CLASS : 10th (Secondary) Code No.

2102
Series : Sec/Annual Exam.-2025
Roll No. SET : A

ENGLISH
(Academic/Open)
(Only for Fresh/Re-appear/Improvement/Additional Candidates)

Time allowed : 3 hours ] [ Maximum Marks : 80

• Please make sure that the printed pages in this question paper are 16 in number
and it contains 12 questions.

• The Code No. and Set on the right side of the question paper should be written
by the candidate on the front page of the answer-book.

• Before beginning to answer a question, its Serial Number must be written.

• Don’t leave blank page/pages in your answer-book.

• Except answer-book, no extra sheet will be given. Write to the point and do not
strike the written answer.

• Candidates must write their Roll No. on the question paper. Except Roll No. do not
write anything on question paper and don't make any mark on answers of objective
type questions.

• Before answering the questions, ensure that you have been supplied the correct and
complete question paper, no claim in this regard, will be entertained after
examination.

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General Instructions :
(i) This question paper is divided into four Sections : A, B, C and D.
(ii) All the sections are compulsory.
(iii) Attempt all the parts of a question together.
(iv) Stick to the word-limit wherever prescribed.

SECTION – A

(Reading Skills) [ M. M. : 20

1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :

The choices we make daily – such as wearing a seatbelt, properly lifting heavy
objects or intentionally avoiding dangerous situations –––– can either safeguard
our well-being or lead to potentially harmful outcomes.

We must decide to take control of our lives. Exercising self-control,

practicing self-discipline and setting boundaries in our lives are among the most
important actions we can take. A life lacking discipline is characterized by
carelessness.
We may perceive it as thrilling to live on the edge. We are drawn to the
notion of "Yes, that's me ! living on the edge ! Woo-hoo !" It has become a widely
embraced perspective on life. However, it is evident that even highways have
painted lines that establish margins to enhance our safety while driving. If we
veer too far to one side, we will end up in the ditch. If we cross the line in the
middle, we could be in serious danger and we appreciate those lines because
they help to ensure our safety. At times, we may not fully understand how
boundaries contribute to our society.

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I regret to admit that for the first 20 years of my professional life, I
disregarded my limits. I often experienced significant physical discomfort. I often
told myself, "I recognize my limits and that I have reached them, but I will
disregard them to see how long I can manage." I consulted various doctors in an
attempt to feel better through medications, vitamins, natural remedies, and
anything else I could find. Some doctors would tell me, "It's just stress", which
frustrated me greatly. I used to believe that stress indicated dissatisfaction with
one's work or an inability to cope with life; however, I genuinely love what I do.
However, I continued to push myself –––– travelling, engaging in speaking events
and so forth ––– ultimately exhausting myself.

Eventually, I realized that I was leading an unsustainable life and needed to

adjust my perspective and life style. You and I are not obligated to confirm to
others or compete with anyone else. Each of us has a right to be exactly as we

are, and there is no need to apologize for it. We are not all the same, and it's
essential to identify a comfort zone that allows us to enjoy life rather than
succumbing to stress and pressure.

Questions : 1 × 10 = 10

(i) How can the choices we make daily impact our life ?

(a) They can safeguard our well-being

(b) They can lead to harmful outcomes

(c) Both (a) and (b)

(d) Neither (a) nor (b)

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(ii) A life lacking discipline is characterized by …………… .

(a) positive thinking

(b) health

(c) money

(d) carelessness

(iii) How does the writer define stress ?

(a) It indicates satisfaction with one's work.

(b) It shows a person's ability to cope with life.

(c) Both (a) and (b)

(d) Neither (a) nor (b)

(iv) Which word in the last paragraph means the same as 'surrendering' ?
(a) apologize
(b) perspective
(c) succumbing
(d) realised

(v) The author aims to ……….. the readers through this write-up.
(a) rebuke
(b) question
(c) offer aid to
(d) offer advice to

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(vi) How can we take control of our lives ?

(vii) What enhances our safety while driving on the highways ?

(viii) With which disease was the writer suffering from ?

(ix) What did the writer realize about his life eventually ?

(x) What is the message conveyed in the last paragraph of the passage ?

2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :

India is rapidly advancing in the field of renewable energy, and one of the most
significant achievements is the Bhadla Solar Park, located in the Jodhpur
district of Rajasthan. This solar park is the largest of its kind in India and one of
the largest in the world. Covering an area of 56 square kilometers, Bhadla Solar
Park has a total installed capacity of 2245 megawatts (MW), which provides
clean electricity to millions of people.

The Bhadla Solar Park was developed to harness the abundant sunlight in the
desert region of Rajasthan, where the solar potential is immense. The park has
over 8 million solar panels and can generate electricity at a low cost, making it a
key player in India's transition to renewable energy. The solar park's vast size
and capacity contribute to India's ambitious goal of achieving 175 GW of
renewable energy capacity by 2022.

Apart from contributing to a cleaner environment, the Bhadla Solar Park also
boosts the local economy by creating jobs in the region. The park has also
helped in reducing the dependency on fossil fuels and has significantly lowered
green house gas emissions. With the global push for sustainable development,
Bhadla Solar Park serves as a model for other nations aiming to harness solar
power on a large scale.

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Questions : 1 × 10 = 10

(i) Where is the Bhadla Solar Park located ?

(a) Gujarat (b) Rajasthan

(c) Uttar Pradesh (d) Maharashtra

(ii) How much area does the Bhadla Solar Park cover ?

(a) 20 square kilometers (b) 56 square kilometers

(c) 100 square kilometers (d) 10 square kilometers

(iii) What is the total installed capacity of the Bhadla Solar Park ?

(a) 1000 MW (b) 500 MW

(c) 3000 MW (d) 2245 MW

(iv) What is one of the key benefits of the Bhadla Solar Park ?
(a) It creates jobs
(b) It increases water usage
(c) It pollutes the environment
(d) It consumes large amounts of fossil fuels

(v) What is the global impact of the Bhadla Solar Park ?

(a) It decreases solar energy use.
(b) It contributes to lowering green house gas emissions.
(c) It uses more fossil fuels.
(d) It does not affect global energy production.

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(vi) Why is Rajasthan an ideal location for the Bhadla Solar Park ?

(vii) How many solar panels are there in the Bhadla Solar Park ?

(viii) What is the role of Bhadla Solar Park in India's renewable energy goals ?

(ix) How does the Bhadla Solar Park help in reducing India's dependence on
fossil fuels ?

(x) What economic benefit does the Bhadla Solar Park provide to the local
community ?

SECTION – B

(Grammar) [ M. M. : 10

3. Attempt any ten sentences from the given items : 1 × 10 = 10

A. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb :

(i) I …………. (wait) for you outside for five minutes.

(a) was waiting (b) am waiting

(c) have been waiting (d) wait

(ii) I ………… (study) for my exams these days.

(a) study (b) was studying

(c) studied (d) am studying

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B. Change direct speech into indirect speech :

(iii) The teacher said to Ramesh, "Why didn't you complete your
homework" ?

(a) The teacher asked Ramesh why he had not completed his
homework.

(b) The teacher asked Ramesh if he had not completed his

homework.

(c) The teacher said to Ramesh why he had not completed his
homework.

(d) The teacher asked Ramesh why he did not complete his
homework.

(iv) Yashika said, "I don't like watching horror movies."

(a) Yashika said that I didn't like watching horror movies.

(b) Yashika said that she didn't like watching horror movies.

(c) Yashika said that she doesn't like watching horror movies.

(d) Yashika asked if she didn't like watching horror movies.

C. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles :

(v) English is the language of ………. English.

(a) a (b) an
(c) the (d) No article

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(vi) I get a stipend of Rs. 1500 ………… month.

(a) a (b) an

(c) the (d) No article

D. Punctuate the following :

(vii) unless you work hard you cant stand first

(a) Unless you work hard you cant stand first

(b) Unless you work hard you cant stand first.

(c) Unless you work hard, you can't stand first.

(d) Unless you work hard, you cant stand first.

(viii) the teacher said students dont make a noise

(a) The teacher said, "students dont make a noise."

(b) The teacher said, "students don’t make a noise."

(c) The teacher said, "students, don’t make a noise."

(d) The teacher said, "Students, don’t make a noise."

E. Fill in the blanks with suitable modals :

(ix) We took a taxi lest we .............. miss the train.

(a) shall (b) should

(c) will (d) would

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(x) .............. she have good health !

(a) Will (b) Shall

(c) May (d) Might

F. Fill in the blanks with correct non-finite form of the verb :

(xi) This question is difficult .............. (solve).

(a) solve (b) to solve

(c) solved (d) solving

(xii) You had better .............. (stop) smoking.

(a) stop (b) to stop

(c) stopped (d) stopping

SECTION – C

(Writing Skills) [ M. M. : 10

4. Attempt the following : 5

Air pollution in your area is increasing day by day. Write a letter, in about

100-120 words, to the Chairman, State Pollution Control Board, making a

complaint and requesting for immediate action to the problem. You are

Sonam/Vijay of B-22, Golden Villa, Rewari.

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OR

You are Nisha/Arun of P. M. Shree Government Senior Secondary School,

Gurugram, studying in class X B. Write an application, in about 100-120 words,
to the Principal of your school requesting him/her for leave for a few days to
take care of your mother, who is unwell.

5. Attempt any one of the following : 5

(i) You are Arnav/Arav, a student of Class X. Your school participated in a

district level science exhibition held at City International School, Karnal.
Mention the date, the number of participating schools, and the award your
school received. Write a report in about 40 words to share it in the school
assembly.

(ii) Write a story in 100-120 words with the help of the following outlines. Give
it a suitable title also.

Lion sleeping ……….. mouse jumps on lion ……….. lion wakes up ………..
lion catches mouse ……….. mouse begs for mercy ……….. lion shows
kindness ……….. lion caught in a net ……….. mouse comes to the rescue
……….. mouse frees the lion ……….. moral.

(iii) Read the statement given below :

"Mobile phones distract students and harm academic performance."

Write a paragraph in about 100-120 words analyzing the given argument.

Consider alternative explanations that might weaken the conclusion and
provide evidence or reasoning that might strengthen or counter the argument.

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SECTION – D

(Literature) [ M. M. : 40

6. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow :

"Ga, ga, ga", he cried begging her to bring him some food. "Gaw-col-ah", she
screamed back derisively. But he kept calling plaintively, and after a minute or
so he uttered a joyful scream. His mother had picked up a piece of the fish and
was flying across to him with it. He leaned out eagerly, tapping the rock with his
feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across. But when she was just
opposite to him, she halted, her wings motionless, the piece of fish in her beak
almost within reach of his beak. He waited a moment in surprise, wondering
why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger, he dived at the

fish. With a loud scream he fell outwards and downwards into space. Then a
monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still. He could hear nothing.
But it only lasted a minute. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards.
The wind rushed against his breast feathers, then under his stomach, and
against his wings. He could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He
was not falling headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and
outwards.

Questions : 1×5=5

(i) Why did the seagull's mother not pay attention to his begging for food ?

(ii) What had the seagull's mother picked up ?

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(iii) What did the seagull's mother do when she was abreast of the ledge ?

(iv) Maddened by hunger, what did the seagull do ?

(v) What seized the seagull ?

OR

Her first journey –––– what careful, painstaking, elaborate plans she had had to
make for it ! She had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting
every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and the like, and finally
she had saved a total of sixty paise. How difficult it had been, particularly that
day at the village fair, but she had resolutely stifled a strong desire to ride the
merry-go-round, even though she had the money.

After she had enough money saved, her next problem was how to slip out of the
house without her mother's knowledge. But she managed this without too much
difficulty. Everyday after lunch her mother would nap from about one to four or
so. Valli always used these hours for her 'excursions' as she stood looking from
the doorway of her house or sometimes even ventured out into the village; today,
these same hours could be used for her first excursion outside the village.

Questions : 1×5=5

(i) How did Valli save money ?

(ii) How much money had Valli saved ?

(iii) What time did Valli use for her 'excursions' ?

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(iv) What was difficult for Valli at the village fair ?

(v) What was Valli's first excursion outside the village ?

7. Attempt any two questions : 3×2=6

(i) What was the unique in the inauguration ceremony in South Africa ?

(ii) Why does Anne Frank think to have a diary ?

(iii) Describe the beautiful sights that Rajvir saw as the train pulled out of the
station.

(iv) What was the basic idea of Buddha's preaching ?

8. Lencho was a very innocent person. It was clear by his letters that he wrote to
God for his help. Discuss it in the light of his second letter. 6

OR

Describe the character-sketch of Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov ?

9. Attempt following stanza :

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

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Questions : 1×5=5

(i) Why does the poet compare hate to ice ?

(ii) What does 'it' indicate here ?

(iii) What is more dangerous than ice ?

(iv) How is ice sufficient for destruction ?

(v) What is the rhyme scheme of this stanza ?

OR

But he's locked in a concrete cell,

His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.

Questions : 1×5=5
(i) Where is the tiger's strength locked ?
(ii) Why is the tiger stalking in the cage ?
(iii) How does the caged tiger react to the visitors ?
(iv) Why is the tiger locked ?
(v) What is the mood of the tiger ?

10. Attempt any two of the following : 3×2=6

(i) How does a leopard behave ? Discuss.

(ii) Why does the poet compare the branches with the patients ?

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(iii) What were the names of Belinda's pets ?

(iv) What is the central idea of the poem, 'For Anne Gregory' ?

11. Attempt any two of the following : 3×2=6

(i) What did Anil do ? How did he spend money ?

(ii) How did Ebright's not winning anything at the Science Fair motivate him to

become a bright scientist ?

(iii) From whom did Matilda Loisel borrow the necklace and why ?

(iv) Why was Sulekha called Bholi ? Why was she sent to school ?

12. The parting scene of Tricki from Mrs. Pumphrey's house was full of excitement

and panic. Discuss. 6

OR

What happened when the village constable Mr. Jaffers tried to arrest Griffin at

Iping ?

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