Please refer to Class 10 English Sample Paper Term 2 Set A with solutions below. The following CBSE Sample Paper for Class 10 English has been prepared as per the latest pattern and examination guidelines issued by CBSE. By practicing the English Sample Paper for Class 10 students will be able to improve their understanding of the subject and get more marks.
CBSE Class 10 English Sample Paper for Term 2
SECTION – A (READING)
1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
(1) Research has shown that the human mind can process words at the rate of about 500 per minute, whereas a speaker speaks at the rate of about 150 words a minute. The difference between the two at 350 is quite large. So, a speaker must make every effort to retain the attention of the audience and the listener should also be careful not to let his mind wander. Good communication calls for good listening skills. A good speaker must necessarily be a good listener.
(2) Listening starts with hearing but goes beyond. Hearing, in other words is necessary, but is not a sufficient condition for listening. Listening involves hearing with attention. Listening is a process that calls for concentration. While listening, one should also be observant. In other words, listening has to do with the ears, as well as with the eyes and the mind. Listening is to be understood as the total process that involves hearing with attention, being observant and making interpretations. Good communication is essentially an interactive process. It calls for participation and involvement. It is quite often a dialogue rather than a monologue. It is necessary to make it abundantly clear that one is interested in knowing what the other person has to say.
(3) Good listening is an art that can be cultivated. It relates to skills that can be developed. A good listener knows the art of getting much more than what the speaker is trying to convey. He knows how to prompt, persuade but not to cut off or interrupt what the other person has to say. At times the speaker may or may not be coherent, articulate and well-organised in his thoughts and expressions. He may have it in his mind and yet he may fail to marshal the right words while communicating his thoughts. Nevertheless a good listener puts him at ease, helps him articulate and facilitates him to get across the message that he wants to convey.
(4) For listening to be effective, it is also necessary that barriers to listening are removed. Such barriers can be both physical and psychological. Physical barriers generally relate to hindrance to proper hearing whereas psychological barriers are more fundamental and relate to the interpretation and evaluation of the speaker and the message.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the six given below:
(i) How are spoken words different from words heard?
Answer : Spoken words are at the rate of about 150 words per minute while words heard are at the rate of about 500 words per minute.
(ii) What is the main difference between listening and hearing?
Answer : Listening requires one to hear, observe as well as understand what’s been said.
(iii) “Good listening is an art that can be cultivated.” What does the author mean by this?
Answer : It means that good listening skills can be learned and acquired through practice and observation.
(iv) What are the two types of barriers to listening?
Answer : The two types of barriers to listening are the physical as well as the psychological barriers.
(v) What, in simple terms, is listening?
Answer : Listening is an action that involves understanding what is said, being observant and be able to make interpretations.
(vi) From paragraph 2, the antonym of “monologue” is ________.
Answer : The antonym of the word “monologue” is “dialogue”.
2. Read the following passage carefully.
(1) India has stood for freedom: Even before Independence we viewed our own struggle and difficulties on the larger canvas of global problems. If democracy is basically tolerance for others’ opinions, the concept of coexistence is democracy on the international plane, for it embodies tolerance of other nations and systems. Similarly non-alignment gives depth to our independence and self-reliance for it enables us to retain our freedom of judgement and action on international issues in the light of our national interests. We avoid involvement in the conflicts and disputes of others and this helps to blunt conflict between power blocs. I should like to think that it has also helped world stability.
(2) A country is an extended family. When income and resources are limited, one must budget to ensure that waste is avoided, resources husbanded, priorities established, education and other social needs catered to, special provision made for those who are weaker or smaller. Industry has to be balanced with agriculture; technology with culture; state ventures with private initiative; economic growth with social justice; the large with the small. Every section of society must be stimulated to creative activity.
(3) That is our planning. In no way is it totalitarian or coercive. Industrializing, modernizing and transforming an ancient society of immense size, population and diversity is a daunting venture and inevitably, a gradual one. Otherwise there will be resentment. Transformation should not cause too much dislocation or suffering for the people nor should it jettison the basic spiritual and cultural values of our civilization.
(4) India’s planning experience sums up the successes and problems of our democratic development. The magnitude and significance of democracy’s operation in India are not well understood, for it is often treated as an adventitious or borrowed growth. Why has democracy worked in India? Our national leadership was dedicated to it and we wanted it to work, but, also, because in our society there were elements and traditions which supported the growth of democracy.
(5) In our democratic system, there may be differences in many spheres but we rise above them. To achieve the objective of keeping the country united, we have to transcend political and party-based differences, which create dissensions. If we cannot remain united and the country does not remain strong, with whom shall we have differences? Against whom shall we fight? With whom shall we be friends? Brothers and sisters, if the country falls, nobody survives. When we were fighting for the freedom of our country, it did not mean only political freedom. It also meant social justice, equality and economic justice. Only one phase is over and another one is under way. We have to cover a long and difficult path. Whereas the enemies were visible during those days; now they are in disguise. Some of them are openly our enemies, but many become unintentional pawns of others.
On the basis of your reading of the passage answer ANY FIVE of the given questions.
(i) What was the daunting venture that the author mentioned in paragraph 3?
Answer : The daunting venture refers to the aim of industrializing, modernizing and transforming the ancient society such as that of India, a vast and populated society while still maintaining its diversity.
(ii) What is the primary reason behind India’s success?
Answer : The democratic system of India makes it a successful nation despite its diversity.
(iii) What, according to the author, must be done to achieve a successful unity in the country?
Answer : To achieve a successful unity, we must go beyond the political as well as party differences that create dissentions among the people.
(iv) What makes our united fight for freedom a great objective?
Answer : Fighting for a united freedom not only means political freedom but also social justice, equality and economic justice too.
(v) What did the author compare a country to?
Answer : The author compares a country to an extended family that must work together to work or function.
(vi) What was the main reason for the success of democracy in India?
Answer : Democracy has worked well in India because of the dedication of the national leaders and the support of the society.
SECTION – B (WRITING AND GRAMMAR)
3. Attempt any one of the given questions.
The number of students opting for humanities is higher than commerce and science in last two years. Write an analytical paragraph in 100-120 words based on the statistics of the given graph.
OR
As Sports Incharge of A.C.C. Public School, Secunderabad, write a letter in 100-120 words to the Secretary of the Sports Authority of India, Delhi, requesting him to send the details of scholarships admissible to different categories of students of the school, who have achieved excellence in various sports.
Answer : The given graph shows the increasing interest of students in taking up humanities as subject choice. The given graph shows the data of two years, if we look at it in 2017 approximately 200 students opted for science, around 150 opted for commerce and around 200 opted for humanities. The interest in science and humanities was almost similar in 2017.
If we look at the data of year 2018, we see that there is a fall in the interest of students in science in comparison to 2017. In 2018 around 175 students opted for science, around 100 students opted for commerce and maximum number of students showed interest in humanities taking the count to a remarkable 225 students in humanities.
To conclude the given information, the interest of students in humanities has seen a subsequent rise in the year 2018 and commerce has seen a slump in the interest rate.
OR
A.C.C. Public School
Secunderabad
1 April, 20XX
The Secretary
Sports Authority of India
Subject : Requesting Details of Scholarship
Sir,
It has been brought to our notice that SAI offers scholarships to excellent players, who belong to economically weaker sections of the society, to help them continue with their training. I am Kamlesh Singh, Sports Incharge of A.C.C. Public School, Secunderabad, writing to you, seeking details of scholarships admissible to different categories of school students, who have achieved excellence in various sports.
A.C.C. Public School has a track record of producing bonafide players in various sports categories, such as cricket, football, hockey, badminton, tennis, etc. The current batch of players has made the school proud once again by winning gold medals at various state level sports events. The school’s cricket team too won the zonal cricket tournament held last month. We are keen that our students too should get the opportunity to avail the benefits of SAI scholarships. Therefore, kindly enlighten us on how to apply for the same.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you
Yours sincerely
Kamlesh Singh
Sports Incharge
4. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Identify the error and write its correction against the correct blank number. Remember to underline the correction. The first has been done for you.
Answer :
Error Correction
(a) find found
(b) door doors
(c) has was
5. Read the conversation between Maya and Jaya and complete the passage that follows :
| Maya : Which top do you like? Jaya : I like the one from the store near your house. Maya : Can I get it for you? Jaya : Yes, thank you. |
Maya asked Jaya which top she liked. Jaya replied that she (a) ______________________________. Maya then asked her if she (b) ______________________________. She replied in the affirmative and thanked her.
Answer : (a) liked the top from the store near her house
(b) can get it for her
SECTION – C (LITERATURE)
6. Answer ANY SIX of the following in about 30-40 words.
(i) How did the Loisels react when they realised that the necklace had been lost ?
Answer : As soon as the Loisels realised that the necklace had been lost, their short-lived happiness degenerated into shock of the worst nightmare. Matilda uttered a cry. Loisel, already half undressed, arose in dismay and went immediately on foot in search of the necklace.
(ii) What all animals lived with Balinda?
Answer : ——
(iii) What information did Valli collect about her first bus ride ?
Answer : The information that she collected was that the town was six miles from her village and it took thirty paise for one way fare. She also came to know that the one way ride was of forty-five minutes.
(iv) What filled Bholi, a dumb cow, with a new hope in her?
Answer : Bholi considered to be a ‘dumb cow’ was filled with new hope on hearing her teacher’s soft and soothing voice. No one had ever spoken to her so nicely. Also, Bholi’s teacher encouraged, inspired and showered her with love. She gave Bholi a book to read and promised to give her more books that would help her learn new things.
(v) From whom have the inhabitants of Coorg descended, as per the legend?
Answer : As per the legend, a part of Alexander’s army, when retreating from India, went South and settled in Coorg when they found that they could not return home. Then they married among the locals and their descendants are the Kodavus (the people of Coorg).
(vi) Mention any two contributions of Ebright to the world of science.
Answer : Ebright’s contributions to the world of science were great. He was able to identify the hormone’s chemical structure. The photos of the chemical structure of the hormone proved an answer to the biology puzzle – how the cell can read the blue print of its DNA. It is the blueprint of life. Second, he discovered an unknown insect hormone which led to his new theory on the life of cells.
(vii) Why was the lawyer disappointed on reaching New Mullion?
Answer : The lawyer was disappointed to see the streets of the New Mullion were rivers of mud, row of wooden shops painted in sour brown or were completely without paint. It was an unpleasant sight altogether.
7. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 120-150 words each.
(i) On the basis of your understanding of the chapter ‘The Necklace’ give a pen portrait of M. Loisel.
Answer : M. Loisel was a simple, understanding and loving husband. He was a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education. He, unlike his wife Matilda, was content with his modest life. M. Loisel liked ordinary good food, and saw beauty in simplicity.
M. Loisel loved his wife so much that he found happiness in making her happy. He was elated when he came bearing the invitation to the official ball. He thought being able to attend the exclusive party would please Matilda immensely. He gave her the four hundred francs he had been saving for his own personal use so that she could buy an appropriate dress of her choice for the party. He was sensitive and caring towards his wife’s needs. M. Loisel was a man of patience. When the necklace was lost, he did not chide or reproach Matilda. Instead, he stayed out all night in the cold looking for the necklace. He used all his life’s savings and even borrowed a huge amount of money to buy a replacement necklace to be returned to Mme. Forestier. He was an honest man, who worked hard day and night for ten years to pay off the borrowed money.
(ii) What is the central theme of the poem Amanda?
Answer : ——
(iii) What social attitudes are presented in the story, ‘Bholi’? How does Bholi’s teacher help her overcome these barriers?
Answer : Bholi was neglected by her parents on account of her looks and lack of intelligence. She was sent to school as her mother thought her to be a burden and let the teachers at school worry about her. Ironically, the teachers transformed her life completely. Bholi did not know what exactly a school was and what happened there, in the class when her teacher asked her name, she stammered and began to cry. She kept her head down throughout the class. The teacher was very encouraging and friendly to her and this made her gain confidence to speak.
She started seeing a ray of hope for a new life. After years of gaining education and with the help of her teacher, Bholi turned into a confident girl. She no longer stammered and could speak properly. She even had the courage to refuse marrying the lame old man because he was greedy and asked money from her father to marry her.
