CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English Language and Literature Paper 1 are part of CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English Language and Literature. Here we have given CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English Language and Literature Paper 1.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English Language and Literature Paper 1
Board | CBSE |
Class | 10 |
Subject | English Language and Literature |
Sample Paper Set | Paper 1 |
Category | CBSE Sample Papers |
Students who are going to appear for CBSE Class 10 Examinations are advised to practice the CBSE sample papers given here which is designed as per the latest Syllabus and marking scheme, as prescribed by the CBSE, is given here. Paper 1 of Solved CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English Language and Literature is given below with free PDF download Answers.
Time: 3 Hours
Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions
- The paper consists of 3 sections: A, B, C.
- Attempt all the questions.
- Don’t write anything on the question paper.
- Read each question carefully and follow the given instructions.
- All the answers must be correctly numbered and written in the answer sheet provided to you.
- Strictly adhere to the word limit given in the question paper. Marks will be deducted for exceeding the word limit.
- Ensure that questions of each section are answered together.
SECTION A
(Reading – 20 Marks)
Question 1.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (8)
1. Uttarayan, a festival of kites in Gujarat, comes on January 14 and the sky in this historical city is emblazoned with a multitude of kites of every hue and size possible, reports PTI. Ahmedabad, known as the capital of the world’s kite lovers and housing the country’s only kite museum, is also a city traumatized by riots, first recorded in the 17th century.
2. But the annual kite festival, Uttarayan, knits all estranged communities into one again. On this day every Gujarati, irrespective of his caste, creed, religion or age, joins in flying kites. The words heard are “dating”, “dor” and “charkha”. Whether a child of two or a woman in her late fifties, nothing stops them from giving expression to their joy and enjoyment. The sun is eclipsed by thousands of kites reaching high into the sky from the bylanes of Surat, Rajkot, Baroda, Nadiad, and Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad hosts an annual international kite festival that this year was held in Gandhi Nagar. These paper birds known to mankind since 200 BC have been playing different roles going by historical evidence. They have been used for military espionage and scientific investigations to mention only two. They provide jobs and, as of now, have become a symbol of universal brotherhood in Gujarat.
3. Kite making is an art handed down from father to son. Traditional kite-makers in Ahmedabad are mostly Muslims and hail from as far away as Jaipur, Agra, Lucknow, and Bareilly. Also families of kite-makers troop into Ahmedabad three months ahead of the festival season. However, recurring riots have affected business and forced many kite-makers into a state of penury. Sagir Khan says, “I owe nearly ₹ 16,000 to people here. I hope to clear the debt this season if the business picks up.”
1.1. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any eight of the following questions in brief: (1 x 8 = 8)
(a) Name the festival of kites celebrated in Gujarat.
(b) When is it celebrated? Which city is known as the capital of world’s kite lovers?
(c) What are the uses of kites?
(d) Do you think kites are a symbol of universal brotherhood in Gujarat?
(e) Where do the kite makers in Ahmedabad mostly hail from?
(f) Why were kite makers forced into a state of penury?
(g) What are the ‘kites’ referred to?
(h) How did Sagir Khan hope to clear his debts?
(i) Find the word in paragraph 3 which means the same as ‘financial obligation’.
Question 2.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (12)
1. The press is a pillar of democracy. In a democracy, every man is entitled to form and express his own opinion. The daily press is a convenient vehicle through which he can voice it.
2. The press is an educator. It creates and molds public opinion. It voices public demands and ventilates public grievances. It safeguards people’s rights and interests. It raises its powerful voice against any attempted invasion of people’s rights and liberties. It acts as a check on the vagaries of men placed in high position. It exposes immoral, inefficient and corrupt officials. It is the champion of all good and noble causes.
3. By criticizing the actions and lapses of the Government officials, it gives a healthy tone to the administration. Naturally, the Government of a country cannot ignore the press. It cannot treat its view with disrespect.
4. Such being the character of the function of the press, it is obvious that it should be allowed a large measure of freedom. If rigid restrictions are placed on the publication of news of expression of views, the press cannot perform its duties faithfully and fearlessly.
5. Freedom from Government control does not, however, mean complete freedom for the press. That is because there are newspapers which are either party papers or are owned or controlled by big business magnates. They have to echo ‘their master’s voice’. They have to present news and views only in accordance with the policy of the party or the wishes of the press baron (master). They indulge in one-sided propaganda. They suppress or distort the truth. They give colored version of reality.
6. In the USA and some other countries, freedom of the press is guaranteed under their Constitution. Under our Constitution, this freedom is implicit in the ‘Freedom of Speech and Expression’ granted to every citizen as one of his fundamental rights. In countries under the iron heels of a dictator, freedom of the press is practically non-existent.
7. Freedom of the press, like all other freedoms, carries with it certain obligations. Publication of correct news is one of them. Avoidance of mischievous or malafide criticism of the Government is another. The idea is that liberty should not degenerate into license. The press should use the great power, which it possesses, with due restraint and judgment.’It is equally the duty of the people who patronize it to exercise a healthy check upon the conduct of the press. They should teach it a lesson whenever they find that its power is being used against their interests. That they can do withholding their patronage.
8. In India, the press is free. We hope that it will place before itself the high ideal of serving the interest of the public and will conduct itself in a spirit of independence, without bearing for anybody’s fear of favor.
2.1. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any four of the following questions in brief: (2 x 4 = 8)
(a) What are the different advantages of the press?
(b) Why cannot the government ignore press?
(c) In what conditions can press not perform its duties well?
(d) Does freedom of press carry with it a certain obligation? If yes then specify.
(e) What is the difference between the Indian constitution and the constitution of USA?
2.2. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any four of the following: (1 x 4 = 4)
(a) ……….. functions as the Pillar of democracy.
(i) The press
(ii) Police
(iii) Public
(iv) Education
(b) One-sided propaganda generally ………… the truth.
(i) suppresses
(ii) distorts
(iii) colours
(iv) suppresses or distorts
(c) In paragraph 6, ………… means inferred.
(i) interfere
(ii) distruct
(iii) interface
(iv) implicit
(d) In dictatorship ………. of the press is non-existent.
(i) patronize
(ii) freedom
(iii) gaze
(iv) settled
(e) In paragraph 5, the synonym of advocacy is ……….
(i) license
(ii) news
(iii) propaganda
(iv) judgment
SECTION B
(Writing & Grammar – 30 Marks)
Question 3.
You happened to notice a lot of garbage strewn in your locality. The inefficiency of the authorities in clearing the garbage on time has resulted in an unbearable stink. The people feel that this indifference is sure to spread diseases. Write a letter in about 100-120 words to the editor of a newspaper on this problem and what you think can be done to curb this menace. You are Ishu/Vivan, F-506, Vikas Puri, New Delhi.
OR
You are Sanjay/Poonam, Activity Incharge of VSPK School, Dwarka, New Delhi. Your school is planning to visit Trivandrum during winter vacations with 150 students and 7 teachers. Write a letter of inquiry to the Manager, Satguru Tours, and Travels, Connaught Place, Delhi, enquiring about the itinerary, charges, accommodation, food and other facilities.
Question 4.
Complete the story with the help of the following clues in about 150-200 words. (10)
Hints: Mohit going to school/saw an old woman / helpless/bitter cold / took her home / gave something to eat / old age home/blessed him.
OR
Develop a story with the following opening line.
Many years ago there lived in Holland a little boy, whose name was Peter.
Question 5.
Fill in any four gaps by choosing the most appropriate words from the options given below. (1 x 4 = 4)
Mobile phones take up much more battery power when (a) ………. are in vibration mode than when the ringtone is (b) ………. Keep brightness to a minimum, (c) …………. switch off your Bluetooth (d) …………. times when you are not sharing files. The radiations (e) ………….. health problems by killing cells in the body.
(a) (i) it (ii) them (iii) that (iv) they
(b) (i) in (ii) on (iii) of (iv) to
(c) (i) after (ii) but (iii) and (iv) nor
(d) (i) on (ii) many (iii) to (iv) at
(e) (i) cause (ii) causes (iii) causing (iv) caused
Question 6.
The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction against any four lines of the passage. (1 x 4 = 4)
Question 7.
Rearrange any four of the following groups of words and phrases to form meaningful sentences: (1 x 4 = 4)
(a) own / their / live / overconfident / thoughts / people / within
(b) others / they / of / know / unaware / are / but / themselves / they
(c) experience / others / use / of / of / they / unable / the / are / to / make
(d) habit / concemed / all / this / highly / to / of / kind / damaging / is
(e) our team / in spite of / played very well / having / cost
SECTION C
(Literature : Textbook & Long Reading Text – 30 Marks)
Question 8.
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: (1 x 4 = 4)
Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!
Remember your ache, Amanda!
Will you please look at me
When I am speaking to you, Amanda!
(I am Rapunzel, I have not care;
life in a tower is tranquil and rare;)
(a) What is Amanda not allowed to do and why?
(b) Does Amanda like being instructed like this? How do you know?
(c) Who does she want to live like? What will she enjoy in a tower?
(d) Who is Rapunzel?
OR
It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion when I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it. At first, as a student I wanted freedom only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what I pleased and go where I chose. Later, as a young man in , Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and honorable freedoms of achieving my potential of earning my keep, of marrying and having a family—the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life.
(a) Who does ‘I’ refer to?
(b) What did he learn about his boyhood freedom?
(c) What are transitory freedoms?
(d) What did he discover as a young man?
Question 9.
Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words each: (2 x 4 = 8)
(a) Why was Valli amazed to hear herself ‘a child’?
(b) What was Tricki’s condition when Mrs. Pumphrey recollected him?
(c) Why was the narrator sent Lutkins back to New Mullion? Who went with him?
(d) How did Bholi react when her father caught her by the hand to take her to school?
(e) What did Lencho call the raindrops? How did he value them?
Question 10.
Answer any one of the following questions in about 100-120 words: (8)
What things did Mij do which tell you that he was an intelligent, friendly and fun loving animal who needed love?
OR
Science has given us many things. But it is the man who misuses them. Griffin had made a wonderful discovery but he misused it. Explain.
Question 11.
Answer any one of the following questions in about 200-250 words: (10)
How did the residents of the Annexe celebrate Christmas Eve?
OR
Write a character sketch of Mrs. Van Daan.
OR
How did Helen Keller enjoy her visit to the World Fair?
OR
What role did Mr. Gilman play in Helen Keller’s life?
Answers
Answer 1.
(a) Uttarayan
(b) It is celebrated on 14th January. Ahmedabad is the city known for world’s kite lovers.
(c) Kites have been used for military espionage, scientific investigations and they also provide jobs.
(d) Yes, kites are a symbol of brotherhood. On Uttarayan every Gujarati irrespective of his caste, creed, religion or age fly kites symbolizing universal brotherhood.
(e) Kite makers in Ahmedabad mostly hail from far away places like Jaipur, Agra, Lucknow, and Bareilly.
(f) Kite makers were forced into a state of penury due to recurring riots in various parts of Gujarat, which has affected the kite business.
(g) The kites are referred to the ‘Paper birds.’
(h) He hoped to clear his debts with his business picking up.
(i) Debt.
Answer 2.
2.1. (a) Press is actually a pillar of democracy. It creates and molds public opinion. It voices public demands and ventilates, public grievances. It safeguards people’s rights and liberties. It exposes immoral, inefficient and corrupt officials.
(b) By criticizing the actions and lapses of government officials press creates a healthy tone for the administration. Therefore the government cannot ignore the press.
(c) If rigid restrictions are placed on the publications of news and expression of views, the press cannot perform its duties fearlessly and faithfully.
(d) Yes, freedom of press carries with it certain obligations. Publication of correct news is one of them. Avoidance of mischievous or malafide criticism is the other.
(e) In the USA and some other countries, freedom of the press is guaranteed under their Constitution. Under our Constitution, this freedom is implicit in the ‘Freedom of Speech and Expression’ granted to every citizen as one of his fundamental rights. In countries under the iron heels of a dictator, freedom of the press is practically non-existent.
2.2. (a) (i) The press
(b) (ii) suppresses or distorts
(c) (iv) implicit
(d) (ii) freedom
(e) (iii) propaganda
Answer 3.
F-506, Vikas Puri
New Delhi
16th June 20xx
The Editor
The Times of India
New Delhi
Sub: Inefficiency of authorities in clearing garbage.
Sir,
Through the column of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to bring to the notice of the Municipal Corporation the inefficiency of the concerned authorities in clearing the garbage on time in our locality.
The accumulated garbage gives out an unbearable stink making it difficult for the residents to walk in the colony. The garbage that is strewn around breeds a lot of mosquitoes and flies. The people of our locality feel that this indifference on the part of the authorities is sure to spread diseases. Our repeated complaints have fallen on deaf ears. It is our request to the MCD to allow the Residents Association to take charge of allocating responsible agencies with the job of clearing garbage on time. We will ensure that the garbage is dumped at the right place at the right time. This will also enable us to keep our locality clean and hygiene and help instill a sense of civic awareness among the residents.
I sincerely hope you will publish my letter in your esteemed newspaper so that our woes are brought to the notice of the Municipal Corporation.
Yours sincerely
Ishu
OR
VSPK School
Dwarka, New Delhi
16th March, 20xx
The Manager
Satguru Tours and Travels
134, Connaught Place
New Delhi
Sub: Inquiry about the charges and facilities provided
Sir,
With reference to your advertisement in the Hindustan Times dated 14th March, 20xx, I have come to know that you organize educational toms for school and colleges. Our school is planning for an educational trip with 150 students and 7 teachers to Trivandrum during winter vacations from 5 June, 20xx to 12 June, 20xx.
Kindly furnish me with the following details:
- Travel itinerary
- Total charges (cost per head)
- Accommodation AC Room
- Places to visit (sightseeing, shopping)
- Food/Meal provided
- Pick and drop facilities
- Special attraction
- Discount for students
- Mode of transport (Air/Train)
It shall be highly appreciated if the details are provided to us at the earliest.
Thanking you
Yours faithfully Sanjay
(Activity Incharge)
Answer 4.
One day when Mohit was on his way to his school, he found an old woman in need. As he was walking to the school in the early hours of the morning, he saw the elderly woman huddled in one comer. It was a cold December morning and the old woman was in a thin cotton sari. She appeared to be a very poor and hungry woman and was shivering in the bitter cold. Mohit approached her and asked her about her relatives. She told him that her son and daughter-in-law had thrown her out of the home. She had no place to live. Mohit offered her to take home with him where his parent could make the necessary arrangements for her. She willingly accepted his offer and walked home with Mohit. Mohit’s mother gave her warm clothes and food to eat. Mohit’s father arranged for her to get admitted in a shelter for homeless where she could begin a new life. The old woman became very happy and thanked him and his parents for their act of extreme kindness and benevolence and gave them a million blessings.
OR
Many years ago there lived in Holland a little boy, whose name was Peter. One afternoon his mother called him and asked him to go across the dike to the cottage of Anmol. “Take these cakes I made for him,” said mother. “You should be home before sunset,” she added.
The little boy was delighted and twenty minutes later, he arrived at Anmol’s house. Peter was fond of Anmol because he told him so many interesting tales about the wonderful things in the world. This time also when Anmol was telling story and Peter was enjoying, Peter remembered his mother’s wish that he return before dark and so, with a quick goodbye to his old friend he set out for home. While returning at one place he heard the sound of trickling water. He stopped. There must be a hole in the dike somewhere. Peter searched carefully until he saw a tiny stream of water flowing from a small hole in the dike. He could not waste time in going back home for help. He knew the danger and how this leak could soon grow to be a flood. Peter shouted but no one answered. Bending down he pushed his hand as far as he could into the hole. An hour went by, no one passed. Again and again, he shouted but no one heard him. His hand and arm grew very stiff and cold. During this time, his mother had been anxiously waiting for him but when darkness came she closed and locked the cottage door because she thought that Peter must be staying the night with Anmol.
Peter now and again would shout for help but it was all in vain. Early next morning a postman, heard a groan, he saw a boy with his hand thrust into a hole in the wall. The man shouted to several men who were following him, they ran to the boy’s assistance. Very tenderly they lifted him up and rubbed his arm. Some of the men set to work at once to mend the dike. Others carried the little hero home. The people of the village were proud of Peter as he saved the village.
Answer 5.
(a) (iv) they
(b) (ii) on
(c) (iii) and
(d) (iv) at
(e) (i) cause
Answer 6.
Incorrect Correction
(a) in into
(b) your you
(c) kind kinds
(d) have has
(e) of to
Answer 7.
(a) Overconfident people live within their own thoughts.
(b) They know themselves but they are unaware of others.
(c) They are unable to make use of the experience of others.
(d) This kind of habit is highly damaging to all concerned.
(e) In spite of having played very well, our team lost
Answer 8.
(a) Amanda is not allowed to eat chocolate because she suffers from a toothache.
(b) No, Amanda does not like being instructed like this. She avoids looking at the face of the parent.
(c) She wants to live like Rapunzel in the lovely tower so that no one disturbs her. She will enjoy tranquility in a tower.
(d) Rapunzel is a beautiful fairy.
OR
(a) ‘I’ refers to Nelson Mandela.
(b) He learned that his boyhood freedoms were not real.
(c) Transitory freedoms are freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what one likes and go where one chooses.
(d) He discovered that his freedom had already been taken from him.
Answer 9.
(a) Valli did not consider herself a child. She had paid full fare of thirty paise for the trip like others when an elderly man called her a child and requested to sit down, she was amazed and said that there was none a child.
(b) Tricki’s ears were flapping. His tail was waving. He had been transformed into a lithe, hard-muscled animal. His chest was almost brushing the ground. He was frolicsome, rather than an uninteresting object. The other dogs enjoyed his company.
(c) Lutkins was to be produced in the court in a witness the next day. The narrator had failed to serve the summons on him. Therefore he was sent back to New Mullion. A man who had worked with Lutkins went with him.
(d) Bholi’s father caught her by her hand to take her to school. She was scared as she did not know what the school was like. She remembered how her old cow had been turned out of the house and sold. Therefore she was frightened and reluctant to go to school.
(e) Lencho called the big drops the ten cent coins and little ones of five cents. He called them so because his fields needed the rain for a good harvest. They were going to give him money.
Answer 10.
Mij was an intelligent, friendly and fun loving animal who needed love. Mij was put into a box for transportation. When the author returned after the meal, he saw blood from the air holes. He opened it, the animal whimpered and caught him by the leg. While traveling the box was opened in a flash. It disappeared down the aircraft. But very soon it was on his knees. It began to nuzzle his face and neck. About his being fun-loving, the otter enjoyed galloping on the thirty-yard wall near that of the author in London. It distracted the attention of the school staff and the children. It was a fun loving animal. It enjoyed playing all kinds of game. It would play with a selection of toys, ping-pong balls, marbles, rubber fruit, and a terrapin shell. It required to love and affection from Maxwell and it got that readily.
OR
Misuse of Science
Today is the age of science. Almost the whole world is trying to convert itself into a digital one. The present time is therefore dependent on science and technology. In the coming years, survival without electronic gadgets would be almost impossible. But there are various examples where science is being misused to create panic and terror in society. Scientific experiments on various deadly diseases are let out to cause mass destruction. Technology is used more for warfare purposes, to kill and to terrorize. The resulting product of scientific research can robustly sway the norms of our civilization and even determine the fate of humans. In all, the application of science has been valuable to human society and has greatly raised the quality of life, but it has also led to the growth of means to destroy human society.
Answer 11.
The residents at the Annexe celebrated Christmas Eve in a very simple manner. They were satisfied with what they had and they all longed for peace and an end to the war. Kleiman, Kugler and the girls had prepared a lovely surprise. Miep had made a lovely Christmas cake on which, it was written ‘Peace 1944’. Bep had provided a pound of sweet biscuits of pre-war quality. For Peter, Margot and Anne there was a bottle of yogurt and a bottle of beer for each of the grown-ups. Everything was very nicely done and there were pictures stuck on the different packages too. Mr. Dussel had gifted Mrs. Van Daan a lovely cake which he had asked Miep to bake for him. The residents got some extra oil, syrup, and sweets. They also received a brooch, made out of a two-and-a half-cent piece which was very beautiful to look at. Anne had saved up some sugar and decided to make fondants with the help of Kleiman for Bep and Miep. Despite the difficult aspects of living in close waters which had now begun to take a toll on them, they decided to spend Christmas in a happy and hopeful way.
OR
Mrs. Van Daan is a person whom Anne cannot stand. Mrs. Van Daan is shown as an emotional quick-tempered woman in Anne’s diary. The latter dislike her right from the beginning and uses words like pushy, vain, egotistical and cunning to describe her. Her character does not change over time. Mrs. Van Daan frequently complains about her family’s situation, a criticism that Anne does not approve of being a quarrelsome and irritating woman. Mrs. Van Daan is always picking a fight with someone, especially her husband. She also constantly criticizes Anne’s behavior, indicating that she has not been raised properly. She is also jealous of Anne’s relationship with her son, Peter and wants him to confide in her rather than in Anne. But generally, she is a neat and tidy woman, who Anne at times finds easier to approach than her own mother. One day while at supper sitting at the dining table, Mrs. Van Daan expressed her views before everyone present at the dining table. She said that the job as the queen of the kitchen had lost its attraction and she found tiresome to do all the cooking that too without fat. The smell of the preserved food made her ill.
OR
During the summer of 1893, Helen and Miss Sullivan visited the World Fair with Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. Helen recalls those delightful days when she felt that many of her childish fancies became beautiful realities. Each day, in her imagination she made a trip around the world and saw many wonders from the farthermost parts of the world, which included marvels of invention, treasuries of industry and skill and all the activities of human life. Actually, all these imaginations passed under Helen’s fingertips. Mr. Higin Botham, President of the World Fair, gave her the consent to touch the exhibits and with a keen eagerness. Helen took in the glories of the Fair with her fingers. Everything fascinated her because it felt so lifelike and she thought them to be angel visions which the artist had caught and bound in earthly forms. In Santa Maria, Columbus’ cabin and desk on which lay a celebrated hour-glass moved her. At Cape of Goldthorpe Helen learned how the diamonds were processed. In the electrical building, Dr. Graham Bell highlighted the importance of the telephone and other relevant inventions. It was amazing for Helen to know that messages or man’s voice could be transmitted through wires.
OR
Mr. Gilman was the principal at Radcliffe College, where Helen attained her degree. He was the only teacher who had learned the finger language to instruct Helen in her studies. Mr. Gilman instructed her for a part of the year in English literature. Mr. Gilman’s extensive views on History and literature, his clever explanations made Helen’s work easier and more convenient. He read all the papers to her by the means of the manual alphabet. He sat with her and read the examination paper of her sentence by sentence. He spelled out to her what she had written so that she could make the required changes. He sent her written work to the examiners with the certificate that Helen herself had written the papers. But he thought Helen was overworked even though Miss Sullivan did not think that she was finally due to a difference of opinion between him and Miss Sullivan. Helen’s mother withdrew her from school. Though Mr. Gilman did help Helen, he underestimated her capacity for hard work. In all Mr. Gilman was a noble, gentle, learned and helpful person. He played an important role in Helen Keller’s life. He insisted her to stay in the school three years longer as he began to believe that Helen was not doing well.
We hope the CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English Language and Literature Paper 1 help you. If you have any query regarding CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English Language and Literature Paper 1, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest.