English Language and Literature (184)

SAMPLE PAPER 1
CLASS X
TIME : 90 Minutes M.M. 40
General Instructions:
1. The Question Paper contains THREE sections.
2. Section A-READING has 18 questions. Attempt a total of 14 questions, as per specific instructions for
each question.
3. Section B-WRITING & GRAMMAR has 12 questions. Attempt a total of 10 questions, as per specific
instructions for each question.
4. Section C-LITERATURE has 30 questions. Attempt 26 questions, as per specific instructions for each
question.
5. All questions carry equal marks.
6. There is no negative marking.
READING
I. Read the passage given below.
In the 1950s, Central American commercial banana growers were facing the death of their most
lucrative product, the Gros Michel banana, known as Big Mike. And now it’s happening again to Big
Mike’s successor – the Cavendish.
With its easily transported, thick-skinned and sweet-tasting fruit, the Gros Michel banana plant
dominated the plantations of Central America. United Fruit, the main grower and exporter in South
America at the time, mass-produced its bananas in the most efficient way possible: it cloned shoots
from the stems of plants instead of growing plants from seeds, and cultivated them in densely packed
fields.
Unfortunately, these conditions are also perfect for the spread of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.
sp. cubense, which attacks the plant’s roots and prevents it from transporting water to the stem and
leaves. The TR-1 strain of the fungus was resistant to crop sprays and travelled around on boots or the
tyres of trucks, slowly infecting plantations across the region. In an attempt to escape the fungus,
farmers abandoned infected fields, flooded them and then replanted crops somewhere else, often
cutting down rainforest to do so.
Their efforts failed. So, instead, they searched for a variety of banana that the fungus didn’t affect.
They found the Cavendish, as it was called, in the greenhouse of a British duke. It wasn’t as well suited
to shipping as the Gros Michel, but its bananas tasted good enough to keep consumers happy. Most
importantly, TR-1 didn’t seem to affect it. In a few years, United Fruit had saved itself from bankruptcy
by filling its plantations with thousands of the new plants, copying the same monoculture growing
conditions Gros Michel had thrived in.
While the operation was a huge success for the Latin American industry, the Cavendish banana itself is
far from safe. In 2014, South East Asia, another major banana producer, exported four million tons of
Cavendish bananas. But, in 2015, its exports had dropped by 46 per cent thanks to a combination of
another strain of the fungus, TR-4, and bad weather.
Growing practices in South East Asia haven’t helped matters. Growers can’t always afford the
expensive lab-based methods to clone plants from shoots without spreading the disease. Also, they
often aren’t strict enough about cleaning farm equipment and quarantining infected fields. As a result,
the fungus has spread to Australia, the Middle East and Mozambique – and Latin America, heavily
dependent on its monoculture Cavendish crops, could easily be next.
Racing against the inevitable, scientists are working on solving the problem by genetically modifying
the Cavendish with genes from TR-4-resistant banana species. But if the new bananas are planted in
the same monocultures as the Cavendish and the Gros Michel before it, the risk is that another strain
of the disease may rise up to threaten the modified plants too.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY EIGHT questions from the twelve that
follow:
1. Select the option that uses the word “dominated” in the same way as used in the passage.
a) Her loud voice dominated the conversation.
b) She dominated the meeting by sheer force of character.
c) The Han Dynasty of China dominated much of ancient East Asia for a long time
 d) Carbon dioxide dominates Mars’ atmosphere
2. The word ‘lucrative’ DOES NOT mean _____________
a) useless
b) advantageous
c) productive
d) remunerative
3. The TR-1 strain was NOT spread by __________________
I. crop spraying.
II. people and vehicles.
III. lack of water.
IV. flooding of banana fields.

a) I, II, III
b) I, III, IV
c) II, III, IV
d) II, IV, I

4. Which of the given sentences are true?

I. The Cavendish replaced the Gros Michel.
II. The Cavendish was resistant to the fungus.
III. The Cavendish stopped United Fruit from losing more money.
IV. The Cavendish bananas were easier to transport than the Gros Michel.

a) III, IV
b) I, IV
c) II, III, IV
d) I, II, III
5. How would you describe the writer’s opinion of the future of the Cavendish?
a) Hopeful
b) Wary
c) Undesirable
d) Apathetic
6. The reason South East Asia's Cavendish exports fell in 2015 was because ______
a) farmers can’t afford new farming technology.
b) they had to quarantine their fruit.
c) they depended too much on other countries.
d) a new strain of the fungus had developed.
7. Genetically modifying bananas may ________________
a) mean farmers can grow the Gros Michel again.
b) cause farmers to repeat the mistakes of the past.
c) encourage farmers to try new growing methods.
d) only be a short-term solution.
8. Choose the statements that are true about Cavendish.

1. Suitable for 2.Vulnerable to TR-4 3. It is at risk in Central 4. An attempt to save

commercial strain of the fungus America the banana was by
use  because it ships genetically modifying
well and tastes sweet. crops

a) 1 and 2
b) 3 and 4
c) 2 and 4
d) 2 and 3
 9. Which one of the following statements is an informal expression about ‘bankruptcy’?
a) The supermarket isn’t there anymore – it went bust ages ago.
b) The bank manager went bonkers trying to manage the finances.
c) The firm has been in financial difficulties for some time.
d) The bank was declared insolvent.
10. Which is closest to the meaning of the expression ‘Racing against the inevitable…’?
a) hoping against hope
b) one’s days are numbered
c) fighting against death
d) battling against destiny

II. Read the passage given below:

Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media,
messaging platforms, gaming platforms and mobile phones. It is repeated behaviour, aimed at scaring,
angering or shaming those who are targeted.
According to a recent study by internet security company McAfee, kids are witnessing and sometimes
engaging in cyber bullying and their parents often remain oblivious to the fact.
Cyberbullying can have both short- and long-term effects on everyone involved. Research has found
that compared with peers who were not cyberbullied, children who were cyberbullied reported higher
levels of depression and thoughts of suicide, as well as greater emotional distress, hostility, and
delinquency. Because cyberbullying occurs in cyberspace, online bullying feels permanent. Kids know
that once something is out there, it will always be out there. They feel exposed. Additionally, kids who
are cyberbullied may experience changes in eating habits like skipping meals or binge eating. And their
sleep patterns may be impacted. They may suffer from insomnia, sleep more than usual or experience
nightmares.
So, if you are experiencing cyberbullying, speaking to a trusted adult – someone you feel safe talking
to – is one of the most important first steps you can take. Explain how serious the problem is for you.
Bullying and harassment are highly personal by nature, so in many instances, a person needs to report
this behaviour before some action is taken. Facebook and Instagram have dedicated help centres for
the same. And now Twitter has also enabled bystander reporting.
Cyber bullies face very serious consequences.  Many cases of cyber bullying include some form of
hacking, password or identity theft, or stalking, all of which carry criminal charges.   If it happens at
school, disciplinary measures would be determined in accordance with the school’s code of conduct or
policy prohibiting bullying, harassment and intimidation. 
However, it is important to remember that punishment is not always the most effective way to change
the behaviour of bullies. It is often better to focus on repairing the harm and mending the relationship.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage attempt ANY SIX questions from the twelve that
follow:
11. Which of the following is NOT an example of cyber-bullying?
a) spreading lies about or posting embarrassing photos of someone on social media
b) sending hurtful messages or threats via messaging platforms
c) sending friendship requests to people who are complete strangers
d) impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf
12. ‘Bystander reporting’ option enabled by Twitter could mean __________
a) Acting as a bystander to witness bullying
b) Complaining on behalf of another person
c) Playing the role of a good bystander
d) Reporting a bystander to the authorities
13. Which of these uses the word ‘platform’ in the same way as mentioned in the passage?
a) Platform shoes might look crazily high, but they can actually be much easier to walk
b) An elderly lady stood up and said she had a question for the platform.
c) Passengers wishing to take the Kings Cross train should go to platform 9.
d) We are currently selling advertisements across several different platforms - web, internet phones, and
multiple sections of the newspaper.
 14. Who out of the following has been a victim of cyber-bullying?
a) Ranjit is always teased miserably in the school bus for dozing off enroute and snoring loudly. He
suffers from insomnia now.
b) Ashima has been playing video games online for the past month and is now under depression as her
exams are approaching.
c) Ritwik has stopped eating since nobody posted any comments on the pictures he had uploaded on
Instagram.
d) Shreya spent many sleepless nights knowing that one of her classmates had forged a Facebook page in
her name.
15. Choose the option that lists statement that is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
a) Cyberbullying can affect the being of a person for a long time.
b) Online bullying is permanent as it happens in cyberspace.
c) The bullied have shown more emotional distress than the ones who were not bullied.
d) A trusted adult’s help can be sought in cases of cyber-bullying
16. The message conveyed in the last paragraph is ____________
a) Live and let live
b) Forgive and forget
c) If you commit a crime, there has to be a punishment
d) Get mad and get even
17. Which of the following is NOT a sign of emotional distress?
a) drinking too much water
b) feeling guilty without a clear cause
c) spending a lot of time worrying
d) isolating from people or activities
18. Cyber bullied children are depressed because
a) cyberspace bullying feels permanent
b) Kids feel exposed
c) They experience changes in eating habits like skipping meals or binge eating
d) both a and b
GRAMMAR AND WRITING
GRAMMAR
III. Answer any five out of the six questions by selecting the most appropriate option for each.
19.  Alice, as well as John, _______ shocked by the news.
a) was
b) were
c) have
d) has
20. There were _______ children in the class than expected.
a) few
b) fewer
c) less
d) lesser
The children and their parents were on a holiday. Suddenly John 21.______________ sick
and 22._______________ to be rushed to the hospital

21. a) fallen b) fell c) felled d) had fallen

22. a) was b) is c) had d) has
 Garfield told Jon he must have been hungry the night before. Garfield added 23.
____________________ millions of them. Jon 24. __________________Garfield said that he was
missing some of the wall paper.
23. a) he dreamt that he was eating flowers
b) he had dreamt that he had been eating flowers
c)he dreamed that he was eating flowers
d) he dreamt that he was eating flowers
24. a) asked Garfield what was he trying to say
b) asked Garfield what he was trying to say
c) asked Garfield what he was trying to say
d) asked Garfield what were you trying to say
WRITING
IV. Answer any five out of the six questions given, with reference to the context below.
You are Mayur/Mayura, a resident of Pigeon colony, Amrut Nagar, Allahabad. You have been noticing
that many people are visiting the park near your house without wearing masks. Many children from
your colony also play there in the evenings. Write a letter to the manager of the association regarding
this and highlight the importance of continuing to adhere to the covid prevention rules and
regulations. Suggest few ways to spread awareness among the people visiting the park.
25. Select the option with relevant aspects that Mayur/Mayura should select, for this letter.
1. The designation of the receiver
2. Informal tone
3. Mayur/Mayura’s phone number
4. Expected date of the reply to the letter
5. Subscription
a) 1 and 5
b) 2 and 3
c) 2 and 4
d) 2, 3 and 4
26. Select the appropriate subject for this letter.
a) Importance of covid prevention rules
b) Adhering to the covid rules and regulations
c) Spreading awareness among the people visiting the park
d) People should not come out without wearing masks
27. Complete the opening line
Through this letter, I want to bring to your notice the ______________ behaviour of people visiting the
society park adjoining my house.
a) casual
b) careless
c) negligent
d) silly
28. Complete the concluding paragraph.
I request the association members to _______________________________.
a) publish an article in your newsletter to spread awareness.
b) take strict action against the defaulters.
c) speak with the residents and persuade them to follow covid protocols.
d) take out leaflets and posters and spread awareness.
 29.  Which option should Mayur/ Mayura select, to elaborate on behaving as responsible citizens?
(1) * social distancing, wearing masks and face (2) * counter this threat, do not infect the whole
shields, sanitising society, tackle deadly covid 19
(3) * take strict action against the defaulters, (4) * keep a check on people’s behaviour and
arrange for CCTV cameras actions, correcting them when there is need.

30 Select the correct order

(1) Mention the subject
(2) Write the body of the letter
(3) The designation and address of the receiver
(4) The address of the sender
(5) Start with a proper salutation
a) 4, 3, 5, 1, 2
b) 4, 1, 3, 5, 2
c) 3, 4, 1, 2, 5
d) 3, 4, 1, 5, 2
LITERATURE
This section has sub-sections – V, VI, VII, VIII & IX. There are a total of 30 questions in this section.
Attempt any 26 questions from the sub-sections V to IX.
V. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
The way a crowshook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.

31. What literary device is evident in the use of the word ‘hemlock’ and ‘snow’?
a) Metaphor
b) Symbolism
c) Personification
d) Assonance

32. The word ‘rued’ DOES NOT mean

a) happy
b) regretted
c) sad
d) repentant
33. Out of the following pictures choose the best combination that captures the theme of the poem.

1 2 3 4

a) 1, 4 b) 2, 3 c) 3, 4 d) 1, 2

34. In the given lines, the poet does NOT imply. (Choose the right combination)
1. We should be happy at all times
2. Nature has a valuable role in our life
3. We can have mood swings
4. Crows are a source of joy
a) 1, 2, 4
b) 2, 3, 4
c) 1, 3, 4
d) 1, 2, 3
35. ‘Dust of Snow’ represents
a) particles of snow
b) healing power of nature
c) communication with nature
d) peace and harmony

VI.He stalks in his vivid stripes

The few steps of his cage
On pads of velvet quiet
In his quiet rage.
36. Name the poetic device used in the line "On pads of velvet quiet".
A) metaphor and oxymoron
B) assonance and simile
C) Oxymoron and alliteration
D) Consonance and anaphora
37. What has been personified in the poem?
A) tiger
B) forest
C) zoo
D) all of the above
38. What describes ‘tiger in a cell’?
a) quiet rage
b) vivid stripes
c) velvet quiet
d) stalks
39. How does the tiger walk in the cell?
(a) With great difficulty
(b) With ease
(c) With practice
(d) None of the above
40. What does the tiger feel in the cage?
(a) despondency
(b) jubilance
(c) outrageous
(d) astonishment
VII. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
A few moments later we all lifted our eyes in awe as a spectacular array of South African jets,
helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings. It was not
only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but a demonstration of the military’s loyalty
to democracy, to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected. Only moments
before, the highest generals of the South African defence force and police, their chests bedecked
with ribbons and medals from days gone by, saluted me and pledged their loyalty. I was not
unmindful of the fact that not so many years before they would not have saluted but arrested me.
Finally, a chevron of Impala jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue and gold of the
new South African flag.

41. Choose the picture that shows the ‘chevron’ pattern.

 1 2 3 4

a) OPTION 1
b) OPTION 2
c) OPTION 3
d) OPTION 4

42. The extract uses the phrase, ‘left a smoke trail’. Which of the following expressions is incorrect with
respect to the word ‘trail’?

a) OPTION (1)
b) OPTION (2)
c) OPTION (3)
d) OPTION (4)

43. Pick out the statement that is incorrect according to the chapter.
a) The police force was ready to arrest Mandela prior to their freedom.
b) The pin point precision showed only the expertise of the pilots.
c) The defence forces were ready to pledge their loyalty.
d) The audience was spellbound by the aerial display.

44. The phrase ‘not unmindful of the fact…’ can be rewritten as _______________
a) I remembered
b) I forgot
c) I thought
d) I did not remember

45.The significance of conducting the celebration in the precincts of the UNION BUILDING is
because ____________
a) It was made of sandstone
b) It had a large capacity.
c) It had been the seat of white supremacy till then.
d) It was a sign of the Black supremacy.
VIII. It was a temptation to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest, but I knew Mrs Pumphrey was
suffering and after a fortnight, felt compelled to phone and tell her that the little dog had recovered
and was awaiting collection.
46. Why is the narrator tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest?
A) because he loved Tricki
B) he thought Mrs. Pumphrey woudn’t take good care of Tricki
C) they would lose all Luxuries like eggs, wine and brandy
D) none of the above
47. What made the narrator call Mrs Pumphrey after a fortnight?
A) Tricki got recovered
B) Tricki got unwell
C) he knew she is suffering
D) both a and c
48. What was Mrs Pumphrey’s ailment?
a) physical weakness
b) worry and depression
c) luxury and comfort
d) solitude
49. How would you decribe Mrs. Pumphrey?
A) loving
B) over-doing
C) intelligent
D) rational
50. Given below are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the
statements carefully and choose the correct alternative from the following.
Assertion (A) Mrs Pumphrey is a symbol of too much pampering. Her pampering is due to the love and
affection towards Tricky.
Reason (R) Parents like Mrs. Pumphrey are very common to find. Such parents give over love to their
children.
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 but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.
IX. Attempt the following
51. What is the irony in this lesson?
(a) Lencho was sad after the hailstorm even though he was the one waiting for a shower
(b) Postmaster laughed at Lencho but still helped arrange money for him
(c) Lencho blamed the post office employees who in fact helped him
(d) There is no irony
52. Which of the following feelings did the young gull, NOT feel according to the given context? “...all
day long, he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sister...”
(i) sad
(ii) incompetent
(iii) excluded
(iv) ungrateful
(v) inspired
(vi) jealous
(vii) anxious
a) i, iii, vi
b) ii, v, vii
c) ii, iii, vii
d) iv, v, vi
53. The narrator exclaimed that he was “safe” in The Black Aeroplane. Which of the following
represented the most immediate threat to the narrator’s safety?
a) The black mountain-like storm cloud
b) The depletion of fuel in the last fuel tank
c) Being lost due to non-functioning equipment
d) The old rattling Dakota aeroplane
54. Wanda didn’t reply to the letter for weeks. Pick the option that DOES NOT supply a possible reason
for this, from those given below.
a) The letter took more than a couple of weeks reaching her as it didn’t have an address and needed to
be forwarded.
b) She needed time to forgive Maddie and Peggy and think her reply through.
c) Peggy had second thoughts after mailing the letter and reclaimed it from the post office, to mail
weeks later.
d)She was occupied with settling in at the new school in the city.
55. Pick the option that reveals Tricki’s characteristics in the context of ‘fighting like a tiger for his
share at mealtimes and hunting rats in the old henhouse at night.’
1. selfish
2. happy
3. greedy
3. confident
5. sturdy
6. cruel
a) 2,4 and 5
b) Only 2
c) 1 and 5
d) 3,4 and 6
56. Assertion- (A) The poet refers 'fire' and 'ice' in the poem to predict the end of the world.
Reason – (R) fire’ stands for greed, conflict, lust, cruelty and 'Ice' stands for insensitivity, coldness,
intolerance, indifference, rigidity and hatred
Options-
a) Both A and R are true and R is correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true and R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true.
e) Both A and R are false
57. What can you infer from the lines given below?
“But I knew that Anil’s face, when he discovered the theft, would show only a touch of
sadness. Not for loss of money, but for the loss of trust.”
1. The thief knew a person’s feeling by looking at his face.
2. The Thief knew that Anil would care about him and the money.
3. The Thief knew if Anil had caught him, he would have called the police and got him imprisoned.
4. The thief knew that his action would sadden Anil.
a) Only option 2 can be inferred.
b) Options 2 and 3 can be inferred.
c) Only option 4 can be inferred.
d) Options 1 and 4 can be inferred.
58. With reference to the story ‘Footprints Without Feet’, which of the following statements
is/are true?
1. Griffin stole the formula from the elf to become invisible.
2. Griffin stole shoes, an overcoat and a hat from a store in London.
3. At the end of the story, Griffin removed his bandages and became a headless man.
4. The boys finally caught Griffin but he tricked them again and ran away.
5. When Mrs. Hall found Griffin’s room empty, the table came flying and dashed into her face.
a) Only 1
b) Only 2 and 3
c) Only 2 and 4
d) Only 5
59. A world of possession in The Ball Poem means----
a) World of reality
b) world of imagination
c) world of deception
d) word of materialism
60. Why do you think Mr Keesing chose the title - ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox’ - for
Anne, to write on? This was so because he expected
a) Anne to express her inability to elaborate on such a topic.
b) that this would embarrass Anne and would check her indiscipline.
c) her to apologise and not repeat her talkative behaviour.
d) Anne to explore her creative writing skills