given quote based on ‘The Trees’ to understand the
state of the Tiger in the Zoo, how will you elaborate it? Also, how it is relevant to both.

11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. 1#6 = 6
A. The message of ‘The Question of Trust’ is that we should not trust anyone without discovering out about
that person. Analyse in detail with reference to character of Horace in the story.


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B. The ultimate message that one can get from ‘The Midnight Visitor’ is that in any situation we should not
panic instead we should take a step and face the situation with our presence of mind.


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