Class 10 English: CBSE Sample Question Paper- (2019-20) - 5 | CBSE Sample Papers For Class 10 PDF Download

SECTION - A

Q.1. Read the following passage carefully:
1. Traditionally a communication device, the mobile phone in the modern world has come a long way. In today’s world, one just cannot think of life without a mobile phone. Mobile phones and mobile applications are part of life now. From the alarm that rings in the morning to connecting with friends through Facebook or Twitter, we have imbibed mobile phones in every sphere of our life. 
2. There are people who are satisfied with just using the mobile prayer application on their phone, while there are others whose life revolves around their mobile, from checking emails to getting reports, to forwarding presentations and even making presentation through wireless devices. 
3. Can a device like a mobile phone, help you in keeping yourself fit? The new generation mobile phone is much more than just a calling, texting or emailing device. They have given a new dimension to what traditionally used to be just a communication device. 
4. The new age applications touch every sphere of our life, from social networking to office management, from gaming to mobile entertainment, from reference studies to navigation aids, and lastly to keep you fit. Mobile phone has artificial intelligence to understand what you do. 
5. Smart phones have cardio trainers. After workout routine has been selected, the application can track your exercises. It can also play music while you are exercising. The power of smart phone can only be understood once it has been used. Today these applications can change the way a phone behaves. It is not just a cosmetic change but rather a drastic change in the functionality of the device from being one to ‘be in touch' to a device that enables us, empowers us. 
6. These smart phones are very much affordable. Although the mobile phone companies offer high-end phones that come with a variety of slick features and which you can further improve upon by downloading applications, they also offer phones that offer a fairly good range of features at competitive prices.
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any eight of the following questions:
(а) The first use of a mobile phone in the morning is _________.
(c) Traditional use of a mobile phone was __________.
(i) checking emails
(ii) getting reports
(iii) forwarding and making presentations
(iv) communication
(d) A mobile phone can understand what you do with the help of _______________ .
(e) What are the new age applications available on a mobile phone?
(f) How can a mobile phone be used for fitness?
(g) How are companies improving their high-end-phones?
(h) What drastic change has taken place in the use of mobile phones?
(i) The word in para 6 which means ‘reasonably priced’ is __________.
Ans. (а) the alarm that rings
(b) Facebook or twitter
(c) (iv) communication.
(d) artificial intelligence
(e) New age applications available on a mobile phone are social networking, office management, navigation, gaming, mobile entertainment, reference studies and keeping us fit.
(f) A mobile phone can be used for keeping us fit with the help of the app ‘cardio trainers’. After a workout has been selected, the application can track our exercises. It can also play music while you are exercising.
(g) Companies are improving their high-end phones by offering a fairly good range of slick features at competitive prices. They can be further improved by downloading applications.
(h) Drastic change in the use of mobile phones is in the way it now behaves. It has enabled and empowered us with its 'to be in touch’ functionality.
(i) competitive price

Q.2. Read the passage given below.
First introduced in 1927, The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories are a series of books about the adventures of brothers Frank and Joe Hardy, teenaged detectives who solve one baffling mystery after another. The Hardy Boys were so popular among young boys that in 1930 a similar series was created for girls featuring a sixteen-year-old detective named Nancy Drew. The cover of each volume of The Hardy Boys states that the author of the series is Franklin W. Dixon; the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories are supposedly written by Carolyn Keene. Over the years, though, many fans of both series have been surprised to find out that Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene are not real people. If Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene never existed, then who wrote The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries?
The Hardy Boys and the Nancy Drew books were written through a process called ghostwriting. A ghostwriter writes a book according to a specific formula. While ghostwriters are paid for writing the books, their authorship is not acknowledged, and their names do not appear on the published books. Ghostwriters can write books for children or adults, the content of which is unspecific. Sometimes they work on book series with a lot of individual titles, such as The Hardy Boys and the Nancy Drew series.
The initial idea for both The Hardy Boys and the Nancy Drew series was developed by a man named Edward Stratemeyer, who owned a publishing company that specialized in children’s books. Stratemeyer noticed the increasing popularity of mysteries among adults, and surmised that children would enjoy reading mysteries about younger detectives with whom they could identify.
Stratemeyer first developed each book with an outline describing the plot and setting. Once he completed the outline, Stratemeyer then hired a ghost writer to convert it into a book of slightly over 200 pages. After the ghost writer had written a draft of a book, he or she would send it back to Stratemeyer, who would make a list of corrections and mail it back to the ghost writer. The ghost writer would revise the book according to Stratemeyer’s instructions and then return it to him. Once Stratemeyer approved the book, it was ready for publication.
2.1 Answer the following Questions
(a) What kinds of books are The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories?
(b) What has surprised the fans of Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books?
(c) How is ghostwriting done?
(d) What role did Stratemeyer play in the publishing of Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books?
Ans.(a) They are a series of books about the adventures ofbrothers Frank and Joe Hardy, teenaged detectives who solve one mystery after another.
(b) The cover of each volume of The Hardy Boys states that the author of the series is Franklin W. Dixon; the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories are supposedly written by Carolyn Keene. But it was found that they are not real people.
(c) A ghostwriter writes a book according to a specific formula. While ghostwriters are paid for writing the books, their authorship is not acknowledged, and their names do not appear on the published books.
(d) Stratemeyer first developed each book with an outline describing the plot and setting.
Then he hired a ghost writer to convert it into a draft. He would then list the corrections and approve of the final book.

2.2 Fill in the blanks:
(i) The Hardy Boys and Nancy drew books were written through a process called____________.
(ii) The Hardy Boys was introduced in_____________.
Ans. (i) Ghostwriting
(ii) 1972

2.3 Find meanings of the words given below with the help of options that follow:
(a) acknowledged (para 2)
i. understood
ii. recognised
iii. told
iv. read
(b) approved (para 4)
i. refused
ii. edited
iii. rejected
iv. accepted
Ans. (a) ii. recognised
(b) iv. accepted 

SECTION - B

Q.3. You are Samaira/Sanjay. Write an article in 100-120 words on the topic, ‘Evils of Child Labour’.
Ans. Evils of Child Labour
- by Samaira
Child labour is a major cause of concern especially in third world countries. India is one of them. Though there are laws prohibiting child labour still child labour persists. Impoverished parents often fail to educate their child who has no option but to take up any job he finds. He, rather, becomes an earning hand for his family, at an age where most children play, study and enjoy themselves. At a tender age, they are burdened with responsibilities and exposed to abuse and exploitation. They become a means of cheap labour for the tea stall owners, shopkeepers, hotels, garages, automobile workshops and as domestic help. School and having two square meals for millions of child labourers is but a dream. What is worse is that child labour often magnifies into deeper problems like child trafficking and sexual abuse. We certainly can stop this malpractice by becoming a socially responsible consumer. Charity begins at home, if you see a neighbour engaging a child as a domestic help or a hotel or garage employing them tell them it is illegal or inform the police. Public awareness and the will to eradicate social malpractices can do wonders.
Or
You intend to visit Rajasthan. Write a letter of inquiry in 100-120 words addressed to the Manager, ‘Travel Unlimited’, seeking information about the duration, boarding, lodging, transport, sight-seeing, expenditure and other necessary details for the trip.
You are Rahul/Rita of 240, Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi.
Ans. 
240, Rajiv Chowk
New Delhi
E-mail : raj-v1409@yahoo.com
10th February, 20.....
To
The Manager
Travel Unlimited
New Delhi
Subject: Information regarding a trip to Rajasthan.
Sir
I, along with my 10 friends, all boys, wish to visit Rajasthan during the month of October. I require information about the trips organised by you. Kindly let me know about the sight seeing places, which we could visit, the duration of trips, according to the number of places covered, in that time period, and the names of hotels where you would arrange board and lodging for our group. The type of transport and the charges, there of would also be needed.
An itenary, with different options and the expenditure involved, would enable us to choose and decide, accordingly. However, we would like to have a comfortable stay in at least Four Star hotels, room sharing is no problem. Second class AC Sleeper/chair car wherever possible would be our choice. For local sight - seeing AC mini bus/Innova Taxis would be preferred. You could send me the details at my email ID mentioned above.
Looking forward to hearing from you, at the earliest.
Thanking you
Yours truly
Rahul

Q.4. Complete the story in 150-200 words with the following outlines.
Arvind was distracted. He wouldn't concentrate in the class. The incident which had happened that morning had shattered him ...........
OR
A son is born to a king - the mother dies in childbirth - a young mother with a baby is chosen as nurse - she nurses both babies together............. she kills herself.
Ans. Arvind was a student of 10th standard in a Convent school. He used to attend the school regularly. One day he was present in the class but was unable to concentrate on his studies. He felt restless and was distracted. Actually the incident which had happened in the morning troubled him. He recollected the incident and lost concentration. He had reached the school late and had inadvertantly brought his mobile phone with him. The Principal had detected the phone which he had carried in his school bag. The Principal had shouted at him for violating the rule. He had reprimanded him and had imposed a fine of five hundred rupees on him. Also he had been asked to stand in the ground for one period. He had felt insulted. He had begged the Principal to forgive him and had also requested him not to impose the fine on him. The Principal had been very strict and rude to him. This had completely shattered him. All this had happened in the presence of the other students. When he had gone to the class after standing in the ground for one period, the class teacher gave him sermons and asked him to sit and listen to his lecture attentively. But this unpleasant incident troubled him and distracted his attention. He felt miserable.
OR
The king of Awadh was now old. He had no heir to take care of his state. He earnestly wished to be blessed with a son to rule the state after him. He sought blessings of rishis and sages. A very enlightened and holy sage told the king that he could be blessed with a son but warned him that the queen might die during childbirth. The king was very eager to have a son. He did not mind the sage's warning in this connection.
In course of time a son was bom to the king, but as ill luck would have it, the queen died in child-birth. The king wanted his son to get proper nursing by a woman who could feed and give love, care and affection to the child. On proclamation;, a young woman who was nursing her own son was engaged to feed and nurse the young prince.
This young woman spared no pains to take care of the King's son. She looked upon the King's son as dear to her as her own. She did not discriminate between the two. She was so selfless and sacrificing that she was delighted to see both grow into handsome young men. But though the woman looked upon them with one eye, the king had bias. He attached more importance to his son and provided him all the facilities that he could dream of but bothered little for the woman's son.
All this disturbed the woman too much. She had no way to argue before the king not to discriminate between the two. One day she found her son badly humiliated by the king for a minor mistake. The woman could not tolerate this. One night in utter despair, she hanged herself with a ceiling fan and killed herself.

Q.5. Complete the paragraph given below by filling in the blanks choosing the correct option from those that follow:
It must, however, be kept in mind that as useful as computers (a)................... they are not capable of independent thought and (b) .................. ..... require human input. In recent times, scientists have developed 'Artificial Intelligence' in computers, that may enable (c) ........ ......... to function independently (d) ........... . man in the future.
(a) (i) is
(ii) are
(iii) will be
(iv) were
(b) (i) also
(ii) still
(iii) as if
(iv) even
(c) (i) those
(ii) these
(iii) their
(iv) them
(d) (i) by
(ii) on
(iii) of
(iv) for
Ans.  (d) (ii) are
(b) (ii) still
(c) (iv) them
(d) (iii) of

Q.6. In the following paragraph, one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing word along with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it against the correct blank number. The first one has been done for you. Attempt any four.

Ans. 

Q.7. Directions
Doctor: What is your problem?
Patient: I am suffering from headache.
Doctor: Go and get your eyes checked.
Patient: Can it be weak eyesiglit?
Doctor: Yes, in many cases it is.
The doctor asked the patient (a)---------------------------------------. The patient replied ( b ) ------------------------------- from head ache. The doctor suggested (c) ---------------------- . The patient wanted to know (d) —-----------. The doctor agreed that it was so in many cases.
Ans. Objective: To test the use of reported speech
Marking: 1 mark for each correct answer
(a) what his problem was
(b) that he was suffering from headache
(c) that he should go and get his eyes checked
(d) if it could be weak eyesight

SECTION - C

Q.8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
long cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
Like newly discharged patients 
Half-dazed, moving
To the clinic doors.
Questions:
(a) The boughs are ..............
(b) The boughs are compared to ..............
(c) Why does the poet use this comparison?
(d) The figure of speech used in the above lines is .............
(i) metaphor
(ii) simile
(iii) oxymoron
(iv) alliteration
Ans. (a) shuffling under the roof
(b) newly discharged patients
(c) The poet uses this comparison to prove her point that trees planted in an unnatural environment become weak and sickly.
(d) (ii) simile
OR
There’s nothing to argue about. You see my aunt’s grandmother gave the free use of these Meadows in perpetuity to the peasants of your father’s grandfather, in return for which they were to make bricks for her.
Questions:
(a) Who is speaking to whom?
(b) Who gave the meadows and to whom?
(c) Why were the meadows given?
(d) Choose the most appropriate opposite for the word 'perpetuity' is ...........
(i) everlasting
(ii) for a long period
(iii) continuity
(iv) short life
Ans. (а) Lomov is speaking to Natalya Stepanovna.
(b) Lomov’s aunt’s grandmother had given the meadows to Natalya’s father’s grandfather.
(c) Bricks..............the peasants in return for free use of meadows.
(d) (iv) short life

Q.9. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:
(a) What happens to Lomov when he is in an excited state?
Ans. In a state of excitement, Lomov's heart beat increases, lips tremble and there is a twitch in his right eyebrow. When he goes to sleep in such a state something pulls him from his left side and he jumps like a lunatic.
(b) Why did the poet not offer the boy money to buy another ball?
Ans. The poet did not offer the boy money to buy another ball as he felt that another ball could not console the boy. The poet also wanted the boy to realise the epistemology of loss.
(c) Give a brief description of the pirate in the poem The Tale of Custard the Dragon'.
Ans. The pirate entered from the window. He had pistols in his left and right hand. He held a bright cutlass in his teeth. His beard was black and one leg was wood.
(d) What did the Loisel's do to replace the borrowed item?
Ans. Mr.Loiselborrowedmoneyfromeveryperson. He signed promissory notes and borrowed money for high interest rates. Mme Lisle had to do all odd jobs to save money. They had to change lodgings.Mr Lisle worked till late at night after office hours.
(e) What was the plan of Martians? Did they succeed in their attempt?
Ans. The Martians planned to capture and invade the earth in 2040. The Martians were not successful in their mission. This was because a single book stopped the invasion of the earth.

Q.10. From beginning to the end of the lesson 'Black Aeroplane' is a mystery. How? (100 -150 words)
Or
How did Wanda win the hearts of her classmates in the end of the story?
Ans. The lesson 'The Black Aeroplane' is a mystery from the beginning to the end. The flight in the Dakota from Paris to England continues in the clear sky at night. The pilot has nothing to worry. He thinks of safe landing and having a good big English breakfast. But then all of a sudden he finds himself surrounded by black clouds. It is a mystery from where these clouds have come. Then it is again a mystery that all the instruments of the plane stop working. The contact with the radio control also snaps.
Then a really marvellous thing happens. The pilot of the Dakota sees another aeroplane in the black clouds. From where has this plane come ? It remains a great mystery. It is this black aeroplane that guides the Dakota and helps it in safe landing. As the pilot of the Dakota looks for the aeroplane in the sky he finds no aeroplane. The lady in the control room deepens the mystery with her remark, "No - other aeroplanes were flying tonight Yours was the only one I could see on the radar."
OR
Wanda, a Polish girl, was the butt of ridicule for having claimed to have a hundred dresses. Her claim was hollow-everyone at the school knew. Peggy and Maddie and some other girls continued to harass her. Wanda wanted to say that she had designs of hundred dresses at home. When she could no longer stand the bullying she left the school for ever. Before leaving she had participated in the dress design competition. Her designs were exquisite. She did not know that she had won the contest. She wrote a letter to. her classmates and asked them to keep her dresses (designs of her dresses). She wanted Peggy to keep the drawing of the green dress with the red trimming and her friend Maddie to have the blue one. All her classmates were stunned. They began to miss her. Both Peggy and Maddie realized how Wanda liked them. Thus, Wanda won the hearts of her classmates.

Q.11. Answer the following questions in 100-120 words:
‘The Necklace’ emphasises the significance of honesty and truth in our lives. Elaborate.
Or
Bholi shows the way how to deal with greedy and arrogant men like Bishamber. What moral qualities are needed to fight social evils?
Ans. ‘The Necklace’ is a story with a relevant message. It teaches us the significance of honesty and truth in our lives with the example of Matilda. Matilda wasn’t true to herself. She believed in show off and shunned reality. She was poor but declined to accept the truth. She tried to hide her poverty by borrowing a necklace from her friend for the sake of showing off at the ball. She lost it but still wasn’t ready to tell the truth to her friend. She suffered immensely for ten long years just because of her pretentious nature, over-ambitiousness and falsehood. By drawing Matilda’s miserable state and hardships, the author tries to convey to us that honesty, truth and being content are the keys to a happy life. Had Matilda been satisfied with her life, she would not have borrowed the necklace. If she had told Mme Forestier the truth, she would have avoided the life of sufferings and drudgery. So, one should always be true and honest.
OR
Bholi, who was educated, agreed to get married to Bishamber, who was old, lame and rich, and with grown up children, only for the sake of her parents. Bishamber asked for ₹ 5,000 as dowry, when he saw Bholi who was ugly to look at, with pock-marks on her face, Ramlal placed his turban - his honour at Bishambar’s feet and begged him to take two thousand rupees. Bishamber did not budge. He humiliated Ramlal and the helpless father was left with no option but to give him all his hard earned money.
Bholi realised that he was greedy and selfish and wanted to take advantage of her weakness and her father’s helplessness. She announced her refusal to marry Bishamber and that she would remain unmarried all her life, teach in the local school, where she had studied, and look after her parents in their old age. The moral qualities needed to fight social evils are confidence, determination, the courage to stand against injustice, fearlessly and Bholi displayed all these by refusing to get married to Bishamber.