SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER (2022-23)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (Code No. 184)

CLASS-X
Time allowed: 3 Hrs. Maximum 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

I Read the passage given below. 10

1 Long, long ago, in a big forest, there were many trees. Among the cluster of trees, there was a very
tall pine tree. He was so tall that he could talk to the stars in the sky. He could easily look over the
heads of the other trees. One day late in the evening, the pine tree saw a ragged, skinny girl
approaching him. He could see her only because of his height. The little girl was in tears. The pine
tree bent as much as he could and asked her: ‘‘What is the matter ? Why are you crying?’’

2 The little girl, still sobbing, replied, ‘‘I was gathering flowers for a garland for goddess Durga, who I
believe, would help my parents to overcome their poverty and I have lost my way’’. The pine tree
said to the little girl, ‘‘It is late evening. It will not be possible for you to return to your house,
which is at the other end of the forest. Sleep for the night at this place.’’ The pine tree pointed out
to an open cavelike place under him. The little girl was frightened of wild animals. The girl quickly
crept into the cave-like place. The pine tree was happy and pleased with himself. He stood like a
soldier guarding the place.

3 The little girl woke up in the morning and was amazed to see the pine tree standing as a guard
outside the cave. Then her gaze travelled to the heap of the flowers that she had gathered the
previous night. The flowers lay withered on the ground. The pine tree understood what was going
on in the girl’s mind. He wrapped his branches around the nearby flower trees and shook them
gently. The little girl’s eyes brightened. But a great surprise awaited her. The pine tree brought out
a bag full of gold coins which had been lying for years in the hole in its trunk and gave it to the girl.
With teary eyes, she thanked her benefactor and went away.

1 out of 21
 (339 words)
Adapted— [Link]

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. 1x10

I Among the cluster of trees, the very long tree mentioned in the passages was- 1

A. Coconut tree,
B. Pine tree,
C. Oak tree,
D. Sal tree.
(Passage-1)

ii What did the pine tree ask the little girl? 1

A. Why she was crying,

B. Why she left her home,
C. How they are,
D. What she was searching for.

iii The period when the little girl approached the pine tree, was- 1

A. Late night,
B. Early morning,
C. Late afternoon,
D. Late evening.

2 out of 21
iv State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE: 1

The pine tree was happy and pleased with himself, as he stood like a soldier guarding
the girl’s home.

V Choose the relationship between the Assertion (A) & Reason (R) mentioned below: 1
(Passage-3)
Assertion: The girl quickly crept into the cave-like place.
Reason: The little girl was frightened of wild animals.

A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

B. Both A and R are true BUT R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, R is false.
D. A is false, R is true.

vi “Sleep for the night at this place.’’- State the reason for this suggestion of the pine 1
tree.

vii Based on your reading of the text, state two issues why the girl was sobbing: 1

i) ______________________________________________.
ii) ______________________________________________.

viii Why was the little girl amazed, waking up in the next morning? 1

A. Her parents came to her,

B. The pine tree left her,
C. The pine tree standing as a guard outside the cave.
D. She had grown-up rapidly.

3 out of 21
ix 1
State two reasons why the little girl thanked the pine tree at last.

x Replace the word in bold with a suitable option: 1

“She thanked her benefactor and went away.”--

A. Beneficiary,
B. Antifactor,
C. Ignorant,
D. Patron.

II Read the passage given below. 10

1 The press is an educator. It creates and moulds public opinion. It voices public demands and
ventilates public grievances. It safeguards people’s rights and interests. It raises its powerful voice
against any attempted invasion of people’s rights and liberties. It acts as a check on the vagaries of
men placed in high position. It exposes immoral, inefficient and corrupt officials. It is the champion
of all good and noble causes.

By criticising the actions and lapses of the Government officials, it gives a healthy tone to the
administration. Naturally the Government of a country cannot ignore the press. It cannot treat its
view with disrespect.

Such being the character of the function of the press, it is obvious that it should be allowed a large
measure of freedom. If rigid restrictions are placed on the publication of news of expression of
views, the press cannot perform its duties faithfully and fearlessly.

4 out of 21
2 Freedom from Government control does not, however, mean complete freedom for the press. That
is because there are newspapers which are either party papers or are owned or controlled by big
business magnates. They have to echo ‘their master’s voice’. They have to present news and views
only in accordance with the policy of the party or the wishes of the press baron (master). They
indulge in one-sided propaganda. They suppress or distort the truth. They give coloured version of
reality. In the USA and some other countries freedom of the press is guaranteed under their
Constitution. Under our Constitution this freedom is implicit in the ‘Freedom of Speech and
Expression’ granted to every citizen as one of his fundamental rights. In countries under the iron
heels of a dictator, freedom of the press is practically non-existent.

3 Freedom of the press, like all other freedoms, carries with it certain obligations. Publication of
correct news is one of them. Avoidance of mischievous or malafide criticism of the Government is
another. The idea is that liberty should not degenerate into license. The press should use the great
power, which it possesses, with due restraint and judgment. It is equally the duty of the people
who patronise it to exercise a healthy check upon the conduct of the press. They should teach it a
lesson whenever they find that its power is being used against their interests. That they can do
withholding their patronage.

In India, the press is free. We hope that it will place before itself the high ideal of serving the
interest of the public and will conduct itself in a spirit of independence, without bearing for
anybody’s fear of favour.

(431 words)
Adapted – [Link]

i Why cannot the government ignore the press? (Passage-1) 1

5 out of 21
ii Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks. 1

“They have to echo ‘their master’s voice’.”-- Who are ironically referred to as ‘masters’?

A. School teachers,
B. Professors,
C. Public civil servants,
D. Politicians.

iii Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/ phrase from paragraph 1: 1

Freedom of Religion: Each Individual :: __________________: The Press

(Clue: Just like an individual should be entitled with freedom of religion,
_____________ should be entitled to the press. )

iv The synonym of ‘advocacy’ as given in passage-2 is- 1

A. license
B. news
C. propaganda
D. judgement

6 out of 21
 v Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to the 1
following:
“In countries under the iron heels of a dictator, freedom of the press is practically
non-existent.”--
A. Doubt
B. Protest
C. Conviction
D. Appreciation.

For the Visually Impaired Candidates:

State true or false:

In the USA, 'Freedom of Speech and Expression’ isn’t granted to every citizen as one
of his fundamental rights.

vi “Freedom of the press, like all other freedoms, carries with it certain obligations.”-- 1
Point out one such aspect of obligation of the press following passage-3.

vii “The press is an educator.”- 1

Substitute the word ‘educator’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the above
sentence from paragraph 1:

A. Expert,
B. Experimenter,
C. Teacher,
D. Driver.

viii List down the points how a press system gets corrupted, following passage-2. 1
1. ……………………………………………………………………………………
….
2. ……………………………………………………………………………………
….

7 out of 21
ix “It is equally the duty of the people who patronise it…”-- Which duty is mentioned 1
here in passage-3?

A. To exercise a healthy check upon the conduct of the press,

B. To exercise a healthy check upon the conduct of the politicians,
C. To exercise a healthy check upon the conduct of the children,
D. To exercise a forceful check upon the conduct of the press.

x The antonym of ‘freedoms’ as given in passage-3 is- 1

A. function
B. press
C. restrictions
D. fearlessly

III SECTION B –GRAMMAR

Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions. 10

i Change into indirect speech: 1

Partha said to me, “You will come to Kolkata, won’t you?”

ii Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions: 1

Sourav was born ______ rich parents. (in/to/of/from)

8 out of 21
iii Find the fault in the formation of the sentence & replace it with a correct one: 1
“Go there by a train.”

iv Fill in the blanks with the correct use of tense. 1

Till yesterday, I never _________ (refuse) him anything.

A. Refuse,
B. Has refused,
C. Shall refuse,
D. Refused.

v Change the voice: 1

Why was he refused admittance?

vi Change the degree of comparison: 1

St. Paul’s Cathedral is the biggest church in our locality.

vii Turn into simple sentence: 1

He is so proud that he will not apologize for his mistake.

9 out of 21
viii Fill in the blanks with appropriate conjunctions: 1
I worked hard ________ I should fail.

A. If,
B. And,
C. As,
D. Lest.

ix Join the pair of sentences: 1

He stood up to speak. He had determined to oppose the bill.

x Do as directed: 1
Her words are too kind. (Remove ‘too’)

xi Choose the proper group verb for the bold word in below sentence: 1
You should execute my orders.

A. Carry out,
B. Put off,
C. Put out,
D. Give away.

xii Rewrite the sentence by transforming the form of the Parts of Speech as directed: 1

I believe that he will come tomorrow.

(Use the noun form of ‘believe’)

10 out of 21
IV SECTION B –CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS 10

All the names and addresses used in the questions are fictitious. Resemblance, if any, is purely
coincidental.

1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5

A.
You are Ishant of Meerut. Your friend Manik of Agra has recently got a place in the
under 16 cricket team of India. Write a letter of congratulation to him.

OR

B. You are the librarian of Amla Public School. You had placed an order for textbooks
with Dhanpati and Sons. As the books did not arrive on time, you have decided to
cancel the order. Write a letter to the Manager, Dhanpati & Sons, Chennai, cancelling
the order.

2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5

A. Look at the data given below which shows the changes

occurred between 1995-2010 in Bilaspur regarding the
women's education. Write a paragraph in about 150-200
words by record the changes by interpreting the data:

11 out of 21
 OR

B. WRITE AN ANALYTICAL PARAGRAPH BASED ON THE PIE CHARTS SHOWING THE

PERCENTAGE GROWTH IN DIFFERENT SECTORS IN INDIA FROM THE YEAR 2010 TO
2020.

SECTION C - LITERATURE 40

V Reference to the Context 10

1 Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 5

12 out of 21
1.A My father, the most adorable father I’ve ever seen, didn’t marry my
mother until he was thirty-six and she was twenty-five. My sister, Margot, was born
in Frankfurt in Germany in 1926. I was born on 12 June 1929. I lived in Frankfurt
until I was four. My father emigrated to Holland in 1933. My mother, Edith
Hollander Frank, went with him to Holland in September, while Margot and I were
sent to Aachen to stay with our grandmother. Margot went to Holland in
December, and I followed in February, when I was plunked down on the table as a
birthday present for Margot.
I started right away at the Montessori nursery school. I stayed there until I
was six, at which time I started in the first form. In the sixth form my teacher was
Mrs Kuperus, the headmistress. At the end of the year we were both in tears as we
said a heartbreaking farewell.
In the summer of 1941 Grandma fell ill and had to have an operation, so my
birthday passed with little celebration.
(From the Diary of Anne Frank)

i. Anne has described her father as- 1

A. The most clever father,

B. The most intelligent father,
C. The most caring father,
D. The most adorable father,

ii. State the ages of Anne’s parents when they got married? 1

iii. Why did the author comment “we were both in tears”? 1

A. Because, she was leaving her home,

B. Because, she was leaving her school,
C. Because, her sister got married,
D. Because, she met her teacher after a long time.

13 out of 21
 iv. Fill in the blank: 1

Margot went to Holland in December to _______________.

A. To stay with her grandmother,

B. To continue her higher studies abroad,
C. To stay with his father,
D. To tour to explore the world.

v. Select the option that displays the reason why the author’s birthday passed with little 1
celebration?

A. Because, her Grandma fell ill.

B. Because, she had pressures in studies,
C. Because, her mother fell ill,
D. Because she lived in hostel.

OR

1.B During our childhood in Goa, the baker used to be our friend, companion
and guide. He used to come at least twice a day. Once, when he set out in the
morning on his selling round, and then again, when he returned after emptying his
huge basket. The jingling thud of his bamboo woke us up from sleep and we ran to
meet and greet him. Why was it so? Was it for the love of the loaf? Not at all. The
loaves were bought by some Paskine or Bastine, the maid-servant of the house! What
we longed for were those bread-bangles which we chose carefully. Sometimes it was
sweet bread of special make.
The baker made his musical entry on the scene with the ‘jhang, jhang’ sound
of his specially made bamboo staff. One hand supported the basket on his head and
the other banged the bamboo on the ground. He would greet the lady of the house
with “Good morning” and then place his basket on the vertical bamboo. We kids
would be pushed aside with a mild rebuke and the loaves would be delivered to the
servant. But we would not give up. We would climb a bench or the parapet and peep

14 out of 21
 into the basket, somehow. I can still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves.
Loaves for the elders and the bangles for the children. Then we did not even care to
brush our teeth or wash our mouths properly. And why should we? Who would take
the trouble of plucking the mango-leaf for the toothbrush? And why was it necessary
at all? The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything
so nicely, after all!
(Glimpse of India)

i. The author’s childhood passed in- 1

A. Puducherry,
B. Goa,
C. Delhi,
D. Pune.

ii. Complete the analogy: 1

Baker: _______ :: Chef: Dishes.

A. Chicken,
B. Fruit,
C. Momo,
D. Bread.

iii. State the baker’s entry into the house every morning. 1

iv. State true or false: 1

“Servants would be pushed aside with a mild rebuke and the loaves would be delivered
to the kids.”

Page 11 of 15

15 out of 21
v. Choose the correct statement according to the extract: 1

A. Loaves were for the elders and the bangles were for the children.
B. Loaves were for the children and the bangles for the elders.
C. Loaves were for the servants only.
D. Loaves and bangles were for everyone irrespective of age in the family.

2 Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 5

2.A LOMOV : I’ll show you the documents, Natalya Stepanovna!

NATALYA : No, you’re simply joking, or making fun of me. What a surprise! We’ve had
the land for nearly three hundred years, and then we’re suddenly told that it isn’t
ours! Ivan Vassilevitch, I can hardly believe my own ears. These Meadows aren’t
worth much to me. They only come to five dessiatins, and are worth perhaps 300
roubles, but I can’t stand unfairness. Say what you will, I can’t stand unfairness.
LOMOV : Hear me out, I implore you! The peasants of your father’s grandfather, as I
have already had the honour of explaining to you, used to bake bricks for my aunt’s
grandmother. Now my aunt’s grandmother, wishing to make them a pleasant...
NATALYA : I can’t make head or tail of all this about aunts and grandfathers and
grandmothers. The Meadows are ours, that’s all.
LOMOV : Mine.
NATALYA : Ours! You can go on proving it for two days on end, you can go and put on
fifteen dress jackets, but I tell you they’re ours, ours, ours! I don’t want anything of
yours and I don’t want to give anything of mine. So there!
(The Proposal)

i. 1
“I’ll show you the documents, Natalya Stepanovna!”- Which documents is Lomov
talking about?

A. Documents of vehicles,
B. Documents of land,
C. Documents of marriage,
D. Documents of job application.

16 out of 21
ii. Natalya claimed the land to be possessed by themselves for- 1

A. Nearly three hundred years,

B. Nearly two hundred years,
C. Nearly three thousands years,
D. Nearly four hundred years.

iii. 1
State the argument of Lomov for showing his possession over the particular disputed
land.

……………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………….

iv. State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE: 1

v. Natalya commented, “The ___________ are ours, that’s all.” 1

A. Forests,
B. Cars,
C. Meadows,
D. Buildings.

OR

17 out of 21
2.B Thus the years passed.
The village became a small town. The little primary school became a high school.
There were now a cinema under a tin shed and a cotton ginning mill. The mail train
began to stop at their railway station.
One night, after dinner, Ramlal said to his wife, “Then, shall I accept Bishamber’s
proposal?”
“Yes, certainly,” his wife said. “Bholi will be lucky to get such a well-to-do
bridegroom. A big shop, a house of his own and I hear several thousand in the bank.
Moreover, he is not asking for any dowry.”
“That’s right, but he is not so young, you know — almost the same age as I am
— and he also limps. Moreover, the children from his first wife are quite grown up.”

(Bholi)

i. Choose the appropriate option: 1

The little primary school became-

A. A College,
B. A Shopping mall,
C. An Apartment,
D. A high school.

ii. Replace the word in bold with one of the options: 1

“Bholi will be lucky to get such a well-to-do bridegroom.”-

A. Fortunate,
B. Happy,
C. Gloomy,
D. Satisfied. .

iii. Why did Ramlal’s wife deem Bholi to be ‘lucky’? 1

18 out of 21
iv. What of the following possessed by Bishamber influenced Bholi’s parents? 1

A. A big shop,
B. A house of his own,
C. Several thousand in the bank,
D. All of the above.

v State two faults of Bishamber, that were mentioned by Ramlal: 1

1) ……………………………………………………..,
2) ………………………………………………………

VI Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each. 4 x 3=12

i. State the ways Valli gathered all the information about the bus. 3
(Madam Rides the Bus)

ii. Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’? 3
(The Book That Saved the Earth)

iii. Describe the poet’s observation on Nature following the poem ‘Dust of Snow”. 3
(Dust of Snow)

iv. In the poem ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’, Who are the characters in this poem? List 3
them with their pet names.

v. What difference do you find in the mood of a tiger when he is in a zoo and when he is 3
in a forest?
(A Tiger in the Zoo)

19 out of 21
VII Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2 x 3=6

i. Note down the strict advice of Mr. Herriot? Did Mrs. Pumphrey heed his advice? 3
What excuses did she make?
(The Triumph of Surgery)

ii. “Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent”- Comment on the statement 3
following the text.
(The Midnight Visitor)

iii. Discuss the role of Ebright’s mother in making him a scientist. 3

(The Making of a Scientist)

VIII Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. 1 x 6=6

i. “Scientific discoveries have made life easier but insecure.” Explain with reference to the 6
story ‘Footprints without Feet’ written by H.G. Wells.
(Footprints without Feet)

OR

ii. “The airhostess was the very queen of her kind”-- 6

Elaborately describe the spontaneous contribution of the airhostess.
(Mijbil the Otter)

IX Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. 1 x 6=6

i. “I couldn’t cook his meals, run to the bazaar or learn to write whole sentences 6
anymore.” –
Do you think Hari Singh accepted the joy of earning money by following the path of
honesty?
(The Thief’s Story)

OR

20 out of 21
 ii. “Horace had some hope because she seemed to be amused at meeting him.” – 6
Why did Horace feel so? Did he consider the young lady compassionate towards him?
Did he find her free from bias?
(A Question of Trust)

Answer Keys & Hints:

Section-A:

I.i- B [Link]- D
[Link]- A [Link]- C
[Link]- D I.v- B
I.v- A [Link]- C
[Link]- C [Link]- A
I.x- D I.x- C

Section-B:

[Link]- A [Link]- A
[Link]- D

Section-C:

1.A) 2.A)
i)- D i)- B
iii)- B ii)-A
iv)- A v)- C
v)-A
2.B)
1.B) i)- D
i)- B ii)-A
ii)- D iv)- D

21 out of 21
v)-B

22 out of 21