Class 10 English Sample Paper with Solutions Set B

Sample Papers Class 10

The following Class 10 English Sample Paper with Solutions Set B has been prepared based on the latest syllabus and examination guidelines issued by CBSE, NCERT and KVS. All questions and their solutions are as per the latest pattern of questions expected in the upcoming exams. Students are requested to go through all Class 10 English Sample Papers to properly practice for the upcoming exams.

Sample Paper for Class 10 English with Solutions Set B

Class 10 English Sample Paper Set B

Time Allowed : 3 Hours                                                                                                                                   Maximum Marks : 80
General Instructions :
(i) This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C. All questions are compulsory.
(ii) Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very
carefully and follow them.
(iii) Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions

Section A -Reading (20 Marks)

1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (8 Marks)

1. One day Gandhiji and Vallabhbhai Patel were talking in the Yeravda jail when Gandhiji remarked, “At times even a dead snake can be of use.” And he related the following story to illustrate his point: Once a snake entered the house of an old woman. The old woman was frightened and cried out for help. Hearing her, the neighbours rushed up and killed the snake. Then they returned to their homes. Instead of throwing the dead snake far away, the old woman flung it onto her roof.

2. Sometime later a kite flying overhead spotted the dead snake. In its beak, the kite had a pearl necklace which it had picked up from somewhere. It dropped the necklace and flew away with the dead snake. When the old woman saw a bright, shining object on her roof she pulled it down with a pole. Finding that it was a pearl necklace she danced with joy!

3. One day a bania found a snake in his house. He could not find anyone to kill it for him and had not the courage to kill it himself. Besides, he hated killing any living creature. So, he covered the snake with a pot and let it there.

4. As luck would have it, that night some thieves broke into the bania’s house. They entered the kitchen and saw the overturned pot. “Ah”, they thought, “the bania has hidden something valuable here.” As they lifted the pot, the snake struck. Having come with the object of stealing, they barely left with their lives.

5. Once he came out of jail, Gandhiji went from city to city, village to village collecting funds for the Charkha Sangh. During one of his tours, he addressed a meeting in Orissa.

6. After his speech a poor old woman got up. She was bent with age, her hair was grey and her clothes were in tatters. The volunteers tried to stop her, but she fought her way to the place where Gandhiji was sitting. “I must see him,” she insisted and going up to Gandhiji touched his feet.

7. Then from the folds of her sari, she brought out a copper coin and placed it at his feet. Gandhiji picked up the copper coin and put it away carefully.

8. The Charkha Sangh funds were under the charge of Jamnalal Bajaj. He asked Gandhi for the coin but Gandhi refused.

1.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage given above, answer the following questions.(1 × 8 = 8)

(a) On seeing the _____ the thieves ran for their life from the bania’s house.
(i) necklace
(ii) dead snake
(iii) woman
(iv) snake

Ans.

(a) (i) Snake

(b) Gandhiji went to Orissa for
(i) a meeting
(ii) collecting funds
(iii) the old woman
(iv) volunteer.

Ans.

(b) (ii) collection found

(c) was incharge of the Charkha Sangh funds.
(i) Jamnalal Bajaj
(ii) Gandhiji
(iii) Vallabhbhai Patel
(iv) Volunteers

Ans.

(c) (i) Jamnalal Bajaj

(d) The kite dropped:
(i) a snake
(ii) a pot
(iii) a pearl necklace
(iv) a copper coin

Ans.

(d) (iii) a pearl neckl

(e) The bania could not kill the snake because:
(i) he was kind to living creature
(ii) he could not find anyone
(iii) he had no courage to kill it himself
(iv) all of these

Ans.

(e) (iv) all of these

(f) The thieves thought the bania had hidden something valuable:
(i) under a stone
(ii) in a box
(iii) under a pot
(iv) in a hole

Ans.

(f) (iii) under a pot

(g) The volunteers tried to stop the poor woman from going to _____

Ans.

(g) Gandhiji

(h) When the poor woman came to Gandhiji, Gandhiji touched her feet. (True/False)

Ans.

(h) False

2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (12 Marks)

1. The other day I received an unusual and very gratifying gift : I was given a tree or rather, I was given half-a-dozen trees which would be planted


2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (12 Marks)

1. The other day I received an unusual and very gratifying gift : I was given a tree or rather, I was given half-a-dozen trees which would be planted on my behalf. I had been invited to give a talk to an organization. After such events the speaker is usually given a token gift. Sometimes the gift is that of a pen, or something useful. Often, the gift is in the form of a plaque or a similar token. However well-meant, such gifts are destined to gather dust in forgotten corners. Which is why I was agreeably surprised to be given a scroll which attested that, on a designated plantation established for the purpose, trees would be added in my name as part of the “green” movement sponsored by the organization.

2. In an increasingly environment conscious world, the gift of a living tree or plant makes for a perfect present. The tradition of giving and receiving gifts has increasingly become a highly evolved marketing exercise. Apart from festivals
like Diwali, Holi, Christmas, Eid and others, a whole new calendar of celebration events has been created to promote the giving of gifts: Mother’s Day, Father’s day, Teacher’s day, Valentine’s Day and so on.

3. What do you give to people — friends, relatives, spouses, children, parents, employees, clients, well wishers who more or less have everything or at least everything that you could afford to give them as a gift?

4. Another box of chocolates? Another bottle of scent or after-shave? Another shirt or a kurta? Another another?

5. Thinking of unusual and pleasing presents which are also affordable is a full-time job. Like wedding planners and planners of theme parties, present planners — professionals who select and make up gift packages for you to give on occasions like marriages and corporate events — and doing increasingly good business.

6. However the best planned gifts of mine and thine go often awry. How often particularly during the so called “festive seasons” when gift giving and gift receiving reach epidemic proportions — have you had the embarrassing experience of getting back as a present a gift you yourself had given to someone who, having no use for it and not realizing that it was you who had gifted it to begin with had unwittingly returned your gift to you? Like musical chairs, musical gifts only too often go round and round.

7. This is true not only at the individual but also at the level of the state. Diplomatic protocol also demands exchange of gifts according to culture and tradition. Such tokens like the numbers of crudely made miniature Taj Mahals that sarkari India has presented into the reluctant hands of foreign guests must fill entire godowns across the globe.

8. How much more preferable a living tree than a crude model of the Taj possibly made of marble from an unauthorized quarry? If the giving of tree sapling were to be institutionalized, it could lead to another green revolution in the lucrative and growing field of gift giving, with a new, ecofriendly industry taking root in plantations and nurseries specially created for the purpose. People could feel good looking at the certificate that trees had been planted in their names. Next birthday, give someone you love a tree one day the two of you might sit under the shade of the same tree.

2.1. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each. (2 × 4 = 8)

(a) What was the gift? Why was it unusual and gratifying?
Ans. The gift was a scroll which attested that on a designated plantation half a dozen trees would be planted on behalf of the writer. It was all usual and gratifying for him as it was different from the usual token of appreciation handed down to a speaker and it was for a great cause.

(b) Why is selecting a gift described as a “full-time job”?
Ans. Selecting a gift is described as a full time job as often people have all necessities and it is impossible to choose the perfect gift for them. Also most of the time we get things in gifts we usually do possess

(c) What does the writer mean by “However the best planned gifts of mine and thine go often awry”?
Ans. The writer means that sometimes even giving gifts can go totally wrong. Sometimes during festive season, one can receive back the same gift from another that he/she had given.

(d) What is the demand made by diplomatic protocol?
Ans. Diplomatic protocol also demands exchange of gifts according to culture and tradition. Such tokens like the numbers of crudely made miniature Taj Mahals that sarkari India has presented into the reluctant hands of foreign guests must fill entire godowns across the globe.

2.2. On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following. (1 × 4 = 4)

(a) The synonym of “satisfying” as given in para 1 is_____
(i) gratifying
(ii) contenting
(iii) relieving
(iv) modification

Ans.

(a) (i) gratifying

(b) The synonym of “uncomfortable” as given in para 6 is _____

Ans.

(b) embarassing

(c) The antonym of “consciously” as given in para 6 is_____
(i) aury
(ii) particularly
(iii) embarrassing
(iv) unwittingly

Ans.

(c) (iv) unwittingly

(d) The antonym of “willing” as given in para 7 is_____

Ans.

(d) reluctant

Section B – Writing & Grammar (30 Marks)

3. Write a letter to the Editor of a local newspaper complaining about employing minor children both boys and girls as full domestic help is a common feature, also advocating the need to stop such practice which deprives the children of their basic rights. You are Mahesh Kumar/Rajshsree A-30, Defence Colony, New Delhi. (8 Marks)
Ans.
A-30, Defence Colony
New Delhi
29th July, 2019
The Editor
Hindustan Times
New Delhi
Sub: Stopping Child Labour
Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper I want to raise my voice against the exploitation of minors by the so called elite class. They employ some boys and girls as full time domestic help in order to save money. These children are given very less salary. They have to work hard the whole day whereas the children of the employer enjoy all the luxuries of the life and study in good schools. Sometimes the employers go to the extent of inflicting atrocities on these children. It is really painful to see that at this tender age these children are compelled to work under most unfavourable conditions.

Most of the time, parents of these children are responsible for their plight. Just to add the income of the family they drop their children from school and engage them in doing such job. Our Government should take some concrete steps to improve the condition of these underprivileged children. I would like you to give an appropriate space to my letter in your esteemed newspaper so that the authorities concerned wake up and take an appropriate action.
Yours sincerely
Mahesh Kumar

or

You are Mahesh Kumar/Rajshsree, a customer of Airtel Broadband. Write a letter to the Customer Care Department, Airtel regarding the poor service of Internet connection. You are a resident of A-30, Defence Colony, New Delhi
Ans.
A-30, Defence Colony
New Delhi
29th July, 2019
The Manager
Customer Care Department (Broadband)
Airtel, Exchange Defence colony
New Delh – 110032
Sub: Poor Broadband Service
Sir,
I am a customer of your reputed broadband service and my customer ID is 41721. The Internet service at my home is very poor and I have to restart the modem or adjust the cables 10-12 times to get it working every time. Even after that, it works only for 5-7 minutes and then the modem restarts itself.

I have already raised several complaints on the helpline number but the issue has not been rectified as yet. It seems that there is some hardware issue with modem and it needs replacement as it keeps on restarting and its indicators are also not in proper order. I would highly appreciate if you would look into the matter to deliver the best to its customers. Thanking
you
Yours faithfully

Mahesh Kumar
Mobile No. 91344-23547

4. Write a complete story in about 150-200 words on the basis of the start up lines. Rajan was never ordinary, except his circumstances. A student of class IX…. (10 Marks)
Ans. Rajan was never ordinary, except his circumstances. A student of class IX he was always above his peers, be it neatness, punctuality or discipline. He never had a time to waste. After school he had to help his father at their small shop. He would always carry his books and when there was no customer he would quickly complete his homework. His teachers were very fond of him, specially his English teacher. The moment the teacher would ask the question, Rajan would be the first one to raise his hand. The only subject that put in a spoke in his wheel was Maths. He envied everyone who could solve the Maths problems within no time. Rajan’s dreams were translated into reality when he got the chance to work part time in the household of a retired college professor of Maths, Mr. Rakesh. Mr. and Mrs. Rakesh not only attended to Rajan’s drawback but also gave him excellent career guidance. With the grace of God and his hard work, Rajan cleared the IIM with flying colours.

or

Develop a story with the help of the following opening line- Once a man named Mohanlal lived in a city. He had four sons ……..
Ans : Once a man named Mohanlal lived in a city. He and his wife had four sons. Both of them passed away, while the children were still young. Their greedy relatives tricked them out of their property and the boys were left penniless. One day the eldest brother said, “It seems to me that we should master some skills which will help us to earn a lot of money and be free. “After some discussion they decided that it would be best if they acquired magic powers, which would help to bring in a steady income. They set off in different directions. Many months later, they met at appointed place. The eldest son said, “I have mastered a particular kind of magic. I can cover the bare bones of an animal with right kind of flesh. The second one said, “I have learnt to add skin and hairs of the animal after the flesh has been added to the bones. The third one said, “I know how to create the limbs of the animals whose bones have been clothed with skin, flesh and hair. And the fourth one said, “When such an animal is fully formed, I can fill life into it. So they went into the forest to look for the bones of an animal. Soon they found some scattered bones of an animal. The three brothers who knew to change, showed their magic and they saw that they had made a lion. As soon as the fourth brother muttered a spell, the huge lion arose and ate each one of them. Thus, four brothers died because of foolish ideas. This proves if you lack wisdom and common sense even the best skills cannot help you.

5. Fill in the gaps by choosing the most appropriate words from the options given below. (1 × 4 = 4)

Today we (a) _____ all familiar with the use of fingerprinting. It is a very important and is fighting crime. (b) _____ many people do not know that it was in India (c) _____ fingerprints (d) _____ first used for catching criminals. Fingerprints can be found on practically any solid surface including the human body.

(a) (i) are
(ii) is
(iii) were
(iv) was

Ans.

(a) (i) are

(b) (i) Since
(ii) But
(iii) And
(iv) Though

Ans.

(b) (ii) But

(c) (i) which
(ii) who
(iii) that
(iv) where

Ans.

(c) (iii) that

(d) (i) was
(ii) is
(iii) are
(iv) were

Ans.

(d) (iv) were

6. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction against each line of the passage. (1 × 4 = 4)

Essex Farms is the e.g. the a famous resort.
             Incorrect                                            Correction
It is located in Aurobindo Marg                                (a)
It has the bowling alley and lots                              (b)
with games for children to play.                               (c)
The multi cuisine restaurant add for the charm.   (d)
This resort gives you a choice of air conditioned rooms

Ans.IncorrectCorrection
(a)inon
(b)thea
(c)withof
(c)forto

7. Rearrange the following groups of words and phrases to form meaningful sentences: (1 × 4 = 4)

(a) love/Indians/celebrate/to/festivals
Ans. Indians love to celebrate festivals.

(b) enjoy/time/they/with/spending/families/their
Ans. They enjoy spending time with their families.

(c) exchanged/are/and/sweets/are/gifts/distributed
Ans. Gifts are exchanged and sweets are distributed.

(d) even/away/some/stay/people/work/from
Ans. Some people even stay away from work

Section C – Literature (30 Marks)

8. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow: (1 × 4 = 4)

Did you finish your homework. Amanda?
Did you tidy your room. Amanda?
I thought I told you to clean your shoes Amanda?

(a) These lines are spoken by:
(i) Amanda’s teacher
(ii) Amanda’s mother
(iii) Amanda’s grandmother
(iv) Amanda’s father

Ans.

(a) (ii) Amanda’s mother

(b) Amanda is nagged for not:
(i) cleaning her room
(ii) finishing her homework
(iii) cleaning her shoes
(iv) All of these

Ans.

(b) (iv) All of these

(c) The poem “Amanda” is written by _____

Ans.

(c) Robin Klein

(d) Amanda is fed up of being scolded by her_____

Ans.

(d) parents

or

Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful Land will again experience the oppression of one another.
The Sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.
Let freedom reign. God bless Africa!

(a) These lines are spoken by:
(i) Nelson Mandela
(ii) Mahatma Gandhi
(iii) Mr. de Klerk
(iv) Thabo Mbeki

Ans.

(a) (i) Nelson Mandela

(b) The speaker refers to the oppression of the:
(i) whites by the blacks
(ii) blacks by the whites
(iii) poor by the rich
(iv) employees by the employers

Ans.

(b) (ii) blacks by the whites

(c) “The sun shall never set” here means _____ .

Ans.

(c) the independence of the people of South Africa will last forever

(d) The speaker prayed to god for _____

Ans.

(d) the freedom of all people of Africa.

9. Answer any five of the following questions in 30-40 words each: (2 ×5 = 10)

(a) Who received Lencho’s letter? Why did he answer it?
Ans. Lencho’s letter was received by the postmaster. Since it was addressed to God and the postmaster, who was kindhearted and generous, did not want to shake Lencho’s faith in God. He wanted to help Lencho and his family. Therefore he answered it.

(b) Why was it difficult for Hari to rob Anil?
Ans. Anil was the most trusting person Hari had met. He had given him key to the door and therefore it was difficult to rob him. According to Hari it’s easy to rob a greedy man because he can afford to be robbed. But it’s difficult to rob a careless man because sometimes he does not even notice he’s been robbed and takes all the pleasure out of work.

(c) “Horace was no ordinary thief.” Explain.
Ans. Horace was no ordinary thief because he loved rare, expensive books. So he robbed a safe every year. Each year he planned carefully. What he would do that he stole enough to last for twelve months and secretly bought the books he loved through an agent.

(d) How did the young seagull’s mother teach him flying?
Ans. The young Seagull’s mother kept him hungry forth twenty four hours. She kept playing with a piece offish before him. She came to him with it. Then she suddenly stopped before him. It provoked him to dive for food. Thus she taught him to fly. 

(e) What is the story about the origin of the people of Coorg?
Ans. It is said that people of Coorg are of Greek or Arabic origin. A part of Alexander’s army is said to have settled here. This is clear from their traditions and rites which are different from the Hindus. The theory of Arab origin draws support from the long, black coat worn by the Kodavus, which is known as Kuppia.

(f) How did Richard Ebright excite the scientific world at the age of twenty two?
Ans. Richard Ebright was just twenty-two when he “excited” the scientific world with a new theory. It was on how cells worked. Ebright and his college roommate explained the theory in an article in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Science”. It was the first time that this famous scientific journal had ever published the work of college students.

10. Answer any one of the following questions in about 100-150 words. (8 Marks)

(a) How did otter behave in the beginning? How did he become familiar with the author?
Ans. In the beginning the otter was neither hostile nor friendly. He was simply aloof and indifferent. He preferred to sleep on the floor near the author’s bed. But soon he got familiar with the author and started taking keen interest in his surroundings. The second night he came on to the author’s bed and slept in the crook of his knees. Thereafter he became friendly with the author. Whenever he was in trouble, he rushed to the author for protection. When he was indoors he spent most of the time in play. He even escaped to the bathroom where it struggled with tap for water. In this way he became familiar with the author.

or

(b) Mention two contrasting views regarding the end of the world as forecasted in the poem “Fire and Ice”
Ans. The theme of the poem is the destructive potential of hatred and desire. The poet uses contrasting elements fire and ice to explain its power of destroying the world. By fire he metaphorically means the destructive nature of human emotions like desire and hatred while ice signifies the feelings which is bereft of love, affection and sympathy. Hence both type of human nature has the potential for self destruction. If fire leads to rapid destruction, ice would lead to silent damage. As such the two contrasting elements fire and ice both would be just as good to destroy the world.

11. Answer any one of the following questions in about 100-150 words. (8 Marks)

(a) The course of the Loisel’s life changed due to the necklace. Comment
Ans. Matilda lost Mrs. Forestier’s necklace while she was dancing at the ball. Matilda and her husband had to return the necklace after borrowing eighteen thousand francs from lenders. They handed the jewel box to Mrs. Forestier who did not open the Jewel Box. After that Matilda and her husband spent a life of misery. A tremendous change came in the life style of Matilda after this incident. She started living in rented house, sent away the maid, and also started doing all the household work. She led a wretched, poor and humble life for ten years. Matilda’s desire to show off and one little act of negligence or one small error led to the utter ruin of their life full of pleasures. They suffered poverty for ten years due to the debt they incurred to buy a necklace.

or

(b) Anil’s large-heartedness transforms Hari singh completely. Comment
Ans. Anil’s being a writer did not believe in conventional views. Hence he always had a soft corner for Hari. This is despite the fact that Anil was aware of Hari’s money stealing habits. The author never harboured in his heart the feeling of revenge or anger towards Hari as he believed in reforming the wrong-doer. Han is also touched by Anil’s forgive and forget attitude. Among Anil’s many benevolent actions towards Han the major was one when Anil decided not to hand him to the police. Han got completely transformed by Anil’s kind nature, compassion and above all his large-heartedness.

Class 10 English Sample Paper with Solutions Set B