CBSE Class 10 English Sample Paper 3 With Solution 2020 2021
CBSE Class 10 English Sample Paper 3 With Solution 2020 2021
CBSE Class 10 English Sample Paper 3 With Solution 2020 2021
(2020-21)
ENGLISH – Language and
Literature CLASS-X
(Rationalized syllabus)
General Instructions:
1. This paper is divided into two parts: A and B. All questions are compulsory.
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary.
Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.
1. The novel corona virus has given rise to a global pandemic that has destabilized
most institutional settings. While we live in times when humankind possesses the
most advanced science and technology, a virus invisible to the naked eye has
massively disrupted our lives, economies, healthcare, and education systems
worldwide.
2. Given the corona virus’s current situation, some households have also had time to
introspect on gender roles and stereotypes. For instance, women are expected to
carry out household chores like cooking, cleaning, and looking after the family. With
men sharing household chores responsibilities during the lockdown period, it gives
hope that they will realize the burden that women have been bearing and will
continue sharing such responsibilities.
3. This tough period also gave people some time to reflect on the importance of
keeping themselves fit. With sufficient time in hand, people started investing their
time learning new ways to exercise. Those who never exercised before, giving
excuses of busy lives, too developed some new habits of Yoga, Pranayam and
exercises during the lockdown period. These new habits and people’s increased
focus on their health, wellness and immunity will surely change the way we lead our
lives even in future.
4. The nature too healed itself during the lockdown period. Restricted human
movement led to better air quality, cleaner water bodies and joyful wildlife
movements. The human beings, we hope, reflected during this time, how some of
their unconscious activities cause disruption in nature and worked out ways to
adopt environmental-friendly options for their activities in future.
5. This situation also affected the education sector to a great extent. It has forced us to
shift from offline to online mode of teaching-learning process, almost immediately
without prior preparation. Is it giving us a peek into the reality ahead? Technology-
enabled teaching is definitely the future we are looking towards, but it is important
to identify key challenges for students and teachers in the current scenario. Once
identified, academic leadership and the government can address these through
innovations in the focused areas to minimise the effect of pandemic on the
education of the students.
6. The current scenario has also affected our economies to the extent wherein many
businessmen had to bear heavy losses in their businesses. The governments and
individuals need to take actions to mitigate risk and minimize transmission while
maintaining social and economic activities. However, relaxed control measures,
declining risk perception and the understandable desire to return to normalcy have
led to reduced protective behaviour and more social and workplace interactions,
often in confined, close-contact settings, where the virus spreads really fast.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY TEN questions
from the twelve that follow.
(1x10=10)
2. According to the passage the lockdown period made people introspect on gender roles
and stereotypes because –
4. A positive change was seen in nature during lockdown period in terms of cleaner air
and water bodies because _______
6. Which of the following has NOT led to reduced protective behaviours amongst people?
7. Which of the following is OPPOSITE in meaning to the word ‘mitigate’ as used in the
passage?
(a) lessen
(b) reduce
(c) aggravate
(d) weaken
8. Which of the following is NOT TRUE in the context of COVID Appropriate Behaviour?
(a) Wearing Mask
(b) Being in crowded places
(c) Washing hands
(d) Maintaining physical distancing
10. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE in the context of the passage?
11. Select the option that makes the correct use of “disrupt” as used in the passage, to fill
in the blank space.
Technological evolution is a certainty. Cyber-physical systems, Big Data and the Internet of
Things (IoT) have been changing the infrastructure of our world. In the 2020s, these
phenomena, which are still in their nascency, will rapidly accelerate due to the increasing
digitisation of key areas such as health, science, transport, communications and energy.
The ubiquity of technology, and its increased ability to connect and communicate, has paved
the way for this tipping point. Beneath the surface, we are moving towards an explosion of
change.
Over 50% of our global population is now online, and the other half is following fast. To be
precise, around 726 million people joined the web in the last three years. These new users
will change the shape of the internet. Many of them will be lower income. They are
choosing smart phones over laptops and tablets and are more likely to use voice commands.
Geodata and the IoT will create new markets and supply chains. The automation of
manufacturing, services and mobility has already begun. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will reach
what Gartner terms the ‘Plateau of Productivity’, in which the technology becomes both
mainstream and viable. McKinsey estimates that 70% of companies may adopt at least one
AI technology by 2030. It is unlikely they will all use it well, but those that do could manage
to take us to a place where man and machine are indistinguishable.
Bioscience has the potential to be transformative in the 2020s. Gene editing (CRISPR)
technology will likely soon be able to edit genomes to allow animal organs to be accepted
into human bodies – transforming, and perhaps saving, the lives of people currently waiting
for organ transplants. Similar technology can also be used to combat inherited diseases, and
even cancer. Elsewhere, gene therapy experiments are using the body’s immune system to
fight cancer through re-engineering our cells.
Technology has inarguably improved science, health, communications and transport.
However, technology has not necessarily corresponded to increased economic productivity.
Indeed, many of the most technologically advanced countries have seen productivity
stagnate and stall, as discussed in growing inequality and opportunity.
In the 2020s many questions around technology will be resolved. The scaffolding is in place.
This will be the decade in which AI, geodata, the IoT, bioscience, and quantum computing
are given the opportunity to change our world. Whether this change will be surface- level or
truly transformative remains to be seen.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage attempt ANY TEN questions from the
twelve that follow. (1x10=10)
i. In the line “The ubiquity of technology, and its ……”, the word “ubiquity” DOES
NOT refer to
a. Ever-present
b. Omnipresent
c. Pervasive
d. Usage
ii. According to Mckinsey,
a. 70% of companies will employ more labor force by the year 2030
b. Nearly 70% of the companies will adopt use of one AI by the end of this
decade
c. Nearly 70% of all the companies will stop using AI by the end of 2030
d. 70% of all companies will depend on people who can use computers by the
end of 2030
iii. One of the important predictions in the passage is that we are going to reach,
‘Plateau of Productivity’ with respect to digitization. Which option most reflects
the meaning?
iv. According to the report the number of 52% of US house-holds become smart
from 18% in,
a. 8 years
b. 6 years
c. 7 years
d. 9 years
v. According to the report, how many homes are smart in the year 2020?
a. 33%
b. 40%
c. 25%
d. 30%
vi. According to the report what will generate new market chain and supply?
a. Artificial Intelligence
b. Artificial Intelligence and Internet
c. Geo-data and Internet of Things
d. Access to meta-data
vii. Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that best lists
the inherent benefits of biosciences.
1. Will revolutionise the field of cancer treatment
2. Will revolutionise use of computers and phones
3. Will revolutionise the industry and its development
4. Will revolutionisethe development of new phones
5. Will allow for genome transformation of animals
6. Will help patients who need organ transplants
a. 1,2,3
b. 1,5,6
c. 2,3,4
d. 3,4,5
viii. What will gene therapy accomplish?
xii. The most popular digital device among the masses as per the report is
a. Tablets
b. Laptops
c. Smart phones
d. Personal computer
i. In reference to the death of Kisa Gotami’s son which of the following statements are TRUE
(5x1)
a) 1 & 5
b) 2, 3 & 4
c) 2 & 5
d) 1 & 3
ii . Why did Gautam Buddha send Kisa Gotami to collect mustard seeds ?
a) he wanted mustard seeds for himself.
b) through this exercise she needed to understand that everyone who is born will have to die one
day.
c) he knew about a medicine made from mustard seeds that could bring the dead to life .
d) he wanted to comfort her and divert her attention.
iii. Before taking the mustard seeds, Kisa Gotami asked the people
iv. The phrase ‘flickered up’ is used with ‘lights of the city ‘ and ‘lives of men’. In the above extract.
Which of the following options DOES NOT correspond to ‘lives flicker up’?
v. The extract uses the word ‘grief’. Which of the following words is incorrect in the reference of
the word ‘grief’?
a) desolation
b) hopeless
c) death
d) surrender
OR
B.
His mother had picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it. He leaned
out eagerly, tapping the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across. But
when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings motionless, the piece of fish in her
beak almost within reach of his beak. He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she
did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud
scream he fell outwards and downwards into space. Then a monstrous terror seized him and
his heart stood still. He could hear nothing.
But it only lasted a minute. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. The wind
rushed against his breast feathers, then under his stomach, and against his wings. He could
feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He was not falling headlong now. He was
soaring gradually downwards and outwards. He was no longer afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy.
Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards. “Ga, ga, ga, Ga, ga, ga, Gaw-col-ah,”
his mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered her with
another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming. He saw his two brothers and his
sister flying around him curveting and banking and soaring and diving.
i. How did the young sea gull feel when his mother (with a piece of fish in her mouth) stopped
close to him and didn’t come nearer?
a) sad
b) surprised
c) relaxed
d) angry
iii. Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s(F) and opinion/s (O).
I feel the seagull’s It was possible that I think the sea gull was too The seagull was
parents should not the seagull could lazy to learn flying. Let’s afraid to fly. His
have threatened have failed to fly in not forget that his brother parents helped him
him to fly. his first attempt. and sister had learnt conquer his fear.
flying.
1. 2. 3. 4.
a) F- 1 &2 ; O - 3 & 4
b) F- 2 ; O- 1,3, & 4
c) F- 3 ; O- 1,2, & 4
d) F- 4 ; O- 1,2, & 3
iv. When the writer says, ‘his heart stood still.’, he means that
v. The above extract has some words associated with ‘flying’. Which of the following words is
INCORRECT with respect to ‘flying’?
1. diving
3. soaring
a) Option 1
b) Option 2
c) Option 3
d) Option 4
4. Read the extracts given below and attempt ANY ONE, by answering the questionsthat
follow. (5x1)
(A)
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quite,
In his quiet rage.
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
i. The above lines are from the poem:
a) A Tiger in the zoo by Leslie Norris b) Amanda by Robin Klein
c) The Ball Poem by John Berryman d) Fire and Ice by Robert
Frost
ii. What is the rhyme scheme of the given stanzas?
a) abcb; abab b) abcb; abcb c) abba; abba d)
abab; abab
iii. The stanzas bring out the contrast between
a) The tiger in the zoo and the tiger as a pet animal.
b) The tiger in the zoo and the tiger in its natural habitat.
c) The strength of a tiger and a lion.
d) The wild animals and the pet animals.
iv. The word ‘rage’ DOES have a meaning similar to
a) amiable b) alert c) anger d) amazing
v. The tiger walks only a few steps , it is because of
a) zoo b) room c) Jungle d)
Cage
OR
Q5. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks to complete the note about the Shad Suk
Mynsiem Festivalof Meghalaya. (3x1)
Shad Suk Mynsiem is the most important festival of the Khasi Clans of Meghalaya. It is also
celebrated by the Jaintia and Garo clans of Meghalaya. This festival................ (i) in April, every
year. This......... (ii).an extraordinary celebration and is also known as ‘Move of cheerful hearts’.
This is a three-day festival and is popularly...... (iii) as the ‘Shad Phur’. This festival is celebrated
primarily in the Khasi Hills; close to Shillong.
(i) a) celebrates
b) is celebrated
c) celebrated
d) was celebrated
(ii) a) was
b) will be
c) will start
d) is
Q6. Choose the correct options to FILL IN THE BLANKS to complete the conversation between
Chacha Chowdhary and a lady . ( NARRATION )
Chacha Chowdhary asked the lady.............. that old bag . (i) She replied that ............. it very much.
He commented that............... (iii) a hundred rupees for it ten years ago.
Q7. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options for ANY FOUR of the six sentences given
below.
i) You should _______ care of your pets as they are your responsibility.
a. take
b. taking
c. has taken
d. took
ii) You will ............ work very hard to get the correct tune of this song.
a. has to
b. have to
c. could
d. must
iii) I........... reach the station in time else I will miss the train.
a. must
b. should
c. ought to
d. will
a. their
b. us
c. our
d. every
v) He need not buy ____ pen. He has a pencil to write.
a. the
b. a
c. an
d. ought to
vi) We ..........make our school the cleanest in the district by the mid of this year 2021.
a. can
b. may
c. would
d. must
Section-B
(A) Think of yourself as one of the regular Delhi metro users who witnesses traffic congestion
caused by the clustering of pedal rickshaw and E-rickshaws which are stationed near the metro
station exit/entry gates, which is causing inconvenience to commuters due to recurrent traffic
blockages on the turnings. Even the metro passengers do not find easy walkway to the metro
station. Write a letter to the Commissioner Police about this problem .Sign yourself as Mehak
/Mohan living at 26/4 Mohan Gardens .
OR
(B) As Radhika /Raman living at 23/1 Hari Nagar, you are disturbed to see that the owners of cows
let them stray on city roads this causes a lot of problem for commuters . Write a letter to the Editor
of a reputed daily highlighting the problem of cruelty to animals .
(A) The histogram given below shows the compelling factors which influence people of three nations
to purchase fast food. Write a paragraph analyzing the given data.
Image credit: Research Gate
OR
(B)The figure below shows the obesity rate of 10 countries. Write a paragraph analyzing the given
data ,by reporting the features and making comparisons where relevant.
LITERATURE
Q.10. Answer ANY TWO questions in 20-30 words each from (A) and (B) respectively. (2x4=8)
Q.11. Answer ANY TWO questions in 40-50 words each, from (A) and (B) respectively.
(3x4=12)
(A) In the chapter Glimpses of India, Pranjol invited Rajvir to visit his home during the
summer vacation.
Imagine you live in Goa and your friend Anita is visiting you during the summer vacation.
Write a dialogue between Yourself and Anita describing the baking tradition of Goa.
OR
(B) Read the extracts given below and comment on how the two girls had a difficult time in
school and what did they do to overcome it ? Highlight the differences and similarities
in their situations.
(a) “The class roared. I had to laugh too, ... It was time to come up with something else,
something original. My friend, Sanne, who’s good at poetry, offered to help me
write the essay from beginning to end in verse …..Mr Keesing was trying to play a
joke on me with this ridiculous subject, but I’d make sure the joke was on him.”
(From the Diary of Anne Frank)
(b) “How are you and Room Thirteen? Please tell the girls they can keep those hundred
dresses, because in my new house I have a hundred new ones, all lined up in my
closet. I’d like that girl Peggy to have the drawing of the green dress with the red
trimming, and her friend Maddie to have the blue one. For Christmas, I miss that
school and my new teacher does not equalize with you. Merry Christmas to you and
everybody.”
(The Hundred Dresses -2)
(A) When her husband handed her the invitation, Madame Loisel, “Instead of being delighted, as
her husband had hoped, she threw the invitation spitefully upon the table…”
Do you think the invitation made Madam Loisel unhappy or was she constantly unhappy?
Why? Elaborate with the help of examples from the text.
OR
Part A 20
Q1. 1x10=10
1. a
2. d
3. b
4. a
5.b
6. c
7. c
8. b
9. b
10. c
11. b
12. c
Q.2
1. d
2. b
3. c
4. a
5. a
6. c
7. b
8. a
9. a
10. b
(A)
i. b) 2, 3 & 4
ii. b) through this exercise she needed to understand that everyone who is born will have to die one
day.
iii. d) if they had ever lost a loved one.
iv. b) Some humans can live forever.
v. d) surrender
OR
(B)
i. b) Surprised www.tiwariacademy.com
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ii. b) The seagull was hungry. Hunger was a source of motivation to learn flying.
iii. d) F- 4 ; O- 1,2, & 3
iv. a) the seagull got scared.
v. d) Option 4
Q.4 (A)
(B)
i. The speaker is lost in her own dreams
ii. metaphor
iii. confused
iv. Amanda
v. Dance in the tower
( ii) is
iii) known
Q.7 i) take
ii) have to
iii) must
iv) our
v) a
vi) can
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Part B (40 marks)
Question Solution Marks
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9. Analytical 1X5=5
Writing Paragraph Writing
3 marks for content
2 marks for expression
(1 mark-grammatical
accuracy, appropriate words and spellings
+
1 mark-cohesion via connecting ideas, logical progression
& coherence through relevance of ideas and style)
Q 10 LITERATURE
(20-30 words)
First Flight & Footprints Without Feet Content=1 mark, Expression=1 mark
(Coherence and cohesion+ accuracy)
2x2=4 marks
expression-
NOTE- Writing in a paragraph recommended. Just listing of points shall result in deduction
of marks allotted for cohesion & coherence.
(A) Any 2 of 3
i) Rajvir was invited by his friend Pranjol whose father was a manager of a tea-
garden in Assam.
- He was excited because he got an opportunity to know more about tea and tea-
gardens. He also shared two legends about tea which he had read, with Pranjol.
ii) Alliteration- ‘Stop that slouching and sit up straight’, ‘life in a tower is tranquil
and rare’, ‘I thought I told you to clean your shoes’, and ‘stop that sulking at
once’.
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- Metaphor- Amanda imagining herself as ‘mermaid’, ‘Rapunzel’ & ‘orphan’,
‘languid emerald sea’,’ silence is golden’, and ‘freedom is sweet’.
- Repetition- ‘Amanda’, Don’t’, and ‘Did you’.
- Allusion- Amanda imagining herself as ‘mermaid’, ‘Rapunzel’, and ‘orphan’.
- Rhyme scheme- aaba, ccc, aada, eee, aafa, ggg, and aaha.
iii) The ball symbolizes the possessions in this world.
- It also reminds us of the childhood and the joys attached with it, and our loved
ones.
- The poet teels us that all these are lost at some point of time in life we should not
grieve, it is all part of life.
(B) Any 2 or 3
i) The condition of Tricki was deteriorating every day.
MrsPumphrey thought that Tricki had been suffering a lot and surgery was the
only solution.
- All Tricki required was a balanced diet and a regular exercise routine.
ii) As a government representative of the village they had to set an example.
They could not disobey the Tehsildar.
- In their opinion Bholi being ugly and a simpleton had little chance to get married.
iii) Everybody else won something or the other but he lost.
His entry was simply slides of frog tissues under a microscope.
Everyone else did real experiments.
He decided to take up real experiments in future too
Q11.
(40-50 words)
First Flight & Footprints Without Feet Content=2 mark, Expression=1 mark
(Coherence and cohesion+ accuracy)
2x3=6 marks
expression-
NOTE- Writing in a paragraph recommended. Just listing of points shall result in deduction
of marks allotted for cohesion & coherence.
(A) Any 2 of 3
i) Coorg is home to evergreen forests, spicse and coffee plantations.
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- Kaveri River flows through its forest, which are rich in flora and fauna.
- There are kingfishers, malabar squirrels, langurs, elephants, birds, bees, butterflies,
macaques, and slender loris etc. with lush green trees all around.
- Tourists come here to enjoy water sports and trekking. There is a sixty four acres of
island Nisargadhama and monks also stay nearby in a Tibetan settlement.
- As for valour, the fiercely independent people here are possibly of Greek or Arabic
descent.
- They are brave, and most decorated regiment of Indian army is Coorg Regiment.
- The Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without licence.
ii) Peggy simply tried to justify her behavior with Wanda.
- Instead she felt that her questioning about the dresses definitely gave Wanda different
ideas.
- Peggy started to forget about her soon and later she thought that Wanda liked them
anyways.
- Maddie always felt bad when the girls used to make fun of Wanda by asking about the
dresses.
- She could neither concentrate on her studies nor could she sleep.
- Maddie decided that she will never be a part of such ill treatment and will never make
fun of anybody like that in future.
- She wanted to make things right with Wanda and she felt sad when they came to
know about Wanda’s generous gifts and thinking.
iii) Annie was assigned thrice an essay for being too talkative in class.
- For the first essay Annie thought seriously about what to write.
- She wrote a three page essay justifying her habit of speaking.
- In the essay she explained that she got the trait of being talkative from her mother.
- MrKeesing was satisfied with this response.
- But Anne couldn’t resist habit of talking and she had to write one more essay.
- In third essay she thought of using a different way to express her argument.
- Annie took help of her friend and wrote a poem with a family of duck and ducklings
as characters.
- MrKeesing was amused with her response and finally the issue got resolved.
(B) Any 2 of 3
i) She loved Tricki so much.
- She fed him more than required and did not look after his exercise routine.
- She did not even pay heed to advice of the veterinarian.
- She did not realize that her affection was actually harming it.
- She needed to be a little cruel to be kind (mentioned in the text)..
ii) Bholi was the first girl child from her home to be sent to school.
- She was hesitant, scared and had no idea about the place when she joined the school.
- It was the soft and soothing voice of the teacher which motivated her to speak in front
of others.
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- The teacher encouraged her to overcome her shyness and stammering issue.
- She provided books filled with pictures to her as per her level to scaffold her.
- The teacher instilled confidence into her.
- This courage later on helped her to take a stand against the decision to marry
Bishamber.
- The teacher was an artist who gave shape to Bholi’s personality and finally Bholi
turned out to be a well educated, independent, and optimistic person.
iii) Hari Singh realized his mistake.
- He recalled all the good deeds of Anil.
- He felt bad about losing trust of Anil.
- Realized that Anil was the only friend he knew well.
- Hari Singh could not think of deceiving Anil.
- He thought of leading a better and respectable life if he stayed with Anil.
1x5=5 marks
Content = 3 marks
Expression = 2 marks (1 mark-grammatical
accuracy, appropriate words and spellings + 1
mark-cohesion via connecting ideas, logical
progression& coherence through relevance of
ideas)
Ans. 12
- Extrapolating via dialogue writing
- Accept relevant responses corresponding to the competencies listed for content and
expression
Competency applied for:
content-
• Response (dialogues) need to be creatively
composed to match the details given in the chapter
• language included, must correspond to that of
A conversation, and show an understanding of
the common expressions/exclamations
attributed to the characters from the story.
NOTE—Marks to be allotted for creation. No marks to be deducted for lack of appropriacy in
the form or structure involved in a writing task.
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OR
- Both girls are teenagers
- Both had problem in school
- Both of them thought deeply about the problem
- Wanda did not have any supportive friends but Anne helpful friends
- Wanda was troubled because of her classmates, Anne was troubled by her teacher
- Wanda handled the problem silently, Anne was vocal
- Wanda had to go away from the school, Anne’s teacher learnt a lesson
Expression
Ans. 13
- Matilda was constantly unhappy
- She was not satisfied with her middle-class life
- Shen did not like the house she lived in, she always longed for luxury in her life- good
food, dresses, jewelry
- And when she read the invitation, she was aware that she did not have clothes or
jewelry suited to the occasion.
-
Competency applied for:
content-
*Required to display clear rationale and evaluation in order to build on the mentioned
statement—Decode the statement; apply it to the response.
*Support of / reference to textual evidence
expression-
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*Applying logical progression, using appropriate linking devices (words/phrases
showing cause & effect, emphasis and illustration are expected to be a part of this
answer- therefore, consequently, as revealed by etc. as they impact expression)
cohesion
*Response relevance and an appropriate conclusion to achieve coherence
*Accuracy in use of grammatical structures, vocabulary and spellings
OR
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