CLASS-X (CBSE)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (Code No. 184)

SAMPLE PAPER - 1
MARKING SCHEME
SECTION A : READING (20 Marks)

1 Discursive passage 10 Marks

Its about letting go of negative desires, habits, emotions, thoughts speech and behaviors
I. 1
that harm our well-being.

II. b) Letting go of harmful desires, thoughts and behaviours. 1

The simple method according to the author is that we can all use to strengthen our
decision- making and detachment, and to get rid of unnecessary desires. This helps us
III. 2
become more aware and able to control our senses and mind, stopping them from
constantly creating desires./relevant answer.

b) your most important life goals and what you want to contribute to your
IV. 1
family.

V. False 1

VI. A. Which desires are unnecessary or harmful to your goals. 1

1. long lists of goals and desires can be made. One can review which might be selfish or
harmful to the goals which are constructive in nature
VII. 2
2. The second benefit is one can become more honest to bring out the hidden ambitions
and desires./relevant answer.

VIII. B. honest with yourself and aware of your true feelings 1

2 Case-based factual passage 10 Marks

B. Britney Spears became closely associated with Pepsi during her time as its
I. 1
spokesperson

II. C. The assertion is true, but the reason is false. 1

III. Generation Z (age 15-20) 1

IV. Silent Generation (ages 65+) 1

V. GenZ 1

VI. to help brand, build trust and familiarity 1

VII. are not reliable 1
Quality plays a vital role. If the quality is not up to the mark people hardly prefer
VIII. 1
a product.
 According to the logic given in paragraph 5 it is recommended that the brands
must show how their product solves individual problems, instead of relying on
IX. 2
celebrities for long term value. If a product fails to meet expectations, no amount
of celebrity backing will retain consumer loyalty./relevant answer.

3 SECTION B : GRAMMAR (10 Marks)

Full credit 1, for correct answers. No partial credit of ½, for any question in this section.
I. B. becomes 1

II. his pocket had been picked 1

III. B. will 1

OPTION No. ERROR CORRECTION

IV. 1
A. some a lot of

V. D. would have killed 1

VI. varies 1

VII. It may or may not, but at least one will never feel guilty 1
ERROR CORRECTION
VIII. 1
walking walk
IX. I asked my friend if I could borrow his dictionary for one day. 1
ERROR CORRECTION
X. 1
could should/ought to
XI. A. he loved the film industry 1

ERROR CORRECTION
XII. 1
that those

SECTION B : WRITING SKILLS (10 marks)

Note : All details presented in the questions in writing section are imaginary and
created for assessment purpose .

[Content, in suggested responses, may be above the recommended word limit, as

it aims to share content points that can be of use.]
 Relevant answer
Total - 5
Format – 1 [full credit if all aspects included. Partial credit (½ mark) if one-two
aspects are missing. No credit if more than two aspects are missing]
4A / 4B Content -2 [ ½ mark for each content point area addressed -suggestion,
importance, implication, recommendation
Organisation of ideas -1 [effective style, orderly sequence, paragraphed structure
and formal tone and vocabulary]
Accuracy 1 [Spelling, punctuation and grammar]

Relevant answer
Total - 5
Analytical paragraph writing should NOT be confused with writing a description
of given elements or writing a summary.
It requires examining the given elements closely and sharing inputs based on
5 A / B given stimulant.
It carries no title or heading.
Content -2 Four trends/ points included & well-developed with sustained clarity
Organisation of ideas -2 [effective style, orderly sequence, single paragraph
structure, formal tone and functional vocabulary]
Accuracy 1 [Spelling, punctuation and grammar]

SECTION C : LITERATURE TEXTBOOK (40 Marks)

Reference to Context 5+5=10

6A Prose
I. B. sarcastic 1

II. flump (squat/ flump/ sag) 1

III . harmless 1
Max was a secret agent and a rival and enemy of Ausable. He was slender, a
little less than tall. He appeared crafty and had pointed countenance of a fox.
IV. 2
There was nothing especially menacing about him except his pistol./relevant
answer.

6B SR
C. they are confident of passing with flying colours
I. 1
(they are confident, and betting their entire savings.)
 This statement shows that she had an opinion on everything. She thought that a
quarter of her class was full of dummies, signifying that she herself was
intelligent enough to make it to the next class. Anne is being brutally honest. She
II. 2
said so because almost a quarter of students kept on betting throughout the year
instead of studying. They remained anxious about being promoted to the next
class and had spent their money on betting./ relevant answer

III. nervous 1
IV. fear/ anxiety 1

7A Poetry

I. A. assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the predator's sound. 1

II. long grass 1

Here, the poet says that the tiger actually belongs to the jungle and not in the
cage. If the tiger was free, he would have hidden himself in the tall grass near
III. 2
water bodies in order to catch a deer as his prey to eat. The tiger cannot do so,
because he is at the zoo in a cage./ relevant answer
IV. plump 1

7B Poetry
I. C. 1, 2, 4 1
languid,/ languorous,/ lackadaisical, /listless,/ spiritless mean lacking energy or
II. 1
enthusiasm.
The speaker in stanza is Amanda herself. They reflect the inner thoughts of her.
III. As those thoughts, are in Amanda's imagination and not, in reality, they are 1
given in parenthesis.

Amanda wishes to be a mermaid so that she could drift alone blissfully in a

languid manner, in the emerald sea. This reflects Amanda’s disinterest to listen
IV. 2
to her parent and reciprocate. On the other hand by being silent, she is trying to
visualise her own imaginary world./relevant answer.

Answer any four of the following five questions in about 40-50 words. - First
8
Flight (3 × 4 =12)

Relevant answer
Content-1 ; Organisation -1 ; ½ mark to be deducted for Accuracy from the
overall credit of a response, if error density is high -more than a total of 2
spellings and/or grammatical errors.

Answer any two of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words. -
9
Footprints Without Feet (3 × 2 = 6)
 Relevant answer
Content-1; Organisation -1; ½ mark to be deducted for Accuracy from the
overall credit of a response, if error density is high -more than a total of 2
spellings and/or grammatical errors.

Answer any one of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words
(6 × 1 = 6)
- First Flight
Relevant answer
10
Content 3 Expression 2 Accuracy 1
[A detailed discussion has been presented to allow for usage of content points as
per individual choice. However, the final answer has to be a cohesive whole,
structured in paragraphs, in about 120 words.]

Answer any one of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words
(6 × 1 = 6)
11 - Footprints without Feet
Relevant answer
Content 3 Expression 2 Accuracy 1