English Language & Literature

(184) SAMPLE PAPER (Term 1)

Class – X
Time: 90 Minutes Max. Marks 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.

Specific Instructions:

1. The Multiple Choice Questions given in the question paper are not of one mark.
2. Max. Marks: 40
3. No. of Questions to be attempted: 50
4. Marks per Question: 0.80

READING

I. Read the passage given below.

YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT

Every time you go online you leave a trail. This is just like a real footprint. It reveals where
you’ve been, how long you stayed and what you’ve been doing there. Every time you register for
an online service, send an email, download a video or upload a photo, the information can be
accessed and your digital footprint can be revealed. This shouldn’t necessarily be worrying but it
is advisable to be aware of your digital footprint and to be cautious and sensible when you are
online.
Six top tips for taking care of your digital footprint
1. Don’t forget to log off when you leave a website, especially if you are using a shared
computer. If you don’t, someone can easily pretend to be you!
2. Don’t tell anyone your passwords and don’t write them down in an obvious place. Make
them more complex by using a combination of letters, numbers and punctuation marks.
3. Tell an adult if you come across anything online that makes you upset, anxious or concerned.
There are ways to report inappropriate or abusive content and in most cases web managers
respond rapidly.
4. Remember your favourite websites by using the history button and the bookmark function on
your computer or mobile device. This is a way that your digital footprint can work in your
favour, but remember to clear your browser history regularly.
5. If you want to post comments online, you don’t have to use your own name. Invent a
nickname to use instead. You can also use a picture instead of a real photo.
6. Protect your identity online. Be careful about who you share personal information with and
always think twice before sharing details like your email, home address, school or phone number
with someone.

This is the digital age where the life is largely connected to the Internet and depends on it.
Do not post reliable information about oneself on the Internet and protect accounts with double
protection. Store information on a computer and send some important data only in an encrypted
form so that when someone breaks into it, it can’t be received and used for bad purposes.

Think about the future

All kinds of people are interested in your digital footprint. It's now quite common for colleges,
universities and employers to check out the online profiles of possible candidates as part of their
application process. There are cases of people having missed out on jobs and places in college
because their digital footprint didn’t impress the recruiters. So, remember: keep safe, don’t put
too much personal information online and think carefully before you post something. Ask
yourself, ‘Would I be happy for absolutely everyone to see this?’

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of the ten questions by
choosing the correct option.
Q.1. Choose the option that best conveys the idea - ‘Every time you go online you leave a trail.’
A. You can choose what information is recorded about you.
B. It shows where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing.
C. It shows the information sent to recruiters.
D. You can get information about others.

Q.2. If people search for information about you, they can find your …
A. bookmarked websites.
B. passwords.
C. digital footprint.
D. secret information

Q.3. Select the qualities from paragraph I that the author wants us to have while we are online.
Being-
i. sensitive
ii. Cautious
iii.emotional
iv.sensible
v. perceptive
A. i and v
B. iii and v
C. ii and iv
D. iv and v

Q.4. Someone could pretend to be you if you don’t log off when …
A. abandoning a site.
B. posting a comment.
C. sharing a photo.
D. sharing personal information

Q.5. You should make your passwords difficult to guess by …

A. using all capital letters.
B. making them complex.
C. including a symbol.
D. making them simple.

Q.6. If a user reports inappropriate content, …

A. web managers usually react immediately.
B. recruiters often respond.
C. other users want to read what they’ve said.
D. web managers ignore it.

Q.7. You should report abusive remarks on the internet …

A. if you think they are really serious.
B. in all cases.
C. if you can find the contact and have time.
D. only if they affect you

Q.8. Choose the option that lists the quote best expressing the central idea of the passage.
A. “Freedom of Speech doesn't justify online bullying. Words have power, be careful how
you use them.” ― Germany Kent
B. “Your digital footprints speak volumes than your CV” ― Bernard Kelvin Clive
C. “You are what you share.” ~C.W. Leadbeater
D. “In the future, your “digital footprint” will carry far more weight than anything you
might include on a resume.” – Chris Betcher

Q.9. The tips that you wish to give your friend to take care of the digital footprint are
i. write your password in a place where you can find it easily.
ii. use a picture instead of a photo of yourself.
iii. use the history button to find a favourite website.
iv. forget to erase your browser history.
v. keep quiet about inappropriate content that you come across.
vi. use punctuation marks in your password.
 vii. log off when you leave a website.
viii. use your name when you post comments online

A i, iii, v and viii

B. i, iii, v and vii
C. ii. iv, vi and viii
D. ii, iii, vi and vii

Q.10. Select the option that is true for the two statements given below.
i. You leave a footprint when you walk on sand or mud.
ii. Every time you do anything on the internet you leave a trail behind you.

A. i. is the result of ii.

B. i. is the reason for ii.
C. i. is independent of ii.
D. i. contradicts ii.

II. Read the passage given below.

HUNGER PANGS IN INDIA MAY HAVE JUST GOTTEN WORSE

1. One of the mysteries associated with India’s rapid economic expansion over the past
three decades is the persistence of hunger and malnutrition, especially among children. A
recent survey shows the country may be slipping further, instead of improving.

2. Dire straits.
Despite improvements in sanitation and access to water, which could be the reasons for
nutritional deficiency, child malnutrition levels have in fact increased in several states over the
past 5 years. Thus, economic reasons may be at the root of the decline.

3. What do the NFHS findings indicate?

In a number of large states, the proportion of children under 5 who are underweight has risen,
compared to the previous National Family Health Survey (NFHS) round in 2015-16. Even
relatively advanced states like Gujarat and Maharashtra have recorded a slide in the nutritional
well-being of their children since 2015. This is contradictory to what should ideally happen in a
growing economy, since rising prosperity should improve access to food. The ground situation
in 22 states and union territories was captured in phase-I of the survey—which was interrupted
by the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.

4. Could this be a fallout of the pandemic?

The NFHS surveyors had started fanning out to households across the country since mid-2019.
The exercise of reaching out to over 6,00,000 households was likely to last a year, but those
plans were disrupted in March. Thus, the phase-I results have nothing to do with covid-19 and
are an indication of India’s nutritional state before March. If anything, the prevalence of hunger
is only expected to have shot up in subsequent months. The first official glimpse of covid’s
economic impact may thus get captured in phase-II, which will cover key states like Uttar
Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The results will be out by May 2021.
—By Ajai Sreevatsan

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by
choosing the correct option.
Q.11. The purpose of the survey conducted by National Family Health Survey (NFHS) was
to study the . Choose the correct option.
A. India’s rapid economic expansion
B. nutritional deficiency and child malnutrition levels
C. India’s nutritional status
D. Covid’s economic impact

Q. 12. Select the option that is true for the two statements given below.

i. Malnutrition and hunger among children in India is increasing.

ii. In a growing economy, rising prosperity should improve access to food.

A. (1) is the result of (2).

B. (1) is the reason for (2).
C. (1) is independent of (2).
D. (1) contradicts (2).

Q. 13. Based on the graph, which state had the highest proportion of stunted children in the
year 2015-16:
A. Telangana
B. Bihar
C. Maharashtra
D. Gujarat

Q. 14. On the basis of graph, there is not much difference in the proportion of stunted children
in 2019-20, in the states of:
A. Bihar and Telangana
B. Gujarat and Maharashtra
C. West Bengal and Telangana
D. Gujarat and Bihar
Q. 15. Select the option with the underlined word that DOES NOT suitably replace ‘interrupted’
in paragraph 3.
A. Tall trees obstructed his view of the road.
B. The bad weather has seriously disrupted supplies of food.
C. The illness hindered his ability to articulate well.
D. Recovery after the accident will be a continuous process that may take several months.

Q.16. The exercise to reach out to 6,00,000 homes was likely to last but it was
interrupted .
A. 12 months, in March
B. 8 months, after March
C. 9 months, before March
D. 6 months, post Covid

Q. 17. Choose the option that lists the statement that is NOT TRUE.
A. The proportion of children under 5 who are underweight has risen in many states.
B. Phase-I of the survey was interrupted by the pandemic.
C. The economic impact of Covid is visible in phase-I of the survey.
D. The results of phase-II are likely to be out by May 2021.

Q. 18. From the options given below, select the long-term implications of persistence of hunger
and malnutrition
i. Children cannot meaningfully participate in school or end up in highly-skilled, well-paying
jobs
ii. They will be able to contribute towards the economic development of the country.
iii. They will also never fully become a part of the consumer economy
iv. Nutritional deficiencies, particularly stunting, can leave inter-generational effects.
v. Per capita consumption in India will grow manifold.

A. i, iii and iv
B. i, iii and v
C. i, ii and iv
D. ii, iii and iv

GRAMMAR & WRITING

GRAMMAR
III. Answer any five out of the six questions by selecting the most appropriate option
for each.

Q.19. People who zoos are more likely to support animal conservation
and protection.
A. have visited
B. had visited
C. visited
D. visiting

Q. 20. You............consult the Thesaurus if you need groups of synonyms for those words.
A. had to
B. need to
C. used to
D. might

Q.21. The good news is that students failed in the exam compared to the previous test.
A. few
B. less
C. fewer
D. a little

Q.22. Dental hygiene.....................be inculcated in children.

A. should
B. can
C. could
D. might

Q.23. Which option displays the correct change of the following to reported
speech? Johnny told me, “I have seen this movie.”
A. Johnny had said to me that he had seen that movie.
B. Johnny told me that I had seen that movie.
C. Johnny told me that he had seen this movie.
D. Johnny told me that he had seen that movie.

Q. 24. Which option displays the correct change of the following to reported
speech? Renu asked Reena, “What is your plan for tomorrow?”
A. Renu asked Reena what was her plan for the following day.
B. Renu asked Reena what her plan for the following day was.
C. Renu asked Reena what her plan for tomorrow was.
D. Renu asked Reena what was her plan for tomorrow.

WRITING
IV. Answer any five out of the six questions given, with reference to the context below.

Q. 25. Letter to the Editor is sent to .

A. School Authorities
B. Club Authorities
C. Newspaper office
D. Collector’s office

Q. 26. Which of the following are the characteristics of a Letter to the Editor?
A. Sender’s Address, Date, Receiver’s Address, Subject, Salutation and Complimentary close.
B. Statement of problem, Results of problem and solutions.
C. Conclusion must be positive, straight forward with pleasant note and use of polite language.
D. All of them.

Q. 27. When writing a Letter to the Editor you think about issues of public interest. What else is
important?
A. Why you are writing the letter
B. What you need to tell the readers
C. What you want the Editor to do
D. All of the above
Q. 28. When writing a letter to the Editor, we draw the attention of the authorities towards the
problems that concern a large number of people. What else is NOT done?

A. Give reference to the reason/concern for writing.

B. Analyse the issue in terms of its causes and consequences.
C. Offer suggestions/solutions to curb or control the problem or issue.
D. Ask the Editor to solve the problem/ issue.

Q. 29. What is the purpose of writing a Letter to the Editor?

A. To express one’s request.
B. To give warning about the issue.
C. To express one’s opinion or give comment on a current issue.
D. To inform the readers about a certain issue.

Q.30. Which of the following is not the correct tone for Letter to the Editor?
A. Polite
B. Formal
C. Pleasant
D. Humorous

LITERATURE

This section has sub-sections – V, VI, VII, VIII & IX. There are a total of 30 questions
in this section. Attempt as per the instructions given for each section

V. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow: ( Any four)

“It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion, when I discovered
as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me that I began to hunger for it.
At first as a student I wanted freedom only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being able to
stay out at night, read what I pleased and go where I chose. Later, as a young man in
Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms...”

Q.31. The title that best suits this extract is

A. Freedom for everything
B. Knowledge about Freedom
C. Significance of Freedom
D. Realisation of Freedom

Q. 32. Why do you think the speaker mentions some freedoms as ‘transitory’?
A. The freedoms are momentary and keep changing with time.
B. The definition of freedom is constant but perspectives differ.
C. Freedom means different things to different people.
D. Freedom is not that important after a certain age.
Q.33. Choose the option that best fits the usage of the word ‘illusion’ as used
in the extract.
A. He was never able to get past the illusion.
B. The illusion I experienced was quite intriguing.
C. A large mirror in the room creates an illusion.
D. I was living under the illusion that this is possible.

Q.34. The speaker says, ‘at first as a student I wanted freedom only for
myself.’ Why do you think he only thought about himself?
A. He didn’t want to think about the freedom denied to others.
B. He was being selfish and was only bothered about himself.
C. He didn’t think that freedom denied to him was important for others.
D. He was too young to realise that freedom was denied to others as well.

Q.35. A part of the extract has been paraphrased. Choose the option that includes the
most appropriate solution to the blanks in the given paraphrase of the extract.
The speaker’s belief about freedom since childhood proved false. It was not until the speaker
grew up to be a young man when it i) on him that he was ii)
of freedom. Then he began iii) _ it.

A. i) desired ii) dawned iii) depriving

B. i) dawned ii) deprived iii) desiring
C. i) dawned ii) arrived iii) desiring
D. i) arrived ii) deprived iii) dawned

VI. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:( Any four)

Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his
own, ran to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up courage to
take that plunge…. His father and mother had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding
him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away.

Q.36. What is the advantage that the young seagull had over his brothers and sister?
A. The young Seagull had longer wings
B. The young Seagull had shorter wings
C. The young seagull could fly easily
D. The young seagull could help his brothers and sister to fly

Q.37. The lesson "His First Flight" urges everyone to

A. Learn to fly
B. Try their best to support others
C. Muster courage to take a new step in life
D. Be a motivation for all the people around you

Q.38. Why was the seagull afraid to fly?

A. He was very sad
B. He lacked confidence in his ability of flying
C. He could not open his wings
D. He had to starve there.
Q.39. Choose the sentence which best suits the meaning of ‘muster’ as used in the lesson from
the options given. What does the word ‘Muster’ mean here?
A. I shall await your arrival with all the eagerness I can muster.
B. I couldn’t even muster a Hello.
C. He tried to muster enough courage to ask her out.
D. It was a command to muster the troops.

Q.40. How did his parents coax him to fly?

A. By calling him shrilly
B. By unbraiding him
C. By threatening him
D. All of them

VII. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:( Any four)
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
Q.41. What is the tone of the stanza?
A. Serious and sorrowful
B. Light and cheerful
C. Narrative and inquisitive
D. Humorous and playful

Q.42. What does ‘rued’ mean in the last line of the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?
A. Felt regretful or sorrowful
B. Felt happy and excited
C. Repented
D. Apologised

Q.43. What kind of a poem is Dust of Snow?

A. Nature poem
B. Epic poem
C. Lyrical poem
D. Acrostic poem

Q.44. How is the mood of the poet in this stanza?

A. Sad
B. Cheerful
C. Anxious
D. Curious

Q.45. How did the poet feel in the

end? The poet felt
A. Satisfied that he had saved some part of the day
B. Sad that the day was ruined
C. Excited that he needn’t do anything for the rest of the day
D. Worried that he couldn’t hope against hope.
VIII. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:( Any four)

The entire staff was roused and maids rushed in and out bringing his day bed, his night bed,
favourite cushions, toys and rubber rings, breakfast bowl, lunch bowl, supper bowl. Realising
that my car would never hold all the stuff, I started to drive away. As I moved off, Mrs
Pumphrey, with a despairing cry, threw an armful of the little coats through the window. I
looked in the mirror before I turned the corner of the drive; everybody was in tears. Out on the
road, I glanced down at the pathetic little animal gasping on the seat by my side. I patted the
head and Tricki made a brave effort to wag his tail. “Poor old lad,” I said. “You haven’t a kick in
you but I think I know a cure for you.”

Q.46. What might the atmosphere of the household in the above extract signify?
A. Mrs Pumphrey’s status in society reflected in Tricki’s lifestyle.
B. The staff’s love for Tricki, which matched that of Mrs. Pumphrey
C. The grand life of comforts and luxuries that Tricki enjoyed.
D. Mrs. Pumphrey’s indulgence and anxiety acted upon by the staff.

Q.47. Given below are emoticons reflecting various expressions and reactions.
Choose the option that correctly describes the narrator’s mindset in the given extract.

A. Options (i) and (iii)

B. Options (ii) and (iv)
C. Options (iii) and (v)
D. Options (ii) and (v)

Q.48. Given below are some well-known quotes shared by the staff to console Mrs.
Pumphrey, after Tricki’s departure.
Choose the option that correctly identifies the quote that IS NOT appropriate to
the consolation offered.
(i) “Once you choose hope, anything is possible.”
(ii) “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
(iii) “We grow fearless by walking into our fears.”
(iv) “ Mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things.”

A. Option (i)
B. Option (ii)
C. Option (iii)
D. Option (iv)

Q.49. As the extract indicates, Mrs. Pumphrey indulged Tricki and bought him many
things. Choose the option that best describes the kinds of advertisement/s that seem
likely to persuade Mrs. Pumphrey to buy something for Tricki.
(i) Statistics Appeal – Such advertisements use facts and data to convince consumers
to buy products.
(ii) Scarcity Appeal – Such advertisements create a feeling of exclusivity and are often
used to convince people to take advantage of a sale or limited period offer.
(iii) Personal Appeal – Such advertisements focus on evoking emotions to
convince consumers and often relate to family or other inter-personal interactions.
(iv) Fear Appeal – Such advertisements focus on inspiring some kind of fear to
convince consumers to take action in order to avoid certain negative or undesirable
consequences.

A. Options (i), (ii) and (iv)

B. Options (iii) and (iv)
C. Options (i), (iii) and (iv)
D. Option (ii) only

Q.50. The narrator describes Tricki as a “pathetic little animal”. The use of the word
‘pathetic’ indicates that the narrator

A. was very fond of Tricki.

B. thought Tricki was contemptible.
C. pitied Tricki’s condition.
D. believed Tricki’s health was deteriorating.

IX. Attempt all the following.

Q.51. What unintended effect did the decades of oppression and brutality have on the blacks?
A. created men of extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity
B. wiped out poverty and suffering
C. exiled to foreign nations
D. both 2 and 3

Q.52. What was the most likely response that the postmaster expected in Lencho’s second letter?
i) sorrowful
ii) gratitude
iii) disappointment
iv) elation
v) shock

A. ii and v
B. i and iii
C. ii and iv
D. iii and v

Q.53. Of the many symbols the hemlock tree represents, choose the one that Frost drew upon
in all likelihood, for this poem. Symbol of
A. longevity.
B. togetherness.
C. healing.
D. protection.
Q.54. Which option correctly lists the reason for the tiger ‘stalking the length of his cage’?

A. Animals tend to cover large distances and burn a lot of their energy by hunting for prey,
in their natural habitat. Zoos deprive them of such stimulation and they are restless and
bored.
B. Animals are scared of visitors gazing at them in their unnatural surroundings. Zoos are
places where animals are far removed from the privacy of their natural habitat.
C. Animals dislike human noises in the city and react to them aggressively. Zoos are
often located in cities or outskirts.
D. Animals require human love and care and miss this when in captivity. Zoos are places
where they walk around mechanically to attract human attention.

Q.55. In what way might the reference to the Dakota as “old” be relevant?
A. Its antique value made it expensive and precious to the narrator.
B. It is employed by the narrator as a term of endearment.
C. It did not have enough fuel to fly around the storm clouds.
D. Its ability to negotiate the storm clouds might have been suspect.

Q.56. ‘Paper has more patience than people.’ What does this
imply? This implies that Anne
A. believed in the power of writing more than speaking to people.
B. felt that she could pour her heart out on paper without any hindrance.
C. had more faith in sharing her thoughts and feelings with paper.
D. felt that she could share her feelings openly on paper.

Q57. Why was Wanda’s answer to Peggy’s question always the same? Pick the LEAST probable
reason. This was so because she knew that
A. she was being picked on and it was probably her defence.
B. confessing the truth would probably worsen the situation.
C. she didn’t know how else to get out of that situation.
D. sticking to an unexpected answer would get her the attention she needed.

Q.58. Anil looked easy-going, kind and simple to the narrator.

Which of the given characteristics would NOT fit in with this description?
A. compassionate
B. suave
C. uncomplicated
D. carefree

Q.59. Why were the boys surprised to see a barefooted man in

London? The boys were surprised as
A. it was an unusual sight to see someone this way.
B. everybody in London moved around in shoes.
C. it was pretty cold to move around bare feet.
D. only a person who is homeless and wandering does so.

Q.60. What does the reference to Tricki as a “silky little object” signify?
A. Tricki was a very small and rather pampered dog.
B. Tricki was comfortably attired in fine silks and warm coats.
C. Unlike the other dogs, Tricki had lived in the lap of luxury with care and grooming.
D. The narrator’s mockery of Tricki’s life and treatment with Mrs. Pumphrey.