TEST PAPER

CLASS – X
CBSE BOARD
ENGLISH
Time: 3 Hours Max. Marks : 80

General Instructions:
1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.
2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections-READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE.
3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION – A [Reading skills] [20 Marks]

1. Read the passage given below carefully. [10]
1. Some people get emotional satisfaction from talking about how awful other people are. But
research has found that when you talk negatively to say, a friend about how awful a colleague
is, the listening friend is more likely to associate the negativity to you rather than to the person
you’re describing. Researchers call this ‘spontaneous trait transference’. So, it’s best to go easy
on bad-mouthing others because it may backfire anyway.
2. It takes a big person to accept outwardly and inwardly that they screwed up. I’m not saying we
should never blame other people. Sometimes others are at fault and they need to know it and
stand up. But being able to accept responsibilities when that’s right we actually become less
helpless and passive.
3. If everything is someone else’s fault, then what part to do I play in my own life? Are my actions
entirely without consequence? Am I that powerless? Or do all my actions only lead to good
outcomes?
4. Knowing we can accept responsibility when things go wrong means we can also accept credit
when things go well. We do, as individuals, have an effect on life; and that’s a good thing.
5. But we need to develop the capacity to be objective enough about ourselves to avoid assuming
we could never possibly have created problems ourselves. We also need to distinguish between
accepting responsibility and punishing ourselves unduly.
6. If you are used to just dishing out the blame and not accepting your part, remember the
research that shows being able to apologise in relationships makes them much more likely to
last and thrive.
Don’t always be too quick to blame yourself, but, just now and then, admit to co-workers or
your partner or friend that, yes, you too are human and you made a mistake. People will
respect you for it.
7. Ever noticed how some people get more hung up on assigning blame than actually fixing a
problem? If people feel you blame them unfairly, they will resent you. They may even come to

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hate you. People instinctively hate injustice. People can be shouted at, cursed at, and blamed,
but still not know what it is they did wrong.
8. As the wise Roman emperor. Marcus Aurelius, said, “How much more grievous are the
consequences of anger than causes of it”. Life is full of people who take emotional shortcuts and
blame other people unfairly or aggressively; for the sake of the human race, don’t be one of
them. But I wouldn’t blame you if you were.

On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any ten of the following questions. (1x10=10)
(i) As per the author, we as individuals have an ............ on..........
(ii) Which of the following gives the correct meaning of ‘screwed-up’ as used in the passage?
(iii) If you blame someone unfairly, he/she will ............ you.
I. reset II. Like
III. hate IV. Advocate
V. compliment
(a) I and III (b) II and V (c) IV and II (d) IV and V
(iv) In the following passage, the author urges us to
(a) Ignore the role we play in our lives.
(b) Criticise and blame others.
(c) Reflect on the role we play in our lives.
(d) Never blame anyone even if they are wrong.
(v) Select the option that makes the correct use of ‘fault’, as used in the passage.
(a) Surveyors say that the fault line is capable of generating a major earthquake.
(b) A fault is committed in tennis when the server hits the net with the ball.
(c) Rupam is the one who is always finding fault with something or someone.
(d) A fault is fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock.
(vi) What does ‘Punishing ourselves unduly’ means?
(vii) Which example did the author give to explain the importance of accepting our mistakes?
(viii) What objective quality should we develop?
I. To criticise others when it is necessary.
II. To blame ourselves when it is something else’s fault.
III. To assume we could never create problems ourselves.
IV. To avoid thinking that we could never create problems ourselves.
(a) I and II (b) Only III (c) Only IV (d) II and IV
(ix) Which of the following will be a suitable title for the passage?
(a) The Blame Game (b) Spontaneous Trait Transference
(c) How and When to Blame? (d) Accept it when you’re wrong
(x) Which word is an antonym of ‘distinguish’ as used in Para 5?
(xi) What is good for maintaining healthy relationships?
(xii) The meaning of the quote in the last para of the passage is
(a) The consequences of anger are worse and more hurtful than its cause.
(b) There are no consequences of anger.
(c) The consequences of anger do not matter in the long run.
(d) The consequences of anger are less trustful than its cause.

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2. Read the passage given below carefully. [10]
Kausani is situated at a height of 6,075 feet in the Central Himalayas. It is an unusually
attractive little town. It covers just about 5.2 sq. kms. It lies to the North of Almora in
Uttarkhand’s picturesque Kumaon region.
Kausani provides the 300-km wide breathtaking view of the Himalayas. It is the most striking
aspect of this place. Snow-capped peaks are spread in a stately row. They stare at you in
silvery white majesty. The most famous peak on view is Nanda Devi, the second highest
mountain in India. It is situated at height of 25,645 feet and 36 miles away as the crow files.
The other famous peaks on view are Choukhamba (23,420 feet) and Trishul (23,360 feet). Then
there are also Nilkanth, Nandaghunti, Nandaghat and Nandakot. On a clear day, the blue of the
sky makes a splendid background to these peaks. At sunrise and Nandakot. On a clear day, the
blue of the sky makes a splendid background to these peaks. At sunrise and at sunset, when
the colour changes to a golden orange, the scene gets etched in your memory.
When Gandhiji visited this place in 1929, its scenic beauty held him spellbound. He named it the
‘Switzerland of India’. He prolonged his two-day stay to fourteen days, making time to write a
book, ‘Anashakti Yoga’. The place where he was staying was originally a guest-house of the tea
estate. It was renamed ‘Anashakti Ashram’ after the book.
Kausani is the birthplace of Sumitranandan Pant, India’s poet laureate. Its natural surrounding
inspired many of his poems. It’s tea gardens mingle with dense pine forest and fruit orchards.
The area is also host to many fairs and religious ceremonies. If Uttarakhand is the the abode of
gods, Kausani is God’s own backyard. There is no traffic, no one is in a hurry. If serenity could
be put on a canvas, the picture would resemble Kausani.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer any ten of the following questions.
(i) Why is it unusually attractive?
I. It provides the 300 km wide breathtaking view of the Himalayas.
II. It is just 5.2 sq km.
III. Snow-capped mountains peaks are spread in a stately row.
IV. It is situated at the highest peak of Himalayas.
Choose the correct option.
(a) I, II and IV (b) II, III and IV (c) I, II and III (d) I, III and IV
(ii) Kausani is called God’s own backyard because?
Because
(a) many religious fairs and ceremonies are held at Kausani.
(b) it is located in Uttrakhand where many religious places are present.
(c) it is situated in the Central Himalayas.
(d) there are mountain peaks with religious names such as Nandadevi, Trishula and
Choukhambh.

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(iii) How did Kausani influence Sumitranandan Pant?

(a) Its natural surroundings (b) Its mountains
(c) its beauty (d) All of these
(iv) When does the view of peaks become so memorable?
(a) At sunrise and at sunset, when the colour changes to a golden orange.
(b) At sunrise when the colour changes to a golden red.
(c) At sunset, when the colour changes to a golden yellow.
(d) At sunrise and at sunset, when the colour changes to a yellow orange.
(v) How can we say that Gandhiji was greatly charmed by the natural beauty of Kausani?
I. He extended his two day stay to 14 days stay.
II. He did not come to Kausani.
III. He reduced his 14 days stay to 2 days.
IV. He wrote a book while staying in Kausani.
Choose the correct option.
(a) I, II and III (b) I, II and IV (c) II, III and IV (d) I, III and IV
(vi) What do you mean by ‘Abode of Gods’?
(a) House of Gods (b) Permanent residence of Gods
(c) Temples of Gods (d) Birth place of Gods
(vii) Where is Kausani located?
(viii) Which month receives the lowest rainfall in Kausani?
(ix) Which book was written by Gandhiji when he stayed in Kausani?
(x) Which is the most famous peak on view in Kausani?
(xi) What makes Kausani a clam and quiet place?
(xii) What is the picture of Kausani compared to?

SECTION – B [GRAMMAR] [10]

3.
I. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. Attempt any three questions. (1x3=3)

Her approach to education still (i) ............. her name : the Montessori Method. Born on August
31, 1870, in Italy, Maria Montessori (ii) ............. one of the earliest women to graduate from
the University of Rome’s Medical School in 1896. In 1900, she (iii) ........... the Co-director of a
training institute for special education teachers. Maria began to experiment and observe which
methods (iv) .......... the most successful.
(i) (a) beared (b) bear (c) bearing (d) bears
(ii) (a) is (b) was (c) were (d) am
(iii) (a) was appointed (b) appointed (c) had appointed (d) were appointed
(iv) (a) were (b) was (c) is (d) are

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II. The following passages have not been edited. There is an error in each against which a numeral
is given. Write the incorrect word and the correction on the space provided. Attempt any three
questions. (1x3=3)

Error Correction

The roads are overcrowding. (i)

With people moving in the hurry. They (ii)

Are not interested to following the (iii)

Rules and regulations. The rash driver jump red

Lights, overtake from wrong sides leading into (iv)

Trafic jamp.

If people use the transport wise (v)

III. Choose the correct options to change the following sentences into direct/indirect speech.
(1x4=4)
(i) Clean your room.
(a) Clean your room, please. (b) Clean your room, okay!
(c) You should clean your room. (d) You have to clean your room.
(ii) Kindly allow me to talk.
(a) Let me talk. (b) Allow me talking.
(c) I will talk. (d) I will speak.
(iii) I am sorry to trouble you but I need your help.
(a) I need your help. (b) Help me!
(c) Give me your help. (d) Both (a) and (b)
(iv) He will be late for the practice today.
(a) Would he be late for the practice today?
(b) Will he be late for the practice today?
(c) Had he been late for the practice today?
(d) Will he been late today for the practice?

[Creative writing Skills] [10]

4.
I. You have recently had an ear surgery and are on rest period. Some construction work had
started by your neighbour while you were away. The noise from the work is loud and it disturbs
you. You had tried to tell them to postpone the work for sometime but with no avail. Write to
the housing president regarding the situation. You are Akshat/Akshara. (100-120 words). (5)

Or

You want to spend a week-long holiday at Shimla in the month of October. You have decided to
stay at Hotel Snow View. Write a letter in 100-120 words to the manager to book a room.
Mention the dates, facilities in the room, food, sightseeing facilities, etc. you will need. You are
Amar/Amrita Maheshwari of M-114, Lake Road, Karnal.

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II. The chart shows Indian students travelling to foreign destination for further studies to selected
destinations between 2014 and 2017. Write an analytical paragraph on the given data in about
100-120 words. (5)

Or

The graph below shows how people buy music. Analyse the given data and write an alalytical
paragraph in 100-120 words.
Percentage

SECTION – C [LITERATURE] [40 MARKS]

5.
I. Read the extract given below carefully and answer the questions that follow. (1x5=5)
That day had come about through the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of my people,
people whose suffering and courage can never be counted or repaid. I felt that day, as I have
on so many other days, that I was simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone
before me. That long and noble line ended and now began again with me. I was pained that I
was not able to thank them and that they were not able to see what their sacrifices had
wrought.
(i) The people of South Africa had suffered from............. .
(a) war (b) Slavery (c) Apartheid (d) Starvation

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(ii) Which of the following expressions does not signify the correct usage of the word ‘wrought’?
I. Wrought major change II. Wrought havoc
III. Wrought cities IV. Wrought iron
(a) Option (I) (b) Option (II) (c) Option (III) (d) Option (IV)
(iii) (A) Nelson Mandela took an oath as the President of independent South Africa.
(B) Mandela wanted to thank all the freedom fighters for their contribution to independent of
the country.
(a) (A) is the cause (B) is the effect (b) (B) is the cause (A) is the effect
(c) (A) is independent of (B) (d) (A) is contradictory to (B)
(iv) The speaker is talking about the occasion of ............... .
(v) Who represent ‘the long and noble line’?
Or
“Natalya Stephenova is an excellent housekeeper, not bad looking, well-educated. What more
do I want? But I’m getting noise in my ears excitement. (Drinks) And it’s impossible for me not
to marry. In the first place, I’m already 35-a critical age so to speak. In the second place, I
ought to lead a quiet and regular life.”
(i) When the speaker says, ‘What more do I want?’, he means that
(a) he wants to get married soon. (b) Natalya is a good match for him.
(c) he and Natalya are both quarrelsome. (d) Natalya would add to his glory.
(ii) The statement that is true about the speaker, according to the passage is
(a) he is an old man.
(b) he suffers from attacks of excitements.
(c) he wants to make Natalya his business partner.
(d) he wants to travel to the world.
(iii) Choose a word from the extract to complete the following.
Critical : Safe : : ............. : Indifference
(a) Excellent (b) Educated (c) Excitement (d) Quiet
(iv) Who is the speaker of the given lines?
(v) What do the given lines tell us about the speaker?

II. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. (1x5=5)
Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him,
No one mourned for his pirate victim.
Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate
Around the dragon that ate the pirate.
(i) Which of the following is NOT true, according to the passage?
(a) Belinda loved her pets. (b) The Dragon was a coward.
(c) Ink and Blink are brothers. (d) Everyone was happy.
(ii) Why did Belinda embrace her pet?
(a) Because he saved everyone’s life. (b) Because of his nature.
(c) Because of his behaviour. (d) Because he was different from other pets.
(iii) Which of the following words does not indicate the happiness felt by everyone?
(a) Embraced (b) Glee (c) Licked (d) Mourned
(iv) Whom did the dragon eat?
(v) What is the rhyme scheme of the given lines?
(vi) Whom did Belinda embrace?
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Or
Don’t eat that chocolate Amanda!
Remember your acne, Amanda!
Will you please look at me when
I’m speaking to you, Amanda!
(i) Why is Amanda not looking at the speaker?
(a) Because she is lost in her thoughts.
(b) Because she is not paying attention to the speaker.
(c) Because she is not paying attention to the instructions.
(d) Both (a) and (c)
(ii) The speaker is so worried about acne. What does is show?
(a) This shows importance is given to physical beauty.
(b) This shows her concern towards Amanda.
(c) This shows Amanda’s carelessness.
(d) Both (a) and (b)
(iii) (A) Amanda loves eating chocolate.
(B) Amanda’s mother wants Amanda to take care of her skin.
(C) Amanda is trying to follow her mother’s instructions.
(a) (A) is right (B) is wrong (b) (B) is right (A) is wrong
(c) (C) is wrong (B) is right (d) All are right
(iv) Which word in the extract means the same as ‘to gaze’?
(v) Why is Amanda getting scolded in the above extract?

6.
I. Answer any four of the following questions in 40-50 words each. (3x2=6)
(i) Mention any two things that the narrator experienced when he was surrounded by clouds in the
lesson. ‘The Black Aeroplane’. (Two stories about flying)
(ii) Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman? (Madam rides the Bus)
(iii) How the Coorgi tradition of courage and bravery is recognized in Modern India?
(iv) Does Amanda’s mother have a nagging behaviour? Justify your Answer.
(v) Write down the two different views about the end of the world with reference to the poem Fire
and Ice.

II. Answer any two of the following questions in 40-50 words each. (3x2=6)
(i) What did the thief mean when he said “It is easy to rob a greedy man ...... but, it is difficult to
rob a careless man ..........”?
(ii) What would have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her
necklace?
(iii) Why does the landlord’s wife think that Griffin was an ‘eccentric scientist’?

III. Answer any one of the following questions in 100-120 words each. (5)
“Diary of A Young Girl” in some parts throws light on teacher-student relationship, class
atmosphere and discipline. Discuss with reference to the story ‘From the Diary of Anne Frank’.
Or

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The principle ‘forgive and forget’, helps a lot in maintaining cordial relations with our
neighbours. Do you think Anton Chekov conveys this message in the play ‘The Proposal’?

IV. Answer any one the following question in 100-120 words each. (8)
“Everyone must be given a chance to reform.” How did Anil work upon these values and
succeed. (Thief’s story)
Or
Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. We are told this in the beginning. But only in the last paragraph of
the story Bholi called Sulekha again. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at the last point in
the story? (Bholi)

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