Students can access the CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English with Solutions and marking scheme Term 2 Set 3 will help students in understanding the difficulty level of the exam.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English Term 2 Set 3 with Solutions
Time : 2 Hours
Max. 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.
Extract from Does Alien Life Exist? by Don Lincoln published in CNN News
1. Last month, The New York Times published an article describing a secret government program investigating reports by military pilots of unidentified flying objects they encountered in the course of their daily duties. The media was awash with stories of flying saucers and extraterrestrial encounters, with scientists downplaying the likelihood of alien visitation and UFO enthusiasts exclaiming their excitement.
2. While I sit very firmly on the side that believes these reports more likely have an unremarkable and terrestrial explanation, whether alien life exists is a very real and credible scientific question. What is the possibility that life and even intelligent life exists around a star other than our own? And how can we find out?
3. We can estimate with some accuracy that the number of possibly habitable planets in our galaxy is in the neighbourhood of 2 billion. We are far less certain in our estimation of whether life will be created, if it will survive and if intelligence will evolve. If these life-related probabilities are high then life should be extremely common in our galaxy. If these numbers are low, we could be alone.
4. Life formed on Earth very soon after the planet cooled enough to have liquid water. This suggests that the formation of life is easy. Were it difficult, one would expect that it would have taken longer. This is not an airtight argument, to be sure. But it is a reasonable one. Although life formed very early in our planet, yet multicellular life came much later.
5. The evolution of intelligence seems to be rarer. Until humans evolved, no other forms of comparable intelligence existed. If humans were to go extinct tomorrow, there are no species around that are likely to quickly evolve intelligence. Granted, there are species that are more intelligent than others, but their path to humanlike intelligence is by no means assured. From this, it is possible to provisionally conclude that the evolution of intelligence is rare.
6. So, what’s the answer? Are we alone in the universe? The honest answer is that we don’t know. We know that planets that could support liquid water are common. But we don’t know much about the origin of life and the probability that it will evolve as it did on Earth. From what we have seen on Earth, it seems that the creation of life is relatively easy, but the evolution of intelligence is hard. Taken in aggregate, it does seem that extraterrestrial life should exist and there may be planets where our cosmic cousins also look at the sky and dream.
7. Nobody can tell you for sure what those Navy pilots saw but it’s a big universe and it seems that life could very well be common. There may come a day when an alien craft lands on the White House lawn like in the 1950s movie “Earth vs. the Flying Saucers,” or, more likely, we hear the first signals in our giant radio telescopes.
Then we would know, once and for all, that we are not alone.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the six given below.
(i) According to the passage, what was the excitement in the media all about? What was the scientists’ stand on it? (1)
Answer:
The media was awash with stories of flying saucers and extraterrestrial encounters. Scientists downplayed the likelihood of alien visitation.
(ii) What makes the possibility of alien life a difficult question to answer by scientists? (1)
Answer:
There are several unpredictable factors like survival chances, events leading to the creation of life and further evolution which have no accurate answers and are estimated till date. The fact that human origin is still unknown, makes the likelihood of alien existence unpredictable.
(iii) What signal will make humans know for sure that extraterrestrial life exists? (1)
Answer:
If an alien craft lands in a prominent and public place or humans hear signals in their giant radio telescopes, then it will be certain that extra-terrestrial life exists.
(iv) Describe the rarity in the evolution of intelligence. (1)
Answer:
The evolution of intelligence seems rarer than evolution of life. There weren’t any comparable forms of intelligent life before the existence of humans. One of the characteristic traits of humans, intelligence, most likely wouldn’t evolve immediately if humans happened to go extinct.
(v) List one likely impact of the possibility of habitable planets in our galaxy. (1)
Answer:
It is estimated that there are 2 billion habitable planets in our galaxy. However, it is less certain if there is any life on them, or any intelligent life exists. If these life-related probabilities are high, then life should be extremely common in our galaxy. If these numbers are low, we could be alone.
(vi) Rewrite the following sentence by replacing the underlined phrase with a word that means the same from paragraph 7. (1)
The politicians agreed for a referendum to let the public vote and decide definitively. as to whether to let the refugees in their country or not.
Answer:
The politicians agreed for a referendum to let the public vote and decide once and for all, as to whether to let the refugees in their country or not.
Question 2.
Read the following excerpt from a case study titled The Museum of Dolls.
1. At a time when younger people are privileging smartphones, televisions, and video games over other sources of entertainment, a nearly 55-year-old museum housing thousands of dolls from across the globe is still maintaining its old-world charm and attracting not only children and teenagers, but also visitors of all age groups, not surprising, as it actually transports you into a world where you can forget the woes of the present.
2. With over 7,500 dolls on display, Shankar’s International Dolls Museum in the capital not only entertains children, but it also teaches them about art, culture, and costumes of different cultures.
3. The idea of dolls collection was bom when eminent political cartoonist and journalist K. Shankar Pillai, better known simply as Shankar, received one as a gift from the Hungarian Ambassador in the early 1950s.
4. “Shankar fell so much in love with the doll that he began to collect costume dolls whenever he visited any country. Soon, he was able to collect a good number of dolls as his visits to foreign nations were frequent.
5. He began to exhibit the dolls across the country after he was able to collect a good number, but the frequent packing and unpacking were damaging the dolls. Then the idea emerged of a permanent space for the dolls and that is how the museum was set up.
6. The museum is located in Nehru House on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in the building that houses the Children’s Book Trust, which was also set up by Shankar. The museum began in 1965 with 1,000 dolls.
7. Now there are more than 7,500 from over 85 countries. The museum has the largest number of costume dolls in the world.
8. Divided into two equal halves, one section of the museum is dedicated to Western countries like the UK, the US, Australia and New Zealand, as also the Commonwealth of Independent States and the other half to Asian, African and Middle-East countries, as also India.
9. Several countries gifted dolls to the museum to represent their country’s culture. Apart from those dolls received in exchange, there are a good number of dolls made at the workshop attached to the museum, including authentic Indian dolls in traditional attire. The dolls are sent as “return gifts” for the dolls gifted by various countries.
Shankar’s International Dolls Museum |
|
Number of exhibits | 7,500 dolls |
Floor area | 5184.5 sq. feet |
Number of display cases | 160 glass cases, 1000 ft. long |
Number of countries covered | 85 |
Number of Indian costume exhibits | 150 dolls |
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the six
given below.
(i) Write the synonym of ‘melancholy’. (1)
Answer:
The synonym of ‘melancholy’ is woe.
(ii) How does Shankar’s Dolls Museum teach its visitors about art, culture and costumes of different cultures? (1)
Answer:
Shankar’s Dolls Museum is home to dolls from different parts of the world. They are dressed in traditional costumes of different countries and represent the culture of the countries they belong to.
(iii) Which word in the passage is the same as ‘legitimate’? (1)
Answer:
The word ‘authentic’ in the passage is the same as legitimate.
(iv) How do foreign countries contribute to the Dolls museum? (1)
Answer:
Foreign countries contribute to the Dolls Museum by gifting dolls to the museum to represent their country’s culture.
(v) How many Glass display cases serve in the museum according to the data given in the passage? (1)
Answer:
A total of 160 glass cases, all adding up to 1000 ft. in length, encase and display the collection of over 7500 dolls in the museum.
(vi) Comment on the significance of the workshop attached to the museum with reference to paragraph 7. (1)
Answer:
There are a good number of dolls made at the workshop attached to the museum, including authentic Indian dolls in traditional attire. These dolls are sent as “return gifts” for the dolls gifted by various countries.
Section-B
Writing and Grammar (10 marks)
Question 3.
Attempt ANY ONE from (i) and (ii).
(i) Write an analytical paragraph in 100-120 words about cruelty to animals. You can take clues from the given picture. (5)
Answer:
Cruelty to Animals:
Animals are God’s creation too; they have their own life like human beings. We should understand this and stop being indifferent towards them. While observing the pie chart, we can see how the abuse of animals has rapidly increased over the years from 2000 to 2015. Whether it is our pet or a stray animal, if we cannot take care of it then we should also not be unkind to them as well. These days, we continuously hear about the way animals are being treated by humans. Recently, an elephant was fed crackers inside a fruit and it died a pathetic death. The main problem is that there aren’t many people fighting for animal rights and in fact, they turn a blind eye towards it. The young generation of the country must do something about this and aware people to stand up for animal rights. We all need to work towards saving animals and fighting for their rights to live peacefully on this planet.
(ii) Atish is the President of “Nature Friends” the School’s Environmental Club. National Geography recently launched a set of books that help in identifying various species of plants and even growing them. Atish decides to write to a prominent book store to order these books at a discounted rate. Write a letter on his behalf using your own ideas in not more than 120 words. (5)
NEW ARRIVAL SALE
Freshly launched National Geography Encyclopaedias!
Infotainment Flora Literature,
now available at
GREEN BOOK STORE
Fountain Palace, Kolkata
Hurry! Limited stock.
Answer:
Model School
MG Marg
Kolkata
April 21, 20XX
The Manager
Green Book Store
Fountain Palace
Kolkata
Subject: Availability of National Geography books at a discounted rate
Sir
As the President of “Nature Friends”, the Environmental Club at Model School, I believe that it is necessary to keep abreast of all the happenings and know-hows of the environment. Further, I believe that we can constantly update our knowledge and technique by adopting new methods of planting. As an avid environmentalist and a leader to fellow budding environmentalists, I have been given the responsibility of researching ways and methods to continue increasing the interest of my fellow environmentalists in school.
Recently National Geography launched a set of books that are handy guides for all student environmentalists. These books guide us about the different species of plants that we can identify right from our backyard to the world outside. Further, it also guides on how certain exotic as well as environmentally safe plants can be planted right within our school backyard. I believe that these books will be handy to us. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could order these books for us at a discounted rate. Do let us know about the pricing and the availability of the books at the earliest as we intend to use this information for our upcoming programs.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Atish Sahu
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 to underline the correction. The first one has been done for you. (1 x 3 = 3)
Error | Correction | ||
Last Sunday our school was organising a fate | Example | was | organised |
There have been stalls selling edible items. | (a) | – | – |
People were thronged at all these stalls. | (b) | – | – |
There had seemed an unending rush. | © | – | – |
Answer:
Error | Correction |
was confined | were confined |
had looked | looked |
work | are working |
Question 5.
Given below is a conversation between Priya and Suman. Fill in the blanks in the paragraph below by choosing the correct option from the ones given. (1 x 2 = 2)
Priya: Hello Suman! Are you all right?
Suman: I am fine Priya. Why do you ask?
Priya: I noticed that you were absent for the examination today. I was worried about you.
Suman: Actually I had a problem at home. My mother was unwell and had to be taken to the hospital.
Priya: Oh my God! What happened to her, Suman?
Suman: She had a heart attack. It was all so sudden.
Priya: How is she now?
Suman: She is stable now, Priya. Thank you for your concern.
Priya called Suman and (a) ………….. all right. She said that she had noticed her absence for the examination and was worried about her. Suman admitted that she had a problem at home as her mother (b) ……….a heart attack.
Answer:
Priya called Suman and (a) asked her if she was all right. She said that she had noticed her absence for the examination and was worried about her. Suman admitted that she had a problem at home as her mother (b) had suffered a heart attack.
Section-C
Literature (20 marks)
Question 6.
Answer ANY SIX questions in 30-40 words each. (2 x 6 = 12)
(i) The driver of the bus called Valli, ‘madam’. Briefly elaborate. (2)
Answer:
When Valli was travelling by bus, she was pretending to be more mature than her age. She was too overconfident. The driver was impressed and amused by her behaviour, and hence to tease her, he called her madam.
(ii) What inference do you get about the poet’s attitude towards religion from the poem ‘Animals’? (2)
Answer:
Through his poem, the poet clearly announces that he is a non-believer of religion. He found the very idea of kneeling and praying to a fellow human being who existed a thousand years ago, very objectionable. The gratification of human souls as prophets and his duty towards God was definitely not acceptable to Walt Whitman.
(iii) State how Custard proves his superiority over others? (2)
Answer:
Custard the Dragon was undaunted by the sight of the ferocious pirate. While others who felt he was a coward yet themselves ran to find a safe refuge, Custard stood his ground, used his enormous physical abilities to swallow the pirate, the adversity of Belinda and her pets, in a single gulp.
(iv) What impression of Amanda do you get from the poem ‘Amanda’? (2)
Answer:
Amanda is a little school-going girl. She is constantly nagged by her parent who is probably the mother. She keeps asking Amanda to do this or that, but poor Amanda longs to be free and live life in her own way.
(v) Write a character sketch of Natalya. (2)
Answer:
Natalya is a young girl of twenty-five years. She is Lomov’s neighbour. Natalya is too smart for her age. She has a cunning mind and uses her presence of mind to go with the flow of situations and turn things in her benefits. She is a good house keeper and is not bad looking. She is still unmarried. Her father calls her a lovesick cat. She is educated but doesn’t seem so. Natalya is also very quarrelsome and abusive. She is ambitious too. When she learns Lomov had come to propose to her, she backtracks on her stand and agrees to Lomov’s argument.
(vi) Compare Matilda’s life before and after the fateful dinner party. (2)
Answer:
Before the dinner, Matilda led a frugal life as they did not have too much money and hence had no luxuries. However, they did have a maid and other basic facilities. She dreamt of all the extravagances of life and was unhappy as she did not lead a luxurious life. But post-dinner, Matilda and her husband had to borrow large amounts of money to repay the loans they had taken. This meant letting go of the maid, doing all chores herself and having no savings to fall back on. She then led a hard and harsh life that made her look much older than she was.
(vii) What social attitudes are presented in the story, ‘Bholi’? How does Bholi’s teacher help her overcome these barriers? (2)
Answer:
Bholi stammered, so everyone used to laugh and make fun of her. In the beginning, when she first started attending school, she was afraid to even look up when questioned as she was just a bundle of nerves. Her teacher treated her kindly and affectionately. She encouraged her to have confidence in herself and to be bold, confirming that she would be able to break the barrier of stammering and be like the other girls. The teacher taught her to read and write and made her an independent girl who was aware of her rights. This changed her life.
Question 7.
Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 120 words each. (4 x 2)
(i) Both the prose ‘Making of a Scientist’ and ‘The Hack Driver’, has relations with profession. Discuss the nature of Ebright and the clerk’s professional outlook. (4)
Answer:
The prose ‘The Making of Scientist’ depicts the journey of Ebright becoming a scientist. Curious from birth, he pushed himself further to achieve better results with his observation skills, so that it could lead to vital contributions to science. Even in the face of failures, he did not get disheartened, instead examined his loopholes. He showed excellent dedication to his profession. But in ‘The Hack Driver’, the clerk was a novice clueless man. He got carried away with chatty Bill and could not fulfill his duty. He showed utter carelessness towards his profession. Hence, we can understand that Ebright and the clerk’s respective professional demeanour were polar opposites. One showed perfect professionalism, while the latter, sheer lack of responsibility.
(ii) Buddha and a woman discuss life and death. Develop a conversation between the two, based on your understanding of ‘Sermon at Benaras’. You may start like this: (4)
Woman: Oh lord… The all-knowing… You are so powerful then why bring back my dead son? Buddha: My dear, did you see that there was no house where death has not visited?
Answer:
Woman: “Oh lord… The all-knowing… You are so powerful then why bring back my dead son?”
Buddha: “My dear, did you see that there was no house where death has not visited?”
Woman: “Yes….”
Buddha: “Death is the completion of the cycle of life… There is no living creature who can control death”.
Woman: “But how do we accept this?”
Buddha: “We have to accept that our life is like a bus… Many passengers will come to ride it. Our parents, spouse, children are our co-passengers on this bus. They will get down when it is time.”
Woman: “Then how to live with the sorrow of death?”
Buddha: “There should be no sorrow because all of us will eventually leave this world when it is our time. It is only a matter of time that decides when our souls get to feel them again. No soul shall perish and will be uniting at the ultimate place and time.”
(iii) Describe the first quarrel between Lomov and Natalya. (4)
Answer:
Lomov has come to Natalya’s house to propose to her. When she comes out to speak with him, he starts talking of irrelevant things and then mentions Oxen meadows, a piece of land near Natalya’s land. He claims it to be his, and Natalya, on hearing it, starts asserting that the land was hers. He keeps saying that he has the papers to prove, but Natalya is not prepared to hear any argument and they start quarrelling on this issue. Natalya was not aware that Lomov had come to her with a proposal for marriage and not for quarrelling about a patch of land, hence she behaved foolishly and argued though Lomov had evidence of his ownership.