10th CBSE Prelim Q.P English

Sub : English Max Marks : 80
Class : X (CBSE) Pre. Question Paper - 01 Time : 3 Hours

Section A:READING SKILLS 20 Marks
20 M
Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages
No. Questions Marks
I. Read the following text. 10
1. A Russian proverb advises us not to buy a house, but the neighborhood. While till
some years ago, it was impossible to dictate who lived with you in the same quarters,
today when you think of buying a home, you could actually create your own dream
neighborhood- thanks to the Internet and the group buying model. 2. The group
buying model has been applied in different industries, from cars to baby merchandise
to pet care products. Now, the trend is catching on in the real estate sector, with
many sites as well as broking firms offering group deals on real estate projects in
India. 3. The way it works is simple. Take xxx.com for example. This is an online and
offline integrated platform that showcases property. It uses social media networks to
let buyers know about possible good deals and leaves it to them to do some viral
marketing. once a large group of buyers is thus developer and helps negotiate a
suitable discount. 4. Since, the developer doesn’t have to pay for the marketing, it is
willing enough to pay these companies a transaction fee which is a percentage of the
total value of the deal. For the buyers, it offers the rates at no fee, thus making it a
win-win proposition for all involved. 5. The developer also benefits by getting
substantial cash flow, giving them a good amount of working capital. “In today’s real
estate scenario, bulk buying could be the answer to the market slump and the long-
awaited cash flow,” says the Founder of xxx. com. 6. Sometimes, the discount size is
not to be sneered at. Discounts on group buying vary from 5-30 percent, the average
divergence from the market rate being 25-30 percent. 7. Customer ‘buy-in’ is the
model. But is it a temporary fad? In a way, the online group buying set-up is similar to
the model developers share sixth speculators, who buy in bulk even before the project
gets kick-started and get discounts of 30-40 percent. They pay 50 percent of the
property value upfront. Group buying companies prove more beneficial for developers
as they get away with providing lesser discounts than speculators. 8. Some sound a
note of caution on the trend. Present conditions are conducive for this business model
as group buying works well in a situation where stocks are moving slowly, markets
are jittery and there is ample supply. It may not work in a seller’s market. 9. Another
caution is very often the builders do not offer the best inventory to the group in terms
of location and utility. The buyers have to use their astute Judgement to avoid such
traps.
i The discount size on group buying, compared to the usual discount to speculators is 1
usually___________.
(a) less (b) more (c) equal (d) unpredictable
ii Which of the following may be the objective of the passage? 1

(a) To reveal fewer discounts being offered by the developers
(b)To highlight the problems of the housing industry
(c) To highlight the importance of neighborhood in one’s life
(d)To improve information on group buying trends of property
iii Write in about 40 words, “What is the key benefit for developers and buyers in the
arrangement described in the passage, where developers pay a transaction fee while
buyers enjoy no fees?” 2
iv xxx.com are the ______________ 1
v The group buying model certainly did not start with 1

(a) cars (b) real estate
(c) pet care products (d) baby products
vi Which of the following is one of the questions posed in the passage? 1

(a) Is the group buying model a temporary fad?
(b)Is the builder offering you the best inventory?
(c) Should we buy a house or the neighborhood?
(d)Are present market conditions conducive to this business?
vii Which of the following is true in the context of the passage? 1

(a) The buyers, though have to pay higher fees and prices, get their dream neighborhood
(b)The customer buy-in model is not dependent on market conditions
(c) Group buying companies don’t buy with the same objective as that of speculators
(d)The buyers/developers offer the best available property to the group buyers
viii Is the concept of online group buying similar to the practice of developers offering
discounts to speculators who buy in bulk before a project starts, and is it likely to be
a temporary trend? 2
2 Read the following text. 10
1. The report, progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (2000-
2017): with a special focus on inequalities, is the most recent publication by the WHO/
UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, which tracks global progress in achieving the
water and sanitation portion of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 2.
The 17 SDGs aim is to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere” by 2030. Goal 6
calls for universal access to safe and adequate access to drinking water and sanitation
services. 3. According to the new report, progress has been made since 2000, yet
billions of people are still underserved. The report delineates between access to basic
services, which has greatly improved, and access to “safely managed” services, which
is inadequate in many parts of the world. Only about 45 percent of the global population
has access to safely- managed sanitation services. In 2017, an estimated 673 million
people continued to openly defecate, most of them in 61 “high burden” countries
where the practice remained common among more than 5 percent of the population.
4. To qualify as being “safely managed”, drinking water must meet three criteria: be
accessible on the premises, be available for at least 12 hours per day, and be free
from E. coli, arsenic, or fluoride contamination. Sanitation is considered safely managed
when facilities are not shared with other households, and waste is safely treated on-
site or at an off-site facility. 5. In 2017, an estimated 5.3 billion people had access to
safely-managed drinking water. Of that number, 1.4 billion used basic services, 206
million used limited services, 435 used unimproved sources, and the remaining 144
million relied on untreated surface water. 6. Poor and rural populations are at the
greatest risk of being left behind. In 2017, urban access to basic drinking water
services was at 97 percent, while rural coverage was at 81 percent. 7. In terms of
sanitation, an estimated 2.1 billion people gained access to basic services between
2000 and 2017, but 2 billion remain without access. 8. The report also focuses on
improvements in eliminating open defecation. Between 2000 and 2017, the global
rate of open defecation fell from 21 percent to 9 percent.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
i What is the percentage of the population which has access to sanitation services? 1
(a) 45% (b) 22% (c) 15% (d) 8%
ii The given passage focuses on 1
(a) sanitation (b) drinking water
(c) hygiene (d) All of these
iii List any 2 criteria for water to qualify as being ‘safely managed’ drinking water.
1. __________ 2. __________ 2
vi What percentage of people in urban areas have access to drinking water?

(a) 45% (b) 21%
(c) 97% (d) 9% 1
v Complete the following analogy correctly with a word from paragraph 2:bow :
obeisance :: objective : _____(Clue: Just like a bow is a synonym for an obeisance,
similarly, an objective is a synonym for...) 1
vi State any two targets that have been set by the UN’s Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) program. 2
vii Rank the following countries from the highest to the lowest accessibility to surface
water:A. Latin America and the CaribbeanB. OceaniaC. Sub-Saharan AfricaD.
Europe and North America
(a) BADC (b) BCDA
(c) BACD (d) BCAD 1
viii When is sanitation considered safely managed? 1
3 SECTION B – GRAMMAR
Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions. 10
i In the given sentence, a part of the sentence is underlined. Choose the correct Tense
Form from the given alternatives.He will never succeed however hard he will try.
(a) however hard he tries (b) however hardly he tries
(c) however hard he tried (d) No improvement 1
ii Read the conversation between Marry and Tailor. Complete the sentence by
reporting the tailors’ reply correctly. 1
Marry: Can you stitch my dress within two days?
Tailor: Yes ma’am. But I will take 500 rupees to stitch a dress.
Marry asked the tailor if he could stitch her dress in two days. The tailor replied
affirmatively but said that ____________
iii Identify the error in the following sentence and supply the correction:Madhubani Painting
is one in the many traditional Indian art forms. 1
Error Correction
iv Fill in the blank using the appropriate modal auxiliary verb.

_____ people who migrated here died in the floods.
(a) A few (b) Few
(c) The few (d) Many 1
v Which one of the following sentences shows the correct use of Article
(a) The Book which you demand is out of print.
(b) Book which you demand is out of print.
(c) A Book which you demand is out of print.
(d) None of these 1
vi Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the givenportion
of a message: 1
Dear Rahul,
Please call me immediately when you _______ (reach) home. I have some important
work.
vii Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following
statement:
God-like qualities are planted with us at birth. 1
Option no. error correction
a are is
b with to
c at in
d qualities quality
viii Mrs. Kadam talked to her daughter about her exam. Report her question.
When will you get your exam answer papers? 1
ix Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, for the given
information.Ethiopia is a landlocking country in a northeast African region known as
the Horn of Africa. _________of the highest, and most stunning places on the African
continent are found here.
a) Few b) Much
c) Some d) little 1
x Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option:Kate
Middleton may have looked dainty and fairy-like in her wedding gown but talks
doing the rounds ___________ that the dress bore a striking similarity with Grace
Kelly’s wedding outfit.
a) will be b) is going to be
c) should be d) are 1
xi Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following
statement: 1
A story which you wrote last week was not very interesting.
Option no. error Correction
A last previous
B was is
C A The
d wrote have written
xii Transform the following direct speech into reported speech:

I said to him, “Where have you lost the mobile, I purchased for you last month? 1
SECTION C-WRITING 10
4A. You are Anuj/Anju of 28 A, Uttam Nagar, New Delhi. You are interested in a
short–term course in computer graphics during the holidays. You came across
this advertisement in a local newspaper.
Write a letter to the Director, of Bharat Computer Centre, inquiring about

their short–term courses and asking for all the necessary details. 5
OR
4B. You are Vinni/Sanjay living at S–453 Raghupura, New Delhi. Some women have 5
been robbed of their gold chains and earrings in the main market of your block during
rush hours by young boys riding bikes: You are very much worried about such incidents.
Write a letter to the Editor of a local newspaper to draw the attention of the authority
concerned about it.
5A. The pie chart below shows the main methods of transportation for people traveling to
one university for work or study in 2004 and 2009. Summarise the information by
selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. 5
2004 2009
Walking
Walking 6%
4% Train
Train 4%
3% Car
28%
Car
Bus
51%
33%
Bus
46%
Bicycle
16%
Bicycle car parking charges in the university in 2006

9% new bus stop in theuniversity in 2008
OR
5B. Read the following excerpt from an article that appeared in the magazine section of a 5
local daily:The ban on single-use plastic is impractical. The purpose of articles like
bags and packaging is ultimately to make human life easier. Plastic articles do this
well, so they shouldn’t be banned.Write a paragraph in about 120 words to analyze
the given argument. You could think about what alternative explanations might weaken
the given conclusion and include rationale/evidence that would strengthen/counter the
given argument.
SECTION D: LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENTARY 40

READING TEXT
6 Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two,
given. 5
A The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear
sky above me. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky I was happy to be alone high up
above the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota airplane over France
back to England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my
family. I looked at my watch: one thirty, in the morning.
i What was the scene like as the narrator flew their old Dakota airplane over France
\ back to England? 2
ii ‘I was dreaming of my holiday’

What were the dreams of his holiday? 1
iii The ‘sleeping countryside’ refers to all the people who: 1
(a) lay asleep on a hot day (b) lay asleep during the day
(c) lay asleep during hot noon (d) lay asleep at night in thecountryside
v. Fill in the gap with a phrase given in the extract:

The class X batch of 2015 has planned a reunion. All of them made a lot of plans and
they are ----------------to meet their
batch mates. 1
OR
B And that is why it was so difficult to rob him. It’s easy to rob a greedy man because
he can afford to be robbed, but it’s difficult to rob a careless man sometimes he
doesn’t even notice he’s been robbed and that takes all the pleasure out of the work.
Well, it’s time I did some real work, I told myself; I’m out of practice. And if I don’t
take the money, he’ll only waste it on his friends. After all, he doesn’t even pay me.
i. What reason did Hari Singh find for cheating on his host? 1
(a) That he was not much worried about money
(b) That he didn’t pay him
(c) That he would spend money on his friends
(d) All of these
ii. Do you think the narrator’s justification for considering theft is morally acceptable?
3Why or why not? (Answer in about 40 words) 2
iii. If difficult::easy, then pick the ODD pair from the options below: 1
(a) give : : take (b) lose : : find
(c) jump : : hop (d) come : : go
iv. Which of the following adjectives describes Anil? 1

(a) Trustworthy (b) Philanthropist
(c) A good host (d) All of these
given. 5
A No use to say ‘O there are other balls’:

An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down
All his young days into the harbor where
i. Why is there no need to say about other balls according to the poet? 1
(a) For the child wants the same one he lost
(b) For the child wants the different one from he lost
(c) For the child is no longer interested in that ball
(d) None of these
ii. What does the phrase “ultimate shaking grief” most likely suggest about the boy’s 1
emotional state?
a) He is experiencing a mild sadness.
b) He is feeling nostalgic and content.
c) He is overwhelmed by intense and profound sorrow.
d) He is excited and enthusiastic about the harbor scene.
iii. What emotions and experiences are conveyed in these lines of the poem, and how
do they relate to the theme of the poem? 2
iv. What does the ball represent in ‘The Ball Poem’? 1

(a) Lost childhood (b) Lost time
(c) Lost possessions (d) All of these
OR
B “Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,

And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm”
i. Pick the option that does not display a simile from the extract. 1
a) Clashed his tail like irons…
b) …at the pirate like a robin at a worm.
c) …Custard, snorting like an engine…
d) …trickled down to the bottom…
ii. The extract mentions ‘irons’ in dungeons. According to this extract, ‘irons’ is a 1
reference to
a) iron racks for sacred books.
b) iron cases housing treasures.
c) iron chains holding the prisoners captive.
d) iron coffins for burying the royal dead.
iii. What is the rhyme scheme of the above-given stanza? 1

iv. What might Custard symbolize or represent in the poem when he confronts the
pirate? 2
8 Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40-50 words. 4x3=12
i. Do you think the end of the story ‘A Letter to God’ is rather ironic? Why? 3
ii. Why does the author in ‘Coorg’ say that the visitors’ search for the heart and soul of 3
India would be found in Coorg?
iii. Imagine Valli had to plan a day-long budget trip to a domestic destination for her 3
family all by herself. What things do you think she would keep in mind while planning?
iv. The process of “moving out” was tedious for the trees. Support the statement with 3
reference to the poem ‘The Trees’.
v. Would you describe the role of the fog as active or passive? Support your answer 3
with reference to the poem “Fog”
9 Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2x3=6
i. It’s not easy to be mean to people who are very nice to you. Do you think that the 3
young thief had to work on giving himself valid reasons to be able to commit the
theft? Or did the thieving come as naturally to him this time, too? Write a brief
analysis of his mood before the theft.
ii. The will to win, for the right reasons, was a quality that Richard had. Do you think 3
this quality alone can help us accomplish great feats? Why/ Why not?
iii. Thieves and swindlers have no sense of moral righteousness. Comment with 3
references to instances from “A Question of Trust”.
10 Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. 1x6=6
A. If the Buddha were to summarise the life lesson of “The Ball Poem’, what would 6
that sermon be? Think and create this address for people of your age.
OR
B. Imagine that Walt Whitman and Nelson Mandela are invited to engage in a discussion 6
on the topic - ‘Man’s Journey - Vices, Virtues, and Vision’. Based on your reading
of ‘Animals’ and ‘Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’, present the similarities
and differences in their viewpoints and vision of human beings in the form of a
conversation. OR Nelson Mandela is more hopeful about humankind than Walt
Whitman. Do you agree? Support your opinion based on your reading of ‘Animals’
and ‘Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’.
11 A nswer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. 1x6=6
A. Imagine that one of Mr. Herriot’s partners can understand the language of dogs and 6
listens to Tricki on his last night with them (a) What might Tricki share about his
experience? (b) How would he evaluate it in comparison to his home experience?
OR
B. After reading Bholi’s story you decide to write a blog on the importance of educating
the girl child and how it empowers her. Write that blog expressing your views. 6
***
Class : X (CBSE) Pre. Question Paper - 02 Time : 3 hours
Section A:READING SKILLS 20 Marks

Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages
I Read thefollowing text. 10
Educational planning should aim at meeting the educational needs of theentire population
irrespective of their age. While the traditional structure of education has a three-layer
hierarchy from the primary stage to the university represents the core, we should not
overlook the periphery which is equally important. Under modern conditions, workers
need to rewind or renew their enthusiasm, strike out in a new direction, or improve their
skills as much as any University professor. The retired and the aged have their own
needs as well. Educational planning, in other words, should take care of the needs of
everyone.Our structures of education have been built up on the assumption that there is
a terminal point to education. This basic defect has become all the more harmful today.
A UNESCO report certified ‘Learning to Be’ prepared by Edgar Faure and others in
1973 asserts that the education of children must prepare future adults for various forms
of self-learning. A viable education system of the future should consist of modules with
different kinds of functions serving a diversity of constituents and performance, not the
period of study,which should be the basis for credentials. In view of the fact that the
significance of a commitment to lifelong learning and lifetime education is being discussed
only in recent years even in educationally advanced countries, the possibility of an idea
becoming an integral part of educational thinking seems to be a far cry. To move in this
direction means much more than some simple rearrangements of the present organization
of education. But a good beginning can be made by developing open university programs
for older learners of different categories and introducing extension services in conventional
colleges and schools. These institutions should also learn to cooperate with community
organizations such as libraries, health services, etc.(Source: Enrich Forum 04)
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
i. Can you explain the significance of the UNESCO report mentioned in the
passage and its impact on education?(Answer in about 40 words) 2
ii Which of the following is NOT true in the context of the given passage? 1
(a) lifelong learning is a recent concept
(b) ‘Learning to be’ defends that there is a terminal point to education
(c) schools and colleges should open extension services
(d) needs of the aged and retired should also be considered
iii Educational planning should aim at meeting the education needs of: 1
(a) Early childhood age group (b) Teenagers
(c) All age groups (d) None of the above
iv When did the discussion about the significance of lifelong learning and lifetime education
start becoming prominent in even educationally advanced countries? (Answer in about
40 words) 2
v Complete the statement:According to the author, educational plan should attempt

to_________. 1
vi In the context of the passage, what is the meaning of the sentence “The writing is
already on the wall”? 1
(a) everything is uncertain nowadays
(b) changes have already taken place
(c) the signs of change are already visible
(d) you cannot change the future
vii Select the sentence pattern that corresponds to the following statement:We should
not overlook the periphery. 1
(a) We should not neglect this issue.
(b) We should not study this issue.
(c) We should not accept this issue.
(d) We should not think of this issue.
viii Which of the following best describes the purpose of the author? 1
(a) to criticise the present educational system
(b) to strengthen the present educational practices
(c) to support non-conventional educational organisations
(d) to present a practical point of view on education
II Read the passage given below. 10
Adventure is the spirit that urges men to undertake hazardous tasks, for adventure
implies readiness to embark on a course of action that involves risk. However, the
spirit of adventure tends to be restrained by caution. More often than not, this caution
gives warning of the potential dangers when our foremost thoughts are of safety first.
Yet in some men, the urge for adventure may be so strong that it overwhelms the
primary instinct of self-preservation and inspires them to attempt the impossible.
Adventure need not always be successful. It is enough if the adventure is impelled by
courage. Indeed, the failure of a gallant enterprise often touches our heart deeply even
more than if it were a success. The vision of Mallory and Irvine toiling indomitably
through the miss towards the summit of Mount Everest, never to return, inspires us for
more than if they had attained their objective. Success in dangerous enterprises often
brings material rewards, but a glorious failure brings greater honor and admiration.
There has never been a person who knew no fear, but the finer the courage of the
person, the lesser will one betrays fear. When we think of persons who go after adventure
with a complete disregard for danger, we should remember that their bodies are as
sensible to agony as ours and that their minds suffer from the same anxieties. If we wish
to pursue real adventure, we must fight gigantic battles within ourselves and overcome
hunger, the love of life, the pull of the home, and even the love of our loved ones.
Answe the following questions, based on the passage above.

i According to the writer, the spirit of adventure is characterized by ________. 1
(a) ever readiness. (b) eagerness to take risks.
(c) a concern for safety. (d) potential danger.
ii What does the word ‘gigantic’ mean in the last paragraph of the passage? 1
iii The contextual meaning of “a gallant enterprise” in para 2 is ________. 1

(a) a brave-hearted projected
(b) a difficult adventure that requires a lot of courage
(c) a brave adventure that is bound to fail
(d) an adventure that has a strong appeal for the really have
iv What is the outcome when the urge for adventure overpowers the instinct of self-
preservation, as mentioned in passage 1? (Answer in about 40 words) 2
v What does the expression toiling indomitably mentioned in the passage mean? 1
vi The author wants the reader to understand that ________. 1

(a) Mallory and Irvine reached the top but only after a valiant effort
(b) Mallory and Irvine, though brave, were doomed to fail
(c) Mallory and Irvine died but their attempt was indeed grand
(d) Mallory and Irvine should have given up the attempt because of bad weather
vii Can you explain the significance of overcoming hunger, the love of life, the pull of the
home, and the love of loved ones in the context of adventure, as mentioned in the
passage 3? (Answer in about 40 words) 2
viii The author advocates that in order to pursue real adventure, we must first 1
(a) wage a fight within ourselves
(b) conquer our sensations and feelings
(c) rise above everyone else
(d) become really brave
Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions. 10
i Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete an online update.Many
children _________ their English textbook to school yesterday.
a. did not brought b. was not brought
c. had not bring d. did not bring 1
ii Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Naresh
and Tina.Tina: Have you seen my brother anywhere?Naresh: Yes, he is playing with
my brother in the park.Tina asked Naresh whether he had seen her brother anywhere.
Naresh replied affirmatively saying that ____________. 1
(a). he is playing with his brother in the park
(b). he is playing with my brother in the park
(c). he was playing with his brother in the park
(d). he was playing with my brother in the park
iii Identify the error in the note and supply the correction, for the following
statement:Those people have been building that house since two years. 1
Error Correction
iv Fill in the blank using an appropriate modal auxiliary verb.

We _______ hardly predict what will happen in our life after a few years. 1
v Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the note given by the
class teacher. 1
If you wish to change your club, you _________ give an application
to the class teacher in that regard.
a. will b. must
c. could d. may
vi Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the verb in the bracket, for the givenportion
of a text message:Dear Ajay,I won’t have to borrow money from you now, because
________ (just get) my salary. Thank you! 1
vii Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following
statement:He was the first man to have play for a regular state team. 1
a the a
b play played
c for with
d a the
iii Mr. Sharma was a bit angry with his manager. Report his statement.I don’t have any
interest in your personal life. 1
ix Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a message.I am
extremely sorry. I don’t have ________ idea about that meeting. 1
(a) all (b) any
(c) many (d) every
x Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option:I
_______________________ the thunder during the storm last night.
a) had heard b) was heard
c) was hearing d) heard 1
xi Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following
statement:
When he was the young man, he met with a severe accident. 1
a When While
b the a
c met meeted
d a the
xii Report the dialogue between Riya and a shopkeeper, by completing thesentence:
One day, Riya went to stationery. Riya: I want to buy some colour pencils and a
paintbrush.Shopkeeper: Sorry, they are not available at present.Riya asked
the shopkeeper for some colour pencils and a paintbrush he politely apologized
and ____________. 1
SECTION C –WRITING 10
4A. You are Rahul/Reshma. You are the Manager Laptop Clinic at Krishna Nagar
Bangalore. Write a letter to the in charge of Infotech, Bannerghatta, Bangalore,
placing an order for a few laptops like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and ASUS for your shop. 5
OR
4B. You are Shubham/ Shalini Mundra of 49 Hudson Lanes, Delhi, who bought a color
TV set from M/s Gupta Electronics, Kamla Nagar, two months ago. You find that the
set is not up to the mark; its sound is not clear and the picture changes to black and
white every now and then. The trouble started about 15 days ago. Write a letter to the
dealer complaining about the TV set and requesting him to send his engineer to rectify
the defect and if there is any manufacturing defect, the dealer should replace it with a
new TV set. 5
5A. The following pie charts show the percentage of students taking admission in the different
faculties of XYZ University over a certain period of time. Write down an analytical
paragraph on your understanding of the given data. 5
OR
5B. Given below is a newspaper report on the state of cancer prevailing in India. You have
been asked to write an analytical paragraph on ‘Cancer - a silent killer’Taking information
from the clipping given below together with your own ideas, write this paragraph in
100-120 words. “In India, cities are more cancer-prone than rural areas. In the early
1990s, we expected one out of 10- 15 urban Indians to get cancer in their lifetime, that
is every second or third family would have to face this disease. This is partly due to
high levels of benzene in the air and also that the metros are exposed to high levels of
pesticides in their foods. In order to check the steady growth of cancer in the country,
the Government shall have to give priority to preventive action. At the same time measures
to undertake improvement in facilities for the treatment of cancer shall have
to be adopted.” 5
SECTION D
LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING TEXT 40
given. 5
A I get along pretty well with all my teachers. There are nine of them, seven men and two
women. Mr. Keesing, the old fogey who teaches maths, was annoyed with me for
ages because I talked so much. After several warnings, he assigned me extra homework.
An essay on the subject, ‘A Chatterbox’. A chatterbox — what can you write about
that? I’d worry about that later, I decided. I jotted down the title in my notebook,
tucked it in my bag, and tried to keep quiet.(From the diary of Anne Frank)
i What subject was the protagonist assigned an essay on, and how did they initially feel
about it? 2
ii. Pick the option that lists the image that most appropriately corresponds to ‘old fogey’. 1
(I) (II)
(III) (IV)
(a) I (b) II
(c) III (d) IV
iii. Which figure of speech is there in ‘was annoyed with me for ages’? 1
(a) Oxymoron (b) Anaphora
(c) Transferred Epithet (d) Exaggeration
iv. Mr. Keesing was an ‘old fogey’. Based on the extract, pick the option with the list of
words that best describe Mr. Keesing. 1
(I) Old fashioned (II) Strict (III) Friendly
(IV) Amiable (V) Patient
(a) Only I & II (b) Only I, II & V
(c) Only II & V (d) Only IV & V
OR
B OOP: I haven’t a clue. I’ve been to seven galaxies, but I’ve never seen anything like
this. Maybe they’re hats. (He opens a book and puts it on his head.) Say, maybe this
is a haberdashery!OMEGA: (bowing low) Perhaps the Great and Mighty Think-Tank
will give us the benefit of his thought on the matter.THINK-TANK: Elementary, my
dear Omega. Hold one of the items up so that I may view it closely. (Omega holds a
book in the palm of her hand.) Yes, yes, I understand now. Since Earth creatures are
always eating, the place in which you find yourselves is undoubtedly a crude refreshment
stand.OMEGA: (to Iota and Oop) He says we’re in a refreshment stand.OOP: Well,
the Earthlings certainly have a strange diet. (The Book that saved the Earth)
i. The quality of being crude has been allotted to the refreshment stand
because___________. 1
ii. Choose the option that associates the person with a haberdashery. 1
a) Jagdeep is a primary school teacher who teaches English.
b) Tanishq is a tailor who makes garments for men only.
c) Falguni is a chemist who manufactures her own medicine.
d) Asma is an engineer who works on designing space stations.
iii. What is the initial reaction of Oop and Omega when they come across the unusual
items, and how does Think-Tank interpret these items differently? 2
iv. Think-Tank meant by saying—Elementary, my dear Omega. 1

a) “It’s simple general knowledge, Omega.”
b) “It’s something that a primary school person won’t understand, Omega.”
c) “It’s quite obviously deducible, Omega”
d) “It’s a little more than complicated, Omega.”
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. What is the dust of snow? 1

(a) it is the dust on the trees.
(b) it is the snowflakes fallen on the hemlock tree.
(c) it is the flowers on the tree.
(d) it is the feathers of a crow.
ii. What is the significance of the crow shaking down the dust of snow from the hemlock
tree in the speaker’s experience, as described in the poem? 2
iii. What does the ‘dust of snow’ that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree stand for? 1
(a) The dust of snow stands for dusty winds.
(b) The dust of snow stands for hope and joy in the midst of sorrow.
(c) The dust of snow stands for dusty days.
(d) The dust of snow stands for gloomy times.
iv. The rhyme scheme of the above given stanza is _________________ . 1
OR
B “Never shall a young man

thrown into despair
By those great honey-colored
Ramparts at your ear
Love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair”(For Anne Gregory)
i. In the context of these lines, what does the reference to “those great honey-
colored Ramparts at your ear” suggest about the speaker’s perspective on love and
attraction? 2
ii. What would throw a young man into despair? 1

. a) Beautiful dress b) Honey-coloured hair
c) Serious problem d) carelessness
iii. Identify the poetic device used in line 3 of the above stanza. 1
iv. As, love:: hate ; despair :: __________ 1
8 Answer ANY FOUR of the following questions in 40-50 words. 4x3=12
i. A ballad includes the telling of a tale as well as a surprise ending. Using evidence
from the poem, explain how these features are included in ‘The Tale of Custard the
Dragon’. 3
ii. How did Kisa Gautami realise that life and death is a normal process? 3
iii. Mijbil instigated a sensation in London. Explicate by taking reference from the chapter
‘Mijbil the Otter’. 3
iv. What do you learn about the financial condition of the bakers of Goa? 3
v. How would you characterize the speaker in the poem ‘Amanda’? List any two
qualities, supporting the reason of your choice, with evidence from the poem. 3
9 Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2x3=6
i. Do you consider the narrator’s decision to withhold information from Mrs. Pumphrey
about real treatment is unprofessional? Defend your position. 3
ii. Do you think M. Loisel had an enjoyable evening at the ball? Give reasons for your
answer. 3
iii. Why was Sulekha nicknamed ‘Bholi’? 3
i. Anne was a thoughtful, adult young woman. Consider any two characters from the
chapters and poetry in your textbook, First Flight, who might serve as her pals or
confidants.Examine the shared personality features that would contribute to the
development of this unique friendship. 6
OR
ii. When compared to the tiger in the poem “How to Tell Wild Animals,”the tiger in
“A Tiger in the Zoo” creates a striking contrast. With reference to how they are
depicted in both poems, compare and contrast the two tigers. 6
i. Justify the title “The Book that saved the Earth”. 6
OR
ii. Imagine that Griffin has been caught by the police and is produced in court. He
needs to defend himself and prove that he is not guilty of the charges.As Griffin
prepare a statement that you would use in court to prove your innocence.You may
begin like this:I plead not guilty.I have been accused of …., however ……. 6
***
Class : X (CBSE) Prelim Question Paper - 03 Time:3 Hours
Section A I just had to learn to use my mind as an

READING SKILLS (20 Marks) effective motivational tool. I figured that if
Reading Comprehension Through I was not feeling motivated to go after a
Unseen Passages particular goal, may be there was a logical
1. Read the following text. 10 reason for it. I noted that when I had strong
1. Do you ever have the feeling that there is intellectual reasons for doing something, I
a higher being clamouring to come out? It usually did not have any trouble taking
is the voice that pushes you to live life to action.
the fullest. It feels like a completely different 3. But when my mind thinks a goal is wrong
person when you behave in accordance on some level, I usually feel blocked. I
with that voice. You have bravery and eventually realised that this was my mind’s
audacity. You are powerful. You can do way of telling me that the goal was a
no wrong. But as soon as reality kicks in, mistake to begin with. Sometimes, a goal
those moments pass into history. It is simple may seem to make sense on one level but
to briefly induce an emotionally driven when you look further upstream, it becomes
condition in yourself. Simply have a listen clear that the goal is ill-advised. Suppose
to that uplifting tune. This drive, however, you work in sales, and you get a goal to
does not last forever. Your brilliant increase your income by 20% by becoming
concepts appear unworkable. How many a more effective sales person. That seems
times have you had a momentary flash of like a reasonable and intelligent goal. But
inspiration and thought, “I want to start may be you are surprised to find yourself
my own business.” the next week, It was encountering all sorts of internal blocks
overlooked! When you are inspired, you when you try to pursue it. You should feel
have creative thoughts. However, you motivated but you just don’t. The problem
don’t stay motivated during the may be that on a deeper level your mind
implementation stage. knows you don’t want to be working in
2. The problem we ask ourselves is: Why sales at all. You really want to be a musician.
does this happen? You can listen to No matter how hard you push yourself in
hundreds of motivational speakers and sales career, it will always be a motivational
experience an emotional yo-yo effect, but dead end.
it does not last. The problem is that as we 4. Furthermore, if you continually lack
are intellectually guided, we try to find logic determination, your goals will be too
in emotional motivation and as we fail to modest and tiny. All you have to do is
find logic, eventually it all fizzles out. I used muster up the guts to admit your genuine
to get frustrated when my emotional aspirations. The self-doubt and anxiety that
motivation fizzled out after a while. have been causing you to think too little
Eventually, I realised that being guided by will then need to be dealt with. Ironically,
intellect was not such a bad thing after all. setting objectives that scare you is the actual
secret to inspiration. You are using excuses,
limiting ideas, and anxieties to hold you (b) There is a chance that it will lead us
back. Your subconscious mind won’t give astray.
you any motivational support until you take (c) neither (a) nor (b)
a stand, face your fears, and accept what (d) both (a) and (b)
your heart desires because it knows you 2 Read the given text. 10
are powerful. Your motivation will start to 1. As we all know, how plastic has become
pick up speed after you make the decision part of our life now. But the situation was
to confront your worries and stop making not always so. History illustrates that
excuses. although the Indian Plastics Industry got a
Answer the following questions, based strong start in 1957, it took more than 30
on the passage above. 1x10 years for it to become integrated in Indian
i) Which of the following best describes the lifestyles. It wasn’t until 1994 that plastic
passage’s title? 1 soft drink bottles started to be seen as a
(a) Living a Successful Life noticeable cause of discomfort. In 1979,
(b) Why do we lack motivation? the state-owned Indian Petrochemicals had
(c) How to Be Successful Intellectually? just begun to seed the market for plastic.
(d) Feel Motivated and Uplifted 2. In the same year, people in other cities were
ii) The paragraph suggests that in order to be concerned about the state of public
truly motivated, you must first: 1 sanitation and also urged regulatory bodies
(a) be aware of your actual aspirations; to ban the production, distribution and use
(b) cope with your self-doubt. of plastic bags. However, the challenge was
(c) letting go of your anxieties greater than it appeared at first.
(d) all of these 3. The massive generation of plastic waste in
iii According to how you understand the India is due to rapid urbanisation, spread
content, complete the phrase. “Your of retail chains, plastic packaging from
subconscious mind prevents you grocery to food and vegetable products,
from _____ because it recognizes to consumer items and cosmetics. The
your strength.” 1 projected high growth rates of GDP and
iv) What does the author mean when he says continuing rapid urbanisation suggests that
that something “fizzles out”? 1 India’s trajectory of plastic consumption
(a) Our objectives require constant and plastic waste is likely to increase.
attention.
(b) It decreases due to insufficient practise.
(c) Over time, we develop self-motivation.
(d) As time passes, it gradually vanishes.
v) When the author writes, “When you look
further upstream, it becomes clear that
the goal is ill-advised,” what is he trying
to say? 2
vi) “When you are setting goals that are too
small, you _____.” 2
vii ) What realization did the author come to 4. According to the United Nations
about using their intellect for motivation, Environment Programme (UNEP) Report
and why did they consider it a valuable of 2018, India stands among few other
approach? 2 countries like France, Mongolia and several
viii) The author claims the following regarding African countries that have initiated total
emotional motivation in the passage: 1 or partial national level bans on plastics in
(a) It usually tends to be brief. their jurisdictions. On World Environment
Day in 2018, India vowed to phase out
single-use plastics by 2022, which gave a iv) Why does the passage emphasize that there
much-needed impetus to bring this change. isn’t a single solution to India’s plastic waste
5. In this context, thereafter, ten states management problems? 2
(Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, v) Choose the one that offers an appropriate
Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya title suggestion. 1
Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan (a) World of Plastic
and Tamil Nadu) are currently sending their (b) Safe Disposal of Plastic
collected waste to cement plants for co- (c) Indian Plastic Industry: Rise and
processing. Twelve other states/UTs are Challenge
using plastic waste for polymer bitumen (d) Plastic Waste Management
road construction and still four other states vi) Infer one reason for the following, based
are using the plastic waste for waste-to- on the information given in paragraph 6.The
energy plants and oil production. A world nation will generate greater transparency
of greater possibilities has now opened up to address the plastic threat in a more long-
to initiate appropriate and concrete actions term and comprehensive manner. 1
to build up the necessary institutions and vii) How do the initiatives of the ten states
systems before oceans turn, irreversibly, mentioned in the passage contribute to
into a thin soup of plastic. 6. However, there plastic waste management?
isn’t a single solution that can solve all of viii) Complete the following analogy correctly
the problems associated with the horrifying with a word/phrase from paragraph 4
management of plastic garbage in the :_____ : impulsion :: perseverance :
nation. The nation will generate greater tolerance 1
transparency as it creates powerful and 3 SECTION B – GRAMMAR
inclusive national action plans to address Attempt ANY TEN of the
the plastic threat in a more long-term and following questions. 10
comprehensive manner. i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct
Answer the following questions, based option to complete the sentence. This time
on the passage above. tomorrow, I _____ on the beaches of
i) Write one inference about the production Hawaii away from the noise of civilization. 1
of plastic in 2019 that could be made in (a) will lie (b) will be lying
light of the graph. 1 (c) will be lying
ii) To complete the following statement, (d) would have lied
choose the appropriate answer. (Paragraph ii) Read the conversation between two friends.
6)The nation will generate greater Complete the sentence by reporting their
transparency as it creates ________ and conversation. Herman said : ‘If I were a
inclusive national action plans. 1 king, I would travel all over the world!’
(a) concerted (b) muscular Pulkit said : ‘You are just daydreaming,
(c) vigorous (d) none of these my friend.’ Herman said that if he had
iii) Fill in the blank by selecting the correct been a king, he would travel all over the
option. ‘The challenge was greater than it world. Pulikt, on hearing his friend
appeared at first.’ The challenge was commented that _____. 1
_____. 1 iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank
(a) to urge the authorities to impose partial for the given line, from an environmental
ban on plastic magazine. Over the past thirty years or so
(b) to implement total ban on giving license the quality of many people’s lives _____ in
to units some respect because of technological
(c) to gauge the risk of plastic progress. 1
(d) to urge regulatory bodies to ban the (a) had worsened
production, distribution and use of (b) have suffered
(c) has deteriorated ix) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct
(d) was worse option, to complete the last line in an article
iv) Select the option that identifies the error on the rights of women published in a
and supplies the correction for the following national daily. Stand up for your rights
line, from a short ghost story :So who because nobody else _____. 1
helped me to arrive there safely without a (a) can (b) should
compass or a radio, but without any more (c) would (d) will
fuel in my tanks? 1 x) Select the correct option to complete the
Option No. Error Correction narration of the dialogue between Shelly
and her friend Tanvi. Shelly said to Tanvi,
(a) who whom
“Can you solve this particularly tough
(b) a the question in linear equations?”Tanvi, “It
(c) but and would be a shame if I can’t because I have
been taking tuition all summer vacations.”
(d) tank tanks
Shelly asked Tanvi if she could solve that
v) Complete the given narrative, by filling in particularly tough question in linear
the blank with the correct option.Worse still, equations. Tanvi answered that it would be
much of our building effort _____ into the a shame if she _____ tuition all summer
construction of more and more large office vacations. 1
blocks at the expense of much needed (a) can’t because she had been taking
housing for the growing urban population. 1 (b) can’t because she has been taking
(a) has been channelled (c) couldn’t because she had been taking
(b) have been channelled (d) couldn’t because she was taking
(c) are channelled xi) Identify the error on a shop’s hoarding and
(d) were channelled supply the correction, for the following
vi) Report the dialogue between a mother and sales offer. 1
her sons, by completing the sentence. The
mother waved her hand and said sadly, “It Loose weight in just a month!
looks like the Gods have abandoned us”. “A WONDER DIET comes to your rescue...
The eldest son said, “Gods reside in you, A privilege available for only a few!”
mother. Until you are around, Gods are
Use the given format for your
around”. In response to their mother’s
lament that the Gods had abandoned them, Error Correction
the eldest son assured her that _____. 1
vii) Identify the error in the given sentence, from
a story published in a popular magazine and xii)Fill in the blank by choosing the correct
supply the correction. The man went out option, to complete the sentence. I left my
for no other reason than to have the purse at home. _____ you lend me a
pleasure of feeling the rain over his body, hundred bucks? 1
and when he returned, he was thoroughly (a) should (b) could
wet. Use the given format for your (c) may (d) shall
response. 1 SECTION C-WRITING 10
Error Correction 4A: You have lost your original certificate of
class X. You want to get the duplicate issued
but you do not know the procedure. Write
viii) Anil shared some information with Tariq a letter to the Chairman, CBSE, Preet Vihar
about a holiday on a cruise. Report Tariq’s enquiring about the fee to be deposited,
question. Did you enjoy sailing the sea on mode of payment, time taken by the board
a cruise? 1 to issue duplicate certificate and any other
formalities. You are Reena/Ravi, 32/D, 6 Read the given extracts and answer
Nirmal Apartments, Bangluru, Karnataka.
the questions for ANY ONE of the two,
(100-120 words) 5
given.
OR A “Tell me another!” scoffed Pranjol. 5
4B. You just saw an advertisement from A New “We have an Indian legend too.
Dimension, Mehrauli, offering different Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic,
bridge courses in creative writing for Class cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy
X pupils. You are Prakash/Pratishtha from during meditations.
B 905 of Goenka Building in Mansarover
Park, New Delhi, and would like to enroll Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The
in a course during the summer. Ask about leaves of these plants when put in hot water
the specifics of the course in a letter. (100- and drunk, banished sleep.”
120 words) 5 “Tea was first drunk in China,’’ Rajvir
5A. Read the following excerpt from an online added, ‘‘as far back as 2700 B.C.! In fact,
post of a website on educational practices. words such as tea, chai and chini are from
‘Kids who appreciate how much effort, the Chinese. Tea came to Europe only in
time and care goes into growing food the sixteenth century and was drunk more
will understand how important farmers as medicine than as beverage.”
are, and why it’s important to take care (Glimpses of India)
of our Earth. In the world of today, i) The main idea of this extract is: 1
gardening needs to be given more a) Tea as a popular beverage in Europe
importance than sports, music and dance and how it spread.
in all schools because it creates b) Origin of tea in India and why it became
environmental stewards and outdoor popular in Europe.
learning laboratories that help the child c) Importance of India in popularising tea
and community for years to come.’ and influencing Europe.
Write a paragraph in 100-120 words to d) Indian legend on tea and how it travelled
analyse the given argument. from China to Europe.
You could think about what alternative ii) Based on the inference from the extract,
explanations might weaken the given which of these is NOT TRUE about tea
conclusion and include rationale / evidence drinking in the sixteenth century Europe?
that would strengthen / counter the given Dr. Smith is a doctor of sixteenth century
argument. Europe. 1
OR a) Dr. Smith encouraged drinking of green
5B. Analyze the picture in your own words in tea whenever available, to reduce chances
120 - 150 words. 5 of tooth loss.
b) Dr. Smith prescribed regular tea drinking
to all his patients with a weak heart.
c) Dr. Smith always serves tea as
refreshment when he has guests, as they all
enjoyed this beverage.
d) Dr. Smith usually recommended black
tea to reduce inflammation in the body.
iii) Other than two legends about tree, what
SECTION D: LITERATURE more you know about tea? 2
iv) Based on this extract, how do you think
TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENTARY Rajvir felt while narrating? 1
READING TEXT 40 a) i) excited ii) agitated
b) i) hysterical ii) nervous From what I’ve tasted of desire
c) i) nervous ii) agitated I hold with those who favour fire.
d) i) enthusiastic ii) passionate (Fire and Ice)
OR
B The two boys started in surprise at the fresh i) Which literary device has been used in ‘I
muddy imprints of a pair of bare feet. What hold with those who favour fire’? 1
was a barefooted man doing on the steps (a) Simile (b) Assonance
of a house in the middle of London? And (c) Alliteration (d) Enjambment
where was the man? As they gazed, a ii) Create a tag line/slogan/catchphrase for the
remarkable sight met their eyes. A fresh poem. 2
footmark appeared from nowhere! Further iii) State whether the following statement is
footprints followed, one after another, TRUE or FALSE: People think that the
descending the steps and progressing down world is a beautiful place to live in. 1
the street. The boys followed, fascinated, iv) What is the poet’s opinion about the
until the muddy impressions became fainter world? 1
and fainter, and at last disappeared (a) The poet feels that a man should fulfil
altogether. all his desires.
(Footprints Without Feet) (b) He think that we should control our
i) By choosing the appropriate word from growing desires.
the text, complete the analogy. partition : (c) He feels that we should live life to the
divide :: conjugate : _____ 1 full.
(Clue : To partition means to divide, (d) He says that one should live the life of
similarly to conjugate means to...) an ascatic.
ii) Based on the facts in the extract, infer one OR
reason for the following The boys were B The fog comes
surprised to see a barefooted man in on little cat feet.
London. 2 It sits looking
iii) Pick the option that best describes how the over harbour and city
boys are feeling based on the extract. 1 on silent haunches
(a) enchanted, curious, puzzled and then moves on. (Fog) 5
(b) captivated, curious, puzzled i) Which one/s of the following applies to the
(c) repulsed, curious, captivated given lines? 1
(d) enchanted, repulsed, curious
iv) Pick out the option that is NOT related to
‘started’ as used in the in the extract. 1
(a) option (i) (b) option (ii)

a) 1 and 4 b) 2 and 3
(c) option (iii) (d) option (iv)
c) Only 1 d) Only 3
7 Read the given extracts and answer the
ii) Would you describe the role of the fog as
questions for ANY ONE of the two,
active or passive? Support your answer
given.
with reference to the poem 2
A Some say the world will end in fire 5 iii) Choose the option with qualities of the cat
Some say in ice. that Carl Sandburg applies to the fog?
1) Cats are independent animals, they iv) Do you believe that the Buddha’s
don’t follow rules, they slip and slide in enlightenment put on him higher
and out of our lives as they please. responsibilities than his kingship would
2) Cats are distrustful of strangers and can have? Justify your position. 3
be jealous and moody.
3) Cats are stealthy, moving in slow motion v) Hyperbole is a literary device used when
at times and they appear to be moving the poet exaggerates an image to make it
in a mysterious fashion. comical. State two instances from the poem
4) Cats often communicate with a “How to Tell Wild Animals” where the
combination of a distinctive sound and literary device is used. 3
body language.
9 Answer ANY TWO of the following in
5) Cats like to move on at their own pace
about 40-50 words each. 2×3=6
and before you know it, they’ve
disappeared. 1 i) “Stereotypes are often misleading”.
a) Only 1 b) 2, 3 and 4 Elaborate on the given quote in the context
c) 1,3 and 5 d) Only 4. of “The Midnight Visitor” 3
iv) The poet has used short lines to compose ii) Griffin’s neighbours assumed he had
the given poem. Choose the option that lists committed a burglary. Comment if this
the most appropriate explanation for the was justified or not. 3
same. (Footprints without Feet)
(a) By keeping the lines short, the poet iii) 20th century referred to as the ‘Era of the
keeps the liberty in stepping away from Book’. Comment briefly (The Book that
rule, traditional form, logic, or fact, in saved the Earth) 3
order to produce a desired effect.
10 Answer ANY ONE of the following in
(b) By keeping the lines short, the poet
about 100-120 words. 1×6=6
wants the reader to omit some parts of
A) While the story of the newborn seagull is a
a sentence, which gives the reader a
fairytale that teaches about overcoming
chance to fill the gaps while reading it
fear, the poem about trees is a symbol of
out.
women overcoming injustice. Assume that
(c ) By keeping the lines short, the poet
the bird and the trees are discussing their
wants to introduce ambiguity or
journeys. Write this discussion based on
contradiction into an otherwise
your understanding of His First Flight and
straightforward sentence.
The Trees.You might begin like this.Seagull:
(d) By keeping the lines short, the poet is
I have never known fear the way when I
controlling the pace to make the reader
had to jump of the cliff to fly, but I am glad
slow down thereby reflecting the slow
I did it.Trees: We had been locked inside
rolling in of the fog.
our homes and mustered up courage to
8 Answer ANY FOUR of the following finally break free, and we too are glad we
questions in 40-50 words. 4×3=12 took this step. 6
i) Mandela asserts that rather than the finest
diamonds, his nation’s greatest resource is OR
its people. Justify your assertion. 3 B) “Some say the world will end in fire, Some
ii) “The young seagull was alone on his ledge.”. say in ice.”What would you use in your
How much do you believe this condition answer if you had to illustrate the wild
was a result of his decision? 3 nature of Natalya and Lomov’s
iii) What can you infer about the setting of the personalities in “The Proposal” using the
poem from the presence of a hemlock tree? 3 meaning of the given line from Robert
Frost’s poem “Fire and Ice”? Also,
consider the reasons why it would be
challenging for them to understand the idea. 6

about 100-120 words. 1×6=6
A) Bholi has a number of impairments. She’s
a female. She stammers and has
pockmarks. How can the social
perceptions of people with disabilities be
altered? 6
OR
B) “Scientists work to discover answers often
times for years and with numerous failures.”
Analyze this quote with reference to
‘Making of A Scientist’. 6
***
Class : X (CBSE) Prelim Question Paper - 04 Time:3 Hours
Section A: READING SKILLS 4. According to economists, reputation and

(20 Marks) retribution are the two main ways that trust
Reading Comprehension Through is preserved in the marketplace. When a
Unseen Passages trust is broken, the victim is likely to seek
1 Read the following text. 10 retribution, and other people are probably
1. We are persuaded that honesty is the best going to cease doing business with you, at
policy by economists, ethicists, and least on favourable terms. A person who
business professionals, yet their arguments has a good reputation for doing business
lack substance. In order to foster greater fairly will succeed. Profit maximizers are
standards of corporate behaviour, we sincere as a result. Until you start looking
sought to discover facts that would for specific examples, this seems
corroborate their views. Our surprise was reasonable enough. Cases that purportedly
that their favourite hypotheses fell short. It show the terrible results of trust turn out to
turns out that treachery may be profitable. be few and feeble, while proof that betrayal
Truthfulness or keeping one’s word are not might pay off looks convincing.
economically advantageous. In the actual Answer the following questions, based
world, justice is neither speedy nor certain on the passage above. 1x10
when it comes to the deceitful. i) According to the author, which of the
2. Honesty is, in fact, primarily a moral choice. following, is the reason for being honest in
Business people do tell themselves that, in business? 1
the long run, they will do well by doing good. (a) It gives no immediate benefits
But there is little factual or logical basis for (b) It gives no long-term benefits
this conviction. Without values, without a (c) It makes a person self-seeking
basic preference of right over wrong, trust (d) None of these
based on such delusion would crumble in ii) Infer one reason for the following, based
the face of temptation. Most of us choose on information in paragraph 2:Businessmen
virtue because we want to believe in are honest in their dealings. 2
ourselves and because others respect and iii) Which of the following phrases is most
believe us. nearly the same in meaning as the word
3. And due to this, we should be happy. We ‘persuade’ as it has been used in the
can be proud of a system in which people passage? 1
are honest because they want to be, not (a) Give an assurance
because they have to be. Materially, too, (b) Give an opinion
trust based on morality provides great (c) Try to convince
advantages. It allows us to join in great and (d) Cheat
exciting enterprises that we could never iv) According to the passage, why
undertake if we relied on economic are truthfulness and keeping one’s word
incentives alone. not considered economically
advantageous? 1 category as forecast. “Stubble burning has
v) Supply one point to justify the following:The started in some regions of Punjab and
author says that one can be proud of the Haryana. Similar fire events were observed
present situation. 1 in late September 2019 as well, but they
vi) Substitute the word ‘conviction’ with ONE did not impact Delhi’s air quality as the re-
WORD similar in meaning, in the following gion experiences southwesterly winds dur-
sentence from paragraph 2:Business people ing that time. Satellite-derived fire events’
do tell themselves that, in the long run, they data over the last few years indicate that
will do well by doing good. But there is stubble burning reaches a peak between
little factual or logical basis for this end-October and early November. Dur-
conviction. 1 ing this period, the wind direction changes
vii) Which of the following best describes what to northwesterly, which aids in carrying
the author is trying to point out through the smoke from farm fires in Punjab and Hary-
last sentence of the passage, “Cases ana to NCR and beyond,” added Kurinji.
that…..compelling”? 1 3. In terms of air quality, Delhi has had its best
(a) The consequences of business year ever, with the lockdown playing a sig-
(b) The contradictions in the real world nificant role. The capital has already had
(c) Economists predict incorrectly five “good” air days this year, which is a
(d) The contradictions is unreal record high since the AQI was introduced
viii) What advantages does trust based in 2015. In the month of August alone, four
on morality provide, according to the such days were noted.
passage? 2 Answer the following questions, based
2 Read the given text. 10 on the passage above.
1. By the first week of October, Delhi’s air i) Select the option that conveys the most
quality may reach “poor” status due to likely reason for Delhi’s AQI being in the
stubble burning, which is already expected middle of the moderate category. 1
to start soon. Since north-westerly winds (a) Fire events did not impact the climate
have been producing dust over the past few as the region experiences south-west-
weeks, that dust is currently the main con- erlywinds at this time.
tributing component. “Delhi has not recently (b) Fire events do not occur as the region
experienced rain, and the weather is dry. A has south-westerly winds blowing.
rise in pollution is being caused by local (c) Fire events are doused as the south-
sources as well. Burning of snags is not yet westerly winds are blowing at this time.
significantly contributing, but it might do so (d) Fire and wind are blowing simulta-
next month, said Srivastava. The given neously in the region at this time.
graph displays the AQI for a particular ii) Write whether the following statement is
week in September. true or false.The local dust emanating from
the north-westerly winds is the prime
contributor to thecurrent pollution, as the
rains over Delhi have been delayed by the
past few weeks. 1
iii) What phenomenon is seen during the
stubble-burning time? 2
iv) Replace the underlined word with its
synonym from the 2nd paragraph.The
political situation is steadily worsening. 1
v) What is currently the main contributing
component to the rise in air pollution in
2. ‘‘The overall Delhi AQI (Air Quality In-
Delhi, as mentioned in the passage?
dex) is in the middle-end of the moderate
(a) Stubble burning
Error Correction
(b) North-westerly winds
(c) Dust from the past few weeks
(d) Burning of snags
v) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct
vi) What potential consequences of poor air
option to complete the magazine
quality in Delhi during the peak stubble
article.The status of women in India
burning period are mentioned in the
……… a gradual
passage?
change. 1
vii) Prediction: Based on the information in the
(a) undergo (b) is undergoing
passage, what might be the likely air quality
( c) undergoes (d) has undergone
situation in Delhi during early November
vi) Select the correct option to complete the
when stubble burning reaches its peak?
narration of the dialogue between a
Provide a brief explanation. 2
mother and son:Mother: What career do
viii) What is the typical wind direction during
you want to choose in life?Son: I want to
late September that prevents
become a doctor and serve my fellow
stubble burning from impacting Delhi’s
beings.The mother asked her son (i)
air quality? 1
________, to which the son replied (ii)
(a) Northwesterly winds
________.(a) (i) what career he wanted
(b) Southwesterly winds
to choose in life, (ii) that he wanted to
(c) Easterly winds
become a doctor and serve his fellow
(d) Northeasterly winds
beings.(b) (i) what career does he want
to choose in life, (ii) that he wants to
Attempt ANY TEN of the following
become a doctor and serve his fellow
questions. 10
beings.( c) (i) what career he wants to
i) Sushila shared some information with Uma
choose in life, (ii) that he wants to be a
about a visit to a zoo. Report Uma’s
doctor(d) (i) what career he wanted to
question.Did you see the Royal Bengal
choose in life, (ii) that I want to become a
Tiger? 1
doctor and serve my fellow beings. 1
ii) Fill in the blank by using the correct form
vii) You ________ disturb students during
of the word in the bracket, for the given
their
portion of a letter: 1
exam. 1
Subject: Increase of air pollution in East
(a) may not (b) don’t have to
Hyderabad
( c) must not (d) can not
Respected Sir,
viii) Identify the error on a shop’s board and
I am writing to you ……… (to bring) to
supply the correction, for the following
your notice the increasing effect of air
sales offer: 1
pollution in our neighborhood and in the
‘SHOPPERS STOP’
surrounding area.
in 38 Middle Street
iii) Complete the given sentence by filling in
Raniganj
the blank with the correct option.Joshua,
Use the given format for your
with his members, ……… really well. 1
(a) sing (b) singing Error Correction
( c) have sung (d) sings
iv) Identify the error in the given sentence from
a book review and supply the ix) Read the conversation between a child
correction.Money is certainly necessary to and a balloon man. Complete the passage
survive. But is money the most important in the reported speech. 1
part of life?Use the given format for your Child: I want a balloon, which I can release
response: 1 into the air.
Balloon man: Which color do you want? and the right to dignity and privacy. 5
Child: Which color will take me up with it?
A child told a balloon man that he3 wanted
a balloon man asked ……….. And the
child then asked ……………. 1
x) Select the correct option to fill in the blank
for the given narrative.Drivers __________
wear the seat belt while driving. 1
(a) will (b) might
(c) dare to (d) ought to
xi) Select the option that identifies the error
and supplies the correction for the following OR
line, from a news report:How often does 4B. Your newly-constructed school requires
she stays in Brazil? 1 saplings for its garden and playground. You
are Sameer Ahmed/Sameera Ahmed,
Option Error Correction Admin officer of Laxmi Public School, 56,
Pitampura, New Delhi. Write a letter to the
(a) How Quite
Manager, M/s Gulab Nursery, 34, Laxmi
(b) does do Nagar, New Delhi placing an order for the
same 5
(c) stays stay
5A. The plans below show a public park when
(d) in at it first opened in 1920 and the same park
today.Summarise the information by
xii)Report the dialogue between a policeman selecting and reporting the main features
and a driver by completing the and make comparisons where relevant. 5
sentence:Policeman: Why were you driving GRANGE PARK (1920)
at such a high speed?Driver: Sorry sir! The ARNOLD AVENUE
engine is not working properly.Policeman:
Come to the police station and bring your
car.The policeman asked the driver the
reason for his high speed to which he
replied …………. 1
SECTION C-WRITING
4A. India is a highly populated country. People
lack in maintaining proper sanitation and
hygiene. As a result, they suffer from vari
us diseases. India has a serious sanitation
challenge, around 60 per cent of the
world’s open d fecation takes place in
India. Poor sanitation causes health hazards
including diarrhoea, particularly in children
under 5 years of age, malnutrition and
deficiencies in physical develop ent and
cognitive ability. Write a letter to the
inister of Health and Family welfare India
highlighting the problem and suggesting
practical ways to ensure public sanitation
GRANGE PARK (today) i Why didn’t Bholi dare to come out of a
ARNOLD AVENUE
classroom? 1
1. She was not feeling well.
2. She had a complex that other girls would
laugh at her.
3. She lacked confidence.
4. She had no friends.
(a) Option 1 only
(b) Option 2 only
(c) Option 2 and 3 only
(d) Option 4 only
OR ii. What made Bholi cry so bitterly? 2
5B. Ritu is to write an analytical paragraph on iii: Fill in the blank with ONE WORD
Smoking is a silent killer of life. Using your only.Bholi’s eyes were filled with ………..
own ideas and the information given below tears. 1
write this paragraph on her behalf in about iv. Select the option that correctly captures the
150-200 words. 5 application of the word ‘scurried’ as used
‘Smoking a drain on limited income of in the fourth line of the extract. 1
an average income earner - vital (a) The mouse scurried across the floor.
organs get affected - harmful for those
(b) Her mother followed her angry as she
not smoking - need of educating people
scurried upstairs.
about the danger of smoking’
(c) I scurried down the lonely corridor
(d) As the teacher left the room, the children
SECTION - D
scurried out to the field.
LITERATURE TEXTBOOK
OR
AND SUPPLEMENTARY
B NATALYA : Excuse my interrupting you.
READING TEXT 40 You say, “my Oxen
6 Read the given extracts and answer the Meadows”. But are they
questions for ANY ONE of the two, yours?
given. LOMOV : Yes, mine.
A “What’s your name, little one?” “Bh-Bho- NATALYA : What are you talking about?
Bho-.” She could stammer no further than Oxen Meadows are ours,
that. Then she began to cry and tears not yours!
flowed from her eyes in a helpless flood.
LOMOV : No, mine, honoured Natalya
She kept her head down as she sat in her
Stepanovna.
corner, not daring to look up at the girls
who, she knew, were still laughing at her. NATALYA : Well, I never knew that
When the school bell rang, all the girls before. How do you make
scurried out of the classroom, but Bholi that out?
dared not leave her corner. Her head still LOMOV : How? I’m speaking of those
lowered, she kept on sobbing. “Bholi.” The Oxen Meadows which are
teacher’s voice was so soft and soothing! wedged in between your
In all her life she had never been called like birchwoods and the Burnt
that. It touched her heart Marsh.
(Bholi) 5 NATALYA : Yes, yes... they’re ours.
LOMOV : No, you’re mistaken, ii. What message does the poet convey in the
honoured Natalya character of Amanda? 2
Stepanovna, they’re mine.
iii. Pick out the words/phrases reflecting the
NATALYA : Just think, Ivan Vassilevitch! after effects of eating chocolates in the
How long have they been
extract. 1
yours?
(a) look at me (b) speaking to me
LOMOV : How long? As long as I can
remember. (c) growth of acne
NATALYA : Really, you won’t get me to (d) one chocolate won’t harm
believe that! iv. Complete the analogy about the trait of the
(The Proposal) animal from the extract.Icy water : Bad
i. Based on the extract, recall any two throat : : Chocolate : ………. 1
incidents of Mr.Chubukov’s welcoming OR
attitude when Lomov first appeared in the B He should be lurking in shadow,
scene. 1 Sliding through long grass
ii. “How long have they been yours”? What Near the water hole
is ‘they’ referred to here? 1
Where plump deer pass.
(a) Burnt Marsh
(A Tiger in the Zoo) 5
(b) Oxen Meadows
i. According to the extract, the poet wishes
(c) Birchwoods for the tiger to be ‘sliding’ through the
(d) None of these . foliage as this would: 1
iii. Complete the analogy by selecting the (a) assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting
suitable word from the extract.restricted : of the predator’s sound.
proscribed :: respected : ………… 1 (b) aid in camouflaging the presence of the
iv. Did LOMOV and NATALYA reach a predator, before it rushes in.
resolution regarding the ownership of the (c) help the predator pounce on the prey
Oxen Meadows in the dialogue? 2 comfortably without getting tired.
7 Read the given extracts and answer the (d) support the predator’s vision as it eyes
questions for ANY ONE of the two, its prey.
given. ii. The poet has used enjambment in the given
A Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda! lines to narrate about the style of Tiger in/
Remember your acne, Amanda! among ………….. 1
Will you please look at me (a) visitors (b) zoo
when I’m speaking to you, Amanda! (c) woods (d) water bodies
(Amanda) 5 iii. Complete the analogy on the basis of your
i. What is the poet’s tone in the extract? 1 understanding about the text.tiger in a zoo:
1. authoritative tiger in a forest : : concrete cell : ……… 1
2. humorous iv. What emotions or atmosphere do these
3. reflexive lines of the poem evoke? 2
4. funny 8 Answer ANY FOUR of the following
5. commanding questions in 40-50 words. 4x3=12
Select the appropriate option. i. Do you feel cheated or let down by how
(a) 2 and 3 (b) 2 and 4 the tale finishes as a reader? Verify your
(c ) 2 and 5 (d) 1 and 5 assertions 3
(Black Aeroplane) your thoughts for the e-zine. 6
ii. Suggest a suitable by-line for “The Ball 11 Answer ANY ONE of the following in
Poem” with a reason for your choice. 3 about 100-120 words. 1x6=6
iii. Fire and Ice projects a pessimistic outlook. A. Read the following quote. “We are too
Comment. 3 involved in materialistic things, and they
iv: According to Anne, the class had so many don’t satisfy us. The loving relationships we
idiots that nearly a quarter of the students have, the universe around us, we take these
shouldn’t have been promoted. Is she being things for granted.” - Mitch Albom Matilda
brutally honest or rude? Evaluate. was never satisfied with her life and desired
more. The given quote reflects her
(From the Diary of Anne Frank) 3
character. Justify. 6
v. The culture, lifestyle and traditions of a
place are influenced by the people who OR
lived or settled there at some point of time. B. “The most successful people work smart,
Cultural assimilation adds flavour to the not hard” Justify the quote with reference
existing structure of a society. Summarise to “A Question of Trust”. 6
your opinion on the given idea.
(Glimpses of India) 3 ***
9 Answer ANY TWO of the following in
about 40-50 words each. 2x3=6
i. Ausable was always one step ahead of
everyone. Highlight any two instances .
from “The Midnight Visitor” when this
holds true. 3
ii. The book, ‘The Travels of Monarch X’
ignited Richard’s curiosity in butterflies
further. Do you think sometimes, people
or things around us can act as catalysts to
shape our lives? Explain how. 3
iii. Why did Ramlal’s wife not agree to send
Bholi to school? 3
about 100-120 words. 1x6=6
A. There are two kinds of conflict in the story
between humans and nature and between
humans themselves. How are these
conflicts illustrated? 6
(A Letter to God)
OR
B. Imagine that Frost is of present day and
has been invited to write for an e-zine -
“Teen Talk”. He chooses to draw upon his
experience with the crow and the dusting
of snow to share his thoughts on ‘Every
cloud has a silver lining’. As Frost, express
Class : X (CBSE) Prelim Question Paper - 5 Time : 3 Hours
Section A 3. Hobbies give you an opportunity to
READING SKILLS (20 Marks) enhance your life. Hobbies allow you to
destress yourself while remaining mentally
Reading Comprehension Through
productive. Having hobbies promotes
Unseen Passages better health and may lower the risk of
1 Read the following text. 10 having high blood pressure. Enjoying a few
1. Hobbies help us grow as a person. The best hours of your hobby a week can also
way to have a new hobby is to try something reduce the risk of depression and dementia.
new. All of us are unique, and this is the Hobbies refocus your mind on tosomething
reason why our hobbies and interests are that you enjoy doing. Hobbies that include
different. Once we find an activity we are physical activities create chemical changes
passionate about, we can explore that in your body that help to reduce stress.
activity more. When you get hooked, you Even if it doesn’t involve physical activities,
will realize that your hobby has become an you can still reap the benefits of having a
integral part of your life.Having a hobby that hobby. Getting a short break from work
we enjoy brings us joy and refreshes us. and doing something you are passionate
Hobbies help us to manage our leisure and about can rejuvenate your mind and help
unplanned time more productively. It also prepare you to handle challenges in the
affords you the opportunity to learn new future in a better way.
skills in your work. But these are not the 4. Hobbies may provide an opportunity for
only benefits of having a hobby. you to socialize with people and that can
2. It feels great to be skilled and good at be an additional benefit for your overall
something, doesn’t it? And this is what well-being. You can connect with people
makes you confident. It can take some time who enjoy doing the same things that you
to develop your hobby so that you may be do. You can meet new people, discuss your
able to tell that you are skilled. But, the hobby and get connected to a bigger circle
journey of experiencing your hobby is very that may even help you turn your hobby
rewarding in itself. With the exposure to into your profession. The internet provides
different types of activities these days, it numerous groups and forums to connect
doesn’t matter which activity youchoose. with people that enjoydoing the same things
Whether you are pursuing a craft, sports, that you want to do.
puzzles, or skill development, your hobby 5. Some hobbies require creativity and if you
should be a diversion and a develop creativity through your hobby, it
passion.Simultaneously, if your hobby gives can be beneficial. Creativity can help you
you a sense of purpose, then you will be experience new things at school and work.
more confident about challenging yourself The skill of being creative is essential in
in your hobby and help you prepare for today’s world.
learning new things at work. Answer the following questions, based
on the passage above. d) the correct usage of free time - A Hobby
i Which of the following is NOT a way vi Select the option that corresponds to
through which hobbies enhance your life? 1 the following statement:It feels great to be
I. may lower the risk of having high blood skilled and good at something, doesn’t
pressure it? 1
II. reduce the risk of depression and a) It is truly necessary in our life, isn’t it?
dementia b) This theory helped everybody, didn’t it?
III. distracts the mind from other useless c) This works well when someone is
problems stressed, isn’t it?
IV. promotes better health d) This theory helps all, don’t they?
V. reduces stress vii Complete the following statement: 1
VI. manages the regular balanced exercise
Statement Condition
a) I, II and IV b) I, III, IV and VI We will be prepared for if....................
learning new things at
c) I, II, IV and V d) I, III, V and VI work,
ii Getting a hobby means having a short break
from work and doing something you are
passionate about which can: 1 viii State how hobbies provide us with an
a) give you a piece of mind from all the opportunity to socialize with people. 2
other problems of daily hectic life and 2 Read the given text. 10
make you feel refreshed. 1. With the publication of this book, a cloud
b) help you enhance and improve your skills that has oppressed the European mind for
and push you forward on your path to more than a century begins to lift. After an
success. age of anxiety, despair, and nihilism, it seems
c) make you enjoy and appreciate your life possible once more to hope - to have
much more as you are happy pursuing confidence again in man and the future.
what you love. M.Camus has notdelivered us by rhetoric,
d) rejuvenate your mind and help prepare or any of the arts of persuasion, but by the
you to handle challenges in the future in clarity of his intelligence. His book is a
a better way. work of logic. Just as an earlier work of
his (Le Mythe de Sisyphe) began with a
iii Based on your reading of the text above,
meditation on living or not living - on the
write down any two benefits of having a
implications of the act of suicide; so this
hobby. 2 work begins with a meditation on enduring
a) ............................... or not enduring - on the implications of the
b) ........................ act of rebellion. If we decide to live, it must
iv Which of the following options is dissimilar be because we have decided that our
personal existence has some positive value;
in meaning to the word ‘beneficial’? 1
if we decide to rebel, it must be because
a) advantageous b) favourable we have decided that human society has
c) rewarding d) worthless some positive value. But in each case, the
v Choose an option that can be considered as values are not “given” - that is the illusionist
an appropriate title for the passage. 1 trick played by religion or philosophy. They
have to be deduced from the conditions of
a) the importance of having a hobby
living, and are to be accepted along with
b) the usage of hobby the suffering entailed by the limits of the
c) the advantages and disadvantages of possible. Social values are rules of conduct
having a hobby implicit in a tragic fate; and they offer a hope
of creation. from Rousseau to Stalin, the course of
2. The Rebel, that is to say, offers us a revolution leads to authoritarian dictatorship.
philosophy of politics. It is a kind of book
that appears only in France, devoted, in a Answer the following questions, based
passionate intellectual sense, to the on the passage above.
examination of such concepts as liberty and i How does Albert Camus differentiate
terror. Not that it is a theoretical work - on between rebellion and revolution in the
the contrary, it is an examination of the
context of his review of historical revolts? 2
actual situation of Europe today, informed
by a precise historical knowledge of the ii According to the passage, 1
past two centuries of its social (a) revolt is an essential dimension of
development. It is ‘an attempt to mankind.
understand the times’. (b) the author believes that revolt is an
3. Camus believes that revolt is one of the essential dimension of mankind.
‘essential dimensions’ of mankind. It is (c) Camus believes that revolt is an essential
useless to deny its historical reality - rather dimension of mankind.
we must seek in it a principle of existence. (d) Andre Breton believes that revolt is an
But the nature of revolt has changed essential dimension of mankind.
radically in our times. It is no longer the
iii. What is the nature of revolt in our times? 2
revolt of the slave against the master, nor
even the revolt of the poor against the rich; iv The Rebel is ‘a kind of book that appears
it is a metaphysical revolt, the revolt of man only in France’ because... 1
against the conditions of life, against (a) the French are rebellious in nature.
creation itself. At the same time, it is an (b) the French are passionate and intellectual
aspiration towards clarity and unity of examiners of theories.
thought - even, paradoxically, towards
(c) France was the only country in Europe
order. That, at least, is what it becomes
where there had been a full-fledged
under the intellectual guidance of Camus.
revolution.
4. He reviews the history of this metaphysical
(d) the French are devoted to concepts of
revolt, beginning with the absolute negation
liberty and terror. 1
of Sade, glancing at Baudelaire and the
‘dandies’,passing on to Sterner, Nietzsche, v Complete the following word family: 1
Lautreamont, and the Surrealists.His Verb Noun Adjective Adverb
attitude to these prophetic figures is not appear apparent apparently
unsympathetic, and once more it is

interesting to observe the influence of vi The book in the passage is about... 1
Andre Breton on the contemporary mind.
(a) the implications of the act of rebellion.
Camus then turns to the history of revolt in
the political sense, his main object being to (b) the implications of the act of suicide.
draw a clear distinction between rebellion (c) the implications of being an anarchist.
and revolution. Here, and not for the first (d) None of the above.
time,Camus ideas come close to vii Complete the following with the statements
anarchism, for he recognises that revolution
showing difference: 1
always implies the establishment of a new
government,whereas rebellion is action revolution revolution
without planned issue - it is spontaneous

protestation. Camus reviews the history of
the French Revolution, of the regicides and
the deicides, and shows how inevitably,
viii The statement “It is useless to deny its vi Fill in the blank by using the correct form
historical reality” means 1 of the verb in the bracket, for the given
a) We should accept its historical reality. portion of a letter:
b) We can hardly accept its historical Dear father,
reality. I have just received your mail. I will try to
c) Its historical reality is of less use. come home
d) Its historical reality is of great use. if the term examination ..... (end) early. 1
3 SECTION B – GRAMMAR vii Select the option that identifies the error
Attempt ANY TEN of the following and supplies the correction for the following
statement:My brother cannot play any
questions. 10
musical instrument, but he is very good in
i Fill in the blank by choosing the correct singing. 1
option to complete an online update.I’m
glad to know that your father______you for
what you have done. 1 Option Error Correction
a) have forgiven b) forgave a) any a
c) has forgiven d) had forgiven b) but even

ii Complete the narration of the dialogue c) very so
between Ajay and his sister, Riya. d) in at
Riya: Can you buy a drawing sheet for me?
Ajay : I will surely buy it if I get time.
Riya asked Ajay _____Ajay replied that viii Mr. Raj talked to his wife about a family
trip. Report his question. Do you want to
he would surely buy it if he got time. 1
take your younger brother with us? 1
iii Identify the error in the note and supply
the correction, for the following notice: ix Select the correct option to fill in the blank
for the given line, from a message. When I
Dear customers,
was in school, I____eat many chocolates. 1
There will be a 50% discount on every
product between 25 th Oct to 2 nd Nov. a) had to b) could
Use the given format for your response: c) used to d) was used to
x Complete the given narrative, by filling in
Error Correction the blank with the correct option: The
Shatabdi Express____a couple of minutes
ago. 1
iv Fill in the blank using appropriate modal a) have left b) left
auxiliary verbs.. c) has left d) had left
It is possible that Christopher Marlowe xi Select the option that identifies the error
………………have written plays for and supplies the correction for the following
Shakespeare. 1 statement:
v Fill in the blank by choosing the correct Being a secretary of our society, I wish to
option, to complete the following make this society neat and clean. 1
statement.If we do not take care of the
environment today, we ________face its
adverse effects soon. 1
a) will have to b) have to
c) should d) may
Option Error Correction
a) been being
b) a the
c) wish wished
d) clean cleaned Write a paragraph in about 100-120

words, analysing her SWOT notes to su
port your stand on whether she should join/
not join the college.
xii Report the dialogue between Pravin and OR
his mother, by completing the sentence: 5B. Study the concept chart from the self-help
Pravin : How do you feel now?Mother : I magazine section of a monthly publication.
am much better at present.Pravin asked his Write a paragraph in not more than 120
mother . She replied that she was much words, analysing the listed responses to the
better at that time. 1 situation when one faces setbacks. 5
SECTION C-WRITING 10
4A. You are Reena/Rahul Banerjee, a resident SECTION - D
of Maniktala Kolkata. A Garbage
LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND
Collector Van from the corporation has
SUPPLEMENTARY RE DING TEXT
stopped coming to your locality. That has
caused many problems. Write down a 40
letter to the mayor of the city requesting to 6 Read the given extracts and answer the
regularise the garbage collection. questions for ANY ONE of the two,
OR given.
4B. Write a letter to the Editor of a local A “Our elders are often heard reminiscing
newspaper complaining about employing nostalgically about those good old
minor children both boys and girls as full Portuguese days, the Portuguese and their
domestic help is a common feature, also famous loaves of bread. Those eaters might
advocating the need to stop such practice have vanished but the makers are still there.
which deprives the children of their basic We still have amongst us the mixers, the
rights. You are Kumar/Nita, B-306, Mayur moulders and those who bake the loaves.
Those age-old, time-tested furnaces still
Vihar, Phase-II, Delhi. 5
exist. The fire in these furnaces has not yet
5A. Gurmeet Kaur is an aspiring candidate for been extinguished. The thud and jingle of
a public-funded engineering college in the traditional baker’s bamboo, heralding his
suburbs. She belongs to a nearby village, arrival in the morning, can still be heard in
has minimal technological skills and
some places. “ (Glimpses Of India) 5
exposure, has the required cut-o f
percentage and is looking for a complete i The narrator says that the furnaces were
or partial scholarship. 5 ‘time-tested’ because 1
ii. Those eaters might have vanished but the
makers are still there. Pick the option that
expresses the tone of the narrator. 1
1) elated 2) morose
3) nostalgic 4) hopeful ii. Provide a line/phrase from the extract that
5) sarcastic 6) critical justifies why the following statement is
7) celebratory FALSE.Anne was able to confide in a
Choose the correct option among the lot of people. 1
following: iii. Mention one word that can correctly
a) 1 and 7 b) 2 and 6 replace ‘musings’ in the below sentence
c) 3 and 4 d) 4 and 5 from the extract.... 1
iii. “What aspects of the Portuguese influence neither I nor anyone else will be
on baking can still be found in some places, interested in the musings of
according to the passage?” Answer in 40 athirteenyear-old- schoolgirl.
words. 2 iv. In her description of her notebook, why
iv. Pick the idiom that brings out the same does Anne use quotes around the word
meaning of ‘reminiscing’ as used in the ‘diary’? 1
passage; 1 7 Read the given extracts and answer the
(a) train of thought. questions for ANY ONE of the two,
given.
(b) commit something to memory.
A Or if some time when roaming round,
(c) a trip down memory lane.
A noble wild beast greets you,
(d) jog somebody’s memory.
With black stripes on a yellow ground,
OR
Just notice if he eats you.
B Writing in a diary is a really strange
experience for someone like me. Not only This simple rule may help you learn
because I’ve never written anything before, The Bengal Tiger to discern.
but also because it seems to me that later If strolling forth, a beast you view,
on neither I nor anyone else will be interested Whose hide with spots is peppered,
in the musings of a thirteen-year-old
As soon as he has lept on you,
schoolgirl. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I feel
like writing, and I have an even greater need You’ll know it is the Leopard.
to get all kinds of things off my chest.‘Paper ’Twill do no good to roar with pain,
has more patience than people.’ I thought He’ll only lep and lep again.
of this saying on one of those days when I (How to Tell Wild Animals) 5
was feeling a little depressed and was sitting
i. Identify the option that explains the poetic
at home with my chin in my hands, bored
and listless, wondering whether to stay in or device used. 1
go out. I finally stayed where I was, With black stripes on a yellow ground......
brooding: Yes, paper does have more Whose hide with spots is peppered
patience, and since I’m not planning to let (a) a word formed from a sound
anyone else read this stiff-backed notebook
(b) a word or phrase repeated at intervals
grandly referred to as a ‘diary’, unless I
should ever find a real friend, it probably (c) a word or expression used in place of
won’t make a bit of difference. an unpleasant one
(From the Diary of AnneFrank) 5 (d) a word or phrase that creates a mental
image through vivid description
i. Based on the extract, describe why writing
is an effective way to express emotions. ii. Select the appropriate option to complete
the sentence.The tone of the poet when
Answer in 40 words. 2
telling how to identify a wild animal is both
scary and_________. 1
(a) funny (b) exciting (c) All his young days into the harbour
(c) shocking (d) sorrowful where
iii. Identify the option that has the same rhyme (d) I would not intrude on him;
scheme as these 4 lines.Or if some time ii. Which literary device does the speaker use
when roaming round, A noble wild beast to describe the boy’s sorrow? Why does
greets you,With black stripes on a yellow the speaker use this device? 1
ground, Just notice if he eats you. 1 iii. Complete the conversation with what the
(a) The sky is very sunny. The children are boy would most likely say.John: Oh don’t
funny. Under the tree we sit, But just worry, there are plenty of other balls to play
for a bit. with. Boy: 1
(b) I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, iv. Based on the extract, what makes a
vaster, some realms I owned, two possession valuable? Answer in about 40
rivers, a continent. I miss them, but it words. 2
wasn’t a disaster.—Even losing you (the
8 Answer ANY FOUR of the following
joking voice, a gesture
questions in 40-50 words. 4x3=12
(c) The people along the sand All turn and
look one way.They turn their back on i. ‘Every journey of a thousand miles begins
the land. They look at the sea all day. with but a single step’. With reference to
the chapter ‘His First Flight’, analyse the
(d) Others abide our question. Thou art
statement and show your acquaintance.
free. We ask and ask—Thou smilest
and art still, Out-topping knowledge. (Two Stories About Flying) 3
For the loftiest hill, Who to the stars ii. Change never comes easy. Justify the quote
uncrowns his majesty, in the context of the poem “The Trees” 3
iv. “What advice does the poem offer for iii. How did the Buddha respond to Kisa
distinguishing between a Bengal Tiger and Gotami’s request? What can be inferred
a Leopard? Explain in your own words.” about his method of teaching from the
OR same? (The Sermon at Benares) 3
B Merrily over — there it is in the water! iv. What effect does the short structure of the
No use to say ‘O there are other balls’: poem ‘Fog’ have on its meaning? 3
An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy v. Explain the given statement with reference
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down to Nelson Mandela’s dreams.”A winner
All his young days into the harbour where is a dreamer who never gives up.” 3
His ball went. I would not intrude on him; 9 Answer ANY TWO of the following in
A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now about 40-50 words each. 2x3=6
He senses first responsibility i. “Horace Danby was good and respectable
In a world of possessions. People will take Balls, “ but not completely honest”. Why do you
think this description is apt for Horace?
balls will be lost always, little boy.
Why can’t he be categorized as a typical
And no one buys a ball back. Money is external.
thief? (A Question of Trust) 3
(The Ball Poem) 5
ii. What were the factors which contributed
i. Which line first indicates that the ball is a to making Ebright a scientist? (The Making
metaphor for something else? 1 of a scientist) 3
(a) Merrily over — there it is in the water! iii. The Tehsildar was an agent of change in
(b) An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy Bholi’s life. Justify. (Bholi) 3
A. Explain how the setting of a story or a poem
can enhance its plot with reference to ‘Dust
of Snow’ and ‘Tea from Assam’. 6
OR
B Compare and contrast what Anne from the
poem ‘Anne Gregory’ would look for in a
life partner as compared to Natalya from
‘The Proposal’. Justify your answer with
example from each of the texts. 6
A. Imagine that Mrs Pumphrey from A
Triumph of Surgery, reflects upon her
behaviour, learns from her mistakes, and
writes a diary entry about the consequences
of overindulgence. Write this diary entry as
Mrs Pumphrey in about 120 words. 6
OR
B. ‘Privilege often confuses actual needs for
perceived ones.’ Evaluate this statement
with reference to Mrs. Pumphrey. 6
***

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Sub : English Max Marks : 80

Class : X (CBSE) Pre. Question Paper - 01 Time : 3 Hours

No. Questions Marks

I. Read the following text. 10

ii Which of the following may be the objective of the passage? 1

iv xxx.com are the ______________ 1

v The group buying model certainly did not start with 1

vi Which of the following is one of the questions posed in the passage? 1

vii Which of the following is true in the context of the passage? 1

2 Read the following text. 10

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

vi What percentage of people in urban areas have access to drinking water?

viii When is sanitation considered safely managed? 1

Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions. 10

iv Fill in the blank using the appropriate modal auxiliary verb.

xii Transform the following direct speech into reported speech:

Write a letter to the Director, of Bharat Computer Centre, inquiring about

Bicycle car parking charges in the university in 2006

SECTION D: LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENTARY 40

ii ‘I was dreaming of my holiday’

v. Fill in the gap with a phrase given in the extract:

iv. Which of the following adjectives describes Anil? 1

A No use to say ‘O there are other balls’:

iv. What does the ball represent in ‘The Ball Poem’? 1

B “Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,

iii. What is the rhyme scheme of the above-given stanza? 1

10 Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. 1x6=6

11 A nswer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. 1x6=6

Section A:READING SKILLS 20 Marks

I Read thefollowing text. 10

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

v Complete the statement:According to the author, educational plan should attempt

II Read the passage given below. 10

Answe the following questions, based on the passage above.

iii The contextual meaning of “a gallant enterprise” in para 2 is ________. 1

vi The author wants the reader to understand that ________. 1

Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions. 10

iv Fill in the blank using an appropriate modal auxiliary verb.

iv. Think-Tank meant by saying—Elementary, my dear Omega. 1

A The way a crow

i. What is the dust of snow? 1

iv. The rhyme scheme of the above given stanza is _________________ . 1

B “Never shall a young man

ii. What would throw a young man into despair? 1

iv. As, love:: hate ; despair :: __________ 1

8 Answer ANY FOUR of the following questions in 40-50 words. 4x3=12

iii. Why was Sulekha nicknamed ‘Bholi’? 3

10 Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. 1x6=6

11 Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. 1x6=6

i. Justify the title “The Book that saved the Earth”. 6

Section A I just had to learn to use my mind as an

(a) option (i) (b) option (ii)

11 Answer ANY ONE of the following in

Section A: READING SKILLS 4. According to economists, reputation and

attitude to these prophetic figures is not appear apparent apparently

unsympathetic, and once more it is

without planned issue - it is spontaneous

a) have forgiven b) forgave a) any a

c) has forgiven d) had forgiven b) but even

d) clean cleaned Write a paragraph in about 100-120