Students must start practicing the questions from CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English with Solutions Set 5 are designed as per the revised syllabus.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English Set 5 with Solutions
Time:3 Hours
Max. Marks: 80
General Instructions:
- The Question Paper contains THREE sections – READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE.
- Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
Section A: Reading Skills
(Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages)
I. Read the following text:
1. Till 1988, the Pamban Bridge was the only surface transport that connected Tamil Nadu’s island of Rameswaram to the mainland. Said to be an engineering marvel, the Pamban Bridge was once India’s longest sea bridge, till the Bandra-Worlj sea link came up in 2009. What makes Pamban Bridge more wonderful is that it was built more than 100 years ago.
2. The 2.057 km long bridge, also known as Bridge No. 346 in Indian Railway reference, consists of over 140 spans. The amazing feature of a double-leaf section that can be raised to allow the movement of ships and boats was designed by German engineer Scherzer. The 114th span, midway along the bridge, is called the Scherzer span.
3. Interestingly, the Scherzer span is now being replaced by a modern one to improve the life of the bridge. Pamban Bridge is a cantilever bridge, that has structures that project horizontally into space, supported only on one end.
4. Until recently, the two leaves of the bridge were opened manually using levers by workers, says Indian Railways. Following a cyclone-induced tragic train accident in 1964, Indian Railways installed devices to check the wind velocity across the Pamban via duct. Train movement on the bridge is halted when the wind speed exceeds 58 kmph.
5. The construction of the Pamban Bridge began in 1911 and it was opened in 1914. It was only in 2007 that the railway line on Pamban Bridge was converted from metre-gauge to broad-gauge.
6. According to Indian Railways, the famed Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram and the Pamban Bridge draw scores of foreign tourists and inland pilgrims to the island.
7. Even as Indian Railways’ Pamban Bridge continues to be an engineering marvel, yet another railway bridge that is likely to be a stunning site is coming up in Jammu and Kashmir. Said to be the world’s highest railway bridge, the Chenab Bridge, is set to be completed by 2019. The bridge will be taller than Paris’ famous Eiffel Tower and is being built to withstand earthquakes.
8. Yet another bridge that will be a landmark is the Bogibeel Bridge – India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge. The Bogibeel double-deck bridge is being built over the Brahmaputra in the Dibrugarh district of Assam and will connect the North and South banks of the river. The total length of the rail-cum-road bridge will be 4.9 km.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
(i) The writer says, “Yet another bridge that will be a landmark is the Bogibeel Bridge”. Select the reason why Bogibeel Bridge will be a landmark:
A. India’s longest rail-cum-road Bridge that will connect the North and South banks of the river.
B. World’s longest raii-cum-road Bridge will connect the North and South banks of the river.
C. Asia’s longest rail-cum-road Bridge will connect the North and South banks of the river.
D. India’s shortest rail-cum-road Bridge will connect the North and South banks of the river.
Answer:
A. India’s longest rail-cum-road Bridge that will connect the North and South banks of the river.
(ii) What is the tone of the writer in the given line from paragraph (1)? Rationalise your response in bout 40 words. What makes Pamban Bridge more wonderful is that it was built ‘more than 100 years ago.
Answer:
Technical advancement till 2009 had improved by leaps and bounds from the technology that was available 100 years ago and yet with more than hundred years old technology with which Pamban bridge was built made it stay as India’s longest sea bridge, till the Bandra – Worli sea link broke its record in 2009. The tone clearly is of amazement.
(iii) The special quality of the bridge is that it has structures that project horizontally into space, supported only at one end. It is
………………………… .
Answer:
a cantilever bridge
(iv) The passage includes some words that are not synonyms to each other. From the sets (a) – (e) below group them in two sets of antonyms & synonyms:
(a) marvel
(b) foreign
(c) stunning
(d) inland
(e) wonderful
Answer:
Synonyms: (a) marvel (c) stunning (e) Wonderful
Antonyms: (b) foreign (d) inland
(v) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The author’s use of vivid imagery in paragraphs (2) and (6), such as “the amazing feature of a double-leaf section that can be raised to allow movement of ships and boats” and “the famed Ramanath Swamy temple in Rameshwaram and the Pamban bridge draw scores of foreign tourists and inland pilgrims to the island”, keeps us mesmerised because ………………….. .
Answer:
the long lasting project of technology more than a hundred years old, still got further improved when the two-leaf section made by Scherzer was replaced by a modern one which no longer needs to be opened manually using levers by workers, it still stays as an engineering marvel for its longevity attracting scores of foreign and inland tourist.
(vi) Based on your reading of the text, state 2 reasons in about 40 words why the writer says that “the Pamban Bridge is an engineering marvel”.
Answer:
- Till 1988, the Pamban Bridge was the only surface transport that connected Tamil Nadu’s island of Rameswaram to the mainland.
- The Pamban Bridge was once India’s longest sea bridge, till the Bandra-Wor]i sea link came up in 2009.
(vii) What is/are the ‘catchy fact(s)’ that a reader gathers, in the following excerpt from the passage?
‘Even as Indian Railways’ Pamban Bridge continues to be an engineering marvel, yet another railway bridge that is likely to be a stunning site is coming up in Jammu Kashmir…’
‘Yet another bridge that will be a landmark is the Bogibeel Bridge – India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge….’
I. The Chenab Bridge coming up in J & K will be the world’s highest railway bridge
II. Bogibeel Bridge is India’s longest rail – cum – road bridge
III. The Chenab Bridge will be taller than Eiffel Tower
IV. The Bogibeel Bridge is more than thrice the length of Pamban Bridge
A. Only I and II
B. Both II and III
C. I, II, and IV
D. Only II
Answer:
D. Only II
(viii) The following bridges have been mentioned in the ‘Factual Passage’:
A. The Pamban Bridge
B. The Bandra-Worli Bridge
C. The Chenab Bridge
D. The Bogibeel Bridge
List one common factor between any two bridges that links the two in pairs.
Answer:
A. The Pamban Bridge and
B. The Bandra – Worli Bridge are sea bridges.
C. The Chenab Bridge and
D. The Bogibeel Bridge are river bridges.
II. Read the following text:
1. The emergence of novel COVID-19 epidemic has been spreading in India which brought the sudden lockdown situation in the country. After government execution of lockdown with different stages, beings rapidly change their pattern of living. The affection of such controls affected entertainment with several entities. Many productions of entertainment programs get stopped that results the broadcast of new programs and several episodes have been stationary till they unlocked. To avoid the forfeiture in revenue, production houses used the concept of minimax programming which belongs to repeated telecast of running or evergreen programs.
“Their current success may seem like an aberration at first glance. Doordarshan itself has replayed its old shows in the past too and these have always gone unnoticed,” says Shailesh Kapoor, founder and CEO at Ormax Media.
Meanwhile, the condition of movie theatres is similar to other entertainment substances that have been closed and unable to perceive the entertainment.
2. Under such circumstances, web series emphasis the audiences with its concept of ‘anywhere-anytime’ where audiences can watch and interact with programs at their convenience and of personal medium. Web series are developing a new breed for new content providers, who produce fresh content for digital audiences. Spreading Internet access in rural and urban areas is responsible for increasing of audience of web series on digital platforms. Since, the revolution of 4G in India, OTT (Over-The-Top) platforms such as Hotstar, Netflix, Amazon Prime video, and ALTBalaji are delivering content like web series, movies, TV serials, sports and news in different languages to the user (audience) with a boundless quality. A study revealed that 95% of youth (age between 18 and 25) have admitted to watching web series in a metro city like Mumbai and approximately 81% of audiences are watching in an online manner by using an OTT platform whereas in 42% of audiences watching web series daily, by using OTT high rate.
3. In a study, certain responses were collected on watching habits of web series before and after lockdown. It was clear that approximately 15% of the rise was seen in audiences during lockdown. Audiences showed their interest in web series. In the same study, another interpretation showed the meaning of free time to watch web series during lockdown. Before the lockdown, ‘all day’ users of web series were quite low approximately 4% but during the lockdown, an increase of users approximately 36% was seen in the category.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
(i) Complete the following sentence appropriately. (1)
A study revealed that ………………. (age between 18 and 25) have admitted to watching web series in a metro city like Mumbai.
Answer:
95% youth content providers
(ii) Fill in the blank with ONE/TWO word(s). (1)
Web series are creating a new kind of ……………….. who produce fresh content for people who watch movies or series on OTTs.
Answer:
content providers
(iii) State one example which proves the statement. (40 words) (2)
COVID-19-induced lockdown affected the entertainment industry.
Answer:
The Covid-19 affected the entertainment industry badly. The production of many entertainment programs got stopped. Apart from this, any further broadcast of new episodes of the ongoing program was canceled.
(iv) State the reason in the increase in the trend of web series in digital platforms. (1)
Answer:
Spreading Internet access in rural and urban areas is the reason behind the increase in the audience of web series on digital platforms.
(v) Substitute the word ‘forfeiture’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the following, sentence from Paragraph 1. (1)
To avoid the forfeiture in revenue, production houses used the concept of minimax programming which belongs to the repeated telecast of running or evergreen programs.
Answer:
Loss
(vi) Select the chart that appropriately represents the trend in the audience of watching web series:
(a) Option 1
(b) Option 2
(c) Option 3
(d) Option 4
Answer:
(b) Option 2
(vii) What do you understard by ‘Minimax Programming’? How did Doordarshan apply it in India? Answer in about 40 words. (2)
Answer:
Minimise programming refers to the telecast of running or evergreen programs. Doordarshan applied Minima programming in India during lockdown by telecasting ‘Ramayana’.
(viii) Which of the following is over the top platforms delivering to the audience? (1)
(a) Web and TV series
(b) Movies and sports
(c) News with different languages
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these told
Section B: Writing Skills & Grammar
GRAMMAR
III. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed:
(i) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket.
The servants ……………………. (quarrel) for half an hour when we arrived home.
Answer:
had been quarreling
(ii) identify the error in the given sentence, from a school magazine report and supply the correction. In order to balancing the sentiments of the Eagles and the Hawks, the Student Council suggested a rematch between the teams.
Use the given format for your response.
| Error | Correction |
Answer:
| Error | Correction |
| balancing | balance |
(iii) Jovi and John had a conversation at a railway station regarding their trip to Goa. Report Jovi’s question:
Have you brought any snacks with you?
Answer:
Jovi asked John whether he had brought any snacks with him for their trip to Goa.
(iv) Choose the option that completes the sentence below correctly.
By the time I arrived at the party, Jane ……………………… for over an hour.
A. will dance
B. danced
C. has been dancing
D. had been dancing
Answer:
D. had been dancing
(v) Select the correct option to fill in the blank.
You …………………….. use mobile phones inside the aircraft.
A. had to
B. can
C. could
D. mustn’t
Answer:
D. mustn’t.
(vi) Discipline in life ensures peace and harmony which in turn, offers the impetus for a nation’s progress.
| Error | Correction |
Answer:
| Error | Correction |
| ensure | ensures |
(vii) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line.
The entire household was in the control of my mother-in-law.
| Option No. | Error | Correction |
| (i) | in | under |
| (ii) | The | An |
| (iii) | was | is |
| (iv) | of | with |
Answer:
| Option No. | Error | Correction |
| (i) | in | under |
(viii) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence.
You …………………… pay attention in the class.
A. can
B. should
C. may
D. might
Answer:
B. should
(ix) Report the dialogue between a soldier and a boy, by completing the sentence.
The boy: Sir, you are a war veteran, how does it feel to receive the adulation?
The soldier: Son, it is a very difficult question. We kill our enemies to keep our nation safe. But it is just humans killing humans.
In response to the question the boy had asked, the soldier replied that …………………… He further said that ……………………
Answer:
it was a very difficult question to answer; they kill their enemies to keep our nation safe but it was just humans killing humans.
(x) Choose the option that completes the sentence below correctly.
I just heard the journalist report that several highways in Uttarakhand …………………… blocked due to landslides as incessant rain batters the hill state.
A. had been
B. have been
C. were being
D. will have been
Answer:
B. have been
(xi) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence.
A school of fish ………………… spotted in the lake.
A. are
B. have
C. has
D. was
Answer:
D. was
(xii) Identify the error in the advertisement in the classified section:
Classifieds
Delhi Public School, Shastri Puram, Agra
Require a Mathematics teacher to teach senior classes.
Emoluments at par with Kendriya Vidhyalaya.
Use the given format for your response.
| Error | Correction |
Answer:
| Error | Correction |
| to | for |
Section C: Writing
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A arid B given below.
A. You have recently seen your brother struggle with choosing the right course for his career. To help him you did some research and found that many other students are facing the same problem.Write a letter to the Editor emphasising, in about 120 words, on the need of educational counselors for guidance in matter of choosing a career in each school. (5)
Clues
- Modem and competitive time
- Make a very difficult choice
- Students are misguided
- No valid mechanism to assess the suitability of candidates for a particular stream
- Peer or parental pressure
- Regret their decisions
- A special post of educational counselor
Or
B. You have lost your original certificates of Class X and XII. You want to get their duplicates issued but you do not know the procedure. Write a letter to the Chairman, CBSE, Preet Vihar enquiring about the fee to be deposited, mode of payment, time taken by the board for issuing duplicate certificates and any other formalities. You are Tarun/Taruna, 7/9, Kunj Apartments, Shimla.
Answer:
A.
48, Agra Fort
Agra
2nd March, 20XX
The Editor
The Times of India
Fort Road
Agra
Subject: The Need for Educational Counselors in Schools
Sir/Ma’am,
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I would like to draw attention to the need for educational counselors in every school.
In this modern and competitive time, the fight for better marks and careers is cut throat among youngsters. After passing the secondary school examination, a candidate has to make a very difficult choice from several streams available to him or her for further studies at the senior school level. Students are often misguided by others who are ready to cheat the unsuspecting students and their parents. There is no valid mechanism to assess the suitability of candidates for a particular stream. Students opt for subjects under the influence of peer or parental pressure without considering their preferences and capabilities. They later regret their decisions, which by then had already affected them badly.
The Ministry of HRD should be serious about the career of the students. A special post of educational counselor should be created in every school so that the students and parents can discuss their issues and concerns and clarify their doubts regarding further education. This will certainly give them some relief from the unnecessary worries.
Hoping a favorable consideration for the welfare of students.
Thanking you
Yours truly
Vinay Kumar
Or
B.
7/9, Kunj Apartments
Shimla
10th December, 20XX
The Chairman
CBSE, Preet Vihar
New Delhi
Subject: Procedure to get Duplicate Certificates
Sir/ Ma’am
This is to inform you that I, Tarun/Taruna, passed Class X (Roll no. 90XXXXX) in the year 20XX and Class XII (Roll no. 105XXXX) in the year 20XX from the CBSE Board. Unfortunately, I have lost my original certificates of Class X and Class XII as the bag containing those certificates has been stolen. Now, I urgently need the duplicates of those certificates. Therefore, please let me know the following details:
• Procedure to get the duplicate certificates
• The amount of fee to be deposited
• Mode of payment
• Time taken by the board to issue the certificates
Also, if there is any other formality to be completed, please do let me know. I would be much obliged.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Tarun/Taruna
Section D: Literature
V. Reference to context.
1. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.
A. And that is why it is so difficult to rob him. it’s casi to rob a greedy man because he can afford to be robbed, but it’s difficult to rob a careless man – sometimes he does not even notice lie’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. (The Thief’s Story)
(i) State any one inference about the thief from the given context “and that takes all the pleasure out of the work.”
Answer:
The context suggests that the thief finds pleasure in the process of robbing and this enjoyment is diminished when the victim doesn’t even notice the theft. This implies that the thief takes pleasure not only from the material gain but also from the psychological impact on the victim, highlighting a certain level of psychological complexity in the character’s motivations and mindset.
(ii) State TRUE or FALSE.
None of the terms (a) -(d) below, can be applied to the statement – “hut 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.”
A. A hypothesis – a proposed explanation for a phenomenon
B. An assumption – something that is taken for granted or assumed to be true without proof
C. A premise – a proposition that forms the basis of an argument
D. A theory – a well-substantiated explanation for a natural phenomenon
Answer:
False, it’s a premise since it forms the basis for the argument presented in the passage and sets the stage for the idea that robbing a careless man is difficult due to his lack of the item’s awareness, which diminishes the thief’s enjoyment.
(iii) “Well, it’s time I did some real work, I told myself; I’m out of practice.” Elaborate this line in not more than 40 words.
Answer:
The thief, who introduced himself as Han Singh had been staying with Anil since one month, He had stopped stealing since his association with him, but now he was again eager to steal a large sum of money earned by Anil.
(iv) Which phrase from the extract would correctly substitute the phrase “Not currently proficient in a particular activity”?
Answer:
The phrase from the extract that would correctly substitute the given phrase is “Out of practice”.
OR
B. ‘Paper lias more patience than people.’ I thought of this saying on one of those days when I was feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my hands, bored and listless, wondering whether to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I was, brooding: Yes, paper does have more patience, and since I’m not planning to let anyone else read this stiff-hacked notebook grandly referred to as a ‘diary’ unless I should ever find a real friend, it probably won’t make a hit of difference. (From the Diary of Anne Frank)
(i) What led Anne to begin writing dairy’ entries?
A. She thought that paper had more patience than people
B. She felt like writing
C. She wanted to get many things off her chest
D. She could never ever find a real friend to confide in
Answer:
D. She could never ever find a real friend to confide in
(ii) What light does the extract throw on Anne’s life? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer:
Anne was an insightful 13-year-old schoolgirl. The extract portrays her loneliness and the dilemma on how to spend her idle time at home revealing the lack of a real friend in her life. This became the ultimate reason to start penning down her feelings in a diary.
(iii) Read the following descriptions (a)-(c) and identify which one correctly corresponds to the extract.
A. A debate is a formal discussion on a particular topic, usually with two or more people presenting different viewpoints and arguments.
B. A soliloquy is a speech given by a character alone on stage, which reveals their innermost thoughts and feelings to the audience.
C. An aside is a brief comment or remark made by a character directly to the audience, which is not intended to be heard by other characters on stage.
Answer:
B. A soliloquy is a speech given by a character alone on stage, which reveals their innermost thoughts and feelings to the audience.
(Cannot be (a) since it is not a formal discussion and cannot be (c) because what she speaks is certainly not brief).
(iv) If an actor were to enact this extract, what would he be required to focus on, while modulating his voice?
Answer:
The actor would be focusing on the musings of a 13-year-old girl in a chirpy tone and then the volume being toned down because of the realisation of loneliness in the absence of a true companion.
2. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.
A. M’s head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent.
Listen. The glass is breaking.
The frees are stumbling forward
into the night. Winds rush to meet them. (The Trees)
(i) Fill the blank with one word.
When the speaker says that the glass is breaking, she metaphorically refers to restraints on ………………….. being removed as the society became progressive.
Answer:
women
(ii) What does the speaker’s use of the word ‘trees’, metaphorically suggest?
Answer:
The poetess uses ‘trees’ as a metaphor for women, whose absence in this world would be chaotic. She dreams of an equal society for women and uses trees to describe how they are all coming out of homes to enrich the ‘forests’ of the world.
(iii) Which of the following best describes the speaker’s attitude towards the changing tide?
A. Banal
B. Jubilant
C. Worried
D. Discontent
Answer:
B. Jubilant
(iv) Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines.
Answer:
The poetess uses a tone of anticipation of good news. She spins words in a way that gives a sense of a grand scheme about to happen. The trees are breaking their shambles and rushing out to new hopes and finally breathing. The world outside is also ready to welcome them.
B. The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over the harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on. (Fog)
(i) In what way does the poet set the tone of this poem which is appropriate to the title?
Answer:
The poem has a very lazy but quick flow. It is short and crisp. The tone and setting is very similar to the subject being described in the poem itself. Just as fog lingers for a while and disappears, so does this poem begins and ends abruptly.
(ii) What is the significance of the use of the word “cat” to describe the fog in the poem and how does this word choice contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer:
The poet uses the metaphor of a cat to describe the fog in his poem. The poet is comparing the fog to a cat. He compares the stealthy and calm demeanour of the fog’s motion to that of a cat’s movement.
(iii) Complete the sentence with the appropriate option.
The lines from the poem tell us that the fog is ……………………. .
A. stealthy
B. predictable
C. loud
D. vapid
Answer:
A. stealthy
(iv) Identify the setting of the poem by the given lines.
Answer:
The poem is set in a coastal city that is harbouring the sea and is prone to fog easily. The fog quickly comes and goes, giving us a perception of a fast-paced city.
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40-50 words each.
(i) “Not from weeping nor from grieving will anyone obtain peace of mind; on the contrary, his pain will be the greater and his body will suffer.” Whose words are these? Elucidate the teachings concerning The Sermon at Benaras.
Answer:
According to Buddha, death and suffering are part and parcel of life. One cannot avoid this truth. One has to meet one’s destiny which is death. Birth and death are inevitable and related in a cycle, who ever enters the world has to exit at some point. One must remain calm and composed so that pain doesn’t overcome one, in the hour of grief. Nobody can get peace of mind by weeping or grieving, instead, the body will suffer. Wise people, never complain or lament over their loss but accept the truth. Hence, the wisdom lies in the fact that people should not get distressed by pain, suffering, and death.
(ii) How is divine love different from human love? (For Anne Gregory)
Answer:
Divine love is everlasting and transcends physical beauty whereas human love is restricted to physical or external beauty only. In divine love, the beauty of the soul is given priority wherein virtues and qualities of head and heart are appreciated whereas, human love gives priority to body and physical charm.
(iii) Validate this sentence with reference to The Diary of Anne Frank ‘Paper has more patience than people.’
Answer:
Anne Frank is a thirteen-year-old girl who does not have any friends therefore she resorts to writing a diary where she can confide her true thoughts and feelings. She said this on one of the days when she was sitting depressed holding her chin in her hands. She decided she would only let a real friend read her diary if she found any.
(iv) Even the most laid-back individuals would get converted to a life of high-energy adventure in Coorg. Do you agree? Why? /Why not? (2 reasons) (Glimpses of India: Coorg)
Answer:
For
Laid-back people do get converted to a high adventure life in Coorg, because of the clear pristine climatic conditions which do have a role in energising visitors. Also, the existence of facilities like rappelling, mountain biking, rock climbing, and river rafting do turn up the levels of excitement. (Against)
Against
It is not necessary for all laid-back individuals to get excited with the adventurous life in Coorg, because the high adventure sports demand considerable ramping up of energy levels and also these sports can be fraught with risks, which can be enough to dampen the excitement.
(v) Give one reason why the poem Fog is totally a metaphorical composition.
Answer:
The poem ‘Fog’ is a metaphorical composition. It is because the poet has tried to bring two very different things, fog and cat on the same plane by just dwelling on the similar qualities of stillness between their way of motion.
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions in about 40-50 words each.
(i) Horace Danbv used to think that people who own valuable things are foolish. Do you think he himself was foolish? (A Question of Trust)
Answer:
Horace Danbv used to make locks for a living and commit a careful robbery once every year. He felt that his targets were foolish people because their valuable possessions tempted him to rob them. However, he himself became a fool when a lady thief robbed him of the valuable things that he obtained from Shot over Grange.
(ii) In context of The Necklace, validate the importance of being content with what you have, when it comes to materialistic possessions.
Answer:
Madame Loisel’s covetous attitude became the bane of her existence. She was resentful of the life and luxury she had, always wanting more and better. This led to a series of events that pushed her into debt and a hard life of toil and labour for over a decade that took away everything she already had earlier. Thus, it is better to be content with whatever one has.
(iii) Why did Mrs Pumphrey think that her dog’s recovery was a triumph of surgery? (A Triumph of Surgery)
Answer:
Mrs Pumphrey thought that her dog’s recovery was a triumph of surgery because Tricki had regained perfect health within a span of a few days only. Such a quick and complete cure is usually possible only after surgery. However, she was not right in this belief since Tricki had recovered through the simple process of strict diet and exercise.
VIII. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 100-120 words.
(i) You have been asked to present an evaluation of the approaches of the chapter Nelson Mandela: Long Walk for Freedom and the Trees. Write this presentation draft including your insights, in about 120 words, comparing the approaches of both.
Answer:
Nelson Mandela’s life is a testament to the power of resilience, forgiveness, and commitment. Like a strong tree, he weathered numerous challenges in his struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Just as a tree that leaves a lasting impact on the environment and the ecosystems, Mandela’s principles and actions had a lasting impact on generations to come. Trees are symbols of interconnectedness and unity within the environment. Mandela emphasized the importance of unity amongst diverse groups and the need for cooperation to achieve a just society. Both Nelson Mandela’s life and the symbolism of trees embody qualities of strength, growth, endurance, and impact.
OR
(ii) You have been chosen to speak in a debate on materialism and desires in humans. Prepare the speech draft in not more than 120 words, with reference to ‘The Proposal’ and ‘Fire and Ice’.
Answer:
Good morning, everyone.
Today, I would like to draw your attention to a topic that has become increasingly relevant in our modern society- materialism and its connection to human desires. In Anton Chekhov’s play, ‘The Proposal’, we see how the pursuit of wealth and status can lead individuals to treat human relationships as mere business deals, devoid of genuine emotion or empathy. The characters in the play, such as Lomov and Natalya, exemplify how the desire for material possessions can corrupt one’s character and ultimately lead us to lose sight of what truly matters.
Similarly, in Robert Frost’s poem, ‘Fire and Ice’, the poet suggests that our insatiable desire for material wealth, represented by “fire,” and the “ice” representing the coldness that results from our obsession with possessions, may ultimately lead to the destruction of the world.
In our modern world, we are bombarded with messages that encourage us to consume more, buy more, and accumulate more. However, we must ask ourselves whether this is truly the path to happiness and fulfillment.
To conclude, it is essential that we remain mindful of the impact of materialism on our desires and our relationships with others. We must prioritise human connection and empathy over superficial possessions, and work towards a more compassionate and sustainable future.
Thank you.
IX. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 100-120 words.
(i) Imagine that Sulekha, from Bholi by K.A. Abbas, writes a diary entry, exploring the theme of the position of women in rural India. Write this diary entry, as Sulekha, in about 120 words.
Answer:
29 December, 20XX
Sunday
12:15 a.m.
I was born in a well-to-do household in our village, which was steeped in traditions that demanded that girls need not be educated and should be married off at a young age. My sisters were quite beautiful but unfortunately, due to a smallpox attack in my childhood, my face was disfigured with pockmarks so marriage was probably out of the question. So my parents grudgingly admitted me to a school and my life changed thereafter.
When my parents decided to arrange my marriage with a middle-aged widower, who demanded a heavy dowry, I decided to take things in my hand. I refused to get married and instead, I decided to continue my life as a teacher in the village school. Thus the educated Bholi got back her identity of becoming Sulekha.
OR
(ii) A character arc is the transformation or development of a character throughout a story and refers to the changes a character undergoes as a result of their experiences, challenges, and interactions with other characters.
In the light of the above information, trace the character arc of Griffin in FI.G.Well’s Footprints without Feet in about 120 words.
Answer:
Griffin is a brilliant scientist who successfully turns himself invisible. In the beginning, he feels a sense of achievement but his excitement quickly turns into frustration. He resorts to stealing and other illegal activities to sustain himself. His detachment from the society and his newfound power makes him ruthless and unstoppable. Eventually, Griffin’s actions catch up with him and he begins to realise the consequences of his choices. He might also be tormented by guilt and regret recognising that his actions have brought unwanted troubles for himself. Griffin’s character arc serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the consequences of disregarding the ethical implications of one’s actions. So, all we see in his character is that ironically a brilliant discovery renders him homeless, and struggling for mere survival.