Class 10 English: CBSE Sample Question Paper- Term I (2021-22) - 1 | CBSE Sample Papers For Class 10 PDF Download

Class-X

General Instructions:
Read the following instructions very carefully and strictly follow them:

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.

I. Read the passage given below. 

1. ‘Su’ means number and ‘Duko’ means single. The game of Sudoku has many similarities with the game of life. Sudoku is a puzzle game designed for a single player, much like a crossword puzzle. The puzzle itself is nothing more than a grid of little boxes called ‘cells’. They are stacked nine high and nine wide, making 81 cells in total. 
2. The roots of the Sudoku puzzle are in Switzerland. Leonhard Euler created ‘carré latin’ in the 18th century which is similar to a Sudoku puzzle. The first real Sudoku was published in 1979 and was invented by Howard Garns, an American architect.t The real worldwide popularity started in Japan in 1986 after it was published and given the name Sudoku by Nikoli. 
3. In life, too, you start with a given set of notions and then work from there on. In Sudoku, you need to follow a set of rules to build up the grid, filling each row, column and box with numbers ranging from one to nine, so much like in life where you have to go on your way without hurting anyone else. Respect every number (person) and things would be fine. 
4. While playing, you never think of the end (the result); you just keep working on the numbers and the final result (fruits of action) comes on its own. Extremely difficult puzzles may take hours. Similarly, to achieve the desired results in life, may also take years. The game of Sudoku and the game of life are best played in calm but in a focused state.
5. Everything has to go together in a Sudoku grid: the rows, columns and squares. Exactly as in life your duties towards your family, teachers, society and country, all go on simultaneously. In Sudoku, the arrangement of the given numbers is symmetrical. This is instructive in life, on how to maintain steadfast faith, poise and equanimity despite situations when everything turns topsy-turvy. 
6. There is a subtle difference between the two, as well. Make a mistake and you can erase it and begin all over again in Sudoku. Not so in life. You can learn a lesson through it and avoid making the same mistake in future. What most people don’t know is that Sudoku is not a mathematical game. It requires absolutely no arithmetic skills, but it does require logical reasoning. As you learn to arrange the numbers correctly, your logical thinking skills improve.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of the ten questions by choosing the correct option.
Q.1: A game of Sudoku puzzle has ___________ cells.
(a) 80 
(b) 81
(c) 82
(d) 83

Correct Answer is Option (b)

It has 9×9 small squares that make up a big square having 81 small squares.

Q.2: The first real Sudoku was published in ___________.
(a) 1979 
(b) 1986
(c) 18th century
(d) 19th century

Correct Answer is Option (a)

The first real Sudoku was published in 1979 and was invented by Howard Garns, an American architect.

Q.3: The game of Sudoku is much __________ to the game of life.
(a) different
(b) similar
(c) dissimilar
(d) opposite

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Everything has to go together in a Sudoku grid: the rows, columns and squares. Exactly as in life.

Q.4: Which one of the following is false about the Sudoku puzzle?
(a) The game has a grid of little boxes called cells.
(b) Its roots are in America.
(c) A set of rules should be followed to move ahead in the puzzle.
(d) The rows, columns and squares – all should go together while playing the game.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
The roots of the Sudoku puzzle are in Switzerland. Leonhard Euler created ‘carré latin’ in the 18th century which is similar to a Sudoku puzzle.

Q.5: The number in the boxes range from ______________________.
(a) one to nine
(b) three to nine
(c) one to six
(d) one to ten

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Q.6: The game of Sudoku can best be played in __________ state.
(a) nervous
(b) inattentive
(c) leisure
(d) focused

Correct Answer is Option (d)
The game of Sudoku and the game of life are best played in calm but in a focused state.

Q.7: Our duties towards our ________________ should go on simultaneously.
(a) teachers, family, country
(b) family, society, teachers
(c) family, teachers, society, country
(d) teachers, society, country

Correct Answer is Option (c)
In life, your duties towards your family, teachers, society and country, all go on simultaneously.

Q.8: What is meant by ‘instructive’? (Para 4)
(a) Difficult
(b) Sad
(c) Informative
(d) Admiring

Correct Answer is Option (c)

Q.9: What is meant by ‘equanimity’? (Para 4)
(a) Obsession
(b) Self-control
(c) mental or emotional stability
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer is Option (b)

Q.10: Find the word opposite in meaning to ‘obvious ’. (Para 5)
(a) Erase
(b) Lesson
(c) Subtle
(d) Avoid

Correct Answer is Option (c)

II. Read the passage given below. 

1. The most characteristic feature of spiders is their ability to produce silken threads. Spiders normally have six finger-like silk glands, called ‘spinnerets’ located beneath their abdomen. To spin a web, the spider squeezes the silk out of its body through two small holes. The liquid silk is thicker than water and dries into a fine thread as soon as it comes in contact with air. Spider silk is much stronger than steel and resists breakage because of its elasticity. It can stretch up to 140 per cent of its original length. The diameter of these silken threads is about 10,000 of an inches. Spiders use this silk to make webs to trap their prey. The egg sacs of some spiders are also made of silk which pre-treats the unborn progeny. Sometimes the spider can also use its silk as a safety feature. A certain species of spider ‘phidippus apacheanecs’ trails a safety line of fine silk as it jumps. It uses the silk line to recover if it misses its target. The silk of ‘Naphils Spider’ is the strongest natural fibre known.
2. The spinning of webs is a remarkable example of instinctive behaviour. A spider does not have to learn how to make a web, although spinning itself can be adopted to unique circumstances. For example, ‘orb’ webs are circular in shape and take an hour to build. Funnel spiders spin a net-like entrance to their homes, which helps to trap food. Similarly, trap door spiders dig their homes and spin a trap door out of their silk for trapping insects.
3. As integral components of our biosphere, spiders have an intrinsic existence value. They are efficient predators that play an important role in controlling the pests of cotton. They are also a source of food for other creatures, such as birds and wasps. Thus, the presence of spiders is an ecological indicator signalling the health of natural ecosystem.
   

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct option.
Q.11: Spinnerets in a spider are located _________________________________. 
(a) near abdomen 
(b) beneath their abdomen 
(c) in their abdomen 
(d) above their abdomen

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Spiders normally have six finger-like silk glands, called ‘spinnerets’ located beneath their abdomen.

Q.12: The liquid silk, that comes out of his body, dries into thread when it comes in contact with ___________.
(a) wind
(b) water
(c) air
(d) rain

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The liquid silk is thicker than water and dries into a fine thread as soon as it comes in contact with air.

Q.13: The silk of ‘Naphils Spider’ is the ___________ natural fibre known.
(a) strongest
(b) healthiest
(c) non-risky
(d) safest

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Q.14: The silk of ‘Naphils Spider’ is the ___________ natural fibre known.
(b) Their silk pre-treats the unborn progeny.
(c) Play an important role in controlling pests of cotton.
(d) Spiders spin a net-like entrance to their homes.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
As integral components of our biosphere, spiders have an intrinsic existence value. They are efficient predators that play an important role in controlling the pests of cotton.

Q.15: Why are spiders important for birds and wasps?
(a) They are the source of food for them. 
(b) Spiders spin a net-like entrance to their homes. 
(c) The spiders can use its silk as a safety feature. 
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Q.16: Choose words from paragraph which means, ‘essential’.
(a) Unique
(b) Integral
(c) Progeny
(d) Indicator

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Funnel spiders spin a net-like entrance to their homes, which helps to trap food.

Q.17: Funnel spiders spin ___________________ entrance to their homes.
(a) circular
(b) trap-door
(c) net-like
(d) square

Correct Answer is Option (c)

Q.18: The web of _________________ is visible in morning dew.
(a) Garden spider
(b) Fisher spider
(c) Grass spider
(d) Common House spider

Correct Answer is Option (c)

III. Answer any five out of the six questions by selecting the most appropriate option for each.
Q.19: The river Ganga _____________ through Haridwar. 
(a) is flowing 
(b) has been flowing 
(c) flows 
(d) has flowed

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The event relates to the present and a simple statement of fact – use of Simple Present tense.

Q.20: My family ____________ at the airport tomorrow but I have forgotten at what time the plane gets in.
(a) is arriving
(b) will be arriving
(c) will arrive
(d) arrives

Correct Answer is Option (a) 
The event is still in progress so use of Continuous tense.

Q.21: Ramesh and his friends _____________________ going to school.
(a) is
(b) are
(c) will
(d) was

Correct Answer is Option (b)
When ‘and’ is used, the verb follows the noun used after ‘and’ – here, plural.

Q.22: Damini is an expert on monuments, but she knows ___________________ about physics.
(a) a lot
(b) few
(c) little 

(d) many

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The use of ‘but’ makes it clear that the second part of the sentence use contradiction adjective to the first part. An expert has too much knowledge, so ‘little’ is used here.

Q.23: ________________ employees prefer a competent manager to a dumb one.
(a) Each
(b) Many
(c) Little
(d) Most

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Although a countable noun, yet it is used in an ‘uncountable’ sense here.

Q.24: This news is ____________ good to be true.
(a) for
(b) too
(c) much
(d) so

Correct Answer is Option (b)
The use of ‘too…to’ is made to express that the fact cannot be believed to be correct.

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

Promila Chopra has written a letter to the Editor of The Times of India expressing concern over the adulteration of milk being distributed in the area. Some gaps have been left in the letter and marked as (25), (26), (27), (28), (29) and (30). Complete the letter by choosing the correct option.
12/15, Kunj Vihar
Alipur.
29 March 20xx
The Editor
(25) _____________________

New
Delhi
Subject : Adulteration of Milk 

Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I want to raise my concern over the sale of (26)______.

Quite recently, (27) _______________________ took 20 samples of milk from various dairies and reports of 19 indicated that they have been adulterated with urea and other chemicals. These chemicals are very harmful for human beings. (28) _________________________________ such unscrupulous people do not care a fig about human lives. Milk is consumed in different forms by almost all human beings from very young infants and toddlers to elderly people. However, by consuming such sort of milk they are at a great risk, particularly young children and old people.
(29) ______________ and give them exemplary punishment. Only then this practice can be checked. (30) __________________
Promila Chopra
Q.25: 
(a) The Hindustan Times 
(b) The Times of India 
(c) The Hindu 
(d) Any of these

Correct Answer is Option (b)

Q.26: 
(a) cow milk in Alipur
(b) powdered milk in Alipur
(c) natural milk in Alipur
(d) synthetic milk in Alipur

Correct Answer is Option (d)

Q.27: 
(a) the finance department
(b) the health department
(c) the GST department
(d) the child welfare department

Correct Answer is Option (b)

Q.28: 
(a) Just to earn a few rupees
(b) Just to supply milk quickly 

(c) Just to work at normal speed
(d) Just to save taxes

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Q.29:
(a) The government should request such people
(b) The government should ask public to boycott such people
(c) The government should act heavily on such people
(d) Any of these

Correct Answer is Option (b)

Q.30: 
(a) Yours obediently
(b) Yours lovingly
(c) Yours truly
(d) Truly yours

Correct Answer is Option (c)

V. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow: 
He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards. "Ga, ga, ga, Ga, ga, ga, Gawcol- ah," his mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming. He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting and banking and soaring and diving. Then he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly and commended himself to dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly.
Q.31: Pick the most appropriate reason why the young gull feel dizzy? 
(a) He hadn't eaten anything for a day. 
(b) He was dizzy with excitement. 
(c) He was wary of heights. 
(d) He was flying for the first time.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The young seagull felt very miserable on the ledge as he was alone and his family had already flown away. He was feeling very hungry and had nothing to eat.

Q.32: What do the screams of the seagulls indicate about their mental state? 
(a) Elation 
(b) Bewilderment 
(c) Shock 
(d) Protection

Correct Answer is Option (a)
His parents were delighted and overjoyed, that is elated, when the young bird started flying. They were not bewildered or shocked (as they knew that he can fly). They were not trying to protect him by flying over him, they were just expressing their joy.

Q.33: What does the poet want to convey to the readers by stating 'he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly'? 
(a) great confidence the young gull had in his skills. 
(b) the naturalness of the act of flying for the young gull. 
(c) satisfaction and joy of flying together as a family. 
(d) the desire of the young gull to leave his fears behind.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Flying is natural to birds. It was just that the young bird learnt it later that the birds are made for flying.

Q.34: Choose the correct option that indicates the order of movements made by the brothers and sisters of the young gull? 
(a) The young gull's brothers and sister flew by tilting their wings, rose high, made darting movements and plunged headfirst. 
(b) The young gull's brothers and sister flew by plunging headfirst, making darting movements, tilted their wings and rose high. 
(c) The young gull's brothers and sister flew with darting movements, tilted their wings, rose high and plunged headfirst. 
(d) The young gull's brothers and sister flew by rising high, plunging headfirst, making darting movements and tilting their wings.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Curveting – flying with tilted wings, Banking – quick darting movements, Soaring – rising high in sky, Diving – plunging headfirst into water (to catch fish).

Q.35: The poet uses the phrase "shrieking shrilly". Which of the given options use the same poetic device as used by the poet here? 
(a) Sparkling saga 
(b) Singing softly 
(c) Slippery sloppily 
(d) Sneeze silently

Correct Answer is Option (d)
‘Shrieking shrilly’ and ‘Sneeze silently’ are use of alliterations.

VI. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:
"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.36: Which of these titles convey the thoughts of the author to the readers? 
(a) Freedom for Everything 
(b) Knowledge about Freedom 
(c) Significance of Freedom
(d) Realisation of Freedom

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The extract explains why freedom is important and what it means to those who are not free. So, significance of Freedom is the correct title for the extract.

Q.37: According to the author, some freedoms are 'transitory'. What does the author want the readers to understand about the nature of such freedoms?
(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.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
‘Transitory’ means ‘temporary’ or ‘passing’. So, option (A) that states freedoms as momentary or temporary, and changing with time is correct.

Q.38: The author has used the word 'illusion' in the passage. Below are given four options which also make use of the word 'illusion' but in different senses. Which of these options indicate the same use of the word as by the author? 
(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.

Correct Answer is Option (d)
In the passage, the narrator had been living a life under a deception or misapprehension – an illusion. This similar meaning is conveyed in option (D).

Q.39: Why did the speaker initially thought about himself and not about the society or nation as a whole?
(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.

Correct Answer is Option (d)
When he was a young boy, he did not have a wider vision – he was more concerned about his personal freedom. He could not look from other people’s perspective that they too were deprived of freedom in much more important aspects than his boyish perspective.

Q.40: 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

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Here, Dawned means emergence of a thought, Deprived means denied and Desiring means wanting to have. These meanings best fit the given part of the extract.

VII. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow: 
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.

He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars
Q.41: The fact that the tiger is ‘stalking the length of his cage’ tells us that he is:
(a) restless.
(b) reckless.
(c) resilient.
(d) reverent.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The tigers ignore the visitors as they see many visitors coming daily but none of them helps them to get rid of the cage and live a life of freedom.

Q.42: What is the rhyme scheme of the given stanzas?
(a) abcb; abcb
(b) abcb; abcd
(c) abcd; abcd
(d) abcd; abcb

Correct Answer is Option (d)
In the first four lines, none of them rhymes with the other, so, they follow the rhyme style abcd. In the next four lines, the second and the fourth lines rhyme while first and third don’t rhyme, So, they follow the rhyme style abcb.

Q.43: These stanzas bring out the contrast between:
(a) zoos and cities.
(b) strength and weakness.
(c) freedom and captivity.
(d) visitors and patrolling cars.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The life of tigers in jungles (freedom) and zoo (captivity) have been compared and contrasted in the poem.

Q.44: What is the caged tiger NOT likely to say to the visitors? 
(a) “Stop staring”. 
(b) “Set me free”. 
(c) “Join me”. 
(d) “Go away”.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The caged tiger may threaten its visitors by saying not to stare or asking them to go away. It may also request its visitors to set him free. But, it is most unlikely to invite them to join him inside the cage.

Q.45: The tiger’s ‘brilliant eyes’ reveal that he:
(a) hopes to be free and be in the wild, someday.
(b) is looked after well and is nourished and healthy.
(c) enjoys staring at the bright stars each night.
(d) is well-rested and hence, wide-awake.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The eyes of the tiger are hopeful of getting freedom some time in life and enjoy its freedom in its natural habitat - jungle.

VIII. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow: 
As she and her husband turned away in terror, the extraordinary chair pushed them both out of the room and then appeared to slam and lock the door after them. Mrs. Hall almost fell down the stairs in hysterics. She was convinced that the room was haunted by spirits and that the stranger had somehow caused these to enter into her furniture. “My poor mother used to sit in that chair,” she moaned! To think it should rise up against me now! The feeling among the neighbours was that the trouble was caused by witchcraft.”
Q.46: What was the reason that forced Mrs. Hall to think that the room was haunted by witches and spirits?
(a) she could see evil spirits
(b) she heard strange noise
(c) uncanny things happened there
(d) the door slammed shut

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Stange things happened in the room like chair was flying in the air on its own etc.

Q.47: Which of these options express the inner feelings of Mrs. hall when the incident described in the passage took place?
(a) Stunned and furious
(b) Shocked and outraged
(c) Outraged and nervous
(d) Stunned and agitated

Correct Answer is Option (d)
shocked and angry

Q.48: The author has used the word 'hysterics' in the passage. Below are given four options which also make use of the word 'hysterics' but in different senses. Which of these options indicate the same use of the word as by the author?
(a) My friend and I were in splits when we saw the clown’s antics.
(b) I don’t know why I suddenly felt worried about flying home. 

(c) The sight of blood put the old man in frenzy.
(d) The people who had witnessed the accident were spellbound.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
This option deals with the same view as hysterics.

Q.49: Here four pairs of events and intended effects are given separated by an arrow. Which of these pairs indicate the cause and effect relationships?
(a) Pushed and locked out → hysterical
(b) Rising of the chair → moaning
(c) Troubled neighbours → witchcraft
(d) Stranger → haunted spirits

Correct Answer is Option (a)
As Mrs Hall was pushed out of the room, she turned down to hysterics.

Q.50: The neighbours of Mrs. Hall marked the incident as 'witchcraft'. What do they mean by saying this? 

(a) suspicious
(b) superstitious
(c) nervous wrecks
(d) gossip-mongers

Correct Answer is Option (b)

IX. Attempt the following.
Q.51: Who is the author of "Black Aeroplane"?
(a) Liam O’ Flaherty 

(b) Frederick Forsyth
(c) Roal Dahl
(d) Paulo Coehlo

Correct Answer is Option (b) The lesson “Black Aeroplane” by Frederick Forsyth reflects on how one's judgement gets distorted due to fantasizing and how it creates problems. 

Q.52: What did the parents of the young seagull threaten him with if he didn’t flew away? (a) to never talk to him
(b) to punish him
(c) to starve him 

(d) to abandon him

Correct Answer is Option (c)

Q.53: What is the irony in the lesson ‘A Letter to God’?
(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

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Lencho blamed them without knowing the truth.

Q.54: We have achieved our political emancipation." What is the meaning of emancipation?
(a) freedom from restriction
(b) enslavement
(c) slavery
(d) Both (b) and (c)

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Q.55: What does the poet compare fire with?
(a) hatred
(b) desire
(c) hot

(d) Both (a) and (b)

Correct Answer is Option (b)

Q.56: By "ignoring visitors", what is the poet trying to say?
(a) The tiger knows his power is restricted
(b) There is no use of showing rage
(c) He is less terrorising because of the cage
(d) All of the above

Correct Answer is Option (d)
The tiger is aware of the fact that it was useless to waste his energy when he was captivated.

Q.57: Why does the poet call it "dust of snow"?
(a) The snow particles were too tiny 

(b) They came over him like dust
(c) They felt like dust
(d) They looked like dust

Correct Answer is Option (a)
“Dust of snow” refers to the tiny particles of snow. The particles are so small that poet referred to them as “dust”.

Q.58: Who does "I" refer to in the chapter 'The Triumph of Surgery'?
(a) Tricki
(b) Mrs. Pumphrey
(c) Veterinary surgeon
(d) none of the above

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The vet surgeon, Dr Herriot is the protagonist.

Q.59: What did the boy ask Anil for?
(a) to give him food 

(b) to employ him
(c) to give him money
(d) to teach him

Correct Answer is Option (b)
The boy asked Anil to give him some job as he is not a beggar and does not want money. He wants to earn it.

Q.60: What was Griffin working on? 

(a) Making fake footprints
(b) Making human bodies invisible
(c) Making a fool of children
(d) All of the above

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Griffin was conducting a science experiment to make human bodies invisible so that light can pass through them as through glass.