Students can access the CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English with Solutions and marking scheme Term 2 Set 4 will help students in understanding the difficulty level of the exam.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English Term 2 Set 4 with Solutions
Time Allowed: 2 Hours
Maximum Marks: 40
General Instructions:
- The Question Paper contains THREE sections-READING, WRITING & GRAMMAR and LITERATURE.
- Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
SECTION – A
Reading (10 Marks)
Question 1.
Read the passage given below.
Happiness
Happiness is like the sun; it is often hidden by the clouds of thoughts, worries and desires. We have to scatter and dissolve them to experience happiness. You don’t have to create happiness. All you have to do is calm your mind, because when there is a quiet mind and inner peace, there is happiness. Happiness is not something far away and unattainable.
5. Happiness does not depend on circumstances, objects or events. It is an inseparable part of our consciousness, of our essence, but hidden and covered from sight by our thoughts, desires and worries. The mind is always in a constant race from one thought to another, from one worry to another. It constantly moves from one object or task to another, never standing still. This restlessness hides the happiness that is within you. It is like a choppy sea that hides the bottom.
10. When the sea gets calm, you can see the bottom. In the same way, when the mind gets quiet, you sense the happiness that is within you.
You cannot see a treasure at the bottom of a stormy and muddy lake although it is there. However, when the wind stops, the water becomes still and mud sinks, you can see the treasure. The treasure is there, whether you see it or not. So is happiness. It is always here, only hidden by thoughts, desires and worries.
15. You can experience more and more happiness in your life. Only your thoughts stand in your way of experiencing it. Next time you feel happy, stop for a moment and watch the state of your mind. You will be surprised to discover that it is calm, and there are almost no thoughts in your mind. Since the mind is not accustomed to staying in this peaceful state 20. for long, it soon becomes active again, and the sense of happiness disappears.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the six given below. (1 × 5)
(A) What does the writer mean by ‘Happiness is like the sun’? (1)
Answer:
Happiness has been compared with the sun because just like the sun is not visible behind the clouds. Similarly, happiness is also often covered by our thoughts, worries and desires.
(B) Rewrite the following sentence by replacing the underlined phrase with a word that means the same from lines (5 – 15.)
Artists in the field of acting are well aware of the fact that conflict is the soul of drama. (1)
Answer:
Artists in the field of acting are well aware of the fact that conflict is the essence of drama. Essence is the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, which determines its character.
(C) State the use of choppy sea as a metaphor for restlessness in the passage. (1)
Answer:
Just like a choppy sea has turbulent water waves, a restless mind has also turbulent thoughts. So, choppy sea is a metaphers for reslessness.
(D) How can we detect the ‘treasure at the bottom of a stormy and muddy lake’? (1)
Answer:
When the lake is wavy, the mud at the bottom comes up and obstructs the view of the bottom. The treasure within the lake can only be seen once the water regains its stability and the mud sinks.
(E) List one likely impact of restlessness of our mind on our happiness? (1)
Answer:
Our mind is always occupied by distracting thoughts that shade the happiness within us.
(F) How does the writer justify that a calm mind lives in a calm body? (1)
Answer:
Restlessness can be a disturbing state of mind which affects our happiness. In order to keep ourselves calm we must free our mind from all the thoughts and worries within us.
Question 2.
Read the following excerpt:
Marie was born in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland, where her father was a Professor of Physics. From very young age, she displayed a brilliant mind and a blithe personality. Her great exuberance for learning prompted her to continue with her studies after high school. She became disgruntled, however, when she learned that the University of Warsaw was 5. accepting to women. Determined to receive a higher education, she defiantly left Poland and in 1891, entered the Sorbonne, a French university, where she earned her master’s degree and a doctorate in physics.
| EVENT | YEAR |
| Marie was born on the 7th of November | 1867 |
| Her sisters Bronya and Zosia became ill and Zosia passed away. | 1879 |
| Curie’s mother died from grief. | 1878 |
| She graduated high school. | 1883 |
| Leaves Warsaw for a governess position. | 1884 |
| Her sister Bronya graduated from medical school | 1891 |
| Marie graduated with a masters degree in Mathematics and first in her class for Physics. | 1893 |
| She married Pierre Curie | 1895 |
Marie Curie was
(a) The first woman with a degree in Physics.
(b) The first woman to graduate in France.
(c) The first woman to obtain a Nobel Prize.
(d) The first woman to obtain a chair at the Sorbonne.
(e) The first scientist to obtain two Nobel Prizes. Marie was fortunate to have studied at the Sorbonne with some of the greatest scientists of her days, one of whom was Pierre Curie. Marie and Pierre were married in 1895 and spent many productive years working together 10. in a physics Laboratory. A short time after they discovered radium, Pierre was killed by a horse-drawn wagon in 1906. Marie was stunned by this horrible misfortune and endured heartbreaking anguish. Despondently she recalled their close relationship and the joy that they had shared in scientific research. The fact that she had two young daughters to raise by herself greatly increased her distress.
15. Curie’s feeling of desolation finally began to fade when she was asked to succeed her husband as a physics professor at the Sorbonne. She was the first woman to be given a professorship at a world famous university. In 1911, she received the Nobel Prize in chemistry for isolating radium. Although Marie Curie eventually suffered a fatal illness from her long exposure to radium, neverthiless she never became disillusioned about her work. 20. Regardless of the consequences, she had dedicated herself to science and to revealing the mysteries of the physical world.
on the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the six given below. (1 × 5)
(A) What does the writer mean by ‘she defiantly Left Poland’? (1)
Answer:
Defiantly means in a manner that shows open resistance or bold disobedience. Marie defiantly left Poland because she was denied admission to the University of Warsaw.
(B) Comment on the significance of University of of Warsaw in Marie’s life with reference to ines 7-12. (1)
Answer:
The University of Warsaw made Marie angry and disappointed which made her defiantly leave Poland for higher education.
(C) justify Marie as an exuberant scholar with reference to the passage. (1)
Answer:
The professor was an exuberant scholar as she was passionate about pursuing higher education and left her hometown for the same.
(D) What was the reason behind Marie’s increased distress? (1)
Answer:
The fact that she had to raise two daughters by herself increased her distress.
(E) Marie was a real hero. How does evidence from the table support this statement? (1)
Answer:
Marie never lost heart not even when her husband left her or when she got ill or had to leave her birth place. Hence, she was a real hero.
(F) What purpose does the ‘Events’ column serve in the table? (1)
Answer:
Through the events column it can be deduced that Marie Curie was determined to receive a higher education because despite the resistance from the society and grief in her family she managed to acquire higher education.
Section – B : [10 Marks]
Writing And Grammar
Question 3.
Attempt ANY ONE from (A) and (B)
(A) Study the concept chart below that displays details regarding online activity for six age groups in six categories.
Write a paragraph in not more than 120 six groups in six categories as per the words, analysing the online activity for given chart. (5)
Answer:
For six distinct types of activities, the Chart above illustrates the online activities of six age groups, ranging from teenagers to those in their seventies. The chart illustrates that younger people are more interested in online games and news, whereas elderly people use the internet to study and buy items.
The chart also ‘shows that adolescents mostly use the internet for games (up to 81 per cent), news, and downloads and that they are interested in finding people or friends, as well as completing product research. The middle-aged group (those ¡n their 20s to 60s) is very interested in obtaining news, conducting product research, and purchasing items, with a proportion of 70-80%. The internet activity that takes up the least amount of time is looking for individuals. Every age group spends less than 30% of their internet time, doing the same thing. With age, the amount of time spent on downloading drops, and it can be as low as 6%. (for people in the 70s).
(B) You are Kiran/Keshav, Class X, Lajpat Nagar, Delhi. You come across the following advertisement in a local daily.
You want information about French language courses at Alliance Francaise, New Delhi. Write a letter to the director enquiring about the same. (5)
Answer:
D-105, Lajpat Nagar
New Delhi 1100XX
26th January 20XX
The Director
Alliance Francaise
14F Block, Greater Kailash
New Delhi 1100XX
Subject: Inquiry about French courses
Dear Sir,
I wish to make certain inquiries about the French Language courses offered by your institution. I have just completed class X and want to pursue my career in French. I would like to know the duration of the course, the fee structure and the transport facilities you offer.
I will be grateful if you could send me the latest brochure along with the enrolment form enabling me to register myself for the course at the earliest.
Yours faithfully
Kiran Baruah
Question 4.
The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Identify the error and write its correction against the correct blank number. Remember underline the correction. The first one has been done for you.
One morning I finished one business at the bank and was returning in pick my motorbike which I had left in the parking lot outside. Suddenly he realized that I had lost the bike key. Upset I searched about it in the bank. A bank employee tried to help me find it, but in vain.
Answer:
Explanation:
(a) In part (a), the use of the preposition ‘in’ is incorrect as the subject T is going to pick the motorbike and not riding it. So, ‘to’ would be the correct replacement of ‘in’.
(b) In part (b), the use of the pronoun ‘he’ is incorrect as the sentence is in first person T and not in third person ‘he’. Also, the passage has only a single character and that is T. So, “I” should be the correct replacement of ‘he’.
(c) In part (c), the use of ‘about’ is incorrect. “About” should be replaced with ‘for’ as we ‘search for something’ and not ‘search about something’.
Question 5.
Read the conversation between Sunita and Neetu and complete the passage that follows.
Sunita: Tomorrow is your birthday, what do you want as a gift?
Neetu: That is a lovely thought but I don’t want anything.
Sunita asked Neetu since the next day was her birthday, (a) ……………….. Neetu rePlied that was a lovely bought but (b) ………………. . (1 + 1)
Answer:
(a) what she wanted as a gift
(b) she did not want anything.
Section – C: [20 marks]
Literature
Question 6.
Answer ANY SIX questions in 30-40 words each.
(A) What is the significance of conductor calling ‘madam’ to Valli? (2)
Answer:
The conductor called Valli ‘madam’ as he was impressed by the lady-like self-confidence that she exuded in the bus. Valli bought her bus ticket herself and answered all the questions of the conductor like a mature woman.
(B) Justify Walt Whitman’s choice of living with animals than man in the poem ‘Animals’. (2)
Answer:
In the poem ‘Animals’, Walt Whitman believed that it is better to live with animals than with beast-like man who are deprived of all values and virtues. He admired the calm, composition, and self-contentment of animals over the greedy and dissatisfied man.
(C) Comment on the tone of RamLot when he said to Bholi “But what about you, no one will ever marry you now. What shall we do with you?” (2)
Answer:
Ramlal’s tone in the given lines was ‘concerning.’
(D) Briefly state the reason you think the poet named the animals Ink, Blink, Mustard and Custard. (2)
Answer:
The poet named the animals so aptly. He named the little kitten as Ink as he was black, the mouse as Blink as he was small, the dog as Mustard as he was of a bright yellow color and the dragon as Custard as he was a soft and coward creature.
(E) Why did Lomov go to the house of Chubukov? (2)
Answer:
Lomov, a rich bachelor, went to the house of Chubukov to propose to Natalya, the daughter of , Chubukov, for marriage. Though Lomov was not in love with her, he felt that she was a good housekeeper, beautiful and well educated. He also felt it was time he should settle down.
(F) Constant nagging by the parents may make the child moody. Using evidence from the poem ‘Amando’ expLain the given concept. (2)
Answer:
Constant nagging may make a child moody. Amanda’s mother constantly keeps a check on her activities and habits and scolds her all the time for correcting her ways of life. That’s why, Amanda gets fed up and seems moody most of the time.
(G) How did the hack driver befoot the Lawyer? Comment. (2)
Answer:
The hack driver was able to befool him as he had not seen Lutkins before. He took him around the village on the pretext of searching for Lutkins. The lawyer was impressed by the hack driver’s simplicity and wisdom.
Question 7.
Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 120 words each.
(A) Education plays a crucial role in grooming our personally. Critically examine the role of her parents and teacher in Bholi’s life, highlighting their impact on her education. (4)
Answer:
Bholi used to be a meek girl. Her brain was damaged when she was just 10 months old. She was also a slow learner. She could not speak till she was five. Later, she suffered from stammering while speaking. She was sent to school just as a formality. Her parents were not serious about her studies. But her teacher really changed her life. She encouraged her to speak properly and to become independent.
Education changed Bholi’s personality drastically and for good. She struggled with stammering when she first went to school but then her teacher showed immense confidence in her and helped her read, write and speak. Then, she was able to speak for herself and her poor father.
(B) Things which are of history and have no solid proof usually have different theories related to them. Critically examine the two different theories of the origin of ‘tea’, based on your understanding of the chapter ‘Tea from Assam’. (4)
Answer:
Historical things have only interpretations and no solid proofs. In the ‘Tea from Assam’, there are many legends about the origin of tea. According to one theory, a Chinese emperor discovered tea when he was boiling water for him. While the water was boiling, some leaves from under the burning pot fell into the boiling water. It gave the taste to the water and they were considered to be the tea leaves. Tea was first drunk in China in 2700 BC and the words like ‘tea’, ‘chai’, ‘chini’ are Chinese. The beverage first came to Europe in the sixteenth century and it was drunk as a medicine than a beverage.
Another theory from India is that Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist monk, cut off his eyelids as he felt sleepy during meditations. From those eyelids, ten tea plants grew up. It was believed that when those tea plants were put into the boiling water, it banished sleep.
(C) A strong will to achieve something; make the thing closer to you. Evaluate how Valli retained all the information about the bus journey as she desired to ride it alone in the story ‘Madam rides the bus’. (4)
Answer:
Valli’s strong will of riding the bus alone made it easy for her to plan it. Valli tried to gather the information about the bus journey through her neighbors and other people who frequently travelled through bus. She asked various questions to the people about how to ride the bus. She gathered all the necessary information about the bus ride. She learned the distance from her village to the nearest town, the fare charged for one-way and that if she took the one O’ clock bus, she would be able to return in the day by two forty-five. She calculated the details and made a wise plan on how to ride a bus. This way, Valli’s will to take her first bus journey, helped her finally do it.